Casting a spell over the senses with delightful decorations, homespun architecture and traditional building techniques, these sublime villages are a wonder to behold. From whimsical pastel hues on stucco to intricate patterns carved into earthen clay walls, each locale has a wonderfully unique regional style.

Click or scroll on to discover what homes look like in our pick of the world's most exquisite small settlements...

Sitting on the South Island of New Zealand, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is undeniably one of the world's most attractive towns.

With the dramatic, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps jutting up around the settlement, Queenstown has quickly become a hub for adventure, sports and nature enthusiasts.

As well as being incredibly easy on the eyes, Queenstown has a rich history. According to RealNZ, it dates back over 700 years. The Māori people chose not to settle in the area but instead visit during the summer months. "Using the transport of a vessel made from flax stems, Māori would visit the region to hunt for Moa and find pounamu," a precious stone.

In 1853, Scottish settler Nathan Chalmers became the first outsider to see Lake Wakatipu and less than a decade later, the first Europeans settled in the area.

Queenstown's gold rush era began around 1862 and thanks to this, the town is still home to plenty of traditional architecture, including the Eichardt's Hotel and St Peter's Anglican Church.

As for homes, Queenstown has fast become a property hot spot, with wealthy buyers snapping up plots and building incredible lakeside homes. 

There are plenty of modest structures in the area, though, with many being utilised as holiday rentals. This Airbnb is a fine example of the sort of homes in Queenstown.

Positioned facing the view, the cabin-style property has a cosy, open-plan interior, with exposed timber ceilings and big windows that frame the scenery. 

A port town perched on the coast of Nova Scotia, Lunenburg is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. The title was awarded to Lunenburg's Old Town, which the organisation described as "the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America." 

Aside from being incredibly historic, it's also seriously pretty, with a bustling port, quaint boutique shops and brightly painted old buildings.

The town was founded in 1753 and amazingly, 70% of the original buildings, which date from the 18th and 19th centuries, continue to greet Lunenburg visitors on the waterfront. From grand, Victorian-style painted ladies to bold red fishing huts, there's something to see on every street.

The town is estimated to be home to around 2,339 people, and while many of the buildings in Lunenburg will be private residences, some have been modernised and turned into guest houses and hotels – ready to accommodate the thousands of visitors that flock to the region each year.

This one, known as the Ivy House Inn, is a boutique hotel in the heart of town.

Luxurious and upscale, the beautiful 4,000-square-foot heritage home was built in 1897 and offers chic and individually styled rooms for guests, with big beds and high-end fixtures.

The rooms blend modern décor with historic elements, like fireplaces, beamed walls and hardwood floors. And, as the listing suggests, "church bells and ocean breezes waft through the windows."

Guatapé is a stunning resort town, located in northwest Colombia. It's nestled alongside the man-made Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir and is perhaps known for two main things; the first being a giant granite rock, Piedra del Peñol, which decorates the town's southwest corner.

Visitors must climb hundreds of steps to reach the top of the rock, where captivating views can be savoured. 

The second thing is the town's vibrant, patchwork architecture. In fact, Guatapé has been called one of the world’s most colourful towns. Everything from doorways to balconies are painted in an eye-catching selection of hues.

Houses in the town date as far back as the 18th century. This street is just one example of the traditional buildings you could see on a visit.

Across the town, you'll find plenty of different property styles, from lavish lakeside villas to cosy stilted cabins. This authentic Andean cottage is a fine example of the sort of homes locals live in. This one is actually a holiday rental, but it was likely once someone's main residence.

The pad has its own access to the reservoir and is located in the shadow of one of the area's iconic rock formations.

While the exterior of the cottage is defined by its white plaster walls, sloping tiled roof and cobalt blue accents, the interior boasts a gorgeous beamed ceiling, tiny windows and a traditional kiva fireplace in one corner.

The stunning lakeside village of Hallstatt in Austria looks like it has popped out of the pages of a fairytale. Just an hour away from Salzburg, the picture-perfect streets are lined with houses that are built into the mountainside. Brimming with history, it’s been inhabited since prehistoric times, with impressive Bronze Age and Iron Age burials discovered in the area.

