In Saudi Arabia and Egypt
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Rijal Almaa village | A heritage village over 900 years old, with multi-storey stone houses on the mountainside and a museum. | About 45 km west of Abha, via the Al Sammaa pass |
| Habala hanging village | A village on the edge of a high cliff, reached by a thrilling cable car ride. | About an hour's drive from Abha |
| Dhee Ain heritage village | A stone village on a white marble hill, surrounded by banana and basil farms and a flowing spring. | About 24 km from Al Baha, near Al Mikhwah |
| The Nubian village | Colourful houses on the banks of the Nile and warm Nubian hospitality. | Gharb Soheil, Aswan |
Türkiye, the Caucasus and the Balkans
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Gölyazı village | A village on a peninsula in Lake Uluabat, with old houses, pelicans and magical sunsets. | About 40 minutes west of Bursa |
| Cumalıkızık village | A preserved Ottoman village of colourful houses and stone lanes, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. | East of Bursa |
| Kırkpınar village | A village on the lake's south shore with restaurants and wooden chalets among the trees. | Lake Sapanca, Türkiye |
| Kayaköy | An abandoned stone village on the hillside, with its old houses and churches. | Near Fethiye, Türkiye |
| Khinalig village | One of the highest inhabited villages in the Caucasus, with stone houses above the clouds. | About 2 hours from Quba, Azerbaijan |
| Laza village and its waterfalls | A village among towering mountains streaming with waterfalls. | Near Shahdag, Azerbaijan |
| Kish village | A mountain village with an ancient Albanian church. | About 10 minutes from Sheki, Azerbaijan |
| Počitelj | A stone Ottoman village on a hillside above the river. | Between Mostar and Kravice, Bosnia |
Europe
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Hallstatt | A lakeside village between the mountains, one of Europe's prettiest. | About 1 h 30 min from Salzburg, Austria |
| Guarda | A mountain village of stone houses with decorated facades, one of the prettiest in Switzerland. | Lower Engadin, Switzerland |
| Sonogno | A stone village at the end of the valley among the mountains, with trails to the waterfalls. | Verzasca Valley, near Lugano |
| Èze village | A stone village perched on a rock above the sea, with enchanting views of the coast. | Between Nice and Monaco, France |
| Giethoorn | A village where you travel by boat along its canals, between houses and wooden bridges. | North-east Netherlands |
| Pyrgos | A hill village of winding lanes with an old castle at the top, quieter than Oia. | Central Santorini, Greece |
Asia
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Shirakawa-go | Farmhouses with steep thatched roofs under the snow, on the World Heritage list, lit up on a few winter evenings. | Japan; January 2027 light-up by advance reservation only |
| Bukchon Hanok Village | Traditional Korean houses with curved roofs between the palaces, still lived in by their owners. | Seoul; open to tourists from 10 am to 5 pm |
| Gamcheon Culture Village | Colourful houses stepping up the hillside, and lanes full of murals. | West Busan, Korea |
| Longjing tea village | Terraced hills of the famous green tea, with tastings in local homes. | West of West Lake, Hangzhou |
| The Fisherman's Village in Bophut | Restored old Chinese wooden houses and seafront restaurants, with an evening market on Fridays. | North of Koh Samui, Thailand |
Tips before you go
- Visit famous villages such as Hallstatt and Èze in the morning before the tour buses arrive, or stay a night to enjoy their calm.
- Many of these villages are lived in, so respect people's homes and keep to the visiting hours.
- Roads to mountain villages are narrow and winding, so allow plenty of time, ideally with a driver who knows the area.
Hotels in Villages
- Hotels in Bursa
- Hotels in Abha
- Hotels in Al Baha
- Hotels in Salzburg
- Hotels in Seoul
- Hotels in Hangzhou
- Hotels in Busan
- Hotels in Fethiye
- Hotels in Nice
- Resorts in Abha
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most beautiful heritage villages in Saudi Arabia?
Rijal Almaa and the Habala hanging village near Abha, and Dhee Ain heritage village near Al Baha.
What are the most beautiful villages in Türkiye?
Gölyazı on Lake Uluabat and the Ottoman village of Cumalıkızık near Bursa, and the stone village of Kayaköy near Fethiye.
What are the most beautiful villages in Europe?
Hallstatt in Austria, Èze on the French Riviera, Giethoorn in the Netherlands and Guarda in Switzerland.
Where is there a village you get around by boat?
In Giethoorn in the Netherlands, where you travel by boat along its canals between houses and wooden bridges.
Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.