Here is my guide to 15 of the most beautiful villages in Europe. We’ve visited all of these wondrous places in our travels around all corners of the continent, and narrowed it down to 15 of the best villages in Europe to visit.
We climb high into the Swiss Alps, take a boat into the northern reaches of the Venetian lagoon, take a boat along the Mosel and Rhine and wander the backstreets of the most beautiful port in Normandy.
I also take you to the North Wales coast, the backwoods of Bohemia, the hilltop villages of sunny Provence and, perhaps best of all, to an incredible citadel on the Portugal-Spain border that hasn’t changed in centuries.
I describe each village for you, give you the information you need on where it is and how to get there, and suggest more places for you to see nearby. Enjoy!
Most Beautiful Villages In Europe – Our Top 5:
Monsaraz, Portugal – a charming and picturesque medieval village that sits atop a hill in southern Portugal, offering breathtaking views of the Alqueva reservoir and the stunning countryside.
Gimmelwald, Switzerland – a stunning Swiss village with traditional chalets and incredible views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.
Bacharach, Germany – a charming Rhine Gorge village famous for its Riesling wine, medieval landmarks, and picturesque half-timbered houses.
Ravello, Italy – A stunning village perched high up on the Amalfi Coast, boasting spectacular sea views and picturesque gardens.
Gordes, Provence – beautiful hilltop village in the Luberon region of Provence, France. Known for its golden stone houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and charming squares.
Gimmelwald, Switzerland
The first of our beautiful European villages is Gimmelwald, a hidden corner of Swiss Alpine heaven above the Lauterbrunnen Valley and below the mighty Jungfrau peak.
Gimmelwald is bucolic bliss. It’s a car-free village that you can only access via cable car or on foot.
It’s a cluster of picturesque wooden chalets, decked with flowerpots in the warmer months, and the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the occasional jingle of a cow bell or the quiet whoosh of the cable car passing overhead.
Gimmelwald has several honesty shops, some of which simply consist of a fridge and a cash box. The main thing to do is savour the peace and incredible views, and stay overnight in the Mountain Hostel or one of a few small hotels.
Where Is Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is on a mountainside above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is in the Bernese Oberland area of the Swiss Alps. It is 1,363 metres (4472 feet) above sea level.
How To Get To Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is 15 km (9 miles) south of Interlaken, and you can easily reach it via the village of Lauterbrunnen, which is on the train line to Wengen and, eventually Grindelwald.
From Lauterbrunnen, you can catch the cable car to Grütschalp and then the train to Mürren. You then catch the cable car from the other end of the village (a 10-15 minute walk) to Gimmelwald.
The other route to Gimmelwald involves taking the 141 bus about 5 km to the Stechelberg cable car, then taking that one stop up the mountain to Gimmelwald.
Places To Visit Near Gimmelwald
We spent over a week just exploring the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and could have stayed much longer.
We stayed across the valley in Wengen, which is the venue for one of the best-known downhill ski races in the calendar. The train from Lauterbrunnen, the Wengernalpbahn, takes you through Wengen and onwards to Kleine Scheidegg, in the shadow of the legendary North Face of the Eiger.
You can continue down to Grindelwald or change for the Jungfraujoch train up to the summit area of the mighty Jungfrau.
Down in the valley, the Staubbach waterfall is a magnificent sight, and you can also join another wonderful mountain railway -the Schynige Platte – from Interlaken.
Monsaraz, Portugal
Visiting the remote Portuguese village of Monsaraz feels like stepping back 300 or 400 years back in time.
This breathtakingly beautiful place was once a border bastion, overlooking the frontier with Spain, but the comforts of an easy life were too enticing for much of its population to remain. They left behind an untouched jewel that has scarcely changed in centuries.
Monsaraz consists of two long streets with interconnecting alleyways within a circuit of medieval walls that culminates in the Castle.
This is free to enter, and we strongly suggest climbing the ramparts for exceptional views over the village and the Barragem do Alqueva, a series of lakes created by the damming of the Rio Guadiana along the border.
To really appreciate the magic of Monsaraz, we suggest staying overnight. It’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited, the lights on the whitewashed buildings stretching out a day we didn’t want to end.
We wandered up and down the cobbled streets for an hour or more afterwards, savouring every step and wondering how on earth we were the only people enjoying this extraordinary place.
Where is Monsaraz
Monsaraz is in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. It’s 15 km (9 miles) east of the wine-growing town of Reguengos de Monsaraz, and a few kilometres form the border with Spain.
