European countries are among the destinations most visited by travelers in the world. Many European countries are famous for their world-famous city symbols, as well as for their villages that make you feel like traveling through time. European villages with their fairy-tale beauty, hundreds of years of history, impressive architecture, local cuisine and magnificent nature are worth seeing.
Villages stretching from the magnificent view of the Alps to the blue of the Mediterranean are a great opportunity to see the traces of dozens of different civilizations in a geography close to each other in Europe. Would you like to explore the charming villages and cities that can be an alternative to the famous and crowded cities of Europe?
Europe’s Most Beautiful Villages
20. Ronda, Spain
Ronda is a town in the city of Malaga , Spain . Ronda is located on a very rich historical heritage in a unique geography where the Andalusian Umayyad State ruled. Famous for its bullfights and notorious bandits, the settlement is one of the most visited destinations in Southern Spain.
Puente Nuevo Bridge, which is located at an altitude of 98 meters in the town and stretches over the El Tajo Valley, and Plaza de Toros, the place where bullfights, one of the oldest cultures of Spain, are held, are frequent destinations for visitors.
The old Andalusian town of La Ciudad with its quaint streets and whitewashed houses, to explore Ronda’s exotic heritage, the Bandits Museum (Museo del Bandolero de Ronda) and the old Arab baths along the Arroyo de las Culebras are among the places to see.
19. Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Drumnadrochit Village is a green village located in Loch Ness on the west coast of Scotland. The most important historical structure of the village is Urquhart Castle. Hosting the Glenurquhart Highland Games every year at the end of August, the village is ideal for a local experience with its commitment to traditional culture.
The village is also home to Hanging Tree Brewery, which opened in 2018, and Cobbs Cakes, which are traditionally made and distributed in the UK and Ireland.
18. Folegandros, Greece
Folegandros , one of the Cyclades Islands , including Santorini and Mykonos . The total population of the island, which is only 13 km long, is close to 750. The island consists of only 3 settlements: Hora, the center of the island, Karavostasis and Ano Meria village located in the port area.
The island, which passed under the sovereignty of Greece in the 19th century, has hosted different civilizations throughout history. Small charming villages on the island reflect the atmosphere of the village with their houses with white walls and colorful windows. The island also has the most beautiful beaches of the Cyclades.
17. Albarracin, Spain
Albarracin is one of the picturesque villages of Europe. The region of Aragon, the center of medieval Spain, is protected within the walls of the village surrounded by barren hills. Ancient stone towers, an ocher castle and chapel await visitors along the narrow streets and winding streets of Lower Albaraccin.
This charming town, named for the Moorish Al Banu Razin Family, during the time when Muslims dominated the Iberian Peninsula, was declared a national monument by the Spanish government in 1961.
16. Bled, Slovenia
Bled is a small Alpine town in Slovenia. Bled is located on the shore of the lake with glacial blue waters and a small Baroque Church on the island inside. The medieval hill with its magnificent panoramic view is the right spot for hiking and photography lovers.
The town, which is one of the first places that comes to mind when Slovenia is mentioned, is surrounded by dense green forests. In addition, ‘kremšnita’, a sugary cake filled with cream and pudding in Hotel Park, is one of the flavors that travelers should try.
15. Aveiro, Portugal
Averio is a town in the northwest of Portugal , in the Centro region. This place is also described as the Venice of Portugal with its long canals and boats decorated with colorful paints.
In the city, which was used as an important port city until the 17th century, the people make a living from fishing, porcelain making and sandal production. The train station and the Aveiro Museum, as well as the lively streets of the city, must be seen.
14. Gruyères, Switzerland
Gruyères is one of the medieval villages in Switzerland. The wide stone-paved street here takes visitors to the 13th-century Gruyères Castle and its expansive views of the imposing walled Alpine foothills.
Gruyères, located in the west of Switzerland, gliding at the foot of the Alps with its lush forest texture, is also famous for its cheese, also known as Gruyere in our country, which is used in fondue making with its light, nutty flavor.
13. Cong, Ireland
Cong is a village surrounded by streams, picturesque, lakes and green meadows, one to one with nature. In Cong, located in the northwest of Ireland , dozens of stone bridges, a medieval monastery, thatched-roofed summer houses, Ashford Castle and the Great Victorian Mansion converted into a romantic luxury hotel are among the structures to see.
The fact that the city of Cong is known for a while is due to the fact that it was the shooting location of John Ford’s 1952 Oscar-winning movie The Quiet Man. Starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara and Barry Fitzgerald, many scenes of the film were shot in and around Ashford Castle.
12. Brousse-le-Château, France
Brousse-le-Château is a wonderful village in the south of France, where you can explore medieval architecture and traditions with a rich and well-preserved history. Brousse-le-Château, which is on the list of the most beautiful villages in France, fascinates visitors with its picturesque character at the intersection of Tarn and Alrance in Aveyron.
The old Gothic bridge over Alrance, the typical cobblestone side streets, the charming stone houses decorated with flowers, the 15th century stone church and the ruins of the castle on top of the village are just some of the places you can admire on your walk.
11. Telč, Czechia
Telč is a small town in Moravia , Czech Republic . Telč is known for its pretty houses lined up around the elongated square. Pale Baroque and Renaissance façades, traditional buildings with pastel-painted high roofs, pleasant little shops and cafes surround the square.
