Travel

50 magical fairytale destinations in Europe

May 16, 2018

If you think fairytale places only exist in books, think again.

Europe is rich with centuries-old castles, charming villages, scenic lakes, cobblestone streets, medieval fortresses, picturesque bridges – and even a few princes and princesses!

In no particular order, here are 50 of the most romantic and magical fairytale locations in Europe:

1. Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled, Slovenia. Source: Getty — Lake Bled and its island, on which sits Bled Castle, Slovenia. Source: Getty

2. Positano, Italy

Positano, on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Source: Getty — Positano, on Italy’s spectacular Amalfi Coast. Source: Getty

3. Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg in winter. Source: Shutterstock — The beautiful Austrian town of Salzburg in winter. Source: Shutterstock

4. Eguisheim, France

France. Source: Getty — Eguisheim, a medieval village in the Alsace wine region in north-eastern France. Source: Getty

5. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

Glenfinnan Viaduct (a.k.a the Harry Potter train). Source: Pexels

6. Nuuk Old Town, Greenland

Nuuk, Greenland. Source: Getty — The Old Town of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Source: Getty

7. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. Source: Getty — Cesky Krumlov, in the south of the Czech Republic, is one of the most gorgeous towns in Europe. Source: Getty

8. Castle Combe, England

Castle Combe. Source: Getty — The picture-perfect village of Castle Combe in Wiltshire. Source: Getty

9. Reine, Norway

Reine, Lofoten. Source: Getty — The tiny fishing village of Reine in the Lofoten Islands, Norway. Source: Getty

10. Rakotzbrücke Devil’s Bridge, Germany

Bridge. Source: Getty — This incredible 19th-century bridge uses its reflection to form a perfect circle. Source: Getty

Read more: A trip to Lago di Braies, the most beautiful lake in Italy

11. Vernazza, Italy

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy. Source: Getty — Vernazza, one of the “five lands” of Italy’s Cinque Terre. Source: Getty

12. The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

Meteora. Source: Getty — You might recognise the Monasteries of Meteora in Greece from the James Bond film, ‘For Your Eyes Only’. Source: Getty

13. Le Mont Saint-Michel, France

Mont Saint Michel, France. Source: Getty — Le Mont Saint-Michel – this tiny island is located off the coast of Normandy, France. Source: Getty

14. Sintra, Portugal

Sintra. Source: Getty — Pena National Palace in the gorgeous town of Sintra, about an hour from Lisbon in Portugal. Source: Getty

15. Eltz Castle, Germany

Eltz. Source: Getty — The medieval Eltz Castle sits high above the Moselle River in Germany. Source: Unsplash/Desiree Fabian

16. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar. Source: Getty — The ‘Stari Most” (Old Bridge) in the town of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Source: Getty

17. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges. Source: Getty — It’s all canals and cobbled streets in Bruges, Belgium. Source: Getty

18. Santorini, Greece

Santorini. Source: Unsplash/Tom Grimbert — Watching the sunset from the town of Oia in Santorini, Greece, is definitely one for the bucket list. Source: Unsplash/Tom Grimbert

19. Rocamadour, France

Source: Getty — The ancient pilgrimage site of Rocamadour in south-central France. Source: Getty

20. Breidavik, Iceland

Iceland. Source: Getty — Breidavik, a beach in the Westfjords of Iceland, is a sea of lupins in the spring. Source: Getty

21. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Source: Getty — The Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany looks exactly like it comes from a fairytale. Source: Getty

22. San Gimignano, Italy

San Gimignano, Italy. Source: Getty — San Gimignano – the ‘medieval Manhattan’ – in Tuscany, Italy. Source: Getty

23. Scotney Castle, England

Scotney Castle, England. Source: Pixabay — The drop-dead gorgeous Scotney Castle in Kent, England. Source: Pixabay

24. Dinant, Belgium

Dinant, Belgium. Source: Getty — Dinant sits on the banks of the Meuse River in Belgium. Source: Getty

25. Lago di Braies, Italy

Lago di Braies, Italy. Source: Pixabay — The Lago di Braies (a.k.a the Pragser Wildsee, or Lake Prags) in the Dolomites, Italy, is often called the most beautiful lake in Europe. Source: Pixabay

26. Estaing, France

Estaing, France. Source: Getty — The medieval town of Estaing in France sits at the foot of the chateau that overlooks. Source: Getty

27. Kizhi Island, Russia

Kizhi Island, Russia. Source: Getty — Kizhi Island sits in Europe’s second-largest lake, Lake Onega in Russia, and is home to a historical site called the Kizhi Pogost. Source: Getty

28. Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt, Austria. Source: Getty — The spectacular village of Hallstatt in Austria sits at the edge of the Hallstätter See, backed by the towering Dachstein mountains. Source: Getty

29. The Church of St. Magdalena, Italy

Dolomites. Source: Getty — The Church of St. Magdalena in Italy’s Dolomites. Source: Getty

Read more: 7 beautiful villages in Wales straight from a storybook

30. Venice, Italy

Venice in Italy. Source: Getty — Yes it may be crowded with tourists, but there’s a reason why – Venice in Italy is the stuff of fairytales. Source: Getty

31. The ‘Little Chapel’, Germany

Church-Maria-Gern-Watzmann. Source: Getty — The Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Heimsuchung, located on a hill above the city Wurzburg in Bavaria, Germany, is more commonly known as the ‘Little Chapel’. Source: Getty

32. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague. Source: Shutterstock — A walk across the Charles Bridge to the Old Town of Prague is pure fairytale material. Source: Shutterstock

33. Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy

Civita di Bagnoregio. Source: Getty — The semi-abandoned Civita di Bagnoregio is experiencing some love from tourists due to its beauty and uniqueness. Source: Getty

34. Brasov, Romania

Brasov, Romania. Source: Getty — The charming town of Brasov is in Transylvania, Romania, ringed by the Carpathian Mountains. Source: Getty

35. Annecy, France

Annecy, France. Source: Getty — The Old Town in Annecy, possibly France’s prettiest medieval town, is a symphony of pastel-coloured houses. Source: Getty

36. Toledo, Spain

Toledo, Spain. Source: Getty — At night, the town of Toledo in Spain, overlooked by the Alcazar, twinkles and shines. Source: Getty

37. Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Source: Getty — The stunning town of Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the ancient capital of the Bosnian kings. Source: Getty

38. Manarola, Italy

Manarola, Italy. Source: Getty — The tumble of brightly coloured houses that is Manarola, is another of the exquisite towns of Cinque Terre in Italy. Source: Unsplash/Linh Nguyen

39. Aescher Guesthouse, Switzerland

Aescher Guesthouse, Switzerland. Source: Getty — The Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli is a guesthouse and restaurant in Switzerland that’s been operating for centuries. Source: Unsplash/Christian Regg

40. Stourhead Gardens, England

Stourhead Gardens, England — The glorious estate of Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire, England, includes a Palladian mansion. Source: Getty

41. Colmar, France

Colmar, France. Source: Getty — The small town of Colmar sits in the Alsace region of France, close to the German border. Source: Getty

42. Ramsau, Germany

Church-of-Ramsau, Germany. Source: Getty — The Parish Church of St. Sebastian in the village of Ramsau, Germany, is a sight not to be missed, any time of the year. Source: Getty

43. Saint Michael’s Abbey, Italy

Sacra-Saint-Michael, Italy. Source: Getty — The Sacra di San Michele (Saint Michael’s Abbey) sits on Mount Pirchiriano in Turin, Italy. Source: Getty

44. The Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Tunnel of Love, Ukraine. Source: Getty — The Tunnel of Love is a green tunnel of trees covering a section of railway tracks in Ukraine. Source: Getty

45. La Roque-Gageac, France

La-Roque-Gageac. Source: Getty — The beautiful village of La Roque-Gageac is nestled right on the edge of the Dordogne river. Source: Getty

46. Popeye Village, Malta

Popeye Village, Malta. Source: Getty — The rustic Popeye Village (a.k.a Sweethaven Village and Danish Village) at Anchor Bay in Malta was actually a film set, built for the 1980 film ‘Popeye’ starring Robin Williams. Source: Getty

47. Seis am Schlern, Italy

Seis-am-Schlern. Source: Getty — Seis am Schlern may sound German, but the charming Alpine village is, in fact, in South Tyrol, in northern Italy. Source: Getty

48. Langwieser Viaduct, Switzerland

Langwieser Viaduct bridge. Source: Getty — The Langwieser Viaduct, near the village of Langwies in Switzerland. Source: Getty

49. Château de Chambord, France

Chambord. Source: Pixabay — The Renaissance Château de Chambord is one of the most recognisable – and beautiful – chateaux in the Loire Valley. Source: Pixabay

50. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany. Source: — Neuschwanstein Castle sits above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany. Walt Disney famously used it as the model for his Sleeping Beauty Castle. Source: Unsplash/Rachel Davis

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