Exploring Europe's Most Picturesque Towns 

With winding cobbled streets and quaint centuries-old buildings, Strasbourg, France looks as if it were pulled right from a fairytale. Situated in eastern France, on the border of Germany, Strasbourg has a unique culture that's intertwined with both countries. The city center of Strasbourg, Grande Île, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and was expanded in 2017 to include the nearby neighborhood of Neustadt. The designation, which was originally composed of the Strasbourg Cathedral and the surrounding streets, now comprises the Palais du Rhin and the National Theatre. 

Sitting on the banks of River Esk, Whitby, England is a charming town that sits atop a hill on the east coast of County Yorkshire. The city offers stunning views of nearby Whitby Beach down each winding street in the city center. The seaside town is filled with cafés, bakeries, and shops, anchoring the ground floors of centuries-old buildings. A walk down Flowergate—one of Whitby's main streets—is any Instagram-lover's dream. At nearly every turn, you'll find picturesque gardens and architecture, with the breathtaking rural backdrop of the surrounding countryside peeking through.   

Tucked away in the far north of Scotland, on the Western Isles, you'll find the quiet town of Stornoway. With just 8,000 residents, it's not nearly as populated as the tourist towns of Edinburgh or Glasgow, but it maintains a unique European charm. The town envelopes a quiet bay filled with fishing boats and inviting cottages can be spotted lining the main street that runs along the water. From the restored Victorian-era Lews Castle to the Arnish Point Lighthouse, Stornoway is never short on picture-perfect scenery.

While most travelers think of the crystal clear waters and stark white architecture of Santorini and Mykonos when conjuring images of a Greek hideaway retreat, there are plenty of other islands that offer the same scenery without all of the tourists. Located about 40 miles west of Santorini, travelers will find the beautiful island of Milos. With many of the same attractive attributes of the more heavily-trafficked islands, Milos is a quieter destination. Tourists can still enjoy the turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and eye-popping architecture, but they won't have to fight for a spot on the beach.

Sitting just 10 miles off the coast of County Galway, guarding the mouth of the Bay, you'll find the Aran Islands. The three islands are a patchwork of stone walls and lush green pastures that offer stunning scenery from coast to coast. Less than 1,200 people call this place home, but the destination is one of the most popular for tourists coming to Ireland. The area boasts 38 national monuments across the three islands, including the ancient forts of Dún Aonghasa on the coast of Inishmóre, and Dún Chonchúir in the heart of Inishmaan. These two ancient sites are some of the oldest archeological remains in the whole of Ireland.

In the Piedmont region of Italy, Saluzzo invokes thoughts of a time long passed. Dating back thousands of years to when the Romans took control of the area in 125 BC, Saluzzo is a town that's steeped in history.  Visitors can walk the quiet streets and get lost in the many piazzas. The main attraction is the Saluzzo Cathedral that was built between 1491 and 1501. Its steeple can be spotted from almost anywhere in town as it towers over the whimsical villas that line the cobbled streets. 

With its picturesque winding streets and Medieval buildings, Bruges, Belgium looks like the set of a Disney-inspired fairytale. But the city's beauty isn't its only alluring factor. Visitors can take a culinary tour of the town, from sipping a local beer to eating their weight in chocolate. Known as the ‘Venice of the North’ for its extensive canal system, Bruges evokes a time of years long passed. The city center is a near complete representation of 13th- to 16th-century Flemish architecture, making it no surprise why Bruges was deemed a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany looks as if nothing has changed within the city's walls in centuries. Floral window displays highlight colorful buildings and streetside cafes are around every corner in this idyllic town. The bucolic landscape is what makes Rothenburg ob der Tauber a perfect stop on Germany's "Romantic Road"—a 220-mile-long route of charming, old-world towns that runs through the Bavaria region of the country. It's the perfect retreat for any romantic excursion, or for any history lover looking to bask in centuries-old splendor.

Just 70 miles northwest of Madrid you'll find the ancient, walled city of Ávila, Spring. The city dates back to the 5th century BC when the Vittones inhabited it, but it's the city's near-complete wall structure that was built around 1100 AD that Ávila is best known for. Made of 80-plus towers and nine massive gates, the structure is a defining focal point for the town. With a maze of winding streets and streetside cafes around every corner, it's easy to see why Ávila is a town worth exploring. It's believed that the city is home to the most Romanesque and Gothic churches in all of Spain, which is how it earned the moniker of "Town of Stones and Saints."