The World’s 100 Best Palaces · 2026
The Best Palaces in North America
3 of the 100 palaces in The World’s 100 Best Palaces 2026 are in North America, in 2 countries. The highest placed is Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, Mexico, at number 26 in the world. Biltmore Estate in Asheville, United States (number 32) and Hearst Castle in San Simeon, United States (number 48) follow.
Three houses on a hill
Chapultepec Castle stands on a hill in Chapultepec Forest in Mexico City. It was the residence of Maximilian and Carlota and later of presidents, and now houses the National Museum of History. Biltmore Estate near Asheville was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 19th century and is seen on a self-guided audio tour. Hearst Castle above the coast at San Simeon was designed by Julia Morgan for William Randolph Hearst and is visited on guided tours.
Palaces
Best by region
- The NordicsFrederiksborg CastleHillerød, DenmarkN° 4
- EuropePeleș CastleSinaia, RomaniaN° 1
- AsiaMehrangarh FortJodhpur, IndiaN° 3
- The Middle EastQasr Al WatanAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesN° 13
- North AmericaChapultepec CastleMexico City, MexicoN° 26
- Latin AmericaCatete PalaceRio de Janeiro, BrazilN° 70