What makes a village unforgettable? Sometimes it’s the way pastel cottages lean toward a quiet river, or how a waterfall tumbles straight into the sea. Other times it’s the way cobbled lanes echo with centuries of stories, or how terraced fields carve patterns into mountainsides. In 2025, Forbes, drawing on research from Unforgettable Travel Company, unveiled a global ranking of the 50 most beautiful villages in the world. From this treasure trove of destinations, we’ve brought you the top 10 villages worth exploring this year—each with its own blend of natural beauty, culture, and timeless charm. (Image: Canva)
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1. Bibury, England Tucked in the Cotswolds, Bibury feels like England distilled. Honey-colored cottages line the River Coln, particularly the picture-perfect Arlington Row, where wildflowers sway and ducks paddle lazily. It’s no wonder William Morris once declared it “the most beautiful village in England.” (Image: Canva)
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2. Hallstatt, Austria Hallstatt is the village that postcards envy. Hemmed in by the Dachstein Alps and mirrored on the glassy lake below, its pastel houses and gothic church spire look almost too idyllic to be real. Here, mornings arrive with mist rising off the water, and evenings with bells chiming softly across the valley. (Image: Canva)
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3. Reine, Norway In the Lofoten Islands, Reine glows under the midnight sun and shimmers beneath the northern lights. Red fishermen’s cabins sit like jewels against jagged mountains, where the sea laps quietly at their stilts. It’s the kind of place where nature still holds the upper hand. (Image: Canva)
4. Giethoorn, Netherlands In Giethoorn, cars are almost an afterthought. Here, thatched-roof houses perch on islands connected by wooden bridges, and boats glide along narrow canals. Flowers spill over garden fences, and life moves to the rhythm of water—slow, steady, serene. (Image: Canva)
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5. Gásadalur, Faroe Islands Few places feel as raw as Gásadalur. The village, accessible by tunnel only in recent decades, clings to cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic. At its edge, the Mulafossur Waterfall cascades straight into the ocean, a sight that feels like nature showing off. (Image: Canva)
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6. Oia, Greece Whitewashed houses, cobalt domes, and pink bougainvillea—Oia is the Santorini of your dreams. Perched on a volcanic cliff, the village has perfected the art of sunsets: golden light flooding courtyards, waves turning molten, and crowds applauding the day’s end. (Image: Canva)
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7. Bourtange, Netherlands From above, Bourtange is a perfect star—a 16th-century fortress village built to defend the Dutch border. Walk its cobbled streets and you’ll find drawbridges, old cannons, and homes tucked within geometric perfection. It’s a rare mix of history and harmony. (Image: Canva)
8. Kotor, Montenegro Encircled by mountains and the turquoise Bay of Kotor, this medieval town is more village than city at heart. Venetian palaces, stone churches, and labyrinthine alleys lead upward to a fortress that rewards climbers with sweeping views of the Adriatic. (Image: Canva)
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9. Shirakawa-go, Japan In winter, Shirakawa-go looks like a fairy-tale snow globe. Its steeply thatched Gassho-zukuri farmhouses—built to withstand heavy snow—are UNESCO treasures. Beyond their beauty lies a living tradition, where families still farm the land as their ancestors once did. (Image: Canva)
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10. Batad, Philippines High in the Cordillera Mountains, Batad reveals rice terraces carved by hand into steep slopes over 2,000 years ago. The amphitheater-like layers of green shimmer with water and sky, a reminder that human ingenuity and nature can work in perfect rhythm. (Image: Canva)
Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytelling—both visual and textual—across travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.
