Top 30 Most Picturesque Winter Towns From Around The World

There’s a chill in the air and it’s time to get somewhere cozy. Here are some of the quaintest, coziest and picturesque towns that you can visit this winter.

01. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is an incredibly well preserved medieval old town that every winter transforms into something that resembles a fairytale.

02. Mt Buller, Australia

Mt Buller is one of the few places in Australia that actually see frequent snowfall. This beautifully snow-capped mountain region is popular with bikers, skiers, snowboarders, and hikers.

03. El Chaltén, Argentina

Photo by Grant and Gen

Surrounded by mountain paths, El Chaltén is popular with trekkers during the summer. During winter, the town is pretty much deserted – with only the most experienced walkers taking on the cold.

04. Queenstown, New Zealand

Photo by Sarah and Todd Sisson

Queenstown is built around the beautiful Lake Wakatipu, which has spectacular views of surrounding mountains including Walter Peak and The Remarkable.

05. Naarden, Netherlands

Photo by Moniek mulder

Naarden is a town built within a star fort, complete with fortified walls and a moat. During winter, the defense’s that once protected the town freeze over.

06. Bled, Slovenia

Sheltered by picturesque mountains, Bled was founded in 1004 and considered so beautiful by the Holy Roman Emperor that it was gifted to the Bishop of Brixen. The castle at Bled sits in the center of the enchanting Lake Bled which borders the town. The town of 5,000 is now notable for having some of the most beautiful health spas in the area.

07. Grise Fjord, Canada

Photo by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (by Franco Buscemi)

If you’ve ever wanted to escape humanity, this is the place. Grise Fjord is the northernmost community in Canada, during winter they experience 104 consecutive days of darkness and the nearest village is more than 200 miles away. You probably won’t be getting a broadband connection here.

08. Štramberk, Czech Republic

Photo by Jancehlarik.

Štramberk lies on the slope of a forested hill dominated by a magnificent medieval tower that still looks over the town. The beautiful timbered houses keep the lucky residents toasty during the colder months.

09. Shirakawa-go, Japan

Photo by Miyamoto

Shirakawa-go is a small, traditional village known for its incredibly steep roofs that were made to withstand some of the heaviest snowfall in the world.

10. Damüls, Austria

Photo by ewitsoe

Damüls receives 30 feet of snowfall every year, making it the snowiest place in Europe. Unsurprisingly, this small town of 300 is a popular winter getaway for sport junkies.

11. Serfaus, Austria

Photo by Michael Adamek

Evidence suggests that this beautiful area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, when it was used as a pasture. Now, the area is used for pleasure, with the the town acting as a stopping point on the road to to the Ski-Area “Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis”.

12. Marlow, England

Photo by Lumenoid

Marlow is a sleepy parish on the River Thames. While the town is only 30 miles from hectic London, it feels like an entirely different world – especially during winter.

13. Vyborg, Russia

Photo by EGRA

Vyborg lies on the border between Russia and Finland and is surrounded by the Saimaa Canal, which freezes over in winter. From the castle tower, the entire town is visible in its snow-capped beauty.

14. Bamberg, Germany

The magnificent town center of Bamberg is considered a world heritage site, with the settlement dating back to 902 AD. This incredibly well preserved medieval town and its cobble streets become a treat to stroll around during winter.

15. Hallstatt, Austria

16. Siglufjörður, Iceland

Photo Source Reddit

Siglufjörður is a small fishing town along a narrow fjord surrounded by mammoth mountains on the land. This quaint village was inaccessible by land until the 1940s, when a long tunnel was dug through the rock.

17. Loket, Czech Republic

Photo by ewitsoe

Loket means “elbow” in English, the town is named this because the town centre and castle are surrounded on three sides by the fierce Ohře River.

18. Funes, Italy

Photo by ewitsoe

Surrounded by the Italian Alps, Funes is blanketed by a layer of crystal white snow every winter.

19. Reine, Norway

Photo by James Boardmen-Woodend

Reine is a quaint fishing village that can be found on the beautiful arctic island of Moskenesøya. The port has a population of only 329, but was rightfully voted the most beautiful village in all of Norway – during winter, it’s easy to see why.

20. Calitri, Italy

Photo by Diuseppe di Maio

Calitri is built on the beautiful hills of Campania. The town is a labyrinth of historic houses and cobble streets which become even more interesting to navigate after a snowfall.

21. Zermatt, Switzerland

Photo by Herbert Stachelberger

Zermatt lies in the picturesque Matter Valley at an elevation of over 5,000 feet in the shadow of Switzerland’s highest peaks. At times, it’s hard to see the roofs amongst the snow.

22. Qaqortoq, Greenland

Photo by Joel Tettamanti

This area has been inhabited for around 4,300 years, when the Saqqaq first settled the land. The modern town is famous for its multi-colored houses, which contrast rather starkly with the white snow.

23. Chichilianne, France

Photo by Erwann Fourmond

Chichilianne is dominated by the breathtaking Mont Aiguille, which is nearly 7,000 foot tall and offers amazing views of the French Prealps.

24. Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge is a sleepy rural town in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. The small houses of this ski town are dominated by their landscape, especially during winter. A climb to the peaks offer an incredible panorama of the town below.

25. Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Photo by Chrissy

From the capital of Iceland, you’ll need to get on a once-weekly plane to Greenland and then get a helicopter ride to this small, colorful town which sits by the longest glacial river system in the world.

26. Langwies, Switzerland

Photo by ehutphoto

This small town of a few hundred is perched precariously on the edge of the vast Langwies valley. Lucky visitors can take a train ride over the valley and trek among the snow covered trees.

27. Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic

Photo Source Reddit

The name of this town roughly translates to ‘Apple Orchard on the River Neisse’ because of its immense beauty. Founded in 1356, this town rose to fame in the 18th century for producing the first piece of artificial jewellery.

28. Jamnik, Slovenia

Photo by Simon Benedičič

Jamnikeastern can be found on the slopes of the Jelovica Platea. The local church is built upon a hill with a breathtaking backdrop of the Julian Alps.

29. San Marino, Italy

San Marino is a micro-republic of just 24 square miles in the beautiful landscape of Northern Italy. Founded in 301 AD, it is one of the oldest surviving sovereign states and constitutional republics in the world.