Some places look like they’ve stepped right out of a storybook and I’m all for it. These fairytale destinations will stop you in your tracks.
Castles that rise above misty forests, cobbled streets that wind through pastel villages, or lanterns floating over quiet lakes, I’ve got them all.
I’ve always been drawn to places that feel a little enchanted. You know those places that make you gasp and you can’t believe are real. These are the bucket list travel destinations I’ve included here.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply daydreaming, here are the best magical travel destinations you truly must experience. These are the kind of fairytale destinations and places to visit before you die, because they leave something with you: a sense of wonder that lingers long after you’ve gone.
15 Fairytale Destinations You Must See Before You Die
The Lantern-Lit Skies of Chiang Mai, Thailand, (Yi Peng Lantern Festival)
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking through a real-life Tangled scene, this is it. Every November, the sky over Chiang Mai fills with thousands of glowing paper lanterns. It’s a quiet and reverent affair, but also utterly dazzling.
I haven’t been (yet), but this one is way up on my bucket list. It looks like the kind of experience that leaves you speechless, and maybe a little teary.
The Yi Peng Festival usually coincides with Loy Krathong a huge festival in the area so if you are going book accommodation early and plan ahead. Also dates can shift with the lunar calendar.
A Town Painted Like a Storybook, Colmar, France
Imagine half-timbered houses in every pastel shade, winding canals with flower-boxed bridges, and cobbled lanes so charming they don’t feel real. Colmar looks like it was dreamt up by a children’s book illustrator and then left untouched for centuries.
I visited in spring and could barely stop taking photos. It was the kind of place that made me slow down, grab an outdoor table, and just exist for a while.
If you visit don’t miss the “Petite Venise” district and the indoor food market for a slice of local life.
Want more European storybook towns? Check out this deep dive into 15 fairytale places in Europe for charming villages and hidden gems.
The Mountain Monasteries of Bhutan, (Paro Taktsang / Tiger’s Nest Monastery)
Clinging to the edge of a sheer cliff at 3,000 meters, this monastery looks more like a painting than a real place. Surrounded by cloud-shrouded peaks and prayer flags fluttering in the wind, Paro Taktsang feels other worldy.
this misture of natural beauty and deep spirituality makes Bhutan one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. It’s not just beautiful, a very scared and spiritual place.
The trek is about 2 hours uphill and moderately difficult. While it is worth every step it isn’t a journey everyone will find easy.
An Italian Village Frozen in Time, Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
Perched on a crumbling hilltop and only reachable by a footbridge, Civita looks like it’s been left behind by the modern world. Fog often rolls in around the cliffs, giving it a moody, otherworldly vibe. With barely any residents left, it’s nicknamed La città che muore-the dying city.
I stumbled on this one while planning a road trip and instantly fell in love. It’s the kind of place that looks like a film set. I’m told the best time to go is sunrise or sunset for maximum fairytale effect.
The Rainbow-Colored Villages of Shirakawago, Japan
Tucked into the mountains of central Japan, Shirakawago is a cluster of thatched-roof houses that look like they belong in a folktale. In winter, snow blankets the rooftops and lanterns glow in the windows and it resembles a snow globe.
There’s something so peaceful and timeless about it. It’s the place you go if you really want to switch off. January or February is a great time to go due to the night-time illumination events.
Craving more fairytale escapes closer to home? Don’t miss this round‑up of 15 fairytale places in the USA, from forest gardens to cliff‑top mansions.
A Cliffside Castle Fit for a Disney Movie, Neuschwanstein, Germany
This one almost doesn’t need an introduction. Rising out of the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle is the blueprint for every fairytale palace you’ve ever imagined, one of the most iconic fairytale destinations in the world. King Ludwig II dreamed it up in the 19th century, and honestly, I’m still not over it.
It’s touristy, yes, but somehow, when you see it in person with clouds curling around the turrets and the valley falling away below, it makes it worth it. My tip is to go in late autumn for moody mist, golden leaves, and fewer crowds.
If you’re visiting Europe and love castles, you’ll also enjoy this guide to 11 fairytale castles near London perfect for a dreamy day trip from the English capital.
A Colourful Cliffside Wonderland, Positano, Italy
Yes, it’s popular. Yes, it’s expensive. But hear me out: arriving in Positano by boat, seeing that cascade of peach and terracotta buildings against the turquoise sea, is a moment. It will honestly take your breath away.