The town is also famous for its salt mine, which is said to be the oldest in the world. 

The fairytale village was also reportedly the inspiration behind the hit film Frozen and we can see why. The traditional Austrian Alpine homes that sit in the centre are part of a rectangular block, with triple-pitched roofs. Most easily accessed by ferry, the small village has few cars and many of the houses here are built from a mix of stone and wood.

With their window-box flowers, beautiful wooden shutters, balconies and pastel paintwork, the houses make for an idyllic Alpine scene. 

Many of the houses are just as quaint inside as they are out, with low wooden-beamed ceilings and world-famous picture-postcard views out over the lake.

Although some of the residences have been renovated to modern standards, the village is still known as "the most instagrammable town in the world". 

So popular is the UNESCO World Heritage Site that it has a replica village designed in its likeness in China. Hallstatt is often teeming with tourists, which means plenty of custom for local businesses and holiday rentals, such as this one.

In fact, the town gets so busy that many of the estimated 734 locals have private property signs and even traffic cones outside their houses to deter tourists. 

Rising from the misty Shogawa River Valley, the historic Ogimachi village in the Shirakawa-gō region is the Japanese village that time forgot.

Surrounded by lush mountains, the Gassho-style houses were built from 1800 to the early 1900s, with some standing for around 300 years. Lining the edges of narrow roads and featuring colourful gardens, the well-maintained houses have a special place in Japanese culture. 

The traditional and unique buildings are called Gassho-zukuri, which translates to "hands in prayer" – the steeply sloping thatched roofs resemble a Buddhist monk’s hands pressed together in prayer.

This distinctive design means the homes can withstand the very heavy snowfall this remote mountain region receives in winter. 

Airy and open, the large farmhouse-style homes are usually laid out over three or four levels, intended to accommodate extended family, too. This smart interior has a traditional Japanese low table with floor cushions as seating.

The sliding shoji doors serve as lightweight room dividers, making for a very flexible interior space that can easily be opened up for guests or enclosed for privacy.

The homes have huge attics like the one pictured here. Due to the lack of agriculture across the area's challenging terrain, attics were traditionally used for cultivating silkworms to produce silk for fine fabrics. Gassho houses are very rare and architecturally important in Japan, so they're preserved by the village's local residents, of which there are around 600.

Today, many of the homes are museums, shops or guesthouses that teach visiting tourists about the important tradition. 

A pretty English village set in the magnificent Cotswold Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the UK. It was once described as "the most beautiful village in England" by famous Victorian poet and textile designer, William Morris – and we can certainly see why.

With its rustic rows of chocolate-box cottages lining the banks of the shimmering River Coln, Bibury’s known for its gorgeous properties. 

Overflowing with historical charm, some of the buildings were 14th-century wool storage barns, converted into weavers’ cottages in the 17th century.

The central street, Arlington Row, is so iconic it was once pictured inside UK passports, while it's also a popular filming location, with famous movies such as Bridget Jones's Diary​ filming scenes there. 

Most of the cottages are built with local Cotswold stone, which has a creamy yellow hue, whilst the roofs, made from Cotswold slate, are steeply pitched, often with gabled fronts. The homes tend to have a typical country cottage-style interior with low, beamed ceilings and deeply recessed small windows.

This holiday home celebrates the historic elements of the building, while providing guests with cosy and comfy amenities. The old timber staircase certainly draws the eye.

Many of the cottages have been restored or sensitively redesigned with modern-day comfort in mind – much like this vibrant and inviting bedroom. Populated with tea rooms and lush rolling countryside, Bibury is the perfect place for a slice of the quiet life. 

Nestling in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, the spectacular fortified village of Aït Benhaddou is one of the finest examples of Moroccan clay earthen architecture.

Since the 11th century, it was a key stopping point on the trade route through the Sahara Desert to Marrakech, although most existing houses date back to the 17th century. The settlement is a fascinating mix of modest homes flanked by small castellated structures, all clustered behind defensive walls.

The fortress walls are strengthened with angle towers, beautifully carved with traditional Moroccan patterns. As a defensive tactic, the main baffle gate originally allowed entry only one way at a time.

