20 gorgeous real-life villages which came straight out of fairytales

There are certain places out there in our world where time has seemingly stood still for a century or more. The kind of places where you can find the pristine beauty of the natural world alongside cosy, almost fairytale-like houses, and where everything is shrouded in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

We picked some the most gorgeous small towns villages where you’re guaranteed to be able to relax from the endless bustle of the big city. If we ever make it there, we plan on staying — forever!

Rothenburg, Germany

Santorini, Greece

Colmar, France

Cinque Terre, Italy

A mountain village, China

Penn, Scotland

Shirakawa-go, Japan

Bibury, UK

Migdal, Greenland

Sintra, Portugal

Kvivik, Faroe Islands

Filzmoos, Austria

Portofino, Italy

Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain

Wengen, Switzerland

Reine, Norway

Maska, Spain

Puglia, Italy

Wengelsdorf, Germany

Rocamadour, France