It is also 53 km (34 miles) from the regional capital, Évora, and 185 km (115 miles) from Lisbon.
How To Get To Monsaraz
The only way to reach Monsaraz is by car. Public transport coverage in the region is sparse, so forget it. Someone is going to have to drive.
The M514 takes you directly from Reguengos de Monsaraz to Monsaraz, and it’s close to the main N256 road that runs across the lakes to Mourao.
Places To Visit Near Monsaraz
We visited the Alentejo as part of a two-week Portugal road trip, and it’s often overlooked, but we’d say it’s one of the best areas to visit in Portugal.
There are enough things to do in Évora to warrant a couple of days of your time. It’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe, with a magnificent Roman temple, unique cathedral and a labyrinth of winding whitewashed lanes to get lost in.
There is also a fascinating Chapel of Bones, one of the best ossuaries in Europe in the church of Sao Francisco.
Burano, Italy
Burano is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, and also one of the most popular as it’s one of the easiest day trips from Venice.
It’s a fishing village on an island in the north of the Venetian lagoon, known for its vivid, brightly painted houses. That’s every house, by the way. You won’t catch a glimpse of grey here – just an array of rich reds, bright blues, and just about every vibrant shade under the sun.
There are enough things to do in Burano to make a day of it, with some great seafood restaurants and also a small Lace Museum, showcasing the intricate, painstaking work of the fishermen’s wives.
And don’t miss the leaning campanile of the Church of San Martino which towers above the canals and alleyways of its extraordinarily bright parish.
Where Is Burano
It’s in the north of the Venetian lagoon.
How To Get To Burano
The number 12 vaporetto (waterbus) runs roughly every half an hour between Fondamente Nove, on the northern side of the city of Venice, to Burano via Murano and Torcello. The service continues to Treporti and, most of the time, Punta Sabbioni.
Places To Visit Near Burano
Burano is popular, but a good jumping-off point for parts of off the beaten path Venice. Torcello is one of these, its Cathedral tower visible across the narrow channel that separates the two islands.
It’s also very close to Mazzorbo, another quiet island with a lovely vineyard and Venissa, one of the best restaurants in Venice.
Holašovice, Czech Republic
Holašovice is a tiny village in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It’s the one completely intact survival of a village in the ‘folk Baroque’ style of the 18th and 19th centuries, its 23 farmsteads clustered around a large village green.
Many of the houses are similar in design, with decorated gables and the date of their completion inscribed on each. The farms are behind the front of each house, and one of them is occasionally open to visitors.
The village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique state of preservation. It doesn’t take long to see Holašovice – the two hours between buses is ample, but we were so glad we went out of our way to visit this beautiful place. A small pub on the square offers excellent Czech beer, meals, coffee and cakes.
Where is Holašovice
It’s 10 miles (16 km) west of the regional capital, České Budějovice, which is around two hours south of Prague.
How To Get To Holašovice
We recommend getting bus 320135 from the rooftop bus station in České Budějovice, which takes 40 minutes. They depart every two hours during the day. Check the idos.cz website for times, with the departure point ‘České Budějovice aut nadr’ (the bus station) and ‘Holasovice/Jankov’ the destination.
Check out these places to visit near Holašovice:
Things To Do In Český Krumlov – breathtaking medieval town with one of the greatest Czech Castles
Hluboka Castle – fairytale wedding-cake Castle near České Budějovice
Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy
High above the town of Amalfi and the coastline named after it (Costiera Amalfitana in Italian) Ravello has, along with Gimmelwald, one of the most dramatic settings of our most beautiful villages in Europe.
Ravello is worth crossing oceans to see. It’s one of the most beautiful Italian villages because of its gardens, especially those at Villa Rufolo (with the famous umbrella pine tree) and the nearby Villa Cimbrone (with its terrace of Classical style busts).
The rest of the village is also well worth a couple of hours of your time, including an ice cream stop on Piazza Centrale, a look inside the Duomo (Cathedral) of San Pantaleone and the beautiful Romanesque church of St John.
Where Is Ravello
Ravello is 5 km (3 miles) from the town of Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast in the Campania region of southern Italy.
Getting to Ravello
You can either drive up to Ravello or catch the 5110 bus from the Piazza Municipio bus stop in Amalfi.
Depending on where you’re travelling from, you either approach the Amalfi Coast from the Sorrento (west) or Salerno (east) side. The road is narrow, so progress is slow at busy times.
It’s also possible to catch a boat from Sorrento to Amalfi, then catch the bus to Ravello from there.