Frequently used as a movie location, Hollywood blockbusters Alexander, with Angelina Jolie and Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott were both filmed here.

Here’s an amazing glimpse into the interior of one of the old houses. The buildings are made entirely from compacted earth, clay bricks and wood. The traditional Moroccan keyhole-style arches seen throughout the interior are a stunning defining feature of the space. 

Most locals no longer reside in these incredible earthen homes, instead choosing to occupy more modern properties in the village on the other side of the river. Many make a living off the area's agriculture and the tourist trade that's drawn in by the ancient village. 

Located on the Pacific Coast in California, Carmel-by-the-Sea juts out into the rugged ocean on the Monterey Peninsula. In the early 20th century, Carmel was a magnet for movers and shakers in the art world, who were inspired by the beautiful sandy coastline, framed by rocks and cypress trees.

It still attracts creatives today, counting Hollywood megastar, Clint Eastwood, as a former mayor. 

If it's one thing that Carmel is famous for, it's the stunning whimsical homes that line its streets. With a blend of architectural styles, from mock-Tudor and Spanish Colonial to the distinctive storybook cottages with wavy-edged shake roofs by 1920s Carmel resident Hugh Comstock, it's like stepping into a fairytale. 

Many of the cottages come with a fun colour scheme, including this one which is decorated in quirky red and green hues. With a small population of just over 3,000 people, Carmel is said to be one of the best places to live in California. Dotted with bars, restaurants and coffee shops, it's the perfect village for a relaxed suburban lifestyle. 

Inside, this quaint, three-bedroom cottage features a beautiful exposed wood ceiling, large stone fireplace and high ceilings, not to mention jaw-dropping views out over the ocean. Previously on the market, it last sold in November 2021 for £2.7 million ($3.4m), so it was no bargain! 

Clinging to a hillside on the northwest coast of Santorini, the village of Oia, which is one of Greece's most photographed locations, has stunning views across the smooth Aegean Sea. 

An array of pristine white houses are interspersed with cobalt blue, delicate pink and sunset orange-painted exteriors in what is known as Cycladic Architecture, named after the Cyclades group of Greek islands. 

With architecture intended to protect its residents from the summer heat and winter winds, Oia is dominated by two different styles of homes. The captains’ houses, which were built in a neo-classical style above ground and historically intended for wealthy residents and the cave houses which were built into the cliff face and formally inhabited by the poorer residents and sailors. 

Today, many of the rustic cave homes have been modernised. Taking a look inside one of the homes, you can see just how cavernous it is with curved walls and low ceilings. 

The porous volcanic rock makes for a cooling and airy interior during long hot summers, whilst the dark wood flooring and furniture contrasts beautifully with the bright white walls making the room look elegant and inviting.

Look at the home’s amazing cocoon-like bedroom! The two architectural styles of Oia are located in two different areas, which are separated by the bustling main street of the village, Marmara. With boats being the most common form of transport on and off the island, laidback living is the way of life on the idyllic island. 

A picture-perfect island village on the Lofoten Archipelago, encircled by majestic granite peaks rising out of the waters of the surrounding fjords, Reine is in the chilly polar region above the Arctic Circle. An important trading post since the 18th century, the village has a thriving fishing industry. 

The red and white rorbuer cabins are the most striking sight on the island. Originally built as fishermen’s huts, they are constructed simply with planks of wood and traditional Scandinavian birch bark roofs – which is why some of them look grassy!

This type of roof provides good insulation and its heavy weight stabilises the house.

Not an easy place to live, in the winter the weather is so harsh that the village's estimated 297 locals hibernate in their homes. Populated by fishermen, who take advantage of what's said to be the world's greatest cod harvest, Reine is made up of several small islands connected by bridges. 

Now, many of the fishermen’s huts have been modernised for holidaymakers, much like this one, with the tourism industry providing a major source of income for the island. The interior of this Reine cottage has a homely, rustic vibe with exposed wooden cladding and minimal décor. 

With glorious folksy patterned hues, the small rural village of Zalipie illuminates a small corner of south-east Poland.

Known as the painted village, almost every surface, including houses, interior walls, furniture, utensils, kennels, trees, fences and clothes are daubed with multi-coloured flowers!

