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4 Heritage Hotels That Rewrote Royalty as Hospitality

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Dwelling luxuriously and experience the glorious of the past as part of the unforgettable luxury journey.

October 22, 2025

Text: Jeerawan Duangnam Herriot

2 min read

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Historic palaces and stately residences converted into hotels allow guests to sleep inside history while enjoying modern comforts. Expect provenance (palace stories and original architecture) as much as plush service, making them ideal for travelers who want history lived, not merely observed. Here are four celebrated check-ins worth checking out.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur (India)

Jag Niwas, built in the mid-18th century as a Mewar royal summer palace, now floats like a white marble jewel on Lake Pichola as the Taj Lake Palace. Its courtyards, terraces and water-borne arrival preserve the romance of royal retreats while offering hospitality standards of a global luxury brand. Staying here feels cinematic — boat transfers, ornate suites and views of city palaces and hilltop tempest.

The decoration details reflect a rich history from the past.
The decoration details reflect a rich history from the past.

Get Indulged in this Mughal-inspired luxury hotel. Fly to India with Thai Airways!

Aman Summer Palace, Beijing (China)

Situated beside the UNESCO World Heritage Summer Palace, Aman’s discreet pavilions occupy former guest courtyards of the imperial estate. The resort marries proximity to one of China’s great garden palaces with minimalist Aman design: private courtyards, calm interiors and unrivalled access to the historic estate through a private entrance. It’s a blend of imperial context and contemporary serenity.

Overlooking the series of pavilions aged over a century.
Overlooking the series of pavilions aged over a century.

Experience the history through a luxury stay. Fly to Beijing with Thai Airways!

Villa d’Este, Lake Como (Italy)

Once a 16th-century Renaissance villa, Villa d’Este evolved into a celebrated luxury hotel on the shores of Lake Como. Its baroque gardens, ornate salons and lakeside terraces have hosted aristocrats and artists for generations; today the property mixes old-world glamour, manicured gardens and an events calendar that keeps the legacy alive.

A famous baroque garden.
A famous baroque garden.

Discover the charm of Lake Como. Fly to Italy with Thai Airways!

Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul (Türkiye)

A 19th-century Ottoman palace set on the Bosporus, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul has been restored as a five-star hotel. Ornate rooms and palatial public spaces retain imperial scale, while waterfront terraces and Ottoman details frame views between Asia and Europe — an immersive stay in an architectural emblem of Istanbul’s layered past.

The hotel is known as the Grande Dame of the Bosphorus.
The hotel is known as the Grande Dame of the Bosphorus.

Explore the uniqueness of the Ottoman architecture. Fly to Istanbul with Thai Airways!

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