Cong, Ireland
The Irish town of Cong is located in a region of lakes, streams, and lively green meadows, which obviously explains why it’s so famous among tourists. The town counts with a great number of stone bridges and thatched-roof cottages. But this is not all.
Cong is also home to the ruins of the former Augustinian abbey that dates from the 13th century and which constitutes one of the country’s finest examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture. However, the Ashford Castle is also a must-visit.
Giethoorn, Netherlands
Netherland’s capital city of Amsterdam is definitely beautiful, but for those of you who wish to reprieve from city life, then we definitely recommend the rural village of Giethoorn. This town is 100% car-free and, in fact, the main means of transport is by boat.
So row through the village’s narrow canals and visit the many thatched-roof farmhouses and cottages, all encircled by blooming gardens. But watch your head since you don’t want to bump into the wooden bridges that connect each grassy plot of land.
Colmar, France
Paris is not the only place worth visiting in France. As a matter of fact, the country is filled with charming little towns with unique architecture. The village of Colmar, located in the Alsace region in north-eastern France, is definitely one of them.
This Alsatian town offers a blend of French and German influences, mainly reflected in its architecture and culinary traditions. This town is famous for its bakeries, its German Gothic houses, and its French Neo-Baroque buildings.
Banská Štiavnica
The historical town of Banská Štiavnica is located in southern Slovakia. Due to the well-preserved state of its many medieval buildings, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But what does this town have to offer?
If you walk along the cobblestoned alleys, you’ll come across several castles and churches built in Gothic and Neoclassical styles, as well as enormous palaces and beautiful squares. Its former silver and gold mines have now been converted into an open-air museum.
Bled, Slovenia
Slovenia is filled with enchanting little villages and the tiny Alpine town of Bled in northwestern Slovenia is one of the most beautiful of all. It's located on the shore of Lake Bled,, which is famous for the tiny island that is found in its center.
Lake Bled is surrounded by the striking Karavanke Mountains, thus making it a great spot for trekking. After a two-hour hike around the lake, you can reach the medieval Bled Castle, which is located on a hilltop and thus offers a panoramic view of the whole town.
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
The town of Kazimierz Dolny is located less than a kilometer from the shores of the Vistula River in central Poland. It is a great spot for nature lovers since it features gorges as well as tunnels created from intertwined tree roots.
The village itself is charming, mainly due to its stone-paved market square and its buildings and monuments, which date from the Renaissance era. You’ll also find several art galleries of Polish art. What else can you ask for?
Óbidos, Portugal
Portugal is famous for the medieval architecture of its many villages, and Óbidos is a perfect example. This hamlet is located on a hilltop, and it was gifted to Queen Isabel from her husband King Dinis. What a nice birthday gift, right?
Óbidos is famous for its ancient fortifications, its whitewashed villas filled with bougainvillea flowers, and its narrow cobblestoned alleys. Don’t forget to try the local specialty of ginjinha, a liquor made from sour cherries.
Tellaro, Italy
Italy’s western coast is filled with charming villages that combine stunning views with ancient architecture, such as the fishing town of Tellaro. It’s best to visit it in spring or summer because during the winter months the days can get quite windy.
Tellaro receives very few tourists, especially due to its remote location. But once you reach the village, you’ll come across a series of colorful and ancient buildings that lie on the edge of a rocky cliff.
Folegandros, Greece
Santorini is Greece’s most visited island, but little do people know that just a few miles away, there’s a tiny island that is equally beautiful and home to a very similar architecture, but which receives way fewer tourists than Santorini, and it's Folegandros.
Folegandros is full of streets packed with slate, whitewashed buildings, decorated with colorful flowers and patches of blue painting. If you’re into swimming, then trek all the way to Katergo, which is a sheltered beach that not many people know of.
Telč, Czech Republic
Most people in the world are familiar with the Czech Republic’s capital city of Prague, but how many people are familiar with the country’s smaller villages? Telč is so charming that it has nothing to envy Prague.
The town’s main square is filled with medieval houses which boast both Baroque and Renaissance-style facades and high bright gables. Many of these houses have been turned into small shops and cafés, making the city an ideal spot for tourists.
Albarracín, Spain
Spain is home to thousands of tiny ancient villages, and Albarracín is clearly one of them. It is one of the country’s most well preserved medieval towns, surrounded by fortified walls and barren hills.
Albarracin’s steep and narrow alleys are packed with ancient stone towers, medieval castles, and beautiful chapels. Located on the town’s most elevated point, a beautiful cathedral built in the traditional Mudéjar style overlooks the entire city.
Reine, Norway
Although it’s not usually included in tourists’ itineraries, Norway is famous because of its Fjords. If you're not afraid of cold temperatures, we strongly recommend visiting the tiny fishing village of Reine, located North of the Arctic Circle.
