A new report from the global e-commerce platform Ubuy has revealed the European cities with the highest number of castles – perfect for a magical winter getaway.
Winter is quickly approaching, bringing a whimsical feeling of frost in the air and the hope of some snow. The crisp weather conditions lend themselves to a winter getaway – and what better way to enjoy the cooler season than with a walk through some incredible castles? Europe is often on the radar for tourists from across the globe who wish to don their favourite royal-esque attire and strut through the halls as the royals once did – but which cities have the most castle-bang for your buck?
To find out more about these “castle capitals”, the global e-commerce platform Ubuy has conducted research into the number of castles in major European cities. To do this, they sourced the 3 largest cities by population size for each country, along with each city’s size in square metres. Next, they researched the number of castles in each city and calculated the number of castles per 100,000 square metres.
Commenting on the research, Faizan Khan at Ubuy said: “The winter season often makes us want to put on our warm jackets and see the sights with their new frosted adornments. Castles are a popular tourist attraction throughout the year, but there is something exceptionally magical about seeing a castle surrounded by snow and ice.
“Through our research, we have revealed which cities have the highest volume of castles – making them the ideal destination for any castle-lover to enjoy this winter period. These architectural marvels are a great way to spend a day in any of these European cities, and – at this time of year – they are all certain to look fantastic and make for some incredible photo opportunities.”
Now, let’s take a look at which cities in Europe have the most castles.
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Istanbul, Turkey
In first place is the Turkish city of Istanbul, which has a total of 12 castles – equating to 0.21 castles per 100,000 m2. In terms of popular castles within Istanbul, Rumeli Fortress (pictured) is a well-regarded tourist attraction – offering fantastic views of the local coastal landscape and a glimpse into Turkey’s Ottoman history. The castle’s vibrant stonework is even more impressive in the winter when it stands out from the snow.
In the local area, tourists can enjoy some of Istanbul’s vibrant markets, selling various trinkets and other goods to take home. Travellers can also take the opportunity to try some of the local delicacies – such as Menemen; a Turkish-style omelette.
Castles: 12
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.21
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Rome, Italy
In second place is the Italian capital of Rome, which is home to 11 castles – which equates to 0.85 castles per 100,000 m2. Popular castles for tourists within the city include the Castel Sant’Angelo – known for its impressive fortress structure and ornate bridge. Rome is famous for its abundance of historical landmarks, showcasing the city’s Roman Empire history.
Directly surrounding the castle is the River Tiber, which makes for an excellent scenic walk. Those visiting the city for its many castles may also be interested in visiting some of the area’s ornate Renaissance churches – including the Basilica di San Pietro, which is just a short walk from the castle.
Castles: 11
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.85
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Berlin, Germany
Next, in a joint position with Naples, is the German capital of Berlin – offering 9 castles in total and 1 castle per 100,000 m2. Berlin’s top castles for tourists include Charlottenburg Palace, Stadtschloss Berlin, and Bellevue Palace – famed for their dome-shaped roofs that look almost like powdered doughnuts in the snow.
Those heading to view the Charlottenburg Palace should also take some time to walk through the Schlossgarten Charlottenburg – the beautiful gardens that surround the castle. Directly within the vicinity of the castle are two museums for tourists to enjoy – the Brohan Museum and the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection.
Castles: 9
Castles per 100,000 m2: 1
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Naples, Italy
In joint position with Berlin is the Italian city of Naples, home to 9 castles in total – the equivalent of 7.67 castles per 100,000 m2. The top castles for tourists in Naples include Castel Sant’Elmo, Castel dell’Ovo, and Castel Nuovo.
Naples is known for its mild winters – meaning there’s no need to worry about being snowed in. This is good news for tourists, meaning they can comfortably walk across the city to take in all of the castles it has to offer. A walk around Via San Gregorio Armeno is a must for anyone visiting the city in the winter months, where tourists can watch scene-makers preparing miniature dolls and decorations for the upcoming holiday season.
Castles: 9
Castles per 100,000 m2: 7.67
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Ankara, Turkey
Finishing up the top-5 castle capitals, Turkey is back again. This time it’s the Turkish capital of Ankara, which shares its position with the Austrian cities of Vienna and Graz. All three cities are home to 8 castles in total – with Ankara’s equating to 0.03 castles per 100,000 m2. Popular castles within Ankara are Ankara Castle and the Estergon Turk Kultur Merkezi – both of which offer spectacular views of the winter landscape.
Ankara is often regarded as an ideal winter destination due to its high volume of indoor attractions – including a ski centre and museums located throughout the city. Those travelling to Ankara for winter castle-viewing can enjoy a range of indoor markets selling festive goods.
Castles: 8
Castles per 100,000 m2: 0.03
That wraps up the top 5 cities for castle hunters heading to Europe this winter, but there are still plenty more cities with an abundance of castles to be enjoyed. Outside of the top 5, other cities that made it within the top 10 best cities for castle trips include:
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Graz, Austria (8 castles)
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Vienna, Austria (8 castles)
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Prague, Czech Republic (7 castles)
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Milan, Italy (7 castles)
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Łódź, Poland (7 castles)
