World’s Best Virtual Tours of Medieval Castles (Free of Charge!)

The world is home to some beautiful, Disney-like castles. However, many of us live far away and are unable to visit them right now, no matter how much we want to. This is where virtual tours come in – they’re an excellent way to experience your favorite places without actually getting on a plane and going there.

So, if you want to experience the might and beauty of these magnificent structures from the comfort of your own homes, here’s a handy list of virtual tours that you can easily peruse from the comfort of your own couch.

The List of Top Virtual Castle Tours

1. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the monarch’s official London residence and a working royal palace. The present building developed from Buckingham House, which George III acquired in 1761; it became the official London residence of the British sovereign when Queen Victoria moved there in 1837. Today, parts of the palace open to visitors at selected times, while its ceremonial and working functions continue year-round.

The Royal Family still provides a free official virtual tour of Buckingham Palace, including the Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room, Throne Room and Blue Drawing Room. Google Arts & Culture also offers free digital material from the Royal Collection.

2. Bran Castle

Romania’s Bran Castle is closely associated in popular culture with Dracula, although Bram Stoker never visited Romania and the historical castle was not the home of his fictional count. The fortress was built in the late 14th century to help control the mountain pass and regional trade. In the 20th century it became a royal residence for Queen Marie of Romania, who oversaw major changes to its interiors.

Bran Castle became the love of Marie’s life, so much so that her heart would be sent back to be buried on the castle grounds. One can see the urn in which it resides even today. These days, the castle is a gorgeous tourist destination and stands tall in all its lovely Gothic glory. It’s certainly quite a wondrous place to visit, but if you can’t make it physically, you can definitely avail a virtual tour from the comfort of your home.

3. Edinburgh Castle

Home of the Scottish Crown Jewels, Edinburgh Castle sits atop “Castle Rock” – a geographic body formed by a volcanic explosion that has been consistently inhabited since ancient times. The castle we see today is a compilation of buildings built from the 14th to 19th centuries. Edinburgh was an epicenter of political strife for several centuries as the English and Scots fought for control of Scotland–this castle’s layered defenses and opulent palatial buildings reflect that tumultuous history.

Edinburgh Castle developed over many centuries rather than through one single building campaign, and its surviving structures range from the medieval St Margaret’s Chapel to later military buildings. If you cannot visit in person, this Google Arts & Culture experience of Edinburgh Castle remains a useful free way to explore its history remotely.

4. Chateau de Chenonceau

France has got quite a romantic culture and it has been so since medieval times – as proven by the gorgeous architecture and rich history of Chateau de Chenonceau. Built by the Marques family (who were accused of sedition), the property came into the possession of King Francis I in 1535. His son, Henry II, gave the castle to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who had fallen in love with it. She’s one of the most prominent figures in the castle’s history, achieving a number of noteworthy renovations and additions during her time there.

Today, Chateau de Chenonceau is one of the most revered buildings in France. Its hybrid Gothic-Renaissance architecture, along with its lush grounds have made it quite a tourist attraction. Channel even held a fashion show here once. If you’re as fascinated by this castle as the rest of the world, then here’s a Google Arts & Culture virtual tour that you can take to explore this illustrious chateau!

5. Blarney Castle

As far as tower houses go, Blarney Castle takes the cake for being one of the oldest, strongest, and sturdiest ones that you’ll find across all of Europe. Representing Ireland in all its stunning glory, this edifice is steeped in legends of ye old. The most notable one is that the stone of Blarney has been enchanted by a witch, so anyone who kisses it is blessed with the “gift of the gab”.

Blarney’s grounds include gardens, woodland walks and a Poison Garden. If you cannot visit Cork in person, the castle maintains an official map and free virtual tour, making this one of the more dependable entries on this list as of August 2026.

6. Hearst Castle

As far as virtual tours of a castle go, you can’t miss out on Hearst! This San Simeon-based Californian estate is pure extravagance in architectural form. It was the home of publishing pioneer William Randolph Hearst and is the only castle on this list to be designed by a female architect: Julia Morgan. A total of 10 million USD was spent on the castle’s construction, around a quarter of which was dedicated to furnishing alone.

Hearst Castle is not a medieval fortress but a 20th-century estate whose design draws heavily on historic European architecture. Hearst once kept an extensive private zoo, but the old claim that the estate is still home to one of the world’s largest zoos is misleading. For remote exploration, Hearst Castle now offers an official digital app and media library with images, stories and videos that can be used away from the site.

7. Neuschwanstein Castle

As one of the most notable architectural attractions in Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle is the brainchild of the infamous Mad King Ludwig II. Hailing from Bavaria, he was the son of Maximillian, and had quite curious inclinations towards the uncanny. The castle was his way of reaffirming his royal authority after losing out to Prussia after only two years on the throne. Today, the sheer magnificence of this castle has made it an icon that once inspired Walt Disney himself.

Neuschwanstein was still unfinished when Ludwig II died in 1886, and several planned elements were never built. A third-party 360° aerial experience remains available online, while the official Bavarian Palace Administration should be used for current visitor information and tickets.

8. Malbork Castle

This 13th-century medieval castle may be situated in Poland, but it’s got a worldwide fanbase. Originally a fortified monastery, Malbork is known as one of the only castles globally to be entirely made out of bricks. The Knights of the Teutonic Order originally constructed it to strengthen their control of the area. It was partially destroyed during World War II, and now enjoys a position as a UNESCO Heritage site.

The Castle Museum in Malbork opened in 1961 and continues to manage the reconstructed complex and its collections. Better than relying on the old third-party link, the museum now provides its own official virtual walk through Malbork Castle, along with digital collection projects.

9. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century as part of the Norman defensive ring around London; it was not originally a fortress of Saxon kings. Henry I was the first monarch known to use it as a residence, and later sovereigns repeatedly enlarged and remodeled the complex. It remains a working royal residence today.

The Royal Family’s free official Windsor Castle virtual tours are still available. They include St George’s Hall prepared for a State Banquet, the Waterloo Chamber and the Crimson Drawing Room.

10. Warwick Castle

Warwick’s defensive history predates the Norman castle: Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians and daughter of Alfred the Great, established a fortified burh at Warwick in 914. The castle itself dates from after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror ordered a motte-and-bailey castle here in 1068. Its timber defenses were gradually replaced and expanded in stone over the following centuries.

Warwick’s collections and attractions cover many periods of the castle’s long history. The older HistoryView link is no longer dependable, but Warwick Castle currently advertises an official interior virtual tour on its own website, making that the safer link to use.

11. Alnwick Castle

Well known as the real-world Hogwarts, Alnwick Castle shot to fame when it was featured in the Harry Potter franchise. Since then, it has been featured in other popular television series and movies, notably Downtown Abbey. It belongs to the Percy family, whose ancestor purchased the barony back in the 14th century. Today, it is inhabited by the 12th Duke of Northumberland, his wife, and four children.

Alnwick Castle really cashes onto its movie franchise fame and even has a number of activities designed around the Harry Potter theme. It is also home to a legendary Poison Garden, which exclusively hosts a number of toxic plant species. A virtual tour of this castle is definitely a must if you can’t visit it personally quite yet.

To Wrap Up

These are some of the most iconic medieval castles out there. We know how much of a challenge it can be to plan an actual trip. So we hope that these virtual tours help you enjoy a little getaway in a quick and easy manner, from the comfort of your own dominion.