Places To Visit Near Ravello
The Amalfi Coast is a staggering place to visit, and it’s worth digging deep to find the best of it.
Amalfi town is worth a few hours of your time, to see the gorgeous harbour and the Cathedral of St Andrew, with its Cloister of Paradise.
Some of the smaller Amalfi Coast villages like Atrani (just to the east of Amalfi) deserve some of your time, as well as the Fiordo di Furore, a picturesque inlet that’s so easy to miss.
Positano is definitely worth a look, its terraces rising up the steep mountain a beautiful sight, but much of it is eye-wateringly overpriced. Positano beach is usually packed, and a walk around the headland – including some substantial step climbs and descents – takes you to Fornillo beach, which is quieter and has a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Portmeirion, Wales
Portmeirion is a fantasy village on the North Wales coast, the creation of architect Clough Williams-Ellis. He wanted to create an idyllic holiday village and, partly inspired by Portofino on the Italian Riviera, set about rescuing neglected buildings and bringing them piece by piece to this beautiful corner of North Wales.
The village is open during the day for visitors, and at night only guests – who stay in the various houses and cottages – and staff remain. There is also a hotel on the shore of the Dwyryd estuary and a 19th century Castle – Castell Deudraeth – which is one of the best castles to stay in Wales.
See Also: The 15 Best Villages in North Wales
Portmeirion village is a wonderful architectural mixture, with an Italian-style campanile (belltower), Georgian-style houses and a Neoclassical colonnade all around the Piazza, the main square. The village was the filming location for The Prisoner, a 1960s TV series that still draws fans there to this day.
Where Is Portmeirion
Near Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales. The postcode is LL48 6ER.
How To Get To Portmeirion
If you’re driving, the main A487 road passes a minor road which leads down to the village.
The two railway stations (one mainline, one Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway) at Minffordd are also next to the A487. It’s a 15-20 minute walk from there to Portmeirion.
Check out these places to visit near Portmeirion:
- Things To Do In Harlech – A World Heritage Castle and one of the best beaches in Wales
- Llyn Peninsula Beaches – awesome beaches in the north-western corner of Wales
- Castles In North Wales – from World Heritage wonders to Welsh princes’ hideouts, and more
- Things To Do In Barmouth – great seaside resort with fantastic hiking and one of the most beautiful estuaries in Europe
Roussillon, France
Roussillon is one of the most beautiful villages in Europe, a stunning village whose houses are coloured by the same bright ochre pigment of the rocks that surround this unique place.
The main thing to do in Roussillon is to walk around the village and admire the deep, rich colours. It’s a photographer’s dream. There are also a few small art galleries and craft shops, as you’d expect in such a picturesque place.
The landscape around Roussillon is remarkable, with outcrops of ochre rock like pieces of Arizona dropped into the green woodlands below the village. The Sentier des Ocres (Ochre Trail) takes you through the best of these.
You can also gain a better appreciation of the setting of Roussillon by walking along a path to the south of the village where a view of Roussillon with Mont Ventoux, the highest mountain in Provence, in the background.
Where is Roussillon
It is in the Luberon area of Provence, to the east of Avignon in the departement of Vaucluse. It’s 10 km from another of our most beautiful villages in Europe, Gordes, and the same distance from the town of Apt.
Roussillon is also 50 km to the east of Avignon.
How To Get To Roussillon
Roussillon is best visited by car. It’s on the D149, which you can reach via the D900 road that runs between Apt and the Autoroute du Soleil near Cavaillon.
There are occasional buses, including an early morning service from Apt, but then you’ve got to get back. You’re usually looking at six or seven hours there.
Places To Visit Near Roussillon
This section also covers places to visit from Gordes, 10 km (7 miles) away from Roussillon.
Many of the best places in the Luberon are very close to Roussillon and Gordes. These include the Castle and village of Lacoste, and the lovely village of Bonnieux, which could well have made this article. The latter is smaller and more intimate than Gordes but has long since been ‘discovered’.
The area around Apt is one of the best areas to see lavender fields in Provence, so if you’re in the vicinity between late June and the end of July, perhaps the first week of August, you’ll get to see some wonderful landscapes.
Several other famous Provence sights are close to the two villages, including the ancient Pont Julien and, close to Gordes, the Village des Bories, a remarkable series of drystone buildings mainly used as agricultural storehouses or animal shelters.
