Presidential palaces are among popular tourist attractions due to their beautiful construction and architecture. This Vacayholics article tells you about the most beautiful presidential residences in the world. Some of them have been palaces of kings, while some others are the places of residence of the countries’ heads of state.
Presidential Palace Haiti
The National Palace, located in Port-au-Prince, which was the official residence of the President of Haiti, was severely damaged during an earthquake in January 2010. It is still in the same condition.
A Presidential palace is one which is considered as the official and grand residence of the President or head of state in a few countries. However, it is not so in many other countries that consider the official workplace of the President or head of the state as a Presidential Palace instead. Some others refer to both the residence and the workplace as a Presidential palace.
Presidential palaces are magnificent attractions of a city as they have unique and stunning architectural beauty and designs like baroque, neoclassical, among others. Some of them were built recently while most of them were built a long time ago. They were made into modern buildings after remodeling and reconstruction.
World’s Most Beautiful Presidential Palaces
Hofburg Palace, Austria
The Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria is the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria. It was initially built as a castle in the 13th century and later extended to a splendid residence by the Habsburg emperors. It was the residence of the Habsburgs, rulers of Austria for centuries. Today, the building has a National Library, Imperial Treasury, and a collection of musical instruments, another collection of weapons, a Museum of Ethnography and the famous Spanish Riding School.
Quirinal Palace, Rome
The Quirinal Palace is situated in Quirinal Hill, which is one of the highest of the seven hills in Rome, Italy. It is also known as the Palazzo del Quirinale or Quirinale in Italian. This historic building was the residence of popes and kings in the past and now is the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. There is a fountain in the square called Monte Cavallo right in front of the palace. There is also a Pauline chapel inside where musical concerts are held. The palace was initially built as a summer palace by Pope Gregory XIII in the late 1500s to stay away from the summer heat and malaria which was a problem in the area, and was later extended and adorned by a succession of renowned architects. The building also houses a number of rare tapestries, furniture, paintings, sculptures, and historic carriages.
White House, Washington D.C., United States
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It stood as a symbol of Presidency for many years. It is located in Washington D.C. The site for the office building was chosen by the first president of the US, George Washington in 1791 and its construction began in 1792. During the war of 1812, it was set on fire by the British. The house was rebuilt and renovated several times later. In the 19th century, there were several plans to expand the President’s House or to build a new house. However, these plans were never implemented.
Ak Orda Presidential Palace, Astana, Kazakhstan
The Ak Orda Presidential Palace is the official workplace of the President of Kazakhstan. It is located in the capital city of Astana. It is one of the most interesting attractions in Astana. The palace looks magnificent with its white body and a blue and golden dome at the top. Its construction began in 2001 and was completed in 2004.
Rashtrapati Bhavan, India
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India. It is located in New Delhi, India. Its construction began in the year 1912 by a British architect when it was decided that a residence would be built for the British Viceroy, and the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The construction was completed in 1929. The architecture of the vast red and cream sandstone structure is spectacular. It has a combination of Western and Indian designs. It is the largest residence of a Head of State in the world.
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia
The Grand Kremlin is the official residence of the president of Russia. It is located in Moscow, the capital of the country. The palace is a masterpiece of Russian architecture. The magnificent and outstanding palace was built in 12 years i.e. from 1837 to 1849 by Konstantin Thon and a group of architects. Earlier, the palace was the residence of the tsar of Moscow.
Prague Castle, Czech Republic
The Prague Castle is the official residence and office of the President of Czech Republic. It is located in the capital city, Prague. It was founded around 880 AD by Prince Borivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty. The castle also houses a museum, cathedral, and a garden. The cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Prague Castle has been the residence of Czech kings, rulers, and presidents for many years. It is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle in the world.
Presidential Office Building, Taipei, Taiwan
The Presidential Office Building is the official workplace of the President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China. It was built from 1912 to 1919 by the architect Uheiji Nagano. Initially, it served as the office of the Governor General of Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. The building was severely damaged due to bombing during the World War II. It was restored in 1947. Since then, the building has been the official workplace of the Republic of China (ROC) following the retreat of the ROC to Taiwan.
Union buildings, Pretoria, South Africa
It is the official seat of the South African government and the president of South Africa. It is located in Pretoria. It is the most beautiful government residence in the world and is considered as an architectural masterpiece. The semi-circular sandstone structure was built from 1910 to 1913 by Sir Herbert Baker. It consists of offices and an amphitheater. It is also surrounded by a lush green garden.
Presidential Palace, Vilnius, Lithuania
The Presidential Palace is the official residence of the President of Lithuania. It is located in Vilnius Old Town. It was built during the 14th century and since then it underwent several reconstructions by architects Laurynas Gucevičius and Vasily Stasov. It has been the residence for rulers, kings, and noblemen for many years.
Independence Palace Saigon, Vietnam
Independence Palace was the official home and office of the South Vietnamese President during the Vietnam War. It is located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was built from 1962 to 1966 by architect Ngô Viết Thụ on the site where Norodom Palace was built. Also known as Reunification Palace, it is today a tourist destination, but sometimes used for official government meetings, functions, and receptions.
Grassalkovich Palace Bratislava, Slovakia
The Grassalkovich Palace, also called the Presidential Palace, is the residence of the President of Slovakia. It is located at Hodžovo square in the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava. It was built in 1760 by architect Anton Mayerhofer. There is a big Earth-shaped fountain in front of the palace. It symbolizes freedom. There is also a park with trees and a lawn. The building was used as a venue for aristocratic society functions and ceremonies in the past. Currently, it is not open for the public, except on special occasions.
Bogor Palace, Indonesia
The Bogor Palace is a Presidential Palace located in the city of Bogor in West Java. It was the official home of the Dutch Governor General from 1870 to 1942. The architecture and historical features of the palace are beautiful. It is notable for its green gardens and cool atmosphere. The Bogor Palace has been used for various political meetings and international conferences.