The winding streets, the lemon scent in the air, the tiled stairways it all feels like the setting for a Mediterranean fairytale. You must watch the sunset from a balcony if you can with a glass of wine you really will count your blessings.
A Jungle Temple Lost in Time, Angkor Wat, Cambodia
There’s something about Angkor that is simply mesmerizing . Giant tree roots growing through ancient stone walls, silent courtyards, unusual carvings that could be watching you. Its incredible.
Get up before dawn and watch the sunrise over the temple spires, there is nothing else like it. It’s a truly sacred place, deep, powerful, and strange.
After you have seen the main temple I suggest wandering further afield to find quieter ruins like Ta Prohm.
A Town Painted in Pastels – Guatapé, Colombia
If joy were a village, it would be Guatapé. Every wall, door, and windowsill is hand-painted in bright, playful colours. It is like someone let a child design a town with a box of crayons, and as a bonus the weather is always perfect.
It’s cheerful and creative, surrounded by lakes and greenery. I recommend climbing the El Peñol rock nearby for panoramic views that will make you gasp out loud.
A Gothic Beauty by the Sea, Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is one of those places that feels like it belongs in a dream. With misty hills, ancient forests, and palaces that look like they were designed by a slightly unhinged fairytale architect, it’s nothing short of magical.
My favourite was Quinta da Regaleira, it had everything I love, gargoyles, towers, secret tunnels, and an Initiation Well that spirals deep into the earth. If fairytales had secret societies, they’d meet here.
Go in spring or autumn if you can the gardens are in the bloom its not too hot and the area is less populated. If fairytales had secret societies, they’d meet here. It’s truly one of Portugal’s most unique fairytale destinations.
A Nordic Village Wrapped in Snow, Reine, Norway
Set on the edge of the Lofoten Islands, Reine is the kind of place that envelopes you like a warm hug. Red wooden cabins perch above icy blue fjords, and jagged mountains rise like something out of a Viking saga.
In winter, the Northern Lights dance overhead and in summer, the sun never sets. Reine feels magical, elemental, and vast. This is a fairytale nature created and I’m here for it.
If you can stay in one of the rorbu (fisherman’s cabin) and watch the aurora from your front porch. unforgettable.
A Hidden Village of Blue, Chefchaouen, Morocco
Tucked in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is famous for one thing: it’s entirely blue. Every wall, door, and staircase is painted in shades of cobalt, indigo, and powder. There are theories about why from tradition to mosquito control but honestly, it just feels like magic.
Wandering here is like walking through a dream, if you dream in all blue. Quiet corners, cats on doorsteps, bursts of pink bougainvillea, contemplating the , yes, you guessed it, blue.
If you can go early in the morning before all the day-trippers arrive. It’s serene and otherworldly and well worth a visit.
A Real-Life Hobbit Village, Hobbiton, New Zealand
Yes, it’s a movie set. But it’s also a place of rolling green hills, perfectly round doors, and tiny gardens that make you want to move in and bake seed cakes. If you’ve ever loved Tolkien, or just secretly wished you lived in a hole in the ground, but a really nice one, this is for you.
The attention to detail is incredible, and the setting feels like something out of a fever dream. if you can go on the evening banquet tour ends it ends with a lantern-lit walk through the Shire.
A Rose-Coloured City Carved into Stone, Petra, Jordan
Hidden behind a narrow canyon in the desert, Petra suddenly appears almost like a hallucination. Entire buildings carved into cliffs, glowing pink and orange in the sun. This is one of those spine-tingling places everyone needs to see once.
It’s grand and ancient, and feels like a forgotten kingdom where time stood still. For a real treat visit by candlelight at night for a hauntingly beautiful experience.
A Tiny Kingdom in the Clouds, Hallstatt, Austria
Lake reflections, swans, alpine peaks, and pastel houses climbing a steep hill, it’s one of Austria’s most picture-perfect fairytale destinations. Tucked into the Austrian Alps it is like a fairytale village that time forgot.
I went in winter and watched snow fall over the rooftops from a quiet café. It was one of the most peaceful afternoons I’ve ever had. If you can stay overnight, day trips flood the town, but mornings and evenings are pure magic.
I hope these places have reminded you fairytales aren’t just for children. to me they are reminders that beauty, wonder, and mystery are still out there, if you know where to look.
Whether you’re drawn to castles in the clouds, lantern-lit skies, or villages where color itself feels like a celebration, these fairytale destinations invite you to step outside the ordinary.
Add them to your fantasy travel bucket list, or better yet, start planning your next trip. The world is full of storybook places just waiting to be explored.
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