Honfleur, France
The tiny port of Honfleur is one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy. Its harbour – the Vieux Port – is one of the prettiest in France, and in the back streets you’ll also find the church of Sainte-Catherine, the largest wooden church in the country.
Honfleur occupies an important location on the south side of the Seine estuary, across the river from the modern port of Le Havre. It grew in importance during the 14th century when the Hundred Years War was being fought intermittently, and it also was busy with exporting goods, especially from the city of Rouen upstream.
The Vieux Port is gorgeous, with its tall slate-covered houses rising high above the harbour. The waterfront is packed with cafes and restaurants in the warmer months.
Honfleur, perhaps unsurprisingly, also has a history of attracting artists, including Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. The ‘Honfleur school’ included these artists and other early Impressionists, including Eugene Boudin.
Where is Honfleur
Honfleur is in the department of Calvados, on the Cote Fleurie (Coast of Flowers) in central Normandy, in northern France.
How To Get To Honfleur
You can reach Honfleur by bus 122 from Le Havre bus station (gare routiere), which takes around half an hour.
Places To Visit Near Honfleur
Honfleur is a must-see if you’re planning a Normandy road trip at some point. The Calvados coast has a superb stretch of beaches, and two of the best-known are at Deauville and Trouville, 15 km (9 miles) down the coast.
The beaches west of Ouistreham – which is the ferry port for Caen – are where the 1944 D-Day Landings took place, and the best place to visit on this long stretch of coast is Arromanches-les-Bains, where you can see remains of the artificial harbour used by the Allies to assist in the dangerous landings.
If you’re interested in modern architecture, it may be worth your while lingering in Le Havre for a while. The city was flattened during World War II, and was rebuilt by Auguste Perret, with some notable buildings (the Volcan) by Oscar Niemeyer, architect of the city of Brasilia.
North of Le Havre, the Cote d’Albatre (Alabaster Coast) is graced with amazing white cliffs, like the English Channel coast to the north. If you’re visiting the area don’t miss Etretat, where the scenery is at its most spectacular.
Gordes, France
Gordes is one of the most beautiful villages in France – officially – and one of the most photogenic. It’s sited on a steep hill in the southern Vaucluse, its steep narrow lanes winding down from the ancient hilltop castle to the valley floor.
It’s one of the more touristed villages in the Luberon region of Provence, along with nearby Fontaine de Vaucluse, and it’s one of the best day trips from Avignon if you’re exploring the wider region.
Where Is Gordes
It’s 40 km east of Avignon, the nearest city, and it’s in the Vaucluse departement of Provence.
How To Get To Gordes
The only viable way to get to Gordes – like many other Provencal villages – is, sadly, by car.
It can be reached via the D2, which branches off the main D900 road to Apt.
You can reach Gordes by bus from Avignon, but in summer only two services run daily in each direction. Even then, you need to change at the bus station in Cavaillon.
See Also: 32 Famous Landmarks In France
Fira and Oia, Santorini, Greece
The two most popular villages in Santorini, the ‘capital’ Fira and Oia in the north of the island, both deserve to be in our rundown of the most beautiful villages in Europe.
They have extraordinary settings on the rim of the caldera, hundreds of metres above the turquoise Aegean Sea, and together are among the most famous landmarks in Greece.
Santorini is part of the Cyclades group of Greek islands, but is not at all typical of them. Its unique landscape has meant its inhabitants have had to adjust, and looking over Fira towards sunset you get to appreciate it most, with buildings and swimming pools cut into the volcanic rock.
Fira has several beautiful churches overlooking the caldera, and the best-known of these is the Three Bells of Fira, right at the northern end of the village, close to Firostefani and Imerovigli.
It’s such a simple, but beautiful scene, the whitewashed church with its blue dome and white bellcote and cross silhouetted against the rich sunset sky.
It’s one of the most beautiful churches in Santorini, and even at sunset is usually quiet because of the long walk required to get there.
Oia, which also has spectacular blue-domed churches, is another place to watch an unforgettable Santorini sunset. However it tends to be considerably busier.
The classic Oia photograph is a sunset with a distinctive windmill and whitewashed houses, which you can see from the ruined Byzantine Castle. However you will not be alone!
Where Are Fira and Oia
Fira and Oia (pronounced ‘EE-uh’) are both on the west side – and caldera – side of the Greek island of Santorini.
Fira is in the central part of the island, while Oia is in the north-western corner. They are 11 km (7 miles) apart.
Getting to Fira and Oia
You can reach Santorini either by air or by ferry. Regular buses from the airport and ferry port take you to Fira bus station, a 5-minute walk from the caldera.
