Inland waterside towns, around the world.

Schmalkalden

Town on the Schmalkalde river at the southern edge of the Thuringian Forest, Schmalkalden sits in mountain terrain with scenic viewpoints across the surround…

Brissago

This small lakeside village on the western shore of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Brissago sits right at the water with v…

Foligno

This walkable Umbrian town on the Topino river where it meets the plain of the Clitunno, Foligno has a food-and-drink scene and a concentration of medieval c…

Quesada

This modest Andalusian town in Jaén where the Guadalquivir River has its source, set within mountain country on the edge of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y…

Neuchâtel

A lakeside town in French-speaking western Switzerland, Neuchâtel sits directly on Lake Neuchâtel with vineyards in the surrounding hills and a walkable cent…

Sala Comacina

Colorful ochre and terracotta houses rise directly from Lake Como's waterfront here, climbing wooded terraced hillsides past a bell tower, with a small but w…

Calatayud

Calatayud, a town in Aragón on the river Jalón, is known for the Mudéjar towers of its old-town churches and a castle whose origins date to around 850 AD.

Dendermonde

Sitting at the confluence of the Dender and Scheldt rivers in East Flanders, Dendermonde is a Belgian town with a walkable, café-lined centre, a concentratio…

Arrone

Small Umbrian village on the Nera river in the Valnerina, Arrone holds several historic churches and scenic viewpoints for its size, along with a handful of…

Landshut

Every four years, Landshut stages the Landshuter Hochzeit, a large-scale re-enactment of the 1475 wedding of Bavarian Duke Georg the Rich to Polish princess…

Huy

Walkable Wallonian town on the river Meuse, Huy has a centre dense with historic churches, cafés, and restaurants, with vineyards in the surrounding countrys…

Quimper

Quimper faience — white glazed pottery with colourful painted designs — is the signature craft of this Breton town, the prefecture of Finistère in northweste…

Grund

A river-level quarter of Luxembourg City where a stone bridge crosses calm water below a dramatically lit old town rising on rocky cliffs, with cafés, church…

Kolín

This walkable Central Bohemian town on the Elbe River with a well-preserved historic centre protected as an urban monument reservation, Kolín sits roughly an…

Pesmes

This village on the banks of the Ognon river in Haute-Saône holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and carries a dense concentration of listed…

Morcote

This photogenic village on the shore of Lake Lugano in Switzerland's Ticino canton, Morcote pairs its waterfront arcades and Renaissance church with a monume…

Persenbeug

Persenbeug sits on the bank of the Danube in Lower Austria, anchored by a listed castle that rises above the river.

Foix

The castle of the Counts of Foix, classified as a historic monument since 1840, rises on a rock above this modest medieval town at the foot of the Pyrenees i…

Kamnik

Modest Slovenian town at the foot of the Kamnik Alps, Kamnik has three castles, many historic churches, and a café and restaurant scene that punches above it…

Mayrhofen

This well-known ski resort in Austria's Zillertal, Mayrhofen sits in the Ziller river valley in Tyrol and serves as the main base for alpine skiing across th…

Clermont-l'Hérault

A modest wine-country town in the Hérault department of southern France, Clermont-l'Hérault sits alongside the Lergue and Salagou rivers and carries a café a…

Varenna

Sitting directly on the eastern shore of Lake Como in Lombardy, Varenna is a modest lakeside village with a heritage-dense centre of medieval churches, histo…

Imst

Heritage-dense modest town on the River Inn in western Tyrol, Imst sits close to the mountains with scenic viewpoints in the surrounding area and a café and…

Frías

Claimed since 1435 to be the smallest city in Spain, Frías is a medieval hill village in Burgos province rising above the river Ebro, where a castle and a 12…

Sansepolcro

Birthplace of the Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca and the mathematician Luca Pacioli, Sansepolcro is a compact Tuscan town on the upper Tiber, near…

Traunkirchen

This pocket-sized Upper Austrian village sits directly on the Traunsee lake, surrounded by mountain terrain, with several historic churches and a handful of…

Figeac

Tiny town on the Célé river in France's Lot department, Figeac draws summer visitors in numbers that have earned it the "Grand Site d'Occitanie" label, along…

Pinerolo

A walkable town in Piedmont, southwest of Turin on the river Chisone, with a centre full of cafés, restaurants, and historic churches.

Ehnen

This compact Luxembourg village where working vineyards press right up against stone houses and a medieval church tower, with rolling wine-country hills abov…

Sainte-Enimie

This photogenic village in the Gorges du Tarn in southern France's Lozère, Sainte-Enimie sits directly on the river and holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Vi…

Bosa

Sitting on the north bank of the Temo River — the only river-built town on Sardinia — Bosa is a little Sardinian settlement with a strong café and restaurant…

Bright

This pocket-sized mountain town in northeastern Victoria with an unusually dense café and restaurant scene for its size, Bright sits at the southeastern end…

Zvornik

Sitting on the Drina River at the foot of Majevica mountain in Republika Srpska, Zvornik offers a compact centre with cafés and restaurants alongside scenic…

Gérardmer

Sitting directly on its own lake in the Vosges mountains of northeastern France, Gérardmer is a compact town with a café and restaurant scene that would suit…

Mergozzo

This small Piedmontese village sits directly on its own lake, with scenic viewpoints in the surrounding hills and a striking number of churches for a settlem…

Thun

A walkable Swiss town where the Aare flows out of Lake Thun, with a food-and-drink scene packed into the centre, historic churches, and scenic viewpoints ove…

Saint-Céré

This compact town in the Lot department of southern France, Saint-Céré sits on the River Bave with vineyards in the surrounding countryside and scenic views…

Chase

Sitting at the outlet of Little Shuswap Lake where it becomes the South Thompson River, Chase is a compact village in British Columbia's Interior with mounta…

Verucchio

Sitting on a spur above the Marecchia river valley, this compact Emilia-Romagna village has earned a place in Italy's official register of its most beautiful…

Puente La Reina – Gares

Where the French Way and the Aragonese Way of the Camino de Santiago converge, Puente la Reina — whose Spanish name means "the Queen's bridge" — sits on the…

Lodève

This small town in the Hérault department of southern France's Occitania region, Lodève sits at the confluence of several rivers and offers a compact central…

Castel di Sangro

This compact town in Abruzzo's L'Aquila province, Castel di Sangro sits along the Sangro river with a central core of cafés and restaurants and a photogenic…

Tarouca

A pocket-sized Portuguese city in the Douro region, Tarouca sits directly on the water with scenic surroundings that reward photography, and a compact centra…

Chenonceaux

Château de Chenonceau, built across the River Cher and the most visited château in France after Versailles, sits at the edge of this little hamlet in the Ind…

Moltrasio

Pocket-sized village on the western shore of Lake Como, Moltrasio draws on a heritage-dense streetscape, scenic lake views, and a concentration of churches a…

Oderberg

This compact German river town in Brandenburg where red-tile rooftops and a green-spired church rise above a broad waterway, surrounded by dense forest and c…

La Roque-Gageac

Sitting directly on the Dordogne river in southwestern France, this tiny village carries membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and a strong reputat…

Pella

Sitting on the western shore of Lake Orta in Piedmont, this compact village in the Province of Novara offers waterfront views, mountain country close by, and…

Fribourg

Founded in 1157 on a rocky spur above the Sarine River, Fribourg is a Swiss town whose Old City holds Switzerland's best-preserved medieval fortifications, m…

Decize

This stone arched bridge crosses a wide river into this compact Burgundian town, where a Romanesque church tower and slate-roofed buildings rise above a live…

Leggiuno

The Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso, a hermitage built into a rocky cliff face on the shore of Lake Maggiore, is the landmark that defines this modest Lomb…

Saint-Maurice

This small Swiss town in the canton of Valais where the Rhône valley narrows to a pass, Saint-Maurice has been a strategic gateway since antiquity — the site…

Catemaco

A town on the shores of Lake Catemaco in southern Veracruz, known across Mexico for a pre-colonial tradition of sorcery and witchcraft — practiced largely by…

Brunate

Known as the "Balcony on the Alps," this compact village above Lake Como offers panoramic views stretching across the western Alpine arc, the Po Plain, and t…

Meissen

Meissen porcelain — the first European porcelain, produced here since 1708 — is the defining reason to visit this Saxon town on the River Elbe, a short dista…

Gruyères

This medieval Swiss village on a hill above the Saane Valley and the Lake of Gruyère lends its name to Gruyère cheese and is anchored by a castle that draws…

Castiglione di Garfagnana

This medieval walled village in Tuscany's Garfagnana valley, Castiglione di Garfagnana sits above the river Esarulo and holds an unusual number of churches f…

Kronach

Birthplace of the Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, Kronach is a town in Upper Franconia where three rivers meet at the edge of the Franconian For…

Cuenca

Cuenca's old town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, occupies a narrow escarpment between the Júcar and Huécar rivers, with the famous Casas Col…

Joigny

A tiny wine-country town on the river Yonne in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Joigny has a medieval old town that has earned the Pays d'art et d'histoire designati…

Argegno

This tiny Lake Como village on the western shore sits where the River Telo meets the lake, and the waters just offshore mark the deepest point of any lake in…

Alcalá del Júcar

This modest village in Albacete province where the Júcar river curves tightly around a dramatic gorge, Alcalá del Júcar was designated a protected historic s…

Montauban

Founded in 1144 by the Count of Toulouse, Montauban is a reddish-brick town on the Tarn river in southern France, known as the birthplace of the 19th-century…

Kranjska Gora

A winter sports hub in northwestern Slovenia's Upper Carniola region, Kranjska Gora sits on the Sava Dolinka River near the point where Austria, Italy, and S…

Loket

Loket Castle, a Gothic fortress dating to the 12th century, rises on a rocky spur above a meander of the Ohře River in this modest Bohemian town in the Karlo…

Dronero

A compact Piedmontese town at the entrance to the Valle Maira, Dronero sits on a rocky spur at the confluence of two waterways, with panoramic views stretchi…

Campan

This mountain village in the French Pyrenees, Campan sits within the Pyrénées National Park on terrain drained by the Adour river and several tributaries.

