Palace tours · PALACE DAY TRIPS

15 Palace Day Trips Worth Flying For

56 tours  ·  from $18 a head

Versailles, Sintra, Caserta and Neuschwanstein all sit an hour or two outside the city you are staying in. The 15 below handle the transport as well as the ticket, with departure times and how long you really get inside.

Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle-Fairytale Day Tour from Munich - Linderhof Castle: the compact royal surprise
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Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle-Fairytale Day Tour from Munich

1.Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle-Fairytale Day Tour from Munich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,275 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Travel from Munich to Linderhof and Neuschwanstein with an English-speaking guide, passing through Oberammergau and the Bavarian Alps. You’ll see Linderhof’s Rococo rooms and gardens, Mary’s Bridge, and Neuschwanstein’s interior. Guides such as Johnny, Hanae, Pedro, and Monica are praised for clear stories and good organization.

“It should be better known that you have to pay extra for tickets to enter the place (42€), ontop of what you already pay, and what you are then paying for is JUST transport in truth as both palaces have their own tour guide. However if you do want to do this trip going with a group is really the only and best way of doing it. The timing of the day was good, both palaces were worth seeing”

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Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Trip from Munich - Oberammergau adds a brief village glimpse
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Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Trip from Munich

2.Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Trip from Munich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,756 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $91

Travel from central Munich to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle with an English-speaking guide such as Elisabeth, Christine, or Alberto. Admission costs extra, but tickets can be arranged on the coach. Expect a full 10.5-hour day, free time, Oberammergau sights, uphill walking, and memorable Alpine views.

“Our guide Elizabeth was very knowledgeable and lovely. It was an absolute pleasure to travel with her. The tour was fantastic.”

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From Paris: Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip - Giverny: Monet’s house and garden
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From Paris: Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip

3.Giverny and Versailles Palace Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,324 reviews · 11h 30m · from $163

Travel from Paris by air-conditioned coach to Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, then continue to Versailles for a guided palace visit and free time in the gardens. Guides such as Hendrix, Lawrence, Anais, and Helin have been praised for lively storytelling. Expect an 11.5-hour day, walking, crowds, and little time for a long lunch.

“Great! Eric at Versailles was knowledgeable and entertaining, and so was our Giverny guide (Emma I think)”

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Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace and Cotswolds Day Trip from London - Blenheim Palace and Churchill’s birthplace
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Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace and Cotswolds Day Trip from London

4.Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace and Cotswolds Day Trip from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,139 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $109

Travel from Victoria to Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, and Bampton, the filming village for Downton Abbey. You’ll ride a Wi-Fi-equipped coach, use an audio headset, and hear local stories from guides such as Kevin, Simon, Angela, or James. Palace entry depends on the option you book.

“Well planned, great info from our guide, James, and great driving from Michael Angelo. Very enjoyable day at a reasonable price.”

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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour - Meeting at Heping Xiqiao and starting the bus ride
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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

5.Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,004 reviews · from $29Best value

This $29 bus tour pairs four hours at Mutianyu with three hours at the Summer Palace, then heads to Beijing Olympic Park. An English-speaking guide such as Yoyo, Lee, Jackie Chan, or Amy leads the day, explains the sights, and helps arrange optional cable car, toboggan, and boat rides. It is a busy but useful choice for first-time visitors.

“Everything was magical and perfect. The tour guide Evelyn was very professional and kind, I hope to participate in a future tour with her! Truly recommend :)”

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Sintra & Cascais Day Tour with Pena Palace Entry and Gardens Walk - Free time in postcard-style Sintra
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Sintra & Cascais Day Tour with Pena Palace Entry and Gardens Walk

6.Sintra & Cascais Day Tour with Pena Palace Entry and Gardens Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 962 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $92Top rated

Travel from Lisbon in a small air-conditioned minivan to Pena Palace, its steep gardens, Sintra village, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais. English-speaking guides such as Nuno, Joanna, Simon, and Oriana are praised for clear stories and personal help. Hotel, port, or airport pickup may be available, though some addresses use a nearby meeting point.

“Oriana was amazing! We had the best day seeing the Pena Palace, lunch near the ocean, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais. Incredible tour and top marks for our guide/driver.”

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From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip - Tuilyies Standing Stones and the first Outlander connection
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From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

7.Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 937 reviews · 9 hours · from $83

Spend nine hours tracing Outlander locations with a Timberbush guide such as Paul Santa, Adam, Shafiq, or Linda. See Claire’s herb garden in Culross, Fort William at Blackness Castle, and Lallybroch at Midhope Castle. The tour also brings Scottish history, Jacobite stories, comfortable transport, and time for photos, though attraction fees are extra.

“We had a great time with our guide Marty. I really enjoyed the trip!”

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Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options - Cable car up or toboggan down
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Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options

8.Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 816 reviews · from $124

Spend 8 to 9 hours visiting Beijing’s Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with a private guide, lunch, hotel pickup, and air-conditioned transport. Choose the cable car or ski lift and toboggan. Guides such as Cindy, Lucy, Sherry, and Aurora are praised for clear history, thoughtful pacing, and family-friendly help.

“Summer is patient in explaining. She is professional and provided great service. She made sure we are comfortable and and enjoy our trip.”