La Moneda Palace, Republic of Chile
La Moneda Palace is the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile. The building also has offices of three cabinet ministers. Initially, it was a colonial mint with construction starting in 1784. The mint was opened in 1805. It was designed by Italian architect Joaquín Toesca.
Montaza Palace, Egypt
The Montaza palace ground is situated in the Montaza district of Alexandria, Egypt. It has two palaces in it. One is the Salamlek palace which was built as a summer residence in 1892 by Khedive Abbas Helmy II. Later, Al-Haramlik Palace and the royal gardens were built on the grounds surrounding the Montaza Palace by King Fuad I in 1932 as a summer residence. The Salamlek palace is used as a hotel now while the Al-Haramlik Palace is considered as a presidential residence from the time President Anwar El-Sadat renovated it as a presidential residence.
White House, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
The White House is the presidential office building in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The palace made of marble was the site of riots during the Tulip Revolution in 2005 and the Kyrgyzstani riots in 2010. During the 2010 riots, some parts of the building as well as hard copies of many government records were destroyed by fire.
Presidential Palace, Warsaw, Poland
The Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, was built in the early 1640s by the Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski. During its long history, the palace had been a residence for many aristocratic families and was rebuilt and renovated several times. Since 1994, the palace has been the official seat of the President of the Republic of Poland. However, the President of Poland decided to stay in Belweder Palace.
Presidential Palace, Finland
The Presidential Palace in Helsinki is one of the official homes of the President of the Republic of Finland. Its construction began in 1816 as a stately residence and was designed by architect Pehr Granstedt. Later, the renovation work was done between 1843 and 1845, by architect Carl Ludvig Engel.
Presidential Palace, Hanoi, Vietnam
The Presidential Palace of Vietnam was built between 1900 and 1906 by the French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu, as a house for the French Governor General of Indochina. It is located in the city of Hanoi. The palace features French architecture. Since 1954, the Government of Vietnam took over this palace to provide a home to the President. However, for some reason, the president refused to live there. But he built a house in the palace grounds. The palace is now used as a venue for government meetings.
Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Indonesia
Merdeka Palace is a presidential palace of Indonesia. It is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. It is located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The palace featuring a neoclassical architecture, was established in the 1870s. It was previously a residence for the Dutch Governor General. In 1949, the palace was named as Merdeka Palace.
Bellevue Palace, Germany
Bellevue Palace, also known as Schloss Bellevue, is located in Berlin, Germany. It has long been the official residence of the President of Germany. The building was built in the period between 1785 and 1786 as a royal residence. It also housed a museum and a guest house. It was designed by the architect, Philipp Daniel Boumann. After World War II, the building was damaged and rebuilt. Renovations took place later and it became a presidential residence ever since. The neo-classical styled white building has two wings on its two sides. The left hand side is called the Queens wing and the right side is called the Spree wing.
Casa Rosada, Argentina
La Casa Rosada is a presidential palace in Argentina. It is located in the capital city Buenos Aires. It is the official workplace of the President of Argentina. However, she does not live here. The building is officially called Casa de Gobierno, which means Government House. The salami pink palace is considered as one of the most magnificent and iconic buildings in Buenos Aires. It was built in the late 1800s. The building also houses a museum.
Palacio do Planalto, Brazil
The Palácio do Planalto is the official seat of the President of Brazil. However, it is not the official residence of the president. It is located in the capital city, Brasília. The building was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Its construction started in 1958 and it was inaugurated in 1960. It has been the official workplace of Brazilian presidents since a long time.
Mariyinsky Palace, Ukraine
Mariyinsky Palace is the official home of the President of Ukraine. It is located in Kiev. The majestic palace, featuring Baroque architecture, was a residence for guests of the imperial family. It was built around 1750s at the request of the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. It was designed by the Russian architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Later, during the early 19th century, it was damaged by fires and rebuilt in 1870 using old drawings. The palace again suffered damages during the World War II and was rebuilt in the 1940s.
Oguzkhan Presidential Palace, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Oguzkhan Presidential Palace is the official residence and workplace of the President of Turkmenistan. It is located in the capital city Ashgabat. It was erected in 2011 by the French construction company Bouygues in the historical center of the capital city. Іt has been serving as the presidential headquarters аnd residence оf the president оf Turkmenistan fоr a long time.
Novi dvor, Serbia
Novi Dvor is the official seat of the President of Serbia. It previously served as a royal residence of the Karađorđević dynasty of Serbia and later Yugoslavia. It was built in the early 1900s. It underwent renovation in around the mid 1900s and is being used as a presidential office since then.
Belém Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
Throughout history, the Belem National Palace has been the royal palace of the Portuguese kings and presidents, and is now a national monument and the official residence of the Portuguese Republic. It is located in Belem, Lisbon. Its construction began around 1720s and completed around 1750s. There is also a museum inside the building. Right in front of the palace, a garden and a statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, the Viceroy of India, standing on top of a pedestal in the center, can be seen.
Elysee Palace French Republic
The Elysee Palace, located in Paris, France, is the official home of the President of the French Republic. It has been used as the official residence of French Presidents since 1848. The palace serves as the office of the President and the meeting place of the Council of Ministers. It was established in the early 1700s. It was later remodeled in the 1970s. It is the most prestigious palace in Paris due to its unique decorations and furnishings.
Palacio de los López, Paraguay
Palacio de los López is a palace which is the official workplace of the President as well as the seat of the government of Paraguay. It is located in Asuncion. It was built at the request of Carlos Antonio Lopez so as to provide a home for his son. The palace was erected around 1860s under the direction of the English architect Alonso Taylor.