We’ve combed through some of the world’s most fantastical fairytale locales, from a volcano lodge hidden deep in Chilean Patagonia to a trippy glow worm-lit cave in New Zealand. Whether you’re looking for backdrop befitting a princess or a spooky spot more suited to a villain, take a look.
Colmar, France
If you’re not feeling the major Beauty and the Beast vibes that Colmar is throwing your way, you might be in the wrong place. The village is an amalgam of quaint stucco and timber framing, Gothic German houses, and wildly ornate Renaissance churches. And no, we’re not wearing any rose-colored glasses—the utopian hamlet is truly befitting of the prettiest Disney princess. Admire Alsacian art at the Musee d’Unterlinden, spot the town’s most famous house, Maison Pfister, or sneak a peek at Colmar’s mini Statue of Liberty.
Huilo Huilo Montaña Mágica Lodge, Chilean Patagonia
This volcano-meets-waterfall-meets-lodge looks as though it could easily house a hobbit or Keebler elf, but you won’t find it in Middle Earth or in an enchanted cookie-producing forest. Chilean Patagonia’s Montaña Mágica Lodge blends into a vast swathe of southern Andes rainforest, rather, camouflaging itself with a living exterior, free-flowing waterfall, and rustic design. Guest rooms are as cozy as they come with entirely wooded interiors, but they don’t skimp on amenities or mod cons; just see the dug-out tree trunk hot tubs, spa facilities, and 21st-century-essential: WiFi.
The Dark Hedges, Ballymoney, Ireland
If you spent a good chunk of the last eight years repeatedly binging Game of Thrones, then this should be a familiar sight. Ballymoney’s beech tree–lined avenue is the real life Kingsroad, after all. But before the tunnel of intertwined, knotted branches was forged by Arya Stark and nearly everyone else in the Seven Kingdoms, it functioned simply as a statement entrance to the Stuart family’s private manor: Gracehill House. Now, at a cool two-centuries-old, the Dark Hedges has developed quite an occult air.
Cappadocia, Turkey
If you’ve ever opened Instagram, then you know Cappadocia is overflowing with geographically-surreal Turkish fairy chimneys, rolling Anatolian plains, and skies full of colorful hot air balloons. What you might not see as much of, though, are the cave hotels—a rare 21st-century experience for most, and probably the closest you’ll get to staying on what seems like another planet. The atmospheric stone dwellings are etched into the side of Cappadocia’s lunar landscape, and kitted out with both medieval Turkish artifacts and elements of luxe modern design.
Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Truth be told, Saint Basil’s iconic, candy-colored domes weren’t a part of its original design. When it was ordered, and completed in 1560, by Ivan the Terrible (Russia’s OG tsar), it was done up in stark white with gold domes, all to match the nearby Kremlin. It’s brilliant hues were introduced in the 1600s, once the cathedral was already at the center of much urban folklore—including a rumor that Ivan had personally blinded the Italian architect behind the holy spot in order to ensure he would never reproduce his genius design.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand
We owe a hearty thanks to New Zealand’s indigenous Maori people for discovering this North Island gem. Waitomo’s limestone caves are filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and the most magical ones are lit by thousands and thousands of luminescent glow worms. You can see them up close and personal on a psychedelic boat ride underground, along the subterranean Waitomo River, through what’s been dubbed the Glowworm Grotto.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany
Perched on a densely-wooded hill in southwest Bavaria is Neuschwanstein Castle, or the “castle of the fairytale king.” The Romanesque Revival palace—Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s digs—belonged to King Ludwig II, a reclusive monarch whose master plan was to hole up in a fortress of solitude, distancing himself from the public. Unfortunately for our guy Ludwig, his plan never panned out as he passed in 1885 and the castle wasn’t completed until the following year.
