12 Charming Fairytale Towns in Europe

During our time in Europe, we visited some of the most charming fairytale towns.

These picturesque towns and their winding cobblestone streets, brightly painted facades, and colorful flowers dripping everywhere were just so magical!

On the blog, I share a list of our favorite charming fairytale towns in Europe. These fairytale towns are simply breathtaking, and we’re always amazed that places like this exist!

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Fairytale Towns in Europe

Alsace Region, France

At the top of our list is the Alsace region. This region is just dotted with fairytale towns, and was the inspiration to the Beauty and the Beast movie! Every town you visit here is just jaw dropping gorgeous.

Surrounded by vineyards, half-timbered houses, colorful facades and flowers dripping from every window sill, this region is just so enchanting and magical!

You will definitely feel like you’ve stepped into a movie set and break out into song while you stroll the picturesque streets!

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Learn more about all the towns we visit in the Alsace Region here!

Hallstatt, Austria

One of the most visited, and probably the most photographed is the town of Hallstatt.

Nestled in the mountains along the Hallstättersee, Hallstatt is one of the most beautiful towns we’ve come across in Europe.

Learn about the town of Hallstatt and it’s 7000 years of history at the museum. Hallstatt is also known for is it’s salt production and you can actually tour one of the salt mines.

Unless you visit early in the morning, or later in the afternoon, be prepared for crowds. Hallstatt is a popular day trip destination, and lots of bus tours come for the day.

I suggest getting here early in the morning, or stay for one night to have the town to yourself.

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Read more about our visit to Hallstatt, Austria here!

Mont Saint Michel

Another one of our favorite fairytale towns is Mont Saint Michel. Mont Saint Michel is a Gothic Benedictine Abbey located on an island in Normandy, France.

This UNESCO world Heritage site is one of the most visited place in France and it’s no wonder, this place is just simply amazing!

Mont Saint Michel is one of the most stunning places we’ve ever seen, seeing it from afar just takes your breath away.

As you stroll through the winding picturesque streets, you can’t help but feel in awe, just amazing!

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To learn more about our visit to Mont Saint Michel, read our blog here.

Beilstein, Germany

Beilstein is known as the “Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle” because of its beautiful setting, and was only accessible by boat.

We’ve visited quite a few fairytale towns in Europe, but this was definitely one of the most charming!

A small town surrounded by vineyards and a castle perched up on a hill, it was so unreal! A hidden gem in the Moselle Valley.

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Learn more about the charming town of Beilstein on the blog here!

Cochem, Germany

Another charming town in Germany is Cochem, with it’s castle towering above the town and the Moselle River.

Talk about a fairytale setting! This town is one of the most beautiful and picturesque.

Surrounded by vineyards, a castle, and half-timbered houses in the town square, it’s absolutely one of the most stunning places to visit!

You can also go on a cruise on the Moselle and visit other fairytale towns from here.

These small little towns will leave you breathless, and you may never want to leave!

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For more on our visit to Cochem read our blog here.

Rothenburg Ob der Tauber

Located along Southern Germany’s Romantic road, Rothenburg is known for it’s well preserved medieval town walls.

The name “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” in German means, “Red fortress above the Tauber”, because of its location near the Tauber River, and it’s red roofs.

The moment you enter the gates, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back in time! 

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Read about our visit to the Imperial City Festival at Rothenburg Ob der Tauber here!

Monschau, Germany

Our road trips through Germany searching for fairytale towns, takes us to the beautiful Monschau, Germany.

Nestled along the Eifel mountain range, Monschau is a town unchanged for over 300 years.

It’s known for its medieval center, with half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets, making it one of the main tourist attraction in the area.

Popular as a summer destination, it is also famous for its Christmas Market in the winter.

 It truly felt like we stepped into a fairytale the minute we walked into the towns main square, definitely worth a visit!

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Read our blog on Monschau, Germany here!

Honfleur, France

Known for its old harbor, the Vieux-Bassin lined with 16th-18th century townhouses, which have been famously painted by Monet and Boudin, is simply breathtaking and enchanting!

Sip some coffee and people watch at the many cafes and restaurants lining this historic port, or simply admire its beautiful architecture.

Stroll through the picturesque streets and be amazed at how colorful and charming they are. Honfleur will definitely leave an impression on you and will leave you longing to come back!

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For more on our visit to Honfleur, read our blog here.

Nancy, France

A hidden gem, and an underrated city in the Lorraine region in France. Nancy is known for it’s late baroque and art noveau landmarks and architecture.

This regal city is home to ornately decorated squares and charming and picturesque streets. Definitely worth a visit if your ever in France.

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To learn more about our visit to Nancy, France, read our blog here.

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Luxembourg city is famed for its UNESCO listed, fortified medieval old town. Its spectacular valleys and plateaus led it to be nicknamed the “Gibraltar of the North”.

If you only have a day to visit this country, then this is the perfect place to start. Full of beautiful architecture, history and a romantic vibe, this city has a little bit of everything. 

It’s beautiful and unique setting makes it a great place to explore, and a hidden gem in Europe.

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To learn more about things to do in Luxembourg City, read our blog here.

Utrecht,Netherlands

One of our favorite cities in the Netherlands is Utrecht. Located centrally in the Netherlands, the history of the city dates back to Roman times and the Middle Ages.

It has a medieval old town, canals, Christian monuments and one of the largest universities in the country.

The picturesque Old Town with it’s  historical buildings are surrounded and intersected by canals, some of which are over 200 years old.

We found Utrecht a more family friendly visit than Amsterdam. A much more compact city, and less crowds!

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Learn more about Utrecht on our blog here!

Brugge, Belgium

We love Bruges, the capital of West Flanders in northwest Belgium. Bruges is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets and medieval town square. 

Since it has survived both World Wars, most of its medieval architecture is still intact, making it one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe.

Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, Brugge is definitely one memorable city. Because of it’s beautiful network of canals, it is also sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North.

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To learn more about our visit to Brugge, read our blog here!

These were just some of the fairytale towns we’ve encountered on our road trips through Europe. The best way to see it all is to go out and explore more, and visit the lesser known places. There are so many more charming towns to discover. Check out this post on how to backpack Europe with kids, and be inspired to explore more

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