10 Picturesque Towns for Curious Travelers

10 Picturesque Towns for Curious Travelers

The planet is full of pretty villages worth visiting, especially those looking to escape the city smog. For most of us, vacation leads to visions of charming towns with panoramic views, vibrant communities, sandy shores, lakeside cottages with unique cultural and gastronomic experiences.  

We've gathered a few destinations worldwide that fulfill the dream and where you can press the relax button and retreat for your perfect travel adventure when the time comes to travel again.

Bergen: Noryaw 
Bergen is known for its small-town charm and atmosphere. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, the Bergen area has an excellent combination of nature, culture, and breathtaking urban life all year round. With its ideal location right in the heart of the Fjord Norway region, it is the perfect starting point for day trips to one of the World's biggest scenic attractions - the fjords. You can experience enchanting breathtaking natural beauty, fjords, waterfalls, and mountains. Bergen also is a cultural fuse pot with an extensive range of concerts, international festivals, and museums of all kinds. Additionally, it has become a global culinary city famous for its local Fish Market.   

Chiapas: Mexico
It is located in Mexico's southwestern region, bordering Tabasco, Oaxaca, and Veracruz's states. Chiapas is a fascinating state that preserves ancient cultures' traditions surrounded by exuberant nature and incomparable landscapes. Entire ancient Mayan ruins in the jungle, wildlife, strange regional specialties, and cultural mix are just a few of the things that make the Chiapas region so unique. Chiapas also contains several natural wonders such as the Canyon del Sumidero and the Sima de Las Cotorras. Chiapas is one of the only places to explore old ruins and colorful colonial towns on the same day. Indeed, Chiapas is an incredible Mexican land that must visit.

Lucerne: Switzerland
This lovely medieval town near Zurich sits on the edges of Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland. Lucerne stands amongst the World's most attractive cities and is rich in sites and attractions. The best way to discover Lucerne is by foot. It has memorable sights such as the Chapel Bridge with the octagonal Water Tower, the Jesuit Church, and the Culture and Convention Centre Lucerne (KKL Luzern). You will also explore secret lanes, visit town squares overflowing with liveliness and even catch a look at the city's trademark, the Musegg Walland with its nine towers, part of Lucerne's historic fortifications, forming a striking crown around the Old Town. Lucerne's modish quarter is a magnificent blend of little shops and boutiques, galleries, restaurants, cinemas, bars, clubs, hotels, and apartments make it a lively and colorful quarter. Traveling to Lucerne drives an exciting journey to discover and experience the diversity of the Heart of Switzerland.

Porquerolles: France
Porquerolles, an island in the Mediterranean sea, is located just off France's coast, near Hyères. It offers gleaming beaches, exotic plant life, sparkling, clear waters. Due to the French government's work in preserving the Island's unique ecosystem, it is one of the most peaceful environments comprehensible. The natural beauty of Porquerolles is best explored by bike, on foot, or even by boat. This Island has two sides: the southern one, which is is rocky and isolated creeks only accessible to hikers.
On the other hand, the northern side offers distinct sand beaches and turquoise waters. Porquerolles has a selection of hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets and plays host to popular cultural events, including yearly jazz and sailing festivals. Porquerolles is another enchanting site to traverse before everyone else discovers it.

Cotswolds: England
The Cotswolds is a rural paradise in the south of England set in the heart of a region of exceptional natural beauty. With cute and cozy pubs, walking trails turning their way through undulating countryside, and typical British tea rooms, it's an excellent place for a family holiday. You will discover quintessentially English villages of golden-colored stone; visit vibrant market towns; some of the country's most lavish palaces, castles, and farmhouses. You can marvel at the natural World in natural reserves and some of the most famous gardens in Britain; walk through spectacular panoramas along historic trails, or make a slop in the lake-land area with its local beach.

Kas, Turkey
Kas is a charming little town along Turkey's turquoise coastline, boundaries of Antalya province. It offers beautiful beaches, great food, shopping, and a lot more. This white-washed seaside town is saturated in history, dating as far back as the Lycian times. For divers, this is Turkey's hub for marine ventures, with great wreck-diving just offshore. Plenty of boat trips, kayaking tours, and hikes are also easily arranged from here.

Luang Prabang: Laos 
Head to Luang Prabang in central Laos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether if you're looking for a quiet poolside holiday, an adventure-filled trek to a waterfall in the forest, or the chance to meet locals in a hillside ethnic village, Luang Prabang holds it all. The town has well-preserved landmarks such as the one-time Royal Palace that has since been turned into the National Museum and its numerous natural treasures and waterfalls. When it comes to the arts scene, you will find locally made textiles, woven bamboo baskets, and handmade clay pots to shop and take with you home. Many activities in this town, from connecting with elephants, flying through the trees on a zipline, and performing Kayaking to trekking, swimming, and cycling, are among the ventures that will relive you while exploring Lu Prabang.

Zadar: Croatia
Zadar is a city of romance and love, as well as a spot of passion and spirit! This town is peaceful and a dynamic modern center that embraces everyone with open arms and transmits a strong mark on every enamored visitor! Zadar is a city of exceptional history with a rich cultural heritage. Monuments surrounded by historical ramparts, many contemporary architectural achievements, museums, the old city walls, and gates are among the best spots to see in this fantastic city. You will be enchanted by its untouched nature, parks, beautiful beaches, shops, restaurants, panoramic views, along with vast accommodation choices that suit the demand of all kinds of travelers.
 
Suzhou: China
It is located about a 30-minute train ride away from Shanghai. Suzhou is well-known for its high culture and elegance. Many Chinese artists, scholars, writers, and high society stressed its lovely art forms and delicate ornament gardens. Invent Suzhou's famed canals, romantic water towns, thousand-year-old temples, historical streets, world-class museums, and hill rocks without missing its food. Suzhou cuisine emphasizes fresh, subtly sweet flavors and exquisite presentation. Start planning your trip to one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin, dating back more than 2,500 years, to explore Suzhou's unique atonement for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Port Douglas: Australia
This beautiful small village is in North Queensland. Its clear blue waters, majestic rainforest, and friendly center mood make Port Douglas a famous beach destination. Port Douglas is a unique and relaxed town admired for food, wine, arts, and culture. You will feel alive once exploring its natural tropical wonders. Swim at stunning Four Mile Beach, wander down the main street for shopping, dine with the birds at a wildlife park, or dive into the Great Barrier Reef. Its restaurants are many and varied with delicious food. Port Douglas offers resorts, elegant homes, and superb apartments catered to Port's relaxed tropical atmosphere.