From Fira, regular buses run the short route to Oia in around 20 minutes.
Places To Visit Near Fira and Oia
When visiting the island I suggest trying to visit at least one of the best beaches in Santorini. They are all volcanic beaches, several with black sand and one, remarkably, with red sand.
I heartily recommend Perissa beach, its extension Perivolos, Kamari, Vlychada and remote Mesa Pigadia, all of which have black sand.
I would also recommend a walk to the viewpoint for Santorini Red Beach, on the south coast of the island near the village of Akrotiri.
If you have time, I would also suggest exploring the villages of Emporio and Pyrgos, which are both gorgeous with a tiny percentage of the crowds you’ll get in Oia and Fira.
Zalipie, Poland
Zalipie is a unique Polish village, and it tells an inspiring tale of beauty shining through the dirt and murk.
By the late 19th century, the houses in Zalipie had to be regularly painted because of the large soot marks left by fires. They were painted white at first, then people began to paint floral patterns.
This became a tradition over time, and all of the houses adopted it. They didn’t just paint their houses – they would also decorate their fences and just about every object they could find in their gardens, even their buckets.
It’s a wonderful example of making beauty out of the everyday. People still live in the houses, so it’s best to stick to those buildings open for visitors, including the Women Painters House (Dom U Malarek) and the interior of the Church of St Joseph, which is decorated beautifully inside.
Where Is Zalipie
Zalipie is in the southern region of Malopolska (Little Poland), around 100 km from the city of Krakow and 30 km (19 miles) north of Tarnow.
It’s also very close to the Vistula (Wisla), the most famous river in Poland.
How To Get To Zalipie
Zalipie has limited transport connections. You can catch a train or bus from Krakow to Tarnow and catch one of the (not very frequent) buses from there to Zalipie.
Alternatively you can drive – it’s under two hours from Krakow travelling along National Road 79 most of the way. There is also the possibility of a tour – this one runs from Krakow, and includes entrance to the small museum in the village.
Check out the Women Painters House (Dom U Malarek) and the interior of the Church of St Joseph, which is decorated beautifully inside.
Bacharach, Germany
Known as the Pearl of the Rhine, we feel we must give the nod to Bacharach as the most beautiful Rhine village or town. French author Victor Hugo agreed, describing it as, ’a fairytale town, swarming with stories and legends.’
If you seek the Romantic Rhine, this is the best place to go, along with Rudesheim, 20 km upstream. It is full of gorgeous half-timbered houses, some of which are now hotels, restaurants, and wineries. The Altes Haus is one of the best, and stunning inside and out.
Bacharach is tiny, but endowed with some fine town walls and towers which make for a superb hike. They lead up to Burg Stahleck, a medieval castle that has been a youth hostel since the 1960s, and pass the Malerwinkel, a beautiful area with late medieval houses alongside a stream.
If you walk up to Burg Stahleck, stop at the Wernerkapelle, a romantic late Gothic ruin beloved by artists. Also try to make time to walk up to the Postenturm (Post Tower), in the middle of a vineyard overlooking the village, to enjoy the extraordinary view.
Where is Bacharach
Bacharach is on the left bank (west side) of the river Rhine, and is included within the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site. It is in the southern part of the Rhine Gorge 52 km south of Koblenz and 16 km from Bingen, the town across the river from Rudesheim.
How To Get To Bacharach
Bacharach is on the Koblenz to Mainz line, and the RB26 stops there every hour. You can also catch the RE2 there from Koblenz. Check the Deutsche Bahn website for up-to-date train times.
You can also reach Bacharach by the KD ferry, but note that the nearest cross-river ferry (to Kaub) departs from halfway between Bacharach and Oberwesel, so isn’t ideal unless you fancy a 2 km walk along the river beneath the busy B9 road.
Places To Visit Near Bacharach
There is so much to see along the Rhine Valley, and Bacharach makes such a good base.
To the north, Schloss Pfalzgrafenstein is a wonderful castle in the middle of the river, built to extract tolls from traders. It’s just across the channel from the village of Kaub, where Burg Gutenfels, now a small hotel, stands on a hill overlooking the valley.
It’s also very close to Oberwesel, one of the best Rhine river towns to visit, and St Goar, with the imposing Rheinfels Castle and Burg Katz dominating the scene. The famous Loreley rock, source of many a Rhine legend, lies just south of St Goar and St Goarshausen.