According to local legend, the tradition began in the 19th century, when the women of Zalipie became fed up with their homes being dirty with soot. So, they covered up the marks with white lime paint and artfully added floral displays in vibrant shades.

While the houses are small wooden cabins with neat, thatched roofs, it’s the décor that really dazzles! A remarkable glimpse inside a Zalipie home shows ceilings, walls and furniture adorned with amazing folk art. 

Even the rustic stove in this kitchen is covered with captivating designs, as well as the painted cups and plates on the drainer.

The hand-painted wooden chest also looks sublime. Polish folk artist Felicja Curyłowa lived in the village and her exceptional painted house has been turned into a museum.

Located in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands, the Dutch village of Giethoorn is picture-perfect. Dotted with idyllic thatched-roof homes with stunning gardens, the village is also known as the "Venice of the Netherlands", thanks to its idyllic, winding waterways.

With boats and bridges the main means of transport across the waterways, the centre of the village is completely car-free. Instead, residents prefer gently gliding around the network of canals in narrowboats, propelled along by long poles.

It's a tranquil place to live, perfect for immersing yourself in the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Established some 800 years ago, historic residents dug a channel system by hand that created the village's islands, which were then connected by around 200 bridges. 

The centre of the village is mainly inhabited by local residents who live in the quaint traditional thatched houses, however, some of the homes are available to rent. 

While many of the homes have since received modern facelifts, residents still observe the customs of their forebearers. Today, the locals occupying these picturesque houses renew their roofs every 40 years, to carry on the quaint tradition.

Inside this cosy holiday home, you'll spot plenty of authentic elements, including petite log-burning fireplaces, ceiling beams, sash windows and gleaming timber floors.

With houses that look like colourfully iced gingerbread biscuits, this Bavarian town has all the charm of a fairytale picture book. In fact, its full name, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, means ‘red castle above the Tauber River’ – and sounds like the title of a Brothers Grimm fable!

The most notable architecture is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance, dating from as early as 1250.

The beautifully preserved medieval architecture is thanks to a law passed in 1900, forbidding any modification or destruction of the old buildings.

Here you can see how the steeply pitched roofs, small and numerous casement windows and bright exteriors give the place its unique charm. Notice the decorative stair-stepped gable roofs and intricate stencil detailing.

While many of the houses are inhabited by full-time residents, there are a number of hotels and guesthouses that are still full of traditional charm – for over 100 years, no modifications have been made to the buildings inside the town's medieval walls.

Many of the holiday homes benefit from pretty window shutters, gorgeous climbing vines and pretty flower boxes, much like this Airbnb property in the heart of the old town. 

The historic timbered building is wonderfully inviting, with characterful rooms that blend the best of old and new – think stone walls, soaring ceilings and exposed beams, married with modern furnishings, statement light fixtures and bold artwork.

Bewitching Rothenburg ob der Tauber was the inspiration for the village in the classic 1940 Disney movie, Pinocchio, as well as the village scenes in the 1968 musical fantasy film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Even Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was partly filmed in this gorgeous Bavarian locale.

A car-free alpine mountain village, set against the massive Jungfrau summit in the Bernese Alps, Wengen was first recorded as a settlement in the 13th century. Despite the snowy surroundings, the village is a sun trap as the soaring mountains protect the quaint settlement from chilly winds. 

Chalet-style architecture is a hallmark feature of the town. Originally huts for cattle herders, chalets developed in style and sophistication; they are made of timber and have weighty sloping roofs with defined eaves at the front.

Notice the pretty floral decoration on this rather grand Wengen chalet and the green shutters that only add to the Alpine charm.

The perfect destination for skiing lovers as well as summer hikers, idyllic Wengen is home to around 1,300 permanent residents. The traditional farming community plays host to part of the international Ski World Cup but Wengen has been popular with tourists since the early 19th century and we can certainly see why!

As for the homes in the village, they boast a gorgeous, cosy interior, many with exposed ceiling beams and casement windows. This holiday rental is available on Airbnb and blends modern rustic touches with traditional elements – think rough timber walls and Eddison light fixtures.

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