Kulmbach

Plassenburg Castle, which houses the largest tin soldier collection in the world, rises above this Bavarian town on the Main river in Franconia, a short dist…

Ormea

Little village in the Ligurian Alps near the Piedmont-Liguria border, Ormea sits on the Tanaro river with mountain terrain close on all sides and a concentra…

Cangas del Narcea

A compact Asturian town on the Narcea river, with vineyards in the surrounding hills and a compact centre of cafés and restaurants.

Montargis

Laced with canals and bridges along the Loing and several other waterways, Montargis is a walkable town in the Loiret that markets itself as the "Venice of t…

Chur

Reputedly the oldest town in Switzerland, Chur sits on the Rhine in the canton of Graubünden, with a walkable centre dense with food and drink options and vi…

Dawson City

Dawson City, at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers in Canada's Yukon territory, is defined by its role in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896–1899, w…

Josselin

A multi-turreted medieval castle rises directly from the riverbank in this tiny Breton village, its grey stone towers reflected in the calm water below, with…

Montreux

A Lake Geneva shore town in the Swiss canton of Vaud, Montreux sits at the foot of the Alps with a walkable waterfront, a dense food-and-drink scene, and sce…

Bad Neustadt an der Saale

This walkable Bavarian spa town where the Franconian Saale and Brend rivers meet, Bad Neustadt an der Saale has a centre with several historic churches, café…

Meyrueis

A compact mountain village in southern Lozère where the Jonte river runs through the centre, Meyrueis sits within the Cévennes and is flanked by the gorges o…

Alcobaça

The Monastery of Alcobaça, built on the orders of Portugal's first king to mark the 1147 Conquest of Santarém from the Moors, is one of the country's great G…

Pontremoli

A heritage-dense tiny town in Tuscany's northernmost corner, Pontremoli sits on the Magra river — its name meaning "Trembling Bridge," after a prominent cros…

Auch

This walkable Gascon town in southwestern France's Gers department, Auch sits on the River Gers and is known for its gastronomic scene, its cathedral, and a…

Hluboka nad Vltavou

Hluboká Castle draws visitors to this little South Bohemian town on the Vltava river, a short distance north of České Budějovice.

Tenno

A small Trentino village a few kilometres from Riva del Garda, Tenno sits on the slopes above Lake Garda and is home to Lake Tenno, known for its vivid blue-…

Küssnacht

Sitting on the north shore of Lake Lucerne at the foot of Mount Rigi, Küssnacht is a pocket-sized Swiss town with a café and restaurant scene that outpaces t…

Tachov

Tachov, a pocket-sized town in the Plzeň Region of Czechia, sits on the Mže River in hilly terrain and holds one of the best-preserved medieval town wall sys…

Villadossola

This compact town in Piedmont's Val d'Ossola, Villadossola sits at the mouth of the Valle Antrona and alongside the Toce river, with mountains close on sever…

Oberndorf bei Salzburg

"Silent Night" was first performed in Oberndorf bei Salzburg in 1818, at the Nikolauskirche, making this tiny Austrian town on the River Salzach a draw for a…

Salzedas

A compact village on the right bank of the River Varosa in northern Portugal, Salzedas sits within the Távora-Varosa Demarcated Region, known for sparkling w…

Sanok

Historic town on the San River in southeastern Poland, Sanok holds a refurbished castle, an open-air Museum of Folk Architecture, and a walkable Old Town wit…

Le Puy-en-Velay

One of the principal starting points for the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Le Puy-en-Velay is a heritage-dense town in south-central France's A…

Castelsantangelo sul Nera

This pocket-sized mountain hamlet in the Marche region of Italy sits at the headwaters of the Nera River, where the Valnerina valley begins.

Kazimierz Dolny

Photogenic little town on the Vistula river in eastern Poland, Kazimierz Dolny owes its Renaissance streetscape to a grain-trade boom in the 16th and early 1…

Saint-Pons-de-Thomières

Sitting beside the river Jaur in southern France's Hérault department, Saint-Pons-de-Thomières is a small cathedral village and the capital of the Haut-Langu…

Bobbio

Founded around the Abbey of San Colombano in 614, Bobbio is a medieval village in the Trebbia River valley in Piacenza province, with a historic centre that…

Sachseln

A white-towered baroque church with an onion dome anchors this compact Swiss lakeside town, where calm water reflections, traditional timber-framed buildings…

Lamanère

The southernmost hamlet in continental France, Lamanère sits in the Pyrénées-Orientales amid mountain terrain drained by several small rivers and streams.

Sandomierz

Spread across seven hills above the Vistula River in south-eastern Poland, Sandomierz is a royal town whose preserved Old Town — declared a National Monument…

Lienz

A heritage-dense medieval town in East Tyrol, Austria, Lienz sits at the confluence of the Isel and Drau rivers with a well-preserved historic centre, an unu…

Morlaix

Walkable Breton town in Finistère whose centre sits at the confluence of two rivers, Morlaix is defined by its 19th-century viaduct rising through the heart…

Tarazona

Tarazona, on the river Queiles in Aragon, packs an unusual concentration of historic churches and medieval architecture into a modest centre shaped by centur…

Mühlhausen

One of the largest surviving medieval city centres in Germany, Mühlhausen is a Thuringian town on the Unstrut river with eleven Gothic churches, a nearly com…

Tende

Mountain village in the Alpes-Maritimes with an unusual number of churches for its size, Tende sits alongside a river in high alpine terrain near the French-…

Saranac Lake

The largest community within New York's Adirondack Park, Saranac Lake sits on Lake Flower — a wide stretch of the Saranac River — with mountain terrain on al…

Sevnica

A little town on the left bank of the Sava River in central Slovenia, Sevnica sits in wine country with a café-and-restaurant core and mountain terrain close…

Liezen

A modest district capital on the River Enns in Styria, Liezen serves as the economic and administrative hub of Austria's largest district by area.

Montemezzo

A tiny lakeside hamlet in Lombardy's Province of Como, Montemezzo sits at the northern end of Lake Como with mountain terrain close by and vineyards in the s…

Soissons

One of France's most ancient towns, Soissons sits on the river Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region, with a walkable centre full of cafés and a strong archite…

Corning

This small city on the Chemung River in upstate New York, Corning is best known as the headquarters of Corning Incorporated, the Fortune 500 glass and cerami…

Borgosesia

A small town on the Sesia River in Piedmont's alpine Valsesia valley, Borgosesia has a café and restaurant scene and a concentration of churches that both ex…

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Spa town in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, Bagnères-de-Bigorre sits in the valley of the Adour river and offers a café and restaurant scene that holds…

Kamloops

Sitting at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers in south-central British Columbia, Kamloops is a city with a walkable, café-lined centre, sc…

Monção

Wine-country town on the southern bank of the Minho River, where Portugal meets Spain, Monção pairs a walkable centre with a dense food-and-drink scene and s…

Montmelian

Compact Savoie town set in a river valley between forested hills and vine-covered slopes, with a rocky outcrop rising above its grey-roofed centre and easy r…

Coesfeld

A compact Westphalian town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Coesfeld's red-brick centre radiates outward from a prominent twin-towered church, with tree-lined stre…

Daroca

This pocket-sized Aragonese town in the Jiloca river valley, south of Zaragoza, holds an unusual concentration of historic churches for its size, making it a…

Děčín

Sitting at the confluence of the Elbe and Ploučnice rivers in North Bohemia, Děčín is a photogenic Czech town with a walkable centre, a castle, and a zoo, ri…

Canelli

Canelli, on a bend of the river Belbo in Piedmont's Alto Monferrato, is widely regarded as the birthplace of Italian sparkling wine: the Moscato grape used t…

Köpenick

A historic district in southeast Berlin where the rivers Dahme and Spree meet, Köpenick has a well-preserved medieval old town and a Baroque palace, both sit…

Jesenik

Home to the Priessnitz Medical Spa, founded in 1822 as the world's first hydrotherapy institute, Jeseník is a spa town in the Olomouc Region of Czechia, set…

Laufenburg

Sitting on the Swiss bank of the Rhine directly across from its German twin, Laufenburg (Baden), this small Aargau town was once a single city until Napoleon…

Aguilar de Campoo

A small town in northern Palencia where the River Pisuerga runs through the historic centre, Aguilar de Campoo has an unusually dense concentration of histor…

Merritt

Officially designated Canada's Country Music Capital, Merritt is a small city in British Columbia's Nicola Valley where the Nicola and Coldwater rivers meet.

