There's
a chill in the air and it's time to get somewhere cozy. Here are some
of the quaintest and
coziest towns that you can visit this winter
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
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
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
Naarden, Netherlands
Naarden is a town built within a star fort, complete
with fortified walls and a moat. During winter, the defences that once
protected the town freeze over
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
Grise Fjord, Canada
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
Štramberk, Czech Republic
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
Shirakawa-go, Japan
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
Damüls, Austria
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
Marlow, England
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
Vyborg, Russia
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
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
Hallstatt, Austria
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
Siglufjörður, Iceland
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
Loket, Czech Republic
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
Funes, Italy
Surrounded by the Italian Alps, Funes is blanketed by a layer of crystal white snow every winter
Reine, Norway
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
