From colourful coasts and whitewashed wonders to historic citadels and snowy ski spots, these stunning small towns are brimming with beauty at every turn. Alive with culture, character and quirky features found nowhere else on Earth, we explore the marvellous mini-metropolises across the globe that are sure to leave you spellbound. Read on for our pick of the world's most beautiful towns.

It's almost impossible not to find a picture-perfect street in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. The small town in Italy's heel – Puglia – is famous for its unusual trulli homes, built from white-washed local limestone, with conical roofs. The steps up to Piazza del Popolo reveals stunning views over the higgledy-piggledy town.

Located in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt is the most incredible storybook town you could've ever wished for. The 16th-century traditional Alpine houses are perched on a narrow cliffside, facing the Lake Hallstatt, with dramatic mountain views in the background, making it impossibly beautiful. 

Winding streets, narrow canals and quaint, pastel-coloured houses – Colmar has it all. The pretty town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France is a unique collection of medieval and early Renaissance buildings, including a beautiful 13th-century church. On top of looking every bit like a fairy-tale town, it's also celebrated for being the wine capital of France's Alsace region.

During the Gold Rush in the late 1800s, thousands of Americans flocked to the Black Hills of South Dakota to seek their fortune. Many of these notorious gunslinging residents – including Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok – remain in the town, residing in Mount Moriah Cemetery. While you won’t find any more rootin'-tootin' outlaws galloping through the saloons anymore, you can still enjoy shootout re-enactments and the Black Hills bourbon.

English writer and designer William Morris once declared Bibury the most beautiful village in the country. A hundred or so years later the sentiment certainly seems to stand. Located in the Cotswolds, an area defined by rolling hills and green meadows, Bibury is picture-perfect. Arlington Row (pictured), a line of weavers' cottages, is the prettiest sight, if not the most famous, in Bibury. Discover more of the UK's prettiest small towns and villages.

Entirely sculpted by erosion, Göreme's fairy chimneys – cone-shaped rock formations – are almost synonymous with the Cappadocia region the town is located in. The whimsical town fits in seamlessly with its natural surroundings and, as part of the Göreme National Park, it's been on the UNESCO World Heritage list for more than 30 years. The magical scenery is best viewed from up in the sky on a hot air balloon.

Near to the urban jungles of Shanghai and Suzhou is the elegant water town known as the Venice of the East. Classic Chinese architecture decorates the banks of Zhouzhuang's canals and, like Venice, travel by motorised transport is forbidden, meaning the waters are graced by gondolas that float under ivy-wrapped stone bridges. At dusk, traditional lanterns illuminate the waterways making for a magical scene.

Nicknamed the 'jewel of the Maine coast', Camden is a quintessential seaside town with a charming harbour, an old lighthouse, jagged rock bays and sunset cruises. The nearby Mount Battie showcases gorgeous views over the town, the bay and the surrounding forests.

Best known for the town's sloping thatched roofs, the Historic Villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go are among Japan's most beautiful attractions thanks to the Gassho-zukuri-style architecture. Located in the remote Shogawa river valley in central Japan, the 68 hectare-large cultural area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional farmhouses are more than 250 years old and their peculiar design helps to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that fall here during winter.

The town of Procida spans the whole island from which it gets its name. It’s the Bay of Naples’ smallest and sweetest island, avoiding the clamour of tourists that flock to neighbouring islands, such as Capri. Littering the seaside are houses drenched in dazzling shades of pink, blue, yellow and more, their peeling paintwork adding to the effortless Italian charm.

Whether a winter wonderland or a summer sunspot, the quaint town of Bled is one of Slovenia's most famous destinations. Commanding a wondrous view over Lake Bled, tourists are drawn here year-round to experience the panoramic vistas. In summer, activities such as rafting and kayaking are popular, while skiing and snowboarding are on offer during the snowy winters. 

Dramatically perched on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, there's no doubting Positano is a postcard-perfect town. Its stony streets are lined with flowering lemon, orange and olive groves, not to mention stunning architecture, as they wind down to the crisp Mediterranean Sea. In idyllic Italian fashion, these streets are also littered with an avalanche of alluring restaurants, boutiques and chic hotels.