Amersfoort

This medieval Dutch city with a well-preserved historic centre of canals, city walls, and old fortifications, Amersfoort sits in the middle of the Netherland…

Talavera de la Reina

Talavera de la Reina's pottery tradition, declared UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2019, has defined this Castile–La Mancha city for centuries.

Pignola

Known locally as "il paese dei portali" — the town of doorways — Pignola is a small mountain town in Basilicata's Potenza province, where the historic centre…

Zell am See

Sitting directly on the shores of a deep alpine lake in the Austrian state of Salzburg, Zell am See pairs year-round mountain sports — anchored by the Zell a…

Almodóvar del Río

A well-preserved medieval castle crowns a rocky outcrop above this Andalusian town of whitewashed houses along the Guadalquivir River, offering dramatic elev…

Château-Verdun

A hamlet in the upper Ariège valley of southwestern France, Château-Verdun sits beside the Aston river in mountain country and holds a nationally listed monu…

Jelenia Góra

A gateway city to the Karkonosze mountains in southwestern Poland, Jelenia Góra has a walkable historic centre with a restored baroque marketplace, 17th-cent…

Česká Lípa

This town on the Ploučnice river in the Liberec Region, Česká Lípa has a well-preserved historic centre protected as an urban monument zone, with a walkable…

Châteaudun

A heritage-dense town on the Loir river in Eure-et-Loir, Châteaudun has a compact centre with a strong concentration of listed buildings — among them a 1938…

Badajoz city

Sitting on the left bank of the Guadiana river close to the Portuguese border, Badajoz is a city in Extremadura with a walkable centre dense with historic ch…

Sillian

This tiny market town in Austria's East Tyrol sits in the upper Pustertal valley near the western edge of the region, at over a thousand metres elevation, an…

Oulx

This pocket-sized village in the upper Susa Valley near the French border, Oulx sits at the confluence of the Dora di Riparia and the Dora di Bardonecchia ri…

Saint-Alban-de-Montbel

A pocket-sized French hamlet in Savoie where low-rise houses with dark-roofed chalets cluster at the edge of a calm green lake, backed by dramatic limestone…

Geraardsbergen

Geraardsbergen, a town in the Flemish Ardennes of East Flanders, sits along the Dender river at the foot of the Oudenberg hill — the site of the Muur van Ger…

Garzeno

A pocket-sized Lake Como-area village in Lombardy with a striking number of churches for its size, vineyards in the immediate surroundings, and scenic viewpo…

Spiez

This small Swiss town on the shore of Lake Thun sits in the Bernese Oberland, with vineyards on its slopes, mountain views in every direction, and a café and…

Wetteren

A walkable East Flemish town on the River Schelde, Wetteren sits a short distance east of Ghent with a centre that offers a real café and restaurant scene.

Latera

A small hill village in Viterbo's province, Latera sits on volcanic terrain near both Lake Bolsena and Lake Mezzano, close to the Tuscan border.

Škofja Loka

A medieval town in northwestern Slovenia, Škofja Loka sits at the confluence of two rivers against a mountain backdrop, with a well-preserved historic core d…

New Denver

This small village on the east shore of Slocan Lake in British Columbia's West Kootenay region sits where Carpenter Creek meets the lake, with mountain backd…

Luino

Modest town on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, Luino is best known for its Wednesday market, said to be among the largest of its kind in Europe, drawing…

Sancerre

Sancerre is a medieval hilltop village in the Cher département of Centre-Val de Loire, overlooking the Loire river and recognized as one of France's most bea…

Blandford Forum

A remarkably intact Georgian town on the River Stour in Dorset, Blandford Forum owes its architectural coherence to a devastating fire in 1731, after which i…

Brentonico

A snow-dusted Trentino village in the uplands above Lake Garda, where a tall stone bell tower rises above compact Alpine houses backed by forested slopes, wi…

Gaillon

A compact Norman town of half-timbered houses and slate rooftops rising above a river valley, Gaillon pairs a walkable central core of cafés with vineyard su…

Dietkirchen

The Basilica of St.

Castelnuovo Don Bosco

This small Piedmontese hill village near the confluence of the Nevissano and Bardella rivers, Castelnuovo Don Bosco sits in deep wine country east of Turin w…

Cluny

Founded in 910 by Duke William I of Aquitaine, the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny shaped this little Burgundian town into one of medieval Europe's great centres…

Trenčín

Trenčín Castle rises from a rock above this western Slovak city on the Váh River, one of the oldest towns in the country and named a European Capital of Cult…

Sao Joao da Pesqueira

This tiny Portuguese wine town high above the Douro River, São João da Pesqueira sits within the Alto Douro Wine Region UNESCO World Heritage Site and accoun…

Romorantin-Lanthenay

A compact French town where a flower-lined weir and stone arched bridge span a calm river, with a church steeple and cream-rendered townhouses forming the ba…

Rattenberg

Austria's smallest city sits on the Inn River in Tyrol, and its compact historic centre — dense with listed buildings, churches, and cafés — punches well abo…

Stargard

One of the oldest cities in Poland, Stargard sits on the Ina River in northwestern Poland with a walkable centre and a concentration of medieval Gothic landm…

Marvejols

This little town in the Lozère department of southern France, Marvejols sits on the Colagne river in mountain terrain and served as a royal town and capital…

Penparcau

A pocket-sized village just south of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, Wales, Penparcau sits between Tan y Bwlch beach, the River Ystwyth, and the River Rheidol, wi…

Becov nad Teplou

A small Czech town in mountain terrain along the Teplá river, Bečov nad Teplou has a well-preserved historic centre protected as an urban monument zone, scen…

Esterre

A small hamlet in the Hautes-Pyrénées, Esterre sits alongside the Bastan river within the Pyrénées National Park, surrounded by mountain scenery and scenic v…

Llangattock

Sitting on the western bank of the River Usk in the Brecon Beacons National Park, this small Welsh village faces the town of Crickhowell across the water, wi…

Anversa degli Abruzzi

This little Abruzzo village in the province of L'Aquila sits alongside the Sagittario Gorges nature reserve, a dramatic river canyon that gives the surroundi…

Olargues

A medieval village on the Jaur river in southern France's Hérault, Olargues sits within the Haut-Languedoc regional nature park and carries a listing among L…

Straubing

This walkable Bavarian town on the Danube with a dense concentration of historic churches and a lively food-and-drink scene in its centre, Straubing hosts th…

Kamienna Gora

A compact town in south-western Poland set on the Bóbr river between the Stone Mountains and the Rudawy Janowickie, with cafés and restaurants concentrated i…

Castelnaudary

Castelnaudary, a small town in the Aude department of southern France's Occitanie region, claims to be the world capital of cassoulet and is a major producer…

Stadt Wehlen

This small village on the right bank of the Elbe in Saxon Switzerland, Stadt Wehlen sits in the sandstone mountain terrain of the Elbsandsteingebirge and ser…

Duszniki-Zdroj

A spa town in the Kłodzko Valley of southwestern Poland, Duszniki-Zdrój sits on the Bystrzyca River between the Orlickie and Bystrzyckie mountain ranges on t…

Saint-Beauzély

This village in Aveyron's Grands Causses regional nature park, Saint-Beauzély sits on the right bank of the Muze river on the southern slopes of the Lévézou…

Lierganes

A little Cantabrian village on the River Miera, Liérganes has been named one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and draws visitors to its riverside spa.

Penticton

Sitting between two lakes in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, Penticton is a photogenic town with a walkable centre full of cafés and restaurants and easy…

Ligny-en-Barrois

This pocket-sized town in the Meuse département of northeastern France, Ligny-en-Barrois sits alongside the Rhine-Marne canal and carries a "Village étape" d…

Lüneburg

This heritage-dense Hanseatic town on the River Ilmenau in Lower Saxony, Lüneburg carries a well-preserved medieval streetscape and a walkable centre with a…

Darque

A pocket-sized Portuguese town where a broad river meets sandy estuary flats, backed by forested hills and distant mountains, with vineyard surroundings, wat…

Cluses

Sitting on the Arve river in the Alps of Haute-Savoie, Cluses is a town with a walkable centre, a café scene, and steep mountain slopes rising on either side.

