Which is the biggest palace in the world?

Royal Palace of Caserta is the largest palace in the world and is a magnificent representation of Baroque architecture. This Luigi Vanvitelli creation has revolutionized world architecture so much that it is the most copied palace in the world. The palace was meant to be a centerpiece in the uprising city of Caserta.



The title of “biggest palace in the world” depends on how you define “biggest” (floor area, footprint, volume) and “palace” (still in royal use, historical, or including administrative complexes).

However, by floor area, the undisputed title holder is:

The Palace of the Parliament (Palatul Parlamentului) in Bucharest, Romania.

  • Size: Approximately 330,000 square meters (3.55 million square feet) of floor area.
  • Volume: 2.55 million cubic meters. It is also the heaviest building in the world.
  • Why it’s considered: Built during the Ceaușescu era, it is an administrative palace that houses the Romanian Parliament. While not a royal residence, its name, scale, and function in governance often qualify it as a “palace” in the broadest sense.

Other Notable Contenders by Different Criteria:

Largest Royal Palace Still in Use:

  • The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) in Spain is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe by floor area (approx. 135,000 sq m). However, the King lives elsewhere, and it is used for state ceremonies.
  • Buckingham Palace in London is a working royal residence but is smaller in floor area (approx. 77,000 sq m).

Largest Ancient/Historical Palace by Site Area:

  • The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, is often cited. Its total site area is about 720,000 sq m (178 acres), with a floor area

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