[custom_adv] Alberobello, Italy It's almost impossible not to find a picture-perfect street in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. The small town in Italy's heel – Puglia – is famous for its unusual trulli homes, built from white-washed local limestone, with conical roofs. [custom_adv] Hallstatt, Austria Driving to Hallstatt, located in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region, isn't easy, however, upon arrival you'll be rewarded with the most incredible storybook town you could've ever wished for. [custom_adv] Colmar, France Winding streets, narrow canals and quaint, pastel-colored houses – Colmar has it all. The pretty town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France is a unique collection of medieval and early Renaissance buildings, including a beautiful 13th-century church. [custom_adv] Bibury, England English writer and designer William Morris once declared Bibury the most beautiful village in the country. A hundred or so years later the sentiment certainly seems to stand. Located in the Cotswolds, an area defined by rolling hills and green meadows, Bibury is a picture-perfect place to hide away from the world. [custom_adv] Göreme, Turkey Entirely sculpted by erosion, Göreme's fairy chimneys – cone-shaped rock formations – are almost synonymous with the Cappadocia region the town is located in. [custom_adv] Zhouzhuang, China Near to the urban jungles of Shanghai and Suzhou is the elegant water town known as the Venice of the East. Classic Chinese architecture decorates the banks of Zhouzhuang's canals and, like Venice. [custom_adv] Gokayama Historic Village, Japan Best known for the town's sloping thatched roofs, the Historic Villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go are among Japan's most beautiful attractions thanks to the Gassho-zukuri-style architecture. [custom_adv] Bled, Slovenia Whether a winter wonderland or a summer sunspot, the quaint town of Bled is one of Slovenia's most famous destinations. Commanding a wondrous view over Lake Bled, tourists are drawn here year-round to experience the panoramic vistas. [custom_adv] Banff, Alberta, Canada High up in nooks of the Rocky Mountains, the resort town of Banff feels like a Canadian dream. In the snow-crusted winters a variety of sports are offered and sometimes, if you’re lucky, the roofs are illuminated by the Northern Lights. [custom_adv] Chefchaouen, Morocco Located beneath the towering peaks of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a labyrinth of intricate alleyways. Soaked in a turquoise hue, the electrifying colors have a historical significance: in the 15th century, Jewish refugees settled in the area and painted buildings blue to mirror the sky and remind them of God. [custom_adv] Tobermory, Scotland You may recognize the bonny Scottish fishing hub as the town from the classic UK children’s TV show Balamory. The pretty port is home to the less kid-friendly Tobermory Distillery which, at the head of the bay, mainly produces a matured single malt whiskey. [custom_adv] Ráquira, Colombia At the center of Ráquira may be its towering church steeple, but its beating heart is its artisan community. Colombia's pottery capital, the streets are packed with an array of craft stores, injecting color into every corner of the town. [custom_adv] Frigiliana, Spain Just four miles away from the south coast of Spain, the hillside town of Frigiliana overlooks the world-famous Costa del Sol. Surrounded by a lush natural park full of hiking trails and opportunities to explore the great outdoors, nature also runs wild in the town itself: vines of bougainvillea, lavender and jasmine grow freely across the walls of houses. [custom_adv] Visby, Sweden Nestled on the Swedish island of Gotland, the remote Viking settlement of Visby is the only town on the island. Culture is important here as the walled town is a center for art, theater and classical music. [custom_adv] Penglipuran, Indonesia Up in the highlands of Bali’s Mount Batur, 2,230 feet above sea level, is Penglipuran – a traditional Balinese village. While the village has modern amenities including a supermarket and mobile phone shop, the surroundings may fool you into believing you’ve stepped into a time warp. [custom_adv] Paraty, Brazil Located on the Costa Verde, a coastal area in the state of Rio de Janeiro known for its greenery, Paraty is one of the oldest colonial towns in Brazil. Founded in 1667 by the Portuguese, its colorful center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is fully pedestrianized – a further bid to preserve the town's already immaculate historic buildings. [custom_adv] Sapa, Vietnam Perched high up in the mountains of northern Vietnam, Sapa and the surrounding villages are beautifully placed within the stunning terraced rice fields. Established as a hill station in 1922, today Sapa is central to hiking and trekking trails criss-crossing the mountains and snaking in-between the rice terraces. [custom_adv] Iruya, Argentina If you fancy getting way off the beaten track, consider a trip to the scenic settlement of Iruya. Burrowed in the midnight-blue mountainside of the Altiplano region, the hard-to-reach rural town still manages to attract travelers from all corners of the globe, charmed by its colorful buildings and Argentinian steaks. [custom_adv] Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia Evoking the atmosphere of a Greek island, this much-less-traveled but equally exquisite Tunisian town of Sidi Bou Said is a delightful name to have at the tip of your tongue. Its buildings are as milky-white and cobalt blue as the sea and sky, and it has long attracted artists. Rummaging through the daily market comes highly recommended – you never know what treasure you may find in the souk. [custom_adv] Hamnøy, Norway Known for its dramatic scenery, the Lofoten Archipelago in Norway is perfect for a wild winter adventure, and where better to enjoy it than in the quaint town of Hamnøy. [custom_adv] Stowe, Vermont Stowe in Vermont is the perfect small town for nature enthusiasts, art lovers and ice cream fans who'll find Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factory here. Not only is the charming town surrounded by thick forests (popular with leaf-peepers in fall) rivers and valleys, but the state's highest peak Mount Mansfield is also nearby.