Coniston

Sitting between Coniston Water and the fell of Coniston Old Man in the southern Lake District, this small Cumbrian village offers mountain terrain and direct…

Pirna

This sweep of red-tile rooftops and a commanding Gothic church tower define this Saxon town on the Elbe, set in hill country near Dresden with vineyards clos…

Lods

This tiny hamlet on the Loue river in eastern France's Doubs département sits among vineyards and carries membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, th…

Fossombrone

Compact Marche town where a river curves through a red-tile historic centre, backed by vineyard-covered hills, with a good café and restaurant scene and a no…

Kelowna

This walkable city on the shores of Okanagan Lake in southern British Columbia, Kelowna sits at the heart of BC's wine country and draws visitors with a live…

Angles-sur-lAnglin

This small village on the Anglin river in the Vienne département, Angles-sur-l'Anglin is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and carries a strong p…

Kolašin

Tiny mountain town in northern Montenegro that serves as a base for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, with the ranges of Bjelasica, Sinjajevina, and Kom…

Kruibeke

This tiny East Flemish town in Belgium's Waasland region sits alongside the River Schelde, offering waterside scenery and a photogenic setting.

Dinan

A walled Breton town in the Côtes-d'Armor department of northwestern France, Dinan sits on a hill above the Rance river, its medieval ramparts and château fo…

Sainte-Anne-de-la-Perade

Every winter, a temporary village of fishing huts rises on the frozen Sainte-Anne River at this compact Quebec municipality, which calls itself the world cap…

Moritzburg

The Baroque hunting castle Schloss Moritzburg is the centrepiece of this tiny Saxon town between Meissen and Dresden, set on a lake and reached by a narrow-g…

Mende

Mende is the little prefecture of France's Lozère department in Occitania, set along the River Lot amid mountain terrain and offering a café and restaurant s…

Aulla

Pocket-sized Tuscan town on the River Magra in the historic Lunigiana region, Aulla has a café and restaurant scene that holds a surprising number of options…

Bala

Sitting at the northern tip of Llyn Tegid — the largest natural lake in Wales — this modest Welsh-speaking town in Gwynedd's Snowdonia foothills offers mount…

Lillers

This small town in Pas-de-Calais where the river Clarence runs through the centre, Lillers has a compact core with cafés and restaurants and four listed hist…

Scanno

A modest Abruzzo village with a strong photographic reputation, Scanno sits beside a lake in the mountains of the L'Aquila province, partly within the bounda…

Ross

Photogenic Tasmanian hamlet on the Macquarie River, Ross is known for its historic sandstone bridge, original sandstone buildings, and convict history, all l…

Yvoire

A medieval village on the shore of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie, Yvoire holds a strong visual appeal — its flower-filled streets have earned it a place among…

Landeck

Small Tyrolean city at the confluence of mountain rivers in Austria's Upper Inn Valley, Landeck sits at the gateway to one of the country's most tourism-inte…

Bytów

14th-century Teutonic Knights castle is the centrepiece of this compact town in Poland's Gdańsk Pomerania region, set on a lake and two rivers in the Bytów L…

Mirepoix

A heritage-dense tiny town in the Ariège department of southwestern France, Mirepoix sits on the River Hers-Vif with a café and restaurant scene that punches…

Oetz

Modest Tyrolean village at the foot of Acherkogel mountain in Austria's Ötztal valley, Oetz sits alongside the Ötztaler Ache river and offers scenic viewpoin…

Cagli

Small town in the Marche region of central Italy, Cagli sits alongside the Burano river with an unusually dense concentration of churches for its size and a…

Nantua

Sitting directly on the glacial Lac de Nantua in the southern foothills of the Jura Mountains, this small French town in the Ain département is known for its…

Scharnitz

This Tyrolean village on the German border that serves as the western gateway to the Hinterau valley, where the river Isar has its source.

Horn-Bad Meinberg

Home to the Externsteine — a striking formation of tall, narrow sandstone columns rising from the Teutoburg Forest — Horn-Bad Meinberg is a tiny city in the…

Bram

Sitting on the Canal du Midi between Castelnaudary and Carcassonne, Bram is a tiny town in the Aude department of southern France's Occitanie region, with ra…

Yverdon-les-Bains

A thermal spa town on the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel, Yverdon-les-Bains has been known for its sulphurous springs since Roman times, when it was called…

Avigliana

Two volcanic maar lakes — Lago Grande and Lago Piccolo — sit at the edge of this modest Piedmontese town in the Susa valley, west of Turin, with the medieval…

Brousse-le-Château

This compact Aveyron hamlet sits at the confluence of two rivers and holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, the association recognising Franc…

Elassona

This tiny Greek town at the foot of Mount Olympus, Elassona sits alongside a river with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants.

Dornbirn

Vorarlberg's largest city, Dornbirn sits in Austria's westernmost state with a walkable centre dense with listed historic buildings, cafés, and churches.

Saintes

Sitting on the Charente river in western France, Saintes carries one of the region's most substantial Gallo-Roman, medieval, and classical heritage records —…

Pisano

This tiny Piedmont village on the shore of Lake Maggiore sits in mountain country with scenic viewpoints and a striking number of churches for its size, alon…

St. Gilgen

This lakeside village on Lake Wolfgang in Austria's Salzkammergut region draws visitors with mountain views, a strong café and restaurant scene for its size,…

Eymoutiers

This compact stone-built town in the wooded hills of Haute-Vienne, with a square-towered church rising above terracotta rooftops, riverside setting, and enou…

Baiersbronn

Baiersbronn, a town in Germany's Black Forest, holds an outsized reputation for haute cuisine — accumulating eight Michelin stars across its restaurants, a c…

Zell am Ziller

A little Tyrolean village in Austria's Zillertal with a notably dense café and restaurant scene for its size, several churches, and a strong visual profile a…

Cléron

Sitting on the left bank of the Loue river in the Jura massif's first plateau, this little village in the Doubs is dominated by a 13th- and 14th-century cast…

Cividale del Friuli

Founded by Julius Caesar as Forum Iulii — the name that eventually gave the entire Friuli region its identity — Cividale del Friuli later became the capital…

Feuerthalen

This compact Swiss village on the Rhine, where red-tile rooftops and half-timbered houses line a broad river crossed by an iron rail bridge, with forested hi…

Nant

This little village in eastern Aveyron sits alongside a river with mountain views in the distance, and carries an unusually dense architectural record for it…

Kurozweki

A 14th-century palace open to visitors anchors this south-central Polish village on the Czarna Staszowska river, with a bison farm on the grounds and a 15th-…

Venlo

This Dutch city on a bend of the Maas river, Venlo has a walkable centre dense with listed buildings, cafés, and restaurants, and serves as a trading and tra…

Aiguèze

Sitting on the Ardèche river in southern France's Gard department, this modest village has been a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France since 2005 — th…

Graus

A small Aragonese town at the confluence of the Esera and Isabena rivers in the Pyrenees, Graus is home to the Basilica de Santa Maria de la Peña and a nearb…

Johnstown

Johnstown, a Pennsylvania steel town in Cambria County, is best known today for the catastrophic 1889 flood that devastated the city — an event commemorated…

Arrien-en-Bethmale

This small hamlet in the Ariège department of south-western France, Arrien-en-Bethmale sits within the Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises, draine…

Brugg

Sitting where the Aare, Reuss, and Limmat rivers meet — a confluence known in German as the Wasserschloss der Schweiz — Brugg is a little Swiss town in canto…

Damariscotta

This compact Maine village on the Damariscotta River, known for its oysters and a café and restaurant scene that holds a surprising number of options for its…

Le Malzieu-Ville

This member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France since 2021, this compact village in the Lozère department of southern France sits along the river Truyère in…

Vila Nova de Cerveira

This modest riverside town in the Alto Minho region of northern Portugal, Vila Nova de Cerveira sits along the water with mountain terrain rising behind it a…

Kampen

One of the best-preserved old town centres in the Netherlands, Kampen sits on the lower IJssel river in Overijssel, its walkable historic core dense with lis…

Murol

Grey-stone village in the volcanic uplands of Auvergne, seen here from a high vantage point above dense forest, with a lakeside setting, nearby scenic viewpo…

Karviná

Karviná is a city in Czech Silesia, on the Olza River at the Polish border, with a well-preserved historic centre in the Fryštát district — a former Silesian…

Pilsrundale

Rundāle Palace, an 18th-century baroque residence set beside the Bērstele river confluence in the Semigallia region of Latvia, stands in this compact village…

Ascain

A modest Basque town in the French Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Ascain sits on the Nivelle river at the foot of La Rhune — the last peak of the Pyrenees before the…

Santa Comba Dão

This pocket-sized Portuguese city on the Dão river in wine-growing country, Santa Comba Dão is best known as the birthplace of António de Oliveira Salazar, w…

Bad Salzuflen

Thermal spa town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bad Salzuflen has operated as a recognised Kneipp health resort since 2024 and draws visito…

Lobbes

This compact Wallonian town on the Sambre river in Hainaut, Belgium, Lobbes grew up around an abbey established here around 650 AD.

Otsu

Enryaku-ji, the ancient headquarters of the Tendai Buddhist sect on Mount Hiei, draws visitors to this lakeside prefectural capital in Shiga, Japan.

