While many European nations like France and Germany are famous for their royal estates, India is often cited as the country with a staggering density of palaces, particularly in the state of Rajasthan. Known as the "Land of Kings," Rajasthan is home to hundreds of opulent palaces such as the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur and the City Palace in Jaipur. Many of these have been converted into "heritage hotels," allowing travelers to experience royal living. China is also a major contender, housing the world's largest palace complex, the Forbidden City in Beijing, which contains 980 buildings. In Europe, Italy and Spain feature an incredible number of palaces due to their history of divided city-states and powerful monarchies; the Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest functioning palace in Europe. Each of these countries offers a different "style" of palace, from the marble-and-sandstone forts of the East to the Baroque and Neoclassical estates of the West, making them global centers for architectural tourism in 2026.