Found along the gorgeous Algarve region of Portugal, Lagos is a town of colours: golden cliffs, azure sky, Jacaranda trees, white-washed buildings and iconic Portuguese azulejo tiles. The wine is cheap but very tasty, as is the local fare of quality steaks and delicious caldeirada de peixe (fish stew). The area boasts one of Europe’s best beaches, with the various coves and lagoons that are only accessible by boat.

High up in nooks of the Rocky Mountains, the resort town of Banff feels like a Canadian dream. In the snow-crusted winters a variety of sports are offered and sometimes, if you’re lucky, the roofs are illuminated by the Northern Lights. Summers are multi-hued in gorgeous amber, emerald and cerulean and are usually cool, however, Banff experienced its highest temperature on record – 34.8°C (94.6°F) – in August 2018. Find out the hottest places on Earth here.

Located beneath the towering peaks of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a labyrinth of intricate alleyways. Soaked in a turquoise hue, the electrifying colours have a historical significance: in the 15th century, Jewish refugees settled in the area and painted buildings blue to mirror the sky and remind them of God.

Romantically nestled in a truly picturesque valley of the Tramuntana mountains, Valldemossa is one of Mallorca's most idyllic spots. An area of outstanding beauty, the town’s sun-bleached stones stand out against the green farmlands and forests around it. Scorned by the composer Frédéric Chopin, but adored by every explorer ever since, the storybook town is a tranquil place.

One of the most well-preserved 19th-century towns in the country, it’s no surprise that Niagara-on-the-Lake has been nicknamed ‘the loveliest town in Canada’. Nestled at the meeting point of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is also central to Canada’s wine trade with over 40 prominent wineries in the region, known as Ontario Wine Country. Check out Canada's most underrated cities.

The history of Willemstad's coloured houses sounds like an urban legend, but the buildings in this UNESCO-protected crowd-free Caribbean town were initially painted in an attempt to cure a headache. Back when the Dutch ruled Curaçao, the governor was convinced his migraines were caused by the tropical sun’s rays reflecting off the whitewash buildings. All citizens were commanded to paint their homes anything but blinding white, resulting in this rainbow paradise. Take a look at the world's most colourful destinations.

Between Prague and Vienna, Znojmo is not only extremely picturesque with its orange-capped houses, but also a favourite for sommeliers and wine buffs. There's a museum plus the Louka Monastery’s wine collection within the town's limits, and the Podyjí National Park – home to Šobes, a sublime local vineyard – is just a 20-minute drive away. 

You may recognise the bonny Scottish fishing hub as the town from the classic UK children’s TV show Balamory. The pretty port is home to the less kid-friendly Tobermory Distillery which, at the head of the bay, mainly produces a matured single malt whisky. The tiny town is also shrouded in mystery. According to legend, a gold-laden Spanish galleon ship lies undiscovered beneath the mud of the bay.

Known locally as the ‘Bride of Epirus’, Parga is relatively young for a Greek settlement, having only existed since the early 13th century. Despite this, the town in northwestern Greece still brims with history – it was the only free Christian village in the region during the Ottoman rule. A dilapidated fortress, called the Venetian Castle, is perched on a hilltop overseeing the hued homes and is a reminder of the time when the town fell under the Venetian rule.

Founded in 1753 by the British, pretty Lunenburg in Nova Scotia is a colourful fishing town and its original brightly-painted wooden houses date back to the time when the town was founded. Considered to be one of the best examples of 18th-century architecture in North America due to its preserved original layout, the town is only one of two urban communities in the continent designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Before you've even passed through one of the four gates that guard Khiva's inner town Itchan Kala, it's worth stopping to admire the ancient walls: the turrets of clay-coloured stone with their bold splashes of aquamarine are a striking sight. Inside, it's something of an oasis, with peaceful archways and more than 50 historic monuments, including the iconic Djuma Mosque.

At the centre of Ráquira may be its towering church steeple, but its beating heart is its artisan community. Colombia's pottery capital, the streets are packed with an array of craft stores, injecting colour into every corner of the town. This hidden-away Colombian town also hosts a bustling market every Sunday for locals to show off their wares.

Just four miles (6km) away from the south coast of Spain, the hillside town of Frigiliana overlooks the world-famous Costa del Sol. Surrounded by a lush natural park full of hiking trails and opportunities to explore the great outdoors, nature also runs wild in the town itself: vines of bougainvillea, lavender and jasmine grow freely across the walls of houses. 