Zülpich

This Roman-founded town in North Rhine-Westphalia between Aachen and Bonn, Zülpich traces its origins to the 1st century BC under the Latin name Tolbiacum an…

Scheggino

A tiny Umbrian hamlet on the Nera river, southeast of Perugia, with a photogenic waterside setting and a handful of cafés and restaurants that punch above it…

Alcalá de Guadaíra

Once known as Alcalá de los Panaderos — the baker's town that supplied most of Seville's bread — this city on the Guadaíra River sits just southeast of Sevil…

Hartkirchen

Yellow baroque church with a dark onion-dome tower anchors this compact Upper Austrian village, set among gently rolling hills and close to the Danube, with…

Clyde

This low-rise Otago town spread across a wide river valley, with arid ranges rising behind, a handful of cafés punching above its size, and the Clutha River…

Lauf an der Pegnitz

A walkable Bavarian town on the Pegnitz river, east of Nuremberg, with a centre well supplied with cafés and restaurants.

Korneuburg

This heritage-dense tiny town on the Danube a short distance northwest of Vienna, Korneuburg pairs a colourful main square — dominated by a neo-Gothic town h…

Cervera de Pisuerga

Compact town on the Pisuerga River in Palencia, Castile and León, with a café and restaurant scene that would suit a town twice its size, mountain views, and…

Ryn

Sitting between two lakes in the Masurian region of northeastern Poland, Ryn is a modest town with a photogenic waterside setting and a 14th-century Teutonic…

Matrei am Brenner

This pocket-sized Tyrolean village on the Sill river, south of Innsbruck, with a striking number of churches for its size and scenic mountain surrounds.

Deventer

A heritage-dense city on the IJssel river in the Dutch province of Overijssel, Deventer has one of the oldest histories in the Netherlands — mentioned in 9th…

Benesov nad Ploucnici

Tiny Czech town on the Ploučnice river in the Děčín District, Benešov nad Ploučnicí is built around a Renaissance castle complex whose well-preserved histori…

Trzebiatów

A little town on the Rega River in north-western Poland, Trzebiatów has a well-preserved medieval Old Town — registered as a protected historical monument —…

Rudolstadt

Castle Heidecksburg rises above the old town of Rudolstadt, a Thuringian town on the River Saale founded in 776 and once the capital of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

Romans-sur-Isère

A walkable town on the Isère river in the Drôme department of southeastern France, Romans-sur-Isère has a dense food-and-drink scene in its centre alongside…

Kurokawa Onsen

Forested valley in Kumamoto's uplands holds this atmospheric hot-spring village, where multi-storey timber ryokan line a modest river and visitors stroll the…

Oliver

Billed as the Wine Capital of Canada by Tourism British Columbia, Oliver is a small town near the south end of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, sitting al…

Jausiers

Compact Alpine village in the Ubaye valley, Jausiers clusters stone and rendered houses beside a river, with two church towers rising against forested mounta…

Gmunden

Lakeside town in Upper Austria's Salzkammergut region, Gmunden sits on the northern shore of the Traunsee with mountain views, a walkable centre dense with l…

Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm sits on the shores of Shuswap Lake in British Columbia's Southern Interior, home to the longest wooden freshwater wharf in North America.

Sicuani

Compact town in southern Peru's Cusco Region where the Urubamba River — a waterway central to the Inca Empire and earlier cultures — runs through the centre,…

Stein am Rhein

Stein am Rhein sits on the Rhine where Lower Lake Constance meets the river, and its medieval centre — pedestrianised, lined with half-timbered houses, and c…

Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt

This small Aveyron hamlet on the Lot river holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and carries two protected historic monuments: the church of…

Hamar

This lakeside town on the shores of Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake, Hamar has a walkable centre with a good spread of cafés and restaurants, and scenic surroun…

Chełmża

Pocket-sized Polish town on the western shore of Lake Chełmżyńskie, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region north of Toruń, with a photogenic waterfront setting.

Haybes

Sitting on the Meuse river in the French Ardennes, Haybes earned the nickname Haybes-la-Jolie from its slate-roofed architecture — the slate quarrying that o…

Krippen

A little fishing hamlet on the Elbe in Saxony's Saxon Switzerland region, Krippen holds official spa-resort status as a Kneipp health resort and sits in moun…

Nakusp

Tiny village on the shore of Upper Arrow Lake in British Columbia's West Kootenay region, Nakusp sits between the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges and is…

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Clinging to a steep cliff above the Lot river in south-western France, this small Quercy village draws visitors with dramatic viewpoints, a strong café and r…

Trbovlje

A Slovenian mining town in the Central Sava Valley known as the birthplace of Laibach, the industrial music group, Trbovlje sits along the Sava River in moun…

Dervio

This modest Lake Como village on Lombardy's eastern shore sits where the Varrone river valley meets the water, with several historic churches, a café and res…

Ornans

Birthplace of the painter Gustave Courbet, this little town in the Doubs department sits along the Loue river in the Jura massif, its house facades rising di…

Eischen

This small Luxembourg village sits along the Eisch river — a tributary of the Alzette — and serves as the main settlement of the Habscht commune in the Capel…

Monsaraz

A walled hilltop village in Portugal's Alentejo region, Monsaraz sits above the Guadiana River near the Spanish border and deep in one of the country's most…

Pallanza

This lakeside district of Verbania, on the western shore of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, offers a well-stocked café and restaurant scene alongside a conc…

Zutphen

A heritage-dense Hanseatic town on the eastern bank of the IJssel river in Gelderland, Zutphen has a walkable centre packed with listed historic buildings, m…

Sabrosa

A sun-warmed central square of granite fountains and whitewashed manor houses with a Baroque church tower rising behind them sets the tone for this pocket-si…

Le Tech

A small hamlet in the mountains of southern France's Pyrénées-Orientales, Le Tech sits alongside the Tech river in the Vallespir, a valley historically attac…

Villafranca del Bierzo

A small wine-country town in the El Bierzo comarca of León, Villafranca del Bierzo sits at the confluence of the Burbia and Valcarce rivers on the Camino de…

Prudnik

Founded in 1255 on Magdeburg law, Prudnik is a historic Upper Silesian town in southern Poland where the Prudnik river meets its Złoty Potok tributary, on th…

Eildon

A little Victorian village on the edge of Lake Eildon, set in mountain terrain that gives it a strong visual character.

Susice

A compact town in the Šumava foothills of the Plzeň Region, Sušice sits on the Otava River with two scenic lookout towers on the hills to the west, a well-pr…

Dreux

A town in Eure-et-Loir drained by the Avre and Blaise rivers, Dreux has a compact centre with cafés, restaurants, and several historic churches, including th…

Wenns

A village in Austria's Pitztal valley, Wenns sits along the Pitze river and is home to the oldest farmhouse in Tyrol — the Stamserhaus, around 700 years old.

Litoměřice

A walkable wine-country town at the confluence of the Elbe and Ohře rivers in northern Bohemia, Litoměřice has a well-preserved medieval centre — protected a…

Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry

This little Basque village in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques sitting on the Nive des Aldudes river, Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry is the main gateway to the Aldudes va…

Valderrobres

Photogenic modest town in Aragon's Teruel province, Valderrobres sits directly on the Matarranya River with a Gothic church, a Gothic castle, and a Renaissan…

Horgen

Lakeside town on the south bank of Lake Zurich, Horgen has a walkable centre with cafés and restaurants, scenic viewpoints in the surrounding hills, and dire…

Arrens-Marsous

This mountain village in the Hautes-Pyrénées, formed in 1973 from the merger of Arrens and Marsous, sitting alongside the Gave d'Azun river within the Pyréné…

Kipfenberg

Claimed as the geographical centre of Bavaria, Kipfenberg is a tiny market town in the Eichstätt district where the Altmühl river runs through the centre and…

Sarnen

This small Swiss town sits directly on the shore of Lake Sarnen, the cantonal capital of Obwalden, with vineyards and mountain scenery in the surrounding cou…

Champagnole

This small town in the Jura department of eastern France, Champagnole sits on the right bank of the Ain river at the heart of the Jura massif's second platea…

Ayamonte

Sitting at the mouth of the Guadiana River on the Portuguese border, Ayamonte is a walkable Andalusian town with a café-filled centre, waterfront views, and…

Oppenheim

Little Rhine-side wine town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Oppenheim is home to the German Wine Museum and produces wines under the Oppenheimer Krötenbrunnen desig…

Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste

Walled medieval village in the French Pyrenees, Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste sits on the Tech river close to the Spanish border and belongs to the Les Plus Beaux…

Vila Franca de Xira

Bull-running festivals held each July and October make Vila Franca de Xira one of Portugal's most distinctive Tagus-side towns, sitting on the river's banks…

Nagold

This Black Forest-edge town in Baden-Württemberg where the River Nagold runs through a centre of half-timbered houses and modern architecture, with a walkabl…

Douai

Douai's medieval belfry — one of the most impressive in northern France's Nord département — rises above a walkable town centre on the river Scarpe, with a r…

Kamieniec Zabkowicki

A small town in Lower Silesia whose abbey and palace together form a Historic Monument of Poland, Kamieniec Ząbkowicki sits on a river in the foothills of so…

Thorn

Known as "the white city" for its whitewashed brick houses, this compact Limburg village on the Meuse sits at the heart of a former Imperial Abbey and packs…

Périgueux

Périgueux, the historic capital of the Périgord region in southwestern France's Dordogne, sits on the Isle river and holds a layered heritage running from Ro…

Dinkelsbühl

One of only four towns in Germany with completely intact medieval city walls, Dinkelsbühl sits on the River Wörnitz along the Romantic Road in Central Franco…

Roermond

A historic Dutch town at the confluence of the Meuse and Roer rivers, Roermond has held town rights since 1231 and served as the seat of the Roman Catholic D…

Tournus

This compact Burgundian town on the Saône river with a café and restaurant scene that is well stocked for its size, Tournus sits in the heart of Bourgogne-Fr…

Usk

A compact Welsh market town on the River Usk in Monmouthshire, with a ruined castle above the town and an arched stone bridge at its western entrance.