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Giverny Monet's Home & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris - One hour in the Versailles gardens
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Giverny Monet’s Home & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris

9.Giverny Monet’s Home & Versailles Palace Day Trip from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 746 reviews · 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $167

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Paris to Versailles and Giverny in about 11.5 hours. A guide leads the Versailles palace visit, while you explore Monet’s house and gardens with an offline audio app. Expect separate guides, timed entry, lots of walking, and free time in both gardens.

“The trip to Giverny was great. Our guide was Hendricks.He was pleasant and gave informative info and showed photos to small groups on the bus to and from Giverny. Seeing inside Monet’s house was wonderful, the gardens were lovely. Hendricks left our group before we traveled to Versailles to pickup a different guide. The trip to Versailles was nice. However, our new guide, Frederick was not so nice! Once we got into the palace, had a restroom stop, etc. we had an unpleasant issue with Frederick. My sister and I are in our late 70’s and were already tired from the Monet tour. We asked if we could use the…”

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Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum - Walking through Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol
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Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum

10.Madrid in a Day Tour:Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 628 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $119

See Madrid’s artistic and royal highlights in about four hours. Your English-speaking guide leads you through Prado masterpieces, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and the Royal Palace with skip-the-line entry. Guides such as David, Anna, Ernesto, Irene, and Carlos have earned praise for clear storytelling. Early Prado entry may be available.

“Our guide was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and great overall. He made the tour 10/10. Highly recommend.”

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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven - Tiananmen Square: a powerful first stop
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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

11.Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 610 reviews · from $99

Spend about nine hours exploring Beijing’s imperial heart with an English-speaking guide such as Jenny, Lee, Mary, Murphy, or Michael. Hotel pickup, transport, entry tickets, and a Chinese lunch are included. The pace is brisk, the walking is real, and shopping stops may be added, so this suits first-time visitors with only one free day.

“The tour agency was very communicative as there was an unusual wind storm the original date of our tour, and accommodated a change in schedule so we could enjoy the city sites. Marry, our tour guide, was very informative and energetic, and did a good job wrangling our group despite the overly crowded sites. She gave good info and history on all of the historical areas, as well as helped with pointers for shopping and restaurants on other days. Be prepared for the crowds and give yourself and tour guide some grace as it can be hectic at times, but that is Beijing in general. The Forbidden City, Summer Palace…”

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Blenheim Palace Tour and The Cotswolds Day Trip from London - Blenheim Palace: allow more time than you get
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Blenheim Palace Tour and The Cotswolds Day Trip from London

12.Blenheim Palace Tour and The Cotswolds Day Trip from London

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 597 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $109

Spend about 10 hours visiting Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill, then explore Cotswolds villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Bampton. A guide such as Manon, Angela, or Phil may add lively historical context while a comfortable coach handles the long day from London. Palace admission options vary, so check what your booking includes.

“Fun day, informative guide. Really enjoyed the Cotswolds and the little villages. Blenheim was beautiful, unfortunately some of the palace was under scaffolding so some of the Grandeur was lost. This was just timing. If going, I would check to see how the repairs are going. Be prepared, it’s a long day, but worth the visit”

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Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Regaleira, Roca & Cascais Day Tour - Into the Sintra Mountains by small vehicle
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Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Regaleira, Roca & Cascais Day Tour

13.Sintra, Pena Palace, Regaleira, Roca & Cascais Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 520 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $102

Spend 8 to 9 hours touring Sintra and the Atlantic coast with a local guide such as Jorge, Leo, Bruno, Roma, or Giovana. Visit Pena Palace, taste Sintra pastries, stop at Cabo da Roca and Boca do Inferno, and finish in Cascais. Shared tours include Pena Palace, while Quinta da Regaleira requires the private option.

“We had a wonderful excursion to Sintra and the coast. Our trip was enhanced even more by our personable, knowledgeable and well-organized tour guide, Bruno. He made sure we were comfortable and well-informed. All in all, it was an unforgettable day!”

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Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris - Vaux-le-Vicomte: the château that inspired Versailles
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Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris

14.Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 454 reviews · 9 hours · from $123

Travel from Paris to two remarkable châteaux in one day. Explore Vaux-le-Vicomte’s furnished rooms, kitchens, dome, and formal gardens, then visit Fontainebleau, the royal residence used for seven centuries. Round-trip coach transport, admission, and audio guides are included, but there is no live guide or lunch.

“As expected, it was just round trip from Paris to the 2 castles and entrance tickets plus audio guides for the venues. The schedule was ok, 3.5 hours for Fontainebleau and 2.5 hours at Vaux-le-Vicomte, just enough for the castles and a bit of gardens. Luckily, everyone was on time for each leg of the trip so everything went as planned.”

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St-Emilion & Médoc Wine Day Tour: Chateaus, Tastings and Lunch - Saint-Émilion: stone lanes before the first glass
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St-Emilion & Médoc Wine Day Tour: Chateaus, Tastings and Lunch

15.St-Emilion & Médoc Wine Day Tour: Chateaus, Tastings and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 430 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $235

Travel from Bordeaux in a small group of up to eight with an English-speaking wine guide such as Karim, Pauline, Yev, or Daniel. Visit Saint-Émilion, tour family estates and a 1855 Grand Cru Classé château, taste across both wine regions, and share a French picnic lunch. Bring extra water and expect a long day on the road.

“The day was a wonderful and informative experience. Karim,our guide was exceptional, - he filled us in with many details about the region, culture and history of this wine making area. Highly recommend.”

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