Magical Fairytale Destinations to Visit Around the World

Perched high on a rocky hill above the pretty village of Schwangau in southwest Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle is among the most beautiful castles in Germany; it’s also one of Europe’s most popular, welcoming an average of 1.4 million visitors each year. This Romanesque Revival-style château was built in the late 19th century, commissioned by King Ludwig II, the German monarch who came to the throne as a teen and was known for his love of grandiose architecture. It has also been featured in films such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Great Escape, while reportedly being the inspiration behind the Sleeping Beauty Castle at several Disneyland parks worldwide.

If the breathtakingly beautiful Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, located in the northern reaches of south-central China’s Hunan Province, looks familiar, it’s because its otherworldly landscape inspired James Cameron’s Oscar-winning 2009 sci-fi movie Avatar. In fact, one of the park’s quartz-sandstone towers, the 3,540ft-high (1,079m) Southern Sky Column, was officially renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain for its part in inspiring the film set. The park, which became China’s first national forest park when it was officially inaugurated in 1982, was recognised as a Unesco Global Geopark in 2004, and is home to several of these towering, tree-covered quartz-sandstone peaks. Today, you can take a tour around the park and see the Avatar universe unfold before you.

In 1931, Parisian author Georges Duhamel declared the French town of Colmar as “the most beautiful town in the world” – and it makes sense. With picture-perfect streets filled with traditional Alsatian architecture, this rural town screams old-world charm. Stroll through the endearing Little Venice district, named due to the canal spreading along Rue des Marchands, and you’ll find half-timbered houses blending with the beautiful Renaissance-era Pfister House. Don’t miss the illuminated historic town on a Friday or Saturday night – you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy world. Christmas in Colmar is even more spectacular thanks to the Christmas markets and many twinkling lights.

Craving more cute towns to explore? These secret European towns are also worth a visit.

The Maldives is one of the world’s most beautiful destinations; think pristine stretches of white sand and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. But what makes this tropical island country so unique is a spectacle on Vaadhoo Island, during which a number of surreal, glittering lights appear in the seashore’s surf. Known as the Sea of Stars, the phenomenon is down to thousands of bioluminescent marine microbes called phytoplankton that emit light when disturbed. The outcome is an awe-inspiring show of a million tiny blue lights lighting up the ocean.

There are plenty more amazing things to do in the Maldives. This is how to make the most of your stay here.

Found within the bounds of Olympic National Park in Washington, Hoh Rainforest is one of the finest surviving examples of temperate rainforest in the US. Thanks to an average annual rainfall of between 140in and 170in (356cm and 432cm), it’s home to a lush green landscape of moss-blanketed deciduous and coniferous species, including big leaf maples and Sitka spruces. Choose from two short trails, the 1.2mi-long (1.9km) Spruce Nature Trail and the Hall of Mosses Trail, which is less than a mile long, to explore Hoh’s fascinating landscape – if you’re lucky, you may even spot a Roosevelt elk or two grazing.

Set on a tiny island in the Scottish Highlands at the point where three mighty sea lochs meet, the pretty Eilean Donan Castle and the stunning, wild scenery that surrounds it has become one of Scotland’s most well-known landscapes. First constructed in the 13th century, the castle was rebuilt several times over its long colourful history until a Jacobite uprising in 1719 left Eilean Donan in ruins. The castle remained a ruined shell for almost 200 years until, thankfully, Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the site in the early 20th century and set about restoring Eilean Donan to its former glory, eventually re-opening in 1932.

How about staying in a Scottish castle? These are the best castles to book in the Scottish Highlands.

A popular motif in native art, poetry and fashion for centuries, the wisteria is an important part of Japanese culture. While there are some stunning sites to see the fragrant, flowering plants in Japan – such as Ashikaga Flower Park a few hours north of Tokyo, which is home to a 140-year-old specimen known as the Great Miracle Wisteria – nowhere is more magical than the Kawachi Fujien Garden in Kitakyushu. Created in 1977, the garden is home to two wisteria tunnels – one 80m (262ft) long and one 220m (722ft) long – that come alive in late April when flowering clusters of blue, pink, purple and white hang from 22 different types of wisteria, forming a mesmerising canopy overhead.

Love green spaces? Explore these beautiful national parks in Japan.

A jewel on the central Californian coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its European village vibe, white sandy beach and dreamy architecture. It’s no wonder this picture-perfect seaside village has been an inspiration for artists. American poet Robinson Jeffers, whose work celebrated the beauty of the California coast, made a home here for himself and his family, helping build their two houses, the famous Tor House and Hawk Tower. Stroll down the charming town streets where storybook-like cottages, many of them designed or inspired by adopted local Hugh Comstock, give way to no less than 42 pretty courtyards and secret passageways.

Looking for a place to stay while you’re here? Discover the best hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

On the edges of the crystal clear waters of Hallstätter See lake, with the majestic Dachstein Mountains forming a dramatic backdrop, Hallstatt is one of the most photographed villages in Austria. A jewel in the already lovely Salzkammergut Lake Region, Hallstatt is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and thought to be one of the oldest still-inhabited settlements in Europe. The town is home to a wealth of beautiful baroque and gothic buildings; the architecture is so gorgeous here that property developers in China felt compelled to build a controversial replica of the entire village in Huizhou, Guangdong Province.

In search of more European villages? Check out these beautiful villages you need to visit in Europe.

Visitors to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island of New Zealand will witness Mother Nature at her finest, thanks to some little guys called arachnocampa luminosa. This species of glowworm are endemic to the country and they are about the size of a mosquito. When they bathe in the labyrinthine grottos of the Waitomo Caves, they create a glittering galaxy of light that visitors can float under via a guided boat tour, complete with educational commentary on the historical and geological significance of the ancient cave system.

Want to discover more glow worm caves? These are the most spectacular in the world.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.