Bad Aussee

This spa town at the confluence of the three source streams of the Traun River, Bad Aussee sits at the heart of the Styrian Salzkammergut in the Austrian Alp…

Viviers

This modest town on the Rhône in southern France's Ardèche, Viviers was once the capital of the historic Vivarais province — a name it gave to the entire reg…

Nymburk

This modest Czech town on the Elbe River in Central Bohemia, Nymburk has a well-preserved historic centre protected as an urban monument zone since 1992, wit…

Tolmin

This tiny town in northwestern Slovenia where the Soča and Tolminka rivers meet, Tolmin sits at the junction of three valleys in mountain country, with sceni…

Huelgoat

A little Breton village in the heart of the Argoat, Huelgoat sits beside a lake within the Armorique Regional Natural Park and earned a rural heritage label…

San Severino Marche

This little town in the Marche region of central Italy carries an unusual concentration of historic churches for its size, set within a heritage-dense street…

Tenosique de Pino Suárez

Sitting on the banks of the Usumacinta River in the southeastern corner of Tabasco, Tenosique de Pino Suárez is a photogenic riverside town with mountain vie…

Florac

This modest riverside village in the Lozère department of southern France, Florac sits at the heart of the Cévennes National Park — whose headquarters are ba…

Bagni di Lucca

This compact Tuscan river town where tall pale buildings line a fast-flowing mountain stream, an old stone bridge spans the current, and forested Apennine sl…

Cheb

This walkable Czech town on the Ohře River with a well-preserved historic centre protected as an urban monument reservation, Cheb sits in the Karlovy Vary Re…

Cromwell

Small Central Otago town on the shore of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell sits at the heart of New Zealand's Central Otago wine region and is surrounded by orchards kn…

Borgomaro

Stone-built houses and a medieval bridge line a clear river in this pocket-sized Ligurian village, backed by forested hills, with a church spire rising above…

Struga

This lakeside town in south-western North Macedonia where the Black Drim River meets Lake Ohrid, Struga has a walkable centre with a strong café and restaura…

Antoing

A tiny Wallonian town on the River Scheldt where a turreted castle rises above red-brick houses and a church spire, best viewed from the water's edge alongsi…

Gazzaniga

This modest town in Lombardy's Val Seriana, Gazzaniga sits on the right bank of the Serio river northeast of Bergamo, with a café and restaurant scene and a…

Žilina

City on the Váh river in north-western Slovakia with a lively café scene and a historic centre whose arcaded main square is considered unique in the country.

Jonzac

A spa town in the Charente-Maritime since 1986, Jonzac sits on the Seugne river in the heart of Cognac wine country, with a café and restaurant scene that pu…

Benevento

Benevento is a heritage-dense hill town in Campania where the rivers Calore Irpino and Sabato meet, with a walkable centre thick with historic churches and c…

Celje

Slovenia's third-largest city, Celje sits at the confluence of several rivers in the lower Savinja Valley, with a walkable centre full of cafés and mountain…

Lutzelbourg

A photogenic village in the Lorraine region of Moselle, set on the Marne-Rhine Canal amid hilly terrain with several scenic viewpoints.

Enna

Italy's highest provincial capital, Enna sits atop a ridge at the centre of Sicily, earning it the nickname "Belvedere of Sicily" for its sweeping views acro…

Burg bei Magdeburg

Known as the "City of Towers" for its concentration of medieval churches and steeples, Burg bei Magdeburg sits on the Elbe–Havel Canal in Saxony-Anhalt, a sh…

Amay

This small Walloon town on the Meuse in the province of Liège, Amay sits at a river crossing that has been in use since Gallo-Roman times.

Pawcatuck

Sitting on the Pawcatuck River across from Westerly, Rhode Island, this pocket-sized Connecticut village has a historic core — the Mechanic Street Historic D…

Celle

With more than 400 timber-framed houses packed into a walkable Altstadt on the banks of the river Aller, Celle is one of the most photographed towns on the G…

Pỏlezzaygjd

A compact town on the shore of Lake Lugano in Lombardy's Province of Como, Porlezza has a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, several hist…

Noyers

Well-preserved medieval village on the river Serein in Burgundy's Yonne department, Noyers-sur-Serein is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, with…

Neuessing

This compact Bavarian riverside village where whitewashed houses sit directly below dramatic limestone cliffs topped by a ruined tower, all reflected in the…

Sarnico

This tiny lakeside town on the western shore of Lake Iseo in Lombardy's Bergamo province, where the lake meets the River Oglio, Sarnico has a café and restau…

Cadéac

A small hamlet in the Hautes-Pyrénées of south-western France, Cadéac sits on the Neste river in the Pays d'Aure, a mountain valley region in Occitanie.

Ainsworth Hot Springs

Founded in 1883 by steamboat operator George Ainsworth, this little historic village on the shore of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia draws visitors to its…

Yreka

The county seat of Siskiyou County in northern California, Yreka sits near the Shasta River in mountain terrain and holds the Klamath National Forest Interpr…

Albi

Known as the "red city" for the ochre brick of its fortified cathedral and historic centre, Albi is a UNESCO World Heritage town on the river Tarn in souther…

Mezica

Little Slovenian town in the Carinthian mountains near the Austrian border, Mežica grew up around a lead and zinc mine beneath Mount Peca that operated from…

Carmagnola

This Piedmontese town on the Po river, Carmagnola centres on a broad stone piazza where a dramatic bronze monument faces a neoclassical church façade, with p…

Apt

This small Provençal town on the Calavon river in the Luberon mountains of Vaucluse, Apt has a café and restaurant scene that would suit a town twice its siz…

Solleftea

A compact Swedish town where a broad river curves through dense boreal forest, with a walkable centre, waterside access, and forested upland country rising c…

Pinczow

Modest town in southern Poland's Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Pińczów sits in the valley of the river Nida and carries an unusually high concentration of hist…

Ascona

A modest Swiss town on the shore of Lake Maggiore in Ticino, Ascona pairs a dense café and restaurant scene with vineyard surroundings, mountain views, and a…

Lincang

A multi-tiered pagoda rises above a green lakeside park at the heart of this sprawling southwest Yunnan city, where traditional architecture meets a modern s…

Llanidloes

This modest Welsh town in Powys sits at the first point on the River Severn, counting from the source, and makes a reasonable base for the surrounding mounta…

Riva San Vitale

Little Swiss-Ticinese village on the shore of a lake ringed by densely forested mountains, with several historic churches, nearby wine country, and high-alti…

Grand Forks

A small British Columbia town where the Granby and Kettle Rivers meet, Grand Forks sits in mountain terrain just north of the Canada–United States border in…

Wiltz

A modest town in the forested hill country of northern Luxembourg, Wiltz sits alongside a river and is known internationally for its festival.

Iznájar

White-village pueblo blanco in Córdoba province, Iznájar sits on a large rock above the Embalse de Iznájar — the largest lake in Andalucía — with wide views…

Veszprém

Known as the "city of queens" after being gifted to Queen Gisela by King Stephen I, Veszprém is one of Hungary's oldest cities, with roots stretching back to…

Hayange

A compact Moselle town spread across a wooded valley in Lorraine, where stone viaducts, a dense historic core, and forested hillsides combine to give the are…

Witten

A compact Ruhr city where a grand yellow town hall with a clock tower anchors a dense urban centre, with a walkable café scene, riverside setting, and rollin…

Polcenigo

Springs, streams, and lake-like pools feed the headwaters of the Livenza river at Polcenigo, a little Friuli-Venezia Giulia village on the slopes of the West…

Pont-à-Mousson

Town on the Moselle river in north-eastern France's Meurthe-et-Moselle department, Pont-à-Mousson has a compact centre with cafés and restaurants and a notab…

Zona antiga de Ponte de Lima

Portugal's oldest chartered town sits on the southern bank of the Lima River, where a medieval bridge gives the place its name.

Ensch

This pocket-sized Moselle-side hamlet in Rhineland-Palatinate sits in deep wine country along what is known as the Roman Wine Road, with scenic viewpoints in…

Pont-Aven

Known as "the city of painters," this pocket-sized Breton town on the Aven river drew Paul Gauguin, Émile Bernard, William Bouguereau, and a number of other…

Schoppernau

A modest winter-sports village in the Bregenzerwald region of Vorarlberg, Austria, set along the Bregenzer Ach river in the upper reaches of the valley.