Just across the riverbank from Germany, the tiny Thurgau canton (Swiss administrative division) town of Dissenhofen retains its medieval feel. Typically Swiss in its appearance, its main streets are lined with multicoloured homes. The town’s central tower displays a whimsical clock that has a face painted with astronomy symbols representing the 12 zodiac signs. It also has a working lunar clock, that shadows the moon's phases.

On Malta's southeast coast you'll find the fishing village of Marsaxlokk (pronounced marsa-schlock). A popular dining spot where the catches of the day are served up at the myriad restaurants which line a seafront promenade. Unlike most of Malta, it's virtually untouched by developers. A typical scene in Marsaxlokk is the fleet of traditional luzzu boats which bob in the harbour.

Nestled on the Swedish island of Gotland, the remote Viking settlement of Visby is the only town on the island. Culture is important here as the pretty walled town is a centre for art, theatre and classical music. It also has its own speciality cuisine where the use of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, is prominent.

One of Ireland's most-loved treasures, the southern coastal town of Kinsale is famed for its exceptional restaurants where local chefs have been awarded an assortment of accolades. Besides the fanciful food on offer, Kinsale is also known for its quirky streets that are flamboyantly painted every colour of the rainbow. Learn more about Ireland's hidden treasures here

Up in the highlands of Bali’s Mount Batur, 2,230 feet (700m) above sea level, is Penglipuran – a traditional Balinese village. While the area has mod-cons including a supermarket and mobile phone shop, the surroundings may fool you into believing you’ve stepped into a time warp. Locals proudly look after their homes, many of which are adorned with intricate engravings and original rooftops, lining the winding pathways up to the grand temple.

Lamu, a preserved Swahili settlement, is Kenya’s oldest continuously inhabited town. Once a hub for poetry, politics, and arts and crafts, it’s now a hubbub of trade, mosques and even a donkey sanctuary. Sunrises and sunsets are not to be missed, as the town becomes baked in rays of oranges, pinks and purples. It is a treasure trove of rooftop restaurants, friendly residents and sunny seascapes.

Located on the Costa Verde, a coastal area in the state of Rio de Janeiro known for its greenery, Paraty is one of the oldest towns in Brazil. Founded in 1667 by the Portuguese, its colourful centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is fully pedestrianised – a further bid to preserve the town's already immaculate historic buildings. Much of the town's architecture, including the cobbled streets, hasn't changed much for 250 years or more, leaving an impression you've travelled to a different era entirely.

A charming coastal town along the Great Ocean Road, Port Fairy is absolutely perfect in every way. Located in southwestern Victoria, it's known for having one of the best golf courses in Australia and its Folk Festival – the country's largest folk music festival. While its 19th-century cottages, stunning architecture and cute boutiques delight visitors.

Another embattled UNESCO town with a significant Venetian influence, the ancient fortification of Kotor is teeming with history. Due to the town’s maritime past, there is a large population of free-roaming felines in the town, and there’s even a Cat Museum in their honour. Tickled by the turquoise waters of the bay which lap up against the dramatic Adriatic coastline this is also a modern town, with Montenegro's biggest nightclub hidden within the walls of the citadel.

In the heartland of some of the world’s finest vineyards (the sparkling Champagne region specifically), lies the fanciful French town of Troyes. Misty-eyed and enchanted by the romance of the town, visitors fall head-over-heels with the holy haunts and half-timbered buildings that inject Troyes with such a distinct sense of character.

Perched high up in the mountains of northern Vietnam, Sapa and the surrounding villages are beautifully placed within the stunning terraced rice fields. Established as a hill station in 1922, today Sapa is central to hiking and trekking trails criss-crossing the mountains and snaking in-between the rice terraces. Easily reached from Hanoi, the serene town has become one of the major tourist hot spots in northern Vietnam.

This scenic settlement of Iruya doesn't look real. Burrowed in the midnight blue mountainside of the Altiplano region, the hard-to-reach rural town still manages to attract travellers from all corners of the globe, charmed by its colourful buildings and Argentinian steaks. Now take a look at the most magical places on Earth.

