Revealing Which European City is The Hot Spot for Castle Visits

Europe is often regarded for its long and varied history, with medieval castles making up a significant part of what makes the continent iconic to the rest of the world. In recent years, period dramas and fantasy TV series’ have further boosted the popularity of European castles – with many across the globe travelling to look at Europe’s historic landscape with dream-filled eyes.

What is it about castles in Europe that interest us so much? For many, visiting a castle offers the opportunity to put ourselves in the shoes of those who walked there before us – maybe even envisioning ourselves as a temporary queen or king! There is always something so mystical about taking a walk through ancient castle grounds and imagining what life might’ve been like there centuries ago.

We know that Europe is home to hundreds of castles, but which popular city destination is the hot spot for castle-seeking travellers? To find out more, we at Ubuy have examined the data surrounding how many castles each city has, to determine which city is the castle capital of the continent.

So, with that being said, let’s get straight into breaking down the top European cities for castle fanatics!

Methodology

We collected data for a number of ranking factors to discover the European hotspots for castles & palaces. To do this, we examined each European capital city – as well as two additional cities in each country (based on respective population sizes).

We sourced the cities & size of each city (in sq metres) from World Population Review with data correct as of 2023.

We retrieved the number of castles from TripAdvisor by examining the number of attractions under the 'castles' category type. We then compared the results against the size of each location to analyse how many castles per square metre each location has.

After finding the data, we then calculated the number of castles per 100,000 square meters & totalled the number of castles across all three cities.

The Top 20 Ranking

Istanbul, Turkey

In first place is the Turkish city of Istanbul, which is home to a total of 12 castles - the equivalent of 0.21 castles per 100,000 square metres. Some of the most notable castles in this city include Rumeli Fortress (pictured above) and Anadoluhisarı.

Many of Istanbul’s abundant castles are actually fortresses left over from the Ottoman Empire, making them the perfect sightseeing destination for tourists due to their hill-top locations. These castles are not only the ideal location for a stroll through history, but also provide amazing overlooking views of the surrounding scenery.

Total castles: 12
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.21

Rome, Italy

In second place is Rome, the world-famous capital city of Italy. The city is home to 11 castles in total – equating to 0.85 castles per 100,000 square metres.

The city is known for its plethora of historical artefacts and landmarks, with many being left over from the Roman Empire. Some of Rome’s most famous castles include the Palazzo Brancaccio, Castel Sant’Angelo (pictured above), and Castello della Cecchignola.

Total castles: 11
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.85

Berlin, Germany

Coming in a joint position with the next entry is the German capital of Berlin – boasting a respectable 9 castles. The city is home to approximately 1 castle per 100,000 square metres – many of which are known for their dome-shaped roof and grand design.

Some of the most famous castles in the city include Charlottenburg Palace (pictured above), Stadtschloss Berlin, and Bellevue Palace – all of which have a sleek, European design – with the former two castles having the aforementioned dome shape that makes them immediately recognisable.

Total castles: 9
Castles per 100,000 m2: 1.0

Naples, Italy

In joint position with Berlin is the Italian city of Naples, which is home to a total of 9 castles – equating to 7.67 castles per 100,000 square metres. This city is the regional capital of Campania, and is a popular tourist destination for its historic city centre – the largest in Europe.

The most popular castles in Naples are Castel Sant’Elmo (pictured above), Castel dell’Ovo, and Castel Nuovo – all of which have a typical medieval castle appearance that looks as though they have jumped right out of a fantasy novel.

Total castles: 9
Castles per 100,000 m2: 7.67

Ankara, Turkey

Next in the ranking is the Turkish capital, Ankara. This city is home to a total of 8 castles, the equivalent of 0.03 castles per 100,000 square metres, and shares its position with the next two locations.

Ankara is a very old city, renowned for its historical landscape – with Hattian, Hittite, Lydian, Phrygian, Galatian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites all to be found dotted around the city.