A large medieval castle and a large pond surround the town square. The town was founded in the 13th century as a royal place at the intersection of busy trade routes between Bohemia, Moravia and Austria.
In addition to the English-style park and the 17th century Renaissance castle, the city has a unique appearance with its most important sights, the town square and arcades, as well as well-preserved Renaissance and longitudinal Baroque houses.
10. Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen is located in the Bernese Oberland, in the Central Swiss Canton of Bern. The village, which has made a name for itself in the pages of history with its history of approximately 1300 years and is very popular with ski lovers in winter, is located in a magnificent nature.
Located at an altitude of 1,274 meters above sea level, the population of the village, which is 5 thousand in summer, increases to 10 thousand in winter due to skiing activities and winter sports alternatives. The town is also home to the country’s most established ski school, the Public Schools Alpine Sports Club.
9. Pucisca, Croatia
Pucisca is one of the places of interest with its magnificent scenery and natural beauties on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia . The white stone villas with terracotta roofs, the narrow cobbled streets and the stone-paved square of Brač Island are worth seeing.
Enjoying the calm and tranquility of the turquoise Adriatic Sea, Pucisca visitors explore the town by swimming alone with nature and walking in quiet streets.
8. Reine, Norway
Reine is a charming fishing village in the Arctic Circle with its pure beauty, untouched nature, sapphire coves, fjords and mountains. Many bright red fishing cabins, also called ‘robuers’ in the area, have been converted into cozy homes to offer visitors direct access to the Norwegian Sea.
Here, the fascinating view of the sky from the midnight sun in summer to the northern lights in winter can be easily observed. Known for its pristine photo frames that integrate Norway’s lush nature and deep blue sea, the village has recently become very popular among young travelers.
7. Colmar, France
Colmar is the charming town of France , where French and German influences are preserved together . In Colmar, the third largest commune in the Grand Est region in northeastern France and boasting medieval-inspired streets, local bakeries sell both croissants and German kugelhopf cakes, while restaurants sell foie gras and sauerkraut together.
In the village, II. There are many historical beauties, half-timbered houses, tranquil canals and cobblestones that have survived the devastation of World War II. Colmar is one of the most photographed and shared places on social media in France.
6. Filzmoos, Austria
Filzmoos is a village located in Salzburg , Austria . In addition to its postcard-like appearance, Filzmoos also draws attention with its lively and lively atmosphere. Filzmoos, a mountain village at an altitude of about 1 km above sea level, is the favorite of ski enthusiasts and winter sports enthusiasts during the winter months, and those who want to meet with nature and hiking in the summer.
Activities such as archery, hiking and horse riding can also be done in Filzmoos village. The village also hosts a scout camp. Many school groups from the surrounding regions camp in the village during the summer months and during the holidays.
5. Bibury, England
Bibury is a charming village in England with its sloping roofs, old stone houses and lush green meadows in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. There are untouched green lands around the region that is divided into two by the Coln River, which is full of trout.
Tea houses in the traditional rural village, which the famous writer William Morris referred to as ‘the most beautiful place in England’, and the protected buildings in the Cotswold county are ideal for witnessing the rural life of England.
4. Manarola, Italy
Manarola is a small and colorful town located in Italy . The city, which was founded on a big rock, is one of the places where you can best see the effects of the sea on human life, with its different architecture and the presence of boats instead of cars in front of the houses.
Manarola, one of the Cinque Terre towns, also known as the Five Lands, is the second most visited by tourists. Manarola, one of the favorite holiday centers of the Italian Riviera, has many boutique hotels and hostels.
3. Giethoorn, Netherlands
Giethoorn is one of the charming villages of the Netherlands. Known as the ‘Venice of the Netherlands’ or the ‘Venice of the North’, the village has no car or driveway, and transportation is either on foot or by boat in the canals surrounding the village.
The boots used by the townspeople to go to work, school or shopping in their daily lives are also the favorite of those who want to visit Giethoorn. Vehicles called Whisper Boats operate almost silently.
2. Sighisoara, Romania
Sighişoara is a unique medieval town called the ‘pearl of Transylvania’. Built in the 12th century and known as the birthplace of Vlad Tepeş, the Vlad the Impaler, this charming town also hosts an annual medieval festival.
Located on the route of Transylvania tours, Sighişoara is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Sighişoara is one of the most popular tourist routes in Romania with its colorful houses, cobblestone streets and historical towers.
1. Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt has a magnificent location among the pristine lake and lush green mountains. In Hallstatt, the fairy tale town of Austria, the story of salt mining dating back thousands of years, the ivy-covered buildings in the square and the scenery, which is beautiful in summer and winter, are fascinating.
Set against the backdrop of the magnificent landscape of Hallstatt, Lake Hallstatt is located at the northern foot of the Dachstein mountain range. The depth of the lake, which is 8.5 km long and 1 to 2 km wide, reaches 125 meters at its deepest point. Surrounded by steep forested slopes, the lake is one of the most well-known places in the Alpine region.
Take a quiet and peaceful journey away from the concrete buildings and the noise of the city, and enjoy meeting the lesser-known villages of Europe.
