Have you ever thought about travelling to a land straight out of a fairytale?
In such a vast world, there’s bound to be magical nooks and crannies full of charming towns and wondrous landscapes that would put Alice in Wonderland to shame.
And where are these enchanting locations? Read on to find out!
Provence, France
Provence is a region of Southern France dotted with lavender fields and world-class winemaking country.
Besides that, however, the land is also known by another name―”The Land of Knights”―due to its reputation as the birthplace of medieval chivalric poetry.
Every lavender season, a flowery fragrance spreads throughout the region while farms and villages are slowly devoured one after the other in a sea of purple.
The land’s flora and distinctly medieval-style houses are also the spitting image of a magical fairytale.
Eguisheim, France
Dazzling. Romantic. Dreamy. These are some of the words travellers use to describe the village of Eguisheim.
Its 339 hectares of vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see lend this small village a rural atmosphere and quiet charm that’s easy to lose oneself in.
During the early 4th century, the nomadic Roma settled down in this area and cleared the land for vineyards, giving birth to the local wine production.
Bibury, U.K.
Bibury is a medieval English hamlet with an idyllic beauty similar to that of a painting or poem.
Entering the village, you will find yourself teleported back in time to a world of brick cottages, chirping songbirds and wild shrubbery that will leave you spellbound.
Situated on the banks of the Coln River, Bibury is famous for its trout farming and its stone cottages on Arlington Street.
Take a stroll and soak in Bibury’s atmosphere while weaving your own enchanting little fairytale.
Rothenburg, Germany
You could say that Rotheburg is the most famous town in Bavaria, Germany. Known for its medieval old town, it is one of the most celebrated stops on the Romantic Road circuit of Southern Germany.
Various magical buildings that would put Disney to shame make up the town’s heritage, including the St. James’s Church, the Altes Brauhaus brewery and St. Wolfgang’s Church.
Despite suffering many fires over its long history, thankfully most of Rothenburg’s historical heart remains intact, giving many of us the opportunity to visit and admire its beauty and architecture!
The Faroe Islands, Denmark
You could say that the Faroe Islands come straight from the imagination of a fantasy author, what with its isolated and rugged beauty.
With a tiny area measuring at most a mere 4.8km at its furthest and an even tinier population, you could even say that the local goats outnumber the human inhabitants! The loneliness and wilderness almost reminds of a landscape not of this Earth.
The rock faces, villages, plains and the very sea are the soul of these islands. And occasionally, when the mist that occasionally rolls through the area lends the area a mystical feel.
Bagnone, Italy
Rising out of the rocky peaks and surrounded by oak and pine forests is the town of Bagnone, Italy. Surrounded by dense oak and pine forests, the town is located on a strategic spot and has been a transport hub since the Middle Ages.
The stone houses and forts that make up most of the town’s buildings give the place an old castle town vibe. Examples include the imposing San Niccolo Church and the lone surviving tower of the old castle at its peak.
Watch the Bagnone Stream pass by at the town’s iconic stone bridge or take a walk around its narrow streets―Bagnone is the quintessential sleepy village from a storybook.
Hallstatt, Austria
Fancy a bit of lakeside magic for your vacation? Then Hallstatt is for you!
Founded on salt mining, Hallstatt lies on an extremely narrow piece of land that hugs the shores of Hallstatt Lake and the base of Mount Dachstein.
Due to its remote location, the area was accessible only by boat until 1890, when a road was finally built. Its remote location and presence of ancient salt mines―a UNESCO World Heritage Site―has maintained its rural charm.
So lovely is this town, it was reportedly the inspiration for the village of Arendelle in the movie Frozen!
To truly understand its fairytale appeal though, you’ll have to look at the town center from the northeast. Looking at the quaint town with its iconic tower, sandwiched between a serene lake and a thick, steep forest while a giant mountain range looms over it―is there a more larger-than-life scene out there?
Manarola, Italy
Perched atop windswept rocks is the terraced town of Manarola, one of the “Five Lands” or Cinque Terre. As one of these five towns blessed with a gorgeous coastal view, Manarola is the archetypal seaside paradise.
The town’s vibrant and colourful terraced buildings protrude out of the rock like wild flowers, ending on a sheer cliff that drops off into an azure blue ocean.
Manarola’s beauty extends to its seafood too, with rural cuisine like fried anchovies and the local specialty Sciacchetrà wine.
If you’re looking for really captivating views, Manarola’s world-famous Way of Love will definitely steal your heart. This 1km cliffside walkway overlooks the wide open sea―the perfect setting for a romantic tale.
Shirakawa-go, Japan
One of Japan’s most famous rural villages, the thatched “prayer hands” roofs of Shirakawa-go make for a dreamy sight.
Once you enter the village, you will be transported into an idyllic realm where time has stood still for hundreds of years.
Built without a single nail, these charming little houses blend right in with vast paddy fields and thick forest hills that surround the village.
The way Shirakawa-go’s scenery changes every season also gives it a timeless and mystical feel; it has green fields in summer, golden maples in autumn and snow-covered hills in winter.
Hamnøy, Norway
The town of Hamnoy sits on a little outcrop surrounded by tall rock cliffs and the dark waters of the Norwegian Sea.
During winter, the sleepy little fishing town transforms a winter wonderland as pure white snow caps the steep fjord cliffs and covers the town.
And it’s not just snow you’ll see during winter, because the famed Northern Lights make an appearance too!
The town also has these charming little red Rorbuer cabins where fishermen used to stay but have since become accommodations for visitors. The vibrant red paint contrasting beautifully with the pristine snow makes for a great snapshot!
So those are the 10 fairytale towns that you can visit now! Have you paid a visit to any one of them?
Prefer small towns with more of a winter vibe? Then check out our list of the five best winter towns!