Big cities get all the glory, but Condé Nast Traveler’s latest roundup of the world’s 20 most beautiful towns is a solid reminder that some of the best travel experiences happen well away from the crowds. The list spans everywhere from Greenland’s icefjord-side villages to Rajasthani desert forts, but Europe still put in a strong showing, landing six spots on the list.
Leading the pack is Praiano, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, praised for having all the charm of nearby Positano without the crowds. Not to mention, the joy of all the sun-soaked beaches, intricate tile work, and the standout San Gennaro Church, just a 20-minute drive away from its more famous neighbour. Over in Slovenia, Bled makes the cut for its emerald lake, church-topped islet and twelfth-century castle perched dramatically on a hill above the water.
Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen earns its spot for its otherworldly scenery, towering rock faces, flower-strewn meadows and more than 70 waterfalls packed into one valley, reportedly the very landscape J.R.R. Tolkien had in mind when writing Rivendell into The Lord of the Rings. England’s contribution comes from the Cotswolds, where Burford impresses with its steep, Tudor-lined High Street, medieval architecture and the country’s oldest pharmacy.
Germany’s entry is Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a perfectly preserved medieval old town of half-timbered houses that defines the fairytale-Germany aesthetic, especially in December when its Reiterlesmarkt Christmas market takes over the streets. Rounding out Europe’s contingent is Cadaqués in Spain, the whitewashed fishing village on the Costa Brava that once inspired Dalí, Miró and Duchamp, and still draws artists and daytrippers out from Barcelona today.
The world’s most beautiful towns, according to Condé Nast Traveler
- Praiano, Italy
- Biei, Japan
- Baños, Ecuador
- Burford, England
- Bled, Slovenia
- Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
- Göreme, Turkey
- Naples, Florida, USA
- Ilulissat, Greenland
- Itchan Kala, Uzbekistan
- Mandawa, India
- Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
- Lunenburg, Canada
- Penglipuran, Indonesia
- Port Fairy, Australia
- Siwa, Egypt
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
- Tepoztlán, Mexico
- Sai Kung, Hong Kong
- Cadaqués, Spain
Fancy more beautiful, lesser-known European spots? Here’s ’s guide to the most beautiful places in Europe, updated with new entries just this April.
Or find out which six European cities were just named among the world’s most beautiful by locals.