Beilstein, Germany
Beilstein is a gorgeous wine village in the Mosel Valley, half-timbered houses huddled onto a steep hillside, surrounded by vineyards and overlooked by the ruin of a medieval castle.
It’s a scene you’ll see a few times along the Mosel river (Moselle in French) but nowhere is quite the perfect package that Beilstein is. Try to visit in summer, walk up the hill to explore the Castle (Burg Metternich) and the former monastery church, before settling down at one of the many restaurants, wineries and cafes for some hearty German food and a glass or two of the local Riesling.
A wonderful way to spend part of your summer in Europe, at least once.
Where is Beilstein
It’s on the Mosel river, 11 km (7 miles) from Cochem, the most popular town on the river. It’s in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland Palatinate) and 60 miles from the border city of Trier.
How To Get To Beilstein
Regular buses from Cochem run to Beilstein bear in mind that the final destination marked on the front of the bus is Senheim.
If you’re driving on the B49 between Trier and Cochem, there is the option of the small ferry from Ellenz to Beilstein.
Places To Visit Near Beilstein
Cochem is a gorgeous riverside town downstream from Beilstein, with its famous fairytale Reichsburg Castle on the hill above. It’s a good base for exploring the Mosel, from the twin-town of Bernkastel-Kues to the south and Burg Eltz Castle near Koblenz.
Koblenz is the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. There are around 40 Rhine River Castles in the 65 km gorge, including the mighty Marksburg Castle above the serene little town of Braubach, a few minutes’ train ride south of Koblenz.
In the opposite direction, there are enough things to do in Trier to keep you busy for a day or two, including the magnificent Porta Nigra Roman gateway and Trier Cathedral, one of the most impressive churches in Germany.
Vlkolinec, Slovakia
Like Holasovice across the border in the Czech Republic, the Slovak village of Vlkolinec is a rare survival, an intact Central European village whose layout has hardly changed in centuries.
It consists of just 43 houses, with each plot also including outbuilding including barns and stables. The houses have been painted a variety of colours, giving the village a bright, upbeat feel.
Vlkolinec has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Where Is Vlkolinec
Vlkolinec is 7 km (4 miles) from the town of Ruzomberok, near the Velka Fatra National Park in the west of Slovakia.
How To Get To Vlkolinec
You can reach Vlkolinec by car or public transport.
Ruzomberok is a 65 km drive from Zilina, near the Czech border, and it’s a 3-hour drive from Bratislava or a similar length train journey. From there it’s a short bus ride to the village.
Most Beautiful Villages in Europe – Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the 15 most beautiful villages in Europe.
We’ve had a wonderful time visiting these amazing places and the regions around each of them.
Some of these villages are clustered together in a small area, like the best villages in Santorini, Greece. Several of the Rhine river towns between Bacharach and Braubach are well worth seeking out, and the nearby Mosel Valley has many more treasures to uncover.
And if you’re ever tempted to go way off to the beaten track to Monsaraz, check out our Portugal Road Trip Alentejo article for more wonderful places to see on your way there.
For even more Europe travel inspiration, check out the following themed Europe travel guides:
23 Most Beautiful Streets In Europe – from Bath to Barcelona, Paris to Prague and more
12 Best Border Towns In Europe – frontier towns across Europe, from Trieste to Trier and European Turkey to the Spain-Portugal border
Most Beautiful Castles In Europe – from Moorish fortresses to ‘Mad’ King Ludwig, and many more
11 Best Unexplored Regions In Europe – from Alentejo to the Adriatic, the Elbe to Extremadura and more
Most Beautiful Villages in Europe – from Santorini to the Swiss Alps via Slovakia
Most Beautiful Lakes In Europe – from Austria to Albania and Switzerland to Snowdonia
Most Beautiful Islands In Europe – from Crete to Croatia, Sicily to Slovenia and more
Most Beautiful Beaches In Europe – from the Algarve to Anglesey, and Corsica to Crete
Best Sunsets In Europe – from the Champs-Elysees to the Charles Bridge, and many more
Most Beautiful Churches In Europe – from vast cathedrals to a 1000-year-old Byzantine beach chapel
Most Beautiful Bridges In Europe – Charles Bridge, Tower Bridge, Pont Alexandre III and more
Most Beautiful Squares In Europe – the loveliest public spaces in Europe, from Berlin to Bath, and Portugal to Prague
Best Christmas Cities In Europe – the best places to spend Christmas in Europe, and their Christmas Markets
Most Underrated Cities In Europe – hidden gems from all corners of the continent
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.