Some of the city’s most well-known castles include the aptly-named Ankara Castle (pictured above) and the truly kitsch Estergon Turk Kultur Merkezi.

Total castles: 8
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.03

Graz, Austria

In a joint position with Ankara and the next entry is the Austrian city of Graz, which is home to a total of 8 castles - equating to6.27 castles per 100,000 square metres. The city is the third-largest city in Austria, and is the regional capital of Styria – a heavily forested region that is located on the eastern edge of the Alps.

Some of the most popular castles in this city include the Schloss Eggenberg (pictured above), Spanische Hofreitschule Bundesgestüt Piber, and Burgruine Gösting – each of which offers stunning views of the surrounding area, with plenty of historic architecture and beautiful countryside.

Total castles: 8
Castles per 100,000 m2: 6.27

Vienna, Austria

Once again, in a joint position with Ankara and Graz is another Austrian city, the capital of Vienna. This city is home to 8 castles, equating to 1.92 castles per 100,000 square metres. Vienna is the 6th largest city in the European Union, and is often regarded as the “City of Music” due to being the home of many of the world’s most renowned classical musicians – including Beethoven and Mozart.

In terms of popularity, some of the most famous castles in Vienna are Schönbrunn Palace (pictured above), Palais Schönborn-Batthyány, and the Schloss Neugebäude. Castles in Vienna vary in their design, from medieval castles to Rococo architecture – offering something for everyone to marvel at.

Total castles: 8
Castles per 100,000 m2: 1.92

Prague, Czech Republic

Next is the Czech capital, Prague – which shares its position with the final two destinations. The city is home to 7 castles in total, which is the equivalent of 1.41 castles per 100,000 square metres. Prague is an extremely popular tourist destination, famed for its Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectures, alongside being regarded as a political, cultural, and economic hub for Eastern Europe.

Some of the most popular castles located in this city include Prague Castle (pictured above), Waldstein Palace, and Schwarzenberský palác – which each have a picturesque appearance, with pastel walls and intricate carvings.

Total castles: 7
Castles per 100,000 m2: 1.41

Milan, Italy

Sharing a position with Prague and the next destination in the top 10 castle hot spots in Europe is the Italian city of Milan, the second-most populated city in Italy. The city is home to 7 castles in total, equating to 3.85 castles per 100,000 square metres. Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy and is often regarded as one of the world’s fashion capitals, due to its high volume of luxury fashion design and manufacturing studios, alongside prominent fashion events.

Some of the most popular castles in this Italian city are Castello Sforzesco (pictured above), Palazzo Serbelloni, and Castello Cova – which each boast intricate architectural designs, alongside providing a picture-perfect destination for tourists to enjoy.

Total castles: 7
Castles per 100,000 m2: 3.85

Łódź, Poland

Finally, last but by no means least is the Polish city of Łódź – home to 7 castles in total, and sharing its position with both Prague and Milan. The city has roughly 2.38 castles per 100,000 square metres. Łódź is Poland’s former industrial centre, but has since gone on to forge a name for itself in the arts – famed for its National Film School, which has produced some of the most well-known Polish actors.

Some of Łódź’s most popular castles include Nieborow Palace (pictured above), Oporów Castle Museum, and the Muzeum na Zamku w Leczyca.

Total castles: 7
Castles per 100,000 m2: 2.38

Conclusion

Our research on castles in Europe has unveiled fascinating insights into the rich heritage of these destinations. Istanbul emerged as the unrivalled leader, boasting a plethora of castles that take visitors on a captivating journey through time. On the other hand, Łódź in Poland – while a vibrant city in its own right – saw fewer castles in comparison, though still boasting a significant number of beautiful castles for tourists to enjoy.

As we conclude this research, we hope it serves as a compass for castle-loving travellers, guiding them on a quest to uncover the hidden gems and architectural wonders that Europe holds. If you’re shopping for travelling supplies to get started on your European castle crawl, we’ve got you covered here at Ubuy.

Happy castle-seeking to all!