Pappenheim

A compact Bavarian town in the Altmühl valley where medieval stone walls, a Gothic church, and red-tile rooftops spread across a river bend, backed by wooded…

Sisteron

Wedged into a narrow gap between two long mountain ridges where the Durance, Buëch, and Sasse rivers converge, Sisteron has served as the gateway between Pro…

Niederottensheim

A compact Austrian market town on the Danube, its broad main square framed by colorful historic facades, a Gothic church with a tall spire, and a Marian colu…

Yusufeli

A small town in Artvin Province where the Çoruh River meets the Barhal, Yusufeli sits in a valley flanked by the Kaçkar Mountains to the north.

Penne

A compact village in the Tarn department of southern France, Penne sits on the river Aveyron amid the gorges and causse landscape of Occitanie, with three Na…

Modrej

A small settlement on the left bank of the Soča River in Slovenia's Littoral region, Modrej sits in mountain country where vineyards line the surrounding slo…

Castel di Tora

Sitting on the north-eastern shore of Lake Turano, this pocket-sized Lazio hamlet is a member of Italy's "most beautiful villages" association and offers a h…

Palalda

This compact hillside village in the French Pyrenees, its terracotta-roofed stone houses stacking up a forested slope above a river valley, with a handful of…

Alcántara

A massive Roman stone bridge with a triumphal arch spans a rocky river gorge here, crowned by a hilltop fortress, making this little Extremaduran village a r…

Haßfurt

Sitting on the river Main in Bavaria, Haßfurt is a little town with a café and restaurant scene that is well stocked for its size, and a notable piece of eng…

Montbard

Birthplace of the naturalist Buffon, this small industrial town in Burgundy's Côte-d'Or sits on the Burgundy Canal and the river Brenne, with TGV connections…

Cisnadie

A town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, known for its Transylvanian Saxon heritage and set along the Cisnădie River at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains,…

Supraśl

Spa town on the Supraśl River in north-eastern Poland, with a small centre that holds several historic churches and a café scene alongside clean air and a mi…

Montmédy

This compact French town in the Meuse hills of Grand Est, its red-tile rooftops spread across a valley floor viewed from elevated ground, with a waterway nea…

Sorano

Built on a tuff outcrop above the Lente River, this medieval hill village in southern Tuscany sits in mountain wine country with scenic views across the surr…

Bayburt

Sitting on the Çoruh River in northeast Turkey, Bayburt was a stop on the ancient Silk Road, visited by Marco Polo in the 13th century and Evliya Çelebi in t…

Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere

A compact village on the Vézère river in the Dordogne, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère holds membership in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France — the national association…

Coyhaique

The main city of Chilean Patagonia's Aysén Region, Coyhaique sits at the confluence of the Simpson and Coyhaique rivers, ringed by dramatic mountain scenery…

Loja

A town in the Genil river valley in western Granada province, Loja sits below the Sierra de Loja mountains with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants and…

Le Rozier

A small hamlet in the Lozère department of southern France where the Tarn and Jonte rivers meet, Le Rozier sits at the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn and Gor…

Puerto Varas

This lakeside town in southern Chile with views of Osorno Volcano and the snowcapped peaks of Calbuco and Tronador directly from the waterfront, Puerto Varas…

Pouso Alegre

Mid-sized industrial city in southern Minas Gerais, Pouso Alegre sits in the Sapucaí River valley at moderate elevation, with mountain terrain in the surroun…

Logan

This small West Virginia city sits along the Guyandotte River in the mountains of Logan County, serving as the county seat.

Ilhet

This small hamlet in the eastern Hautes-Pyrénées sits along the Neste river in the Pays d'Aure, a highland area shaped by the valleys of Aure and Louron.

Eschwege

Walkable town in northeastern Hesse on the Werra river, Eschwege sits in hilly terrain with scenic viewpoints in the surrounding countryside and a centre wit…

Monroe

A Louisiana city on the Ouachita River with a concentration of historic churches and a streetscape that draws regular visitor photography, Monroe is also the…

Balmaseda

Founded in 1199 by Lope Sánchez de Mena, Balmaseda holds the distinction of being the first town to receive a municipal charter in what is now Biscay, making…

Altrhede

Compact North Rhine-Westphalian town in the flat, green Münsterland, with a prominent church anchoring its brick-built centre, a moated manor house set in pa…

Demonte

The 15th-century fresco artist Giovanni Baleison was born in this modest Piedmontese village in the Valle Stura di Demonte, southwest of Cuneo.

Lemmer

Well-known watersports base on the IJsselmeer in the Dutch province of Friesland, Lemmer comes alive in summer as a lakeside resort with a lively terrace and…

Wurzen

A Saxon town on the river Mulde, east of Leipzig, Wurzen has been recorded since 961 and carries a notable medieval core: a 12th-century cathedral that gaine…

Orte

Built on tuff rock above the Tiber valley, Orte is a modest Lazio town north of Rome with an Etruscan past stretching back to the 6th century BC — caves cut…

Neufelden

Compact Austrian market town in forested Upper Austrian hill country, where a river curves below a compact, church-crowned centre surrounded by dense woodlan…

Vevey

Milk chocolate was invented here in 1875, and Vevey has remained a town defined by food and drink ever since — it is home to the global headquarters of Nestl…

Tournon-sur-Rhône

Small Rhône-side town in the Ardèche, Tournon-sur-Rhône sits in deep wine country north of Valence with a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size.

Rajcza

This tiny village in the Beskid Żywiecki mountains of southern Poland, Rajcza sits along the upper Soła river and serves as a base for both summer hiking and…

Mirandela

Compact city in northeastern Portugal with a notably dense café and restaurant scene, Mirandela sits on the Tua River and is known for its cuisine — particul…

El Puente del Arzobispo

Pottery has shaped El Puente del Arzobispo for centuries, with the village — alongside nearby Talavera de la Reina — ranking among Spain's most historically…

Bad Staffelstein

This small spa town in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, sits along the Main river and is anchored by three landmarks: the Basilica of Vierzehnheiligen, designed by…

Kinosaki

Lantern-lit canal lined with traditional multi-storey inns, willow-draped stone embankments, and an arched bridge reflected in still water makes this compact…

Dulverton

A compact Somerset village on the River Exe at the edge of Exmoor, Dulverton serves as the base for the Exmoor National Park Authority and a practical gatewa…

Acambaro

Acámbaro, on the banks of the Lerma River in the southeastern corner of Guanajuato, is the oldest municipality in the state and the origin of a nationally fa…

Obernburg am Main

This tiny Bavarian town on the Main river where the Mümling flows in, Obernburg am Main sits at the eastern foot of the Odenwald hills with vineyards in the…

Villalago

This small Abruzzo village sits above the gorges of the Sagittario river, below Monte Genzana, with views over the water and surrounding landscape.

Tresserve

This tiny town in Savoie sits on a hill between Aix-les-Bains to the east and Lac du Bourget — France's largest natural glacial lake — to the west, with scen…

Jorquera

This tiny hamlet in Albacete's La Manchuela wine country, Jorquera sits on a river spur encircled by the Júcar, with 12th-century Almohad walls running along…

Knittelfeld

A small Styrian town on the Mur river with a café and restaurant scene that is unusually rich for its size, Knittelfeld also carries a place in Austrian poli…

Przemysl

Sitting on the San River in southeastern Poland, Przemyśl is a walkable town with a café-filled Old Town listed as a Historic Monument of Poland, a dense con…

Ceska Kamenice

This tiny Czech town in northern Bohemia where three protected landscape areas meet — the Lusatian Mountains, the Elbe Sandstone region, and the Bohemian Cen…

Richterswil

A compact Swiss lakeside town spread along the western shore of Lake Zurich, with vineyard slopes behind it, a ferry on the water, and sweeping views stretch…

Ribcev Laz

Sitting on the eastern shore of Lake Bohinj within Triglav National Park, this little Slovenian hamlet is built almost entirely around tourism, with hotels,…

Llanfair Caereinion

Llanfair Caereinion, a little market town in Montgomeryshire, Powys, sits on the River Banwy in the Welsh hills and serves as the western terminus of the Wel…

Lannion

A walkable Breton town on the river with a centre full of cafés and restaurants, Lannion sits in the Côtes-d'Armor department of northwestern France and serv…

Dravograd

A little town in northern Slovenia where the Drava, Meža, and Mislinja rivers meet, Dravograd sits close to the Austrian border in the Koroška region, with m…

Mieders

Tiny Tyrolean village in the Stubaital valley south of Innsbruck, Mieders sits alongside the river with mountain scenery in the surrounds and scenic viewpoin…

Nova Kasaba

Nova Kasaba is a little Bosniak-majority town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, set in mountain terrain along the Jadar river on the main route between Belg…

Céret

Known for its modern art museum, cherry harvests, and bullfighting tradition, Céret is a tiny Catalan town in southern France's Pyrénées-Orientales, sitting…

Utrecht

Utrecht's medieval canal-lined centre — built on a Roman fortification and granted city rights in 1122 — is one of the most walkable in the Netherlands, dens…

Pljevlja

Mountain town in northern Montenegro, Pljevlja sits along the Ćehotina river with a walkable centre of cafés and restaurants.