This village is home to pristine lakes and surrounded by fjords. Many old red wooden houses, which used to be fishermen’s cabins, were recently converted into comfortable cottages for tourists. Doesn't it sound tempting?
Hallstatt, Austria
Amid the Austrian Alps, there are tons of secret storybook villages that are a must-visit. One of the prettiest ones is Hallstatt, located in the central region of the country. Not only is it surrounded by mountains, but it also lies on the banks of the majestic Hallstätter See.
The Hallstätter See is a famous lake with pristine waters. During winter, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful view of the snow-topped Dachstein mountains that surround the lake, while during the summer months, you may go for a scuba-diving tour.
Bibury, England
Most people that travel to England only visit its capital city of London, but the truth is that this country is filled with enthralling towns with medieval architecture, like Bibury! Visiting Bibury is pretty much like traveling back to the 16th or 17th century.
Bibury is filled with ancient stone cottages with very steep pitched roofs, which are surrounded by bright green meadows. However, the town's most scenic area goes by the name Arlington Row, a small lane of sepia-hued cottages from the 17th century.
Pučiśća, Croatia
Croatia is becoming more famous as the years go by, especially due to the striking beauty of its sunny Dalmatian coast. Pučiśća is one of the country's stunning villages definitely worth visiting.
Not only is Pučiśća surrounded by the beautiful turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea, but it is also packed with white-stone villas with terracotta roofs and narrow cobble-stoned alleys. It also features an ancient stone-paved square surrounded by medieval buildings.
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Malta is famous for its beautiful beaches as well as its rich cultural heritage. You should definitely visit the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, whose harbor is packed with old-fashioned fishing boats called luzzus.
If you walk along the village’s coast, you’ll soon come across St. Peter’s Pool, a hidden cove ringed with limestone ledges. If you go there, don’t forget your swimming suit, as it is one of the best places to dive into the pristine waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Rättvik, Sweden
The small village of Rättvik is located in the middle of a huge forest and right next to Lake Siljan. The town features tons of small and humble wooden houses, which are mostly painted in _Falu Rödfärg_, the deep red color originated in a nearby copper mine.
This remote rural town also harbors dozens of shops that sell handmade crafts such as the traditional decorative Dala horses. If you want some peace, this is definitely the place to go since the population is less than 5,000.
Bosa, Italy
The Mediterranean island of Sardinia is one of the most amazing places in Italy. For instance, did you know that it has over 7,000 prehistoric archaeological sites, all dating from before 1,000 B.C.? Bosa is one of the many Sardinian towns that are worth a visit.
While many beach resorts in Sardinia are overcrowded with tourists, Bosa still remains somewhat of a hidden gem. Its beautiful riverfront is brimmed with palm trees, and palazzi painted in pastel shades. The center is filled with ancient houses, and it's crowned by an ancient hilltop fortress.
Gruyères, Switzerland
I’m pretty sure that most of you are familiar with the fact that Gruyères is a type of cheese sold at the supermarket, but how many of you knew that this cheese was named after a Swiss village? Gruyères happens to be one of the most picturesque towns in Central Europe.
This town is filled with wide stone-paved streets, and it is most famous for the 13th-century Gruyères Castle. This historical landmark is famous for its fortifications, and it offers a tremendous view of the surrounding Alpine foothills.
Guarda, Switzerland
The remote village of Guarda is located in the middle of the Alps. Apart from the towering mountains and the vibrant green meadows that surround it, this town is famous because of its unusual architecture. Its houses are ornamented with traditional paintings and etched windows.
Here’s one last interesting fact: this town is so remote that it even has its own language. So while you roam the narrow and steep streets, listen to locals speaking Romansh, a dialect that only exists in this region.
Cochem, Germany
The charming village of Cochem lies on the banks of the Moselle River. It is famous for its half-timbered houses and small cottages which surround the central square, not to mention its picturesque cobblestoned lanes.
This town is also home to the Cochem Imperial Castle, located on a hilltop. There are also plenty of ancient churches and chapels, such as Saint Roch’s Plague Chapel and Saint Remaclus’s Parish Church. Can you guess which village is first on our list?
Dinant, Belgium
The Belgian town of Dinant deserved to be first on our list. It is located on a narrow stretch of land between steep cliffs and the Meuse River. It is famous for being the birthplace of Leffe, one of the best and most famous of all the Belgian beers.
The town features a beautiful riverwalk crowded with picturesque and colorful houses. But the town is most famous for its cliff-top citadel, which offers a panoramic view of the entire city, overlooking the famous Gothic-style cathedral and its bell tower. It’s definitely a must-visit!