Historic hotels that will make you feel like royalty

Historic buildings offer a window into another time; their architecture and interiors reveal stories of the people, cultures and eras that have shaped them. From grand palaces and castles to storied residences and heritage landmarks, many regal properties have since been given a new lease of life as hotels. 

While sleek steel-and-glass structures may define modern hospitality, few can replicate the character and sense of place found in a building steeped in royal history. Today, these remarkable stays invite travellers to experience the past first-hand, pairing centuries-old architecture and craftsmanship with the comforts and hospitality of the present.

Located on the grounds of the Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles), this magnificent building was commissioned by King Louis XIV and built in 1681 by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, whose works include Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Trianon and the palace’s Royal Chapel.  

At Le Grand Contrôle, 15 gilded rooms and suites recall the heyday of the French court. Beyond its lavish accommodation, the hotel offers a Royal Summer Stay experience, where guests can immerse themselves in activities once enjoyed by French nobility: royal feasts, exclusive access to the Château de Versailles and the Trianon Estate, and even a wake-up call befitting a king, complete with music, a bath and breakfast. 

Guests can also don period costumes for the full fantasy experience. Or follow in the footsteps of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, who were known to explore on horseback, with a riding experience through the grounds of Versailles itself. 

Get there: Singapore Airlines (SIA) runs a direct flight from Singapore to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. From there, the hotel is about an hour’s drive away.  

There are few places that make you feel regal before you even arrive, but the horse-drawn carriages that carry guests through the gates of Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad certainly help. Perched 609m above sea level, this 60-room hotel was once the regal abode of the Nizams, rulers of the former Hyderabad State. 

Completed in 1893, the palace is an intriguing example of global influences coming together: commissioned by an Indian nobleman and designed by an English architect, it incorporates Italian and Tudor architectural influences and was built with Italian marble and stained glass. The palace was restored and converted into a luxury heritage hotel by Taj Hotels in 2010.  

The hotel offers several tours worth taking. The Champagne Palace Walk begins at sunset, offering guests the chance to explore the hotel while hearing about its history and legends from a historian. For those looking to venture beyond the palace, the hotel also offers the Echoes of the Past tour, which delves into the heritage of Telangana through a 500-year-old cluster of grand mausoleums, a hammam (bath) and baolis (stepwells). 

The hotel offers several tours worth taking. The Champagne Palace Walk starts at sunset and offers you the chance to explore the hotel and hear all about its legends. 

Get there: SIA runs a direct flight from Singapore to Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The palace is about 18km away, which should be about 30 minutes by car.

Schloss Elmau is a four-storey castle built in 1916 by Protestant theologian, philosopher and author Dr Johannes Müller. Conceived as a “free space for personal and communal life” that offered a “vacation from the ego”, it has maintained its relevance in modern history, hosting world leaders at two G7 summits. its relevance in modern history, hosting world leaders at two G7 summits. 

Set high in the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau is worth a visit for its spectacular mountain scenery alone. What sets it apart, however, is its concert hall, which hosts a wide-ranging programme of concerts, literary symposia and political gatherings throughout the year. Check its cultural programme calendar for the latest line-up, which also includes activities for children and teenagers, from AI creativity labs to edutainment workshops. 

Beyond events that nurture the mind, there is plenty to rejuvenate the body and spirit, including six dedicated spas, cold plunges, a heated infinity pool and a wide range of fitness programmes designed to help guests reset. 

Get there: SIA runs a direct flight from Singapore to Munich Airport. From there, it’s a close to two-hour drive to the luxury resort in the Bavarian Alps. Trains also run to Klais station, about 6km from the retreat.  

While not a palace itself, Espacio Nagoya Castle is an art museum hotel offering direct views of its spectacular namesake. There is plenty to see within the hotel, too, with works of art displayed throughout the property. Its carefully curated 400-piece collection, created in collaboration with Tokyo’s Art Front Gallery, explores imperial and folkloric Japanese motifs. 

 No visit to Japan is complete without a soak in an onsen, and Espacio Nagoya Castle offers private hot springs in its Onsen Collection rooms. Guests can soak in the mineral-rich waters while enjoying direct, unobstructed views of Nagoya Castle – a treat that not even the emperors of yore would have had the chance to enjoy. 

 Get there: SIA runs a direct flight from Singapore to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) in Nagoya. Take the Meitetsu Limited Express from the airport to Nagoya Station and then local transit to go there.

Set in the heart of Rome, overlooking Piazza della Repubblica, the crescent-shaped Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel is one of the city’s most striking luxury hotels. 

Like so much of Rome, the palazzo comes with a storied past. It stands over the ruins of the ancient Baths of Diocletian, built between AD 298 and 306 during the reigns of emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Housed within a grand 19th-century palazzo, the 232-room hotel also offers guests a glimpse of the subterranean ruins of the baths through glass flooring on the basement level. 

That’s not all. The hotel celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026 and is marking the occasion with a special package that lets guests take in the sights of Rome in luxurious style. Along with a two-night stay in one of its suites, guests can spend a day cruising along the River Tiber aboard a private boat, taking in the city’s historic landmarks along the way. The experience culminates on a rooftop terrace, with aperitifs at sunset and panoramic views across Rome. 

Get there: SIA runs a direct flight from Singapore to Rome Fiumicino “Leonardo da Vinci” International Airport. From there, take the Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini station and walk about 10 minutes to the hotel.

For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights, visit singaporeair.com.