Port-Lesney

A small village on the banks of the Loue river in the Jura, Port-Lesney draws visitors with a five-star château hotel, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a r…

Bembibre

Bembibre, in the El Bierzo region of León, is a small town on the Boeza and Noceda rivers with vineyards in the surrounding area and a café and restaurant sc…

Banská Bystrica

This walkable central Slovak city on the Hron River, Banská Bystrica sits in a valley ringed by the Low Tatras, Veľká Fatra, and Kremnica Mountains, with nat…

Bar-le-Duc

First recorded in 1344, the currant preserve known as Bar-le-Duc jelly — sometimes called "Bar caviar" — takes its name from this Renaissance town in northea…

Unna

A broad market square lined with half-timbered buildings, ornate gabled facades, and open-air café seating gives this North Rhine-Westphalian town a walkable…

Newtown

Newtown (Y Drenewydd in Welsh), the largest town in Powys and Mid Wales, sits on the River Severn in mountain terrain and is best known as the 1771 birthplac…

Kalavryta

This small mountain town in the Achaea region of Greece, Kalavryta sits on the bank of the Vouraikos river at the foot of the Aroania (Chelmos) range and ser…

Dillenburg

Officially known as Oranienstadt Dillenburg, this Hessian town in central Germany sits on the Dill river in hilly terrain and carries a strong association wi…

Amares

Wine-country town in Portugal's Braga District, Amares sits along the Cávado river with an unusually high concentration of historic churches for its size and…

Piatra Neamţ

Sitting in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains along the Bistrița River valley, Piatra Neamț is a city in northeastern Romania's historical Moldavia region that…

Spodnja Idrija

A compact village spread along the Idrijca River at the base of a deep, densely forested valley, Spodnja Idrija offers a tranquil base for exploring the surr…

Alenquer

Small wine-country town in Portugal's Oeste region, Alenquer sits along the river that shares its name and has a central core with cafés and restaurants.

Remiremont

A modest town in the Vosges where the Moselle and Moselotte rivers meet, Remiremont has a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, and sits at…

Bridgewater

This pocket-sized Nova Scotia town sits at the navigable limit of the LaHave River on Nova Scotia's South Shore, with a café and restaurant scene that is unu…

Wolfsberg

A compact Austrian town along a river, where a baroque church tower and a hilltop castle overlook red-tile rooftops, forested slopes, and a walkable centre w…

El Burgo de Osma-Ciudad de Osma

Split by the Ucero river into two distinct historic cores, El Burgo de Osma-Ciudad de Osma is the cathedral town of Soria province in Castile and León.

Steinkjer

Sitting where the Steinkjerelva river meets the Trondheimsfjorden in Trøndelag, Steinkjer is a little Norwegian county seat with a compact centre of cafés an…

Artvin

A compact town in northeastern Turkey's mountains, Artvin sits on a hill above the Çoruh River with a centre concentrated enough for easy walking between caf…

Celorico da Beira

Small Portuguese town near the Mondego River in the Guarda District, Celorico da Beira is self-styled as the capital of Serra da Estrela cheese, produced in…

Detmold

Detmold, in the Teutoburg Forest region of North Rhine-Westphalia, is home to the Hermannsdenkmal — the tallest statue in Germany — and to Germany's largest…

Milas

Ancient Caria's first capital and later seat of the medieval Menteşe beylik, Milas is a historically dense town in southwest Turkey with more than two dozen…

Argenton-sur-Creuse

A modest town in the Indre department of central France, Argenton-sur-Creuse sits along the Creuse river with a café and restaurant scene in its compact cent…

Llangefni

The county town of Anglesey in Wales, Llangefni sits on the River Cefni — from which its Welsh name derives — and has served as the island's main market and…

Ribnica

A compact town in southern Slovenia's Lower Carniola region, Ribnica sits along both banks of the Bistrica river, with the partly restored Ribnica Castle — b…

Villersexel

The Ognon river runs through this modest village in eastern France's Haute-Saône, making it a base for water-based activity in the rolling pre-Jura hills.

East Retford

Market town in Nottinghamshire sitting on the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal, Retford (also known as East Retford) has a walkable centre dense with li…

Caiazzo

A compact Campanian town on the right bank of the Volturno river, Caiazzo has a compact central core with cafés and restaurants alongside scenic views of the…

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon

Tiny Provençal town on the Rhône across from Avignon, where a massive medieval fortress with round towers and crenellated walls rises above stone houses, cyp…

Bechyne

Bechyne, a small town in South Bohemia where the Smutná and Lužnice rivers meet, is known for its mud spa and a long tradition of pottery production that con…

Sieradz

Town on the Warta river in central Poland with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants, Sieradz carries a long medieval history: it served three times as t…

La Châtre

A small town in the Indre department of central France, La Châtre sits along the River Indre and holds a notable concentration of listed historic buildings,…

Werdau

This Saxon town on the river Pleiße, Werdau has a compact centre with cafés and restaurants within easy reach of the water.

Olne

A little Walloon village on the Vesdre river in the Land of Herve region of Liège province, Olne is one of the recognised members of Les Plus Beaux Villages…

Seix

Small village in the Ariège department of southwestern France, Seix sits on the Salat river within the Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises, with s…

Avanos

Pottery workshops line this little Cappadocian town on the banks of the Kızılırmak — Turkey's longest river — where red clay from the riverbed has fuelled a…

Diest

Diest, a Flemish Brabant town on the Demer river, is best known for its beguinage and medieval ramparts.

Varennes-en-Argonne

A compact French village in the Meuse department where a river runs along stone-walled banks, a bridge links the main street, and a church steeple rises abov…

Carlentini

This Sicilian hill town in the Province of Syracuse, Carlentini sits on the Colle Meta Grande near the Lago di Lentini and the slopes of the Monti Iblei, and…

Ratzeburg

Surrounded by four lakes and connected to the mainland only by three causeways, Ratzeburg is a small island-town in Schleswig-Holstein whose old town sits en…

Barcelinhos

Small waterside parish in Portugal's Vinho Verde wine country, Barcelinhos sits on the bank of the Cávado river within the municipality of Barcelos, with a c…

Gavoi

This small Barbagia village in central Sardinia sits directly on Lake Gusana, with scenic surrounds and an unusually dense cluster of churches and cafés for…

Vĩnh Long

This Mekong Delta city sits directly on one of the river's many branches in southern Vietnam, with a walkable centre well supplied with cafés and restaurants.

Penedono

A compact granite village in Portugal's Douro uplands, Penedono is dominated by a well-preserved medieval castle with battlemented towers rising above a cobb…

Requena

A wine-country town in the interior of Valencia province, Requena sits on the left bank of the river Magro with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants.

Montone

This walled medieval hill village in Umbria, north of Perugia, sits at the high point of a ridge above the confluence of two Tiber tributaries, with scenic v…

Deinze

A walkable East Flanders town on the River Leie, Deinze sits between Ghent and Kortrijk with a centre well supplied with cafés and restaurants.

Bovec

This little mountain village in northwestern Slovenia, Bovec sits on the Soča river at the base of a bowl of peaks including Rombon, Polovnik, and the Kanin…

Salbertrand

This small village in the Alta Val di Susa west of Turin, Salbertrand sits along the Dora river with mountain scenery in the surrounding valley and several h…

Kusel

This modest town in the Nordpfälzer Bergland of Rhineland-Palatinate, Kusel sits along the Kuselbach river with scenic hill terrain in the surrounding area a…

Valle de Bravo

A lakeside town in the State of Mexico, Valle de Bravo sits on the shore of Lake Avándaro — a reservoir created in 1947 — with a walkable colonial centre ful…

Glarus

Sitting on the river Linth between the Glärnisch and Schilt mountain ranges, Glarus is the modest cantonal capital of the Swiss canton of Glarus, with a café…

Quié

This small hamlet in the Ariège Pyrénées of southwestern France, sitting on the Vicdessos river within the Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises.

Novy Hradec Kralove

A broad central square in this east Bohemian city is dominated by a Gothic cathedral with twin towers, a tall baroque bell tower, and a row of colourful hist…

Warburton

A modest mountain village in Victoria's Yarra Ranges, east of Melbourne, where the Yarra River runs through the centre and an unusually strong café and resta…

Yeruham

Compact desert town in Israel's Negev, Yeruham sits amid vast arid highlands with a reservoir at its edge and serves as a practical base for exploring the su…

Chambord

Val-Jalbert, a historic village within Chambord's municipal boundaries, is the main draw to this tiny Quebec community on the shores of Lac-Saint-Jean, in th…

Romanshorn

Modest Swiss town on the southern shore of Lake Constance in canton Thurgau, Romanshorn has a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, several…

Lagrasse

This compact village in the Corbières massif of southern France's Aude department, Lagrasse sits on the Orbieu river in wine and mountain country and holds m…

Sogndal

Compact town on the Sogndalsfjorden — a branch of the great Sognefjord — Sogndal sits where a river meets the water, with mountain terrain rising around it a…

Sumperk

A walkable town in northern Moravia on the Desná river, at the southwestern edge of the Jeseníky mountains, Šumperk serves as a regional gateway to the surro…

Clarkston