Erected on an island between the Croatian coast and the Adriatic island of Čiovo, Trogir's seductive Venetian influence makes it no stranger to the small screen, having appeared in episodes of Game of Thrones. Surrounded by 15th-century stone walls, the Romanesque-Gothic complex has been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further in the town there's a maze of fortified streets and holy buildings, while the seaside promenade glistens at night.

Evoking the atmosphere of a Greek island, this much-less travelled but equally exquisite Tunisian town of Sidi Bou Said is a delightful name to have at the tip of your tongue. Its buildings are as milky-white and cobalt blue as the sea and sky, and it's not hard to see why the town has long attracted artists. 

Set among the striking violet mountains of western Iceland, the winter wonderland of Stykkishólmur is a rural wonder. Made up of a few very well-preserved and colourful old homes in its centre, it’s also an eco-town and has been labelled a European Destination of Excellence for its environmental efforts. Find out more about Iceland's less-travelled spots here.

The quaint town of Hamnøy sits on Moskenes, an island at the southern end of the Lofoten Archipelago in Norway, known for its dramatic scenery. The oldest fishing village in the area, Hamnøy is also considered one of the most beautiful due to the brightly painted traditional homes. The short Arctic winter days here make for a moody setting while at night the sky is illuminated by the Northern Lights dancing above. See more stunning images of the Northern Lights here.

A collection of half-timbered houses, steep cobbled lanes and ancient inns, Rye is one of England's best-kept secrets. Located between the rolling hills of East Sussex and the English Channel, Rye is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in England. Beach walks, traditional pubs and even a castle are among its highlights.

Located in the uplands of Bali, Ubud is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Surrounded by rainforests and terraced rice paddies, dotted with temples and shrines, Ubud and the surrounding Ubud District are among Indonesia's most famous landscapes. Boasting an impressive expat community, Ubud has a lot to offer, from a wealth of temples to an arts market famous for hand-crafted goods.

Idyllic fishing towns and villages like Cudillero are hard to come by in modern-day Spain, however, this beauty in Asturias has managed to retain its timeless charm. According to a legend, the town is said to have been founded by the Vikings and historically fishing has been its main industry. A delight to look at, it's at its best when viewed from the bay with the colourful houses towering over either side of the small port.

With a Neo-Baroque square at the heart, this laid-back Cuban town is a colourful collection of grand 18th- and 19th-century buildings, including the restored Palacio Brunet mansion and churches like the Iglesia de la Santísima with its vaulted ceilings and carved altars. Located in central Cuba, the town boasts quaint cobbled streets and endless charm.

Tucked in-between towering mountains on the shore of the Grove Arm of the Cook Strait, Picton is known as the gateway to the many islands and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. Built around a sheltered harbour, the town has an attractive seafront dotted with cafés, restaurants and art galleries. There's a floating maritime museum and an aquarium too.

Stowe in Vermont is the perfect small town for nature enthusiasts, art lovers and ice cream fans who'll find the Waterbury Factory here – factory tours are on pause for now, but see the website for updates. The town is surrounded by thick forests, rivers and valleys and also the state’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, just to the north. It's typically host to an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in July too – though the 2020 event was cancelled, it's hoped that the 2021 festival will go ahead. Check the state travel restrictions before heading to Vermont.

Dubbed the most beautiful 'village' in Spain, the tiny town of Albarracín sits effortlessly in the hills of central Spain, overlooking the Guadalaviar River. The towering medieval walls dominate the hillside while ruins of an old Moorish alcázar sits on a clifftop above the town. With a population of just 1,054, it's a quiet and otherworldly escape.

Would you ever expect to find a recreation of a Bavarian Alpine village deep in the South? In Helen – the northeastern Georgia town found along the Chattahoochee River – you won’t believe that you’re really in the Peach State once you pass the German-style shops and archaic horse-drawn carriages. And what’s a Bavarian town without beer gardens, bratwurst and, you guessed it, barrels of beer? This all supersizes during the Oktoberfest celebrations – one of the largest of its kind in the USA. Here are more American destinations that feel like you're visiting a different country

Set amid rocky coastal cliffs, Manarola is one of the five fishing villages that make up the breathtaking Cinque Terre in northwestern Italy. Easily the most recognisable of all five, the homes in the cliffside town are painted in shades of pastel blue, pink, yellow and orange. Legend says that the houses were painted so bright that the returning fishermen could spot their homes more easily. See more stunning images of Europe's most adorable small towns and villages.