Savvy travelers actively seek out small towns that are tucked away in hidden corners. Besides their captivating allure, these unassuming havens help visitors fill their wanderlust away from bustling metropolises. From cobblestone streets to breathtaking landscapes, the world’s most beautiful small towns boast an enchanting and unforgettable charm.
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1. Camden, Maine
Best known for: Exquisite fall foliage
What makes it so beautiful: Camden is a classic beach town that sits on Penobscot Bay, offering breathtaking views at every turn.
Best time to visit: May to September
Image Credit: Alpegor6/depositphotos.
2. Lake Placid, New York
Best known for: Winter games
What makes it so beautiful: This town is set in the Adirondack Mountains around an idyllic lake. Lake Placid is surrounded by dense forest with stunning foliage.
Best time to visit: May to August
Image Credit: AlbertPego/istockphoto.
3. Bacalar, Mexico
Best known for: Beautiful scenery and colorful lagoon
What makes it so beautiful: This town is set on Lake Bacalar, also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors, due to its endless shades of blue. Bacalar is surrounded by dense green vegetation.
Best time to visit: December to March
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4. Biei, Hokkaido, Japan
Best known for: Dazzling blue lakes and technicolor flowers
What makes it so beautiful: The Blue Pond in Biei changes color to match the weather and has beautiful flowers growing all around it.
Best time to visit: June to September
Image Credit: structuresxx/istockphoto.
5. Albarracin, Spain
Best known for: Moorish Alcazar and Gothic ruins
What makes it so beautiful: Albarracin is scattered with pink and orange-colored medieval buildings that’ve remained unchanged for centuries.
Best time to visit: May to September
Image Credit: StockPhotoAstur/depositphotos.
6. Bocas de Toro, Panama
Best known for: Beautiful underrated beaches
What makes it so beautiful: This hidden gem has unique stilted houses and bioluminescent waters.
Best time to visit: January to April and September to November
Image Credit: chrispictures/depositphotos.
7. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Best known for: Fairytale cottages and museums
What makes it so beautiful: Carmel-by-the-Sea is a fairytale-inspired coastal village with specialty shops and beautiful beaches.
Best time to visit: June to August and September to November
Image Credit: Gary Tognoni/istockphoto.
8. Castle Combe, England
Best known for: Medieval architecture
What makes it so beautiful: Castle Combe appears to be frozen in time, as all of the houses date back to the 15th century.
Best time to visit: April to May, June to August, and September to October
Image Credit: johncorry/depositphotos.
9. Esperance, Australia
Best known for: Picture perfect beaches
What makes it so beautiful: Esperance’s white sandy beaches and lush green surroundings create a scenery of paradise.
Best time to visit: December to February and June to August
Image Credit: Hideaki Edo/istockphoto.
10. Giethoorn, Netherlands
Best known for: A diverse canal network with no cars
What makes it so beautiful: Giethoorn is quiet and remains unpolluted by motorized traffic, as people take boats or ride bikes everywhere.
Best time to visit: April to October
Image Credit: vverve/depositphotos.
11. Gokoyama, Japan
Best known for: Thatched cottages and mulberry tree groves
What makes it so beautiful: Gokoyama is home to centuries-old gassho-zukuri style farmhouses. The surrounding mountains give the village a magical feel.
Best time to visit: May, August, September, and October
Image Credit: masanii21/istockphoto.
12. Gordes, France
Best known for: Rich cultural history and medieval architecture
What makes it so beautiful: Gordes is perched on a cliffside. The town’s brownstone houses contrast sharply with the greenery.
Best time to visit: April to September
Image Credit: fedevphoto/depositphotos.
13. Göreme, Turkey
Best known for: Rock formations and underground cities
What makes it so beautiful: Natural rock formations with ‘fairy chimneys” dominate the landscape, creating stunning views in Göreme.
Best time to visit: April to October and November to March
Image Credit: Givaga/istockphoto.
14. Guatapé, Colombia
Best known for: Rainbow-colored streets and a gigantic monolith
What makes it so beautiful: Guatapé is surrounded by turquoise water and lush green landscapes.
Best time to visit: January and June to September
Image Credit: jkraft5/depositphotos.
15. Hallstatt, Austria
Best known for: World’s oldest salt mine
What makes it so beautiful: The 16th-century alpine houses and surrounding mountains give Hallstatt a storybook feel.
Best time to visit: March to May, June to August, and September to October
Image Credit: SCStock/istockphoto.
16. Iruya, Argentina
Best known for: Incredible desert mountains
What makes it so beautiful: Iruya is set in a valley surrounded by towering rocky mountains. Some of the buildings date back to the 17th century.
Best time to visit: February to May
Image Credit: Wirestock/depositphotos.
17. Itchan Kala, Uzbekistan
Best known for: Historical monuments and medieval architecture
What makes it so beautiful: The inner town is protected by 30-foot brick walls and seems frozen in time from centuries ago. At one point, Itchan Kala was a crucial part of the Silk Road.
Best time to visit: March to June and September to October
Image Credit: Diy13/istockphoto.
18. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Best known for: Thundering waterfalls and traditional Swiss Villages
What makes it so beautiful: Lauterbrunnen is set on a picturesque tough valley between gigantic mountain peaks and rock faces. It’s home to beautiful alpine meadows and 72 thundering waterfalls.
Best time to visit: January to March, May to September, and December
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
19. Luang Prabang, Laos
Best known for: Rich artistic and architectural heritage
What makes it so beautiful: Luang Prabang fuses traditional and urban architecture against a backdrop of picturesque mountains to showcase its rich cultural and colonial heritage.
Best time to visit: November to March and September to December
Image Credit: wuttichok/depositphotos.
20. Lunenburg, Canada
Best known for: Shipbuilding and rum running
What makes it so beautiful: Lunenburg has retained its original layout and brightly painted houses, giving it a tasteful burst of colors.
Best time to visit: June to August, September to November, and December to February
Image Credit: flyzone/istockphoto.
21. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Best known for: The oldest golf course in Canada — built in 1875
What makes it so beautiful: This waterfront town features arbor-framed streets, lush boulevard gardens and sprawling vineyards.
Best time to visit: May to October
Image Credit: BackyardProduction/istockphoto.
22. Oia, Greece
Best known for: Whitewashed Cyclades houses
What makes it so beautiful: Oia comprises houses carved into the cliffs of Santorini, creating a panorama of stunning white buildings with colorful rooftops set against a backdrop of deep blue sea.
Best time to visit: May to October
Image Credit: Maugli/depositphotos.
23. Stowe, Vermont
Best known for: Brilliantly colored foliage
What makes it so beautiful: This pretty little town is set against a heavily forested background. Stowe has breathtaking scenery that changes seasonally.
Best time to visit: September to February and March to May
Image Credit: Nicholas Klein/istockphoto.
24. Ban Rak Thai, Thailand
Best known for: Tea cultivation and breathtaking views
What makes it so beautiful: This high-elevation town features Chinese-Style houses in a mountainous landscape surrounded by green tea plantations.
Best time to visit: November to March
Image Credit: AnupongS/istockphoto.
25. Portofino, Italy
Best known for: Colorful buildings lining the shore
What makes it so beautiful: This tiny coastal town features beautiful buildings on a hill that’s covered with olive groves and small vineyards, creating a delectable play of colors.
Best time to visit: April to May and September and October
Image Credit: Olga_Gavrilova/istockphoto.
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