11. Bavaria, Germany

Bavaria is Germany’s largest federal state. Here you will find everything you need for a fairytale setting including quaint towns, breathtaking castles, and snow-capped mountain tops. In fact, Bavaria’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle was actually the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella castle.

This castle is not only impressive but it is ensconced at the very foot of the stunning Alps. Looking for more scenic magic? Take a little road trip on Germany’s popular Romantic Road. Stop and see Wurzburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber too.

Zhangjiajie is a city located in the northwestern section of China’s Hunan province. The many pinnacles of sandstone rock go on for miles here making the landscape look like little else on Earth. Indeed, the scenery is so out of this world that the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the fictional landscape in the film Avatar. The unique Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was deemed an official AAAAA scenic area by the CNTA (China National Tourism Administration) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

See a true fairytale destination. Visit the famous shire. Here you will find one of the now famous sets for the popular The Hobbit movie series and Lord of the Rings film trilogy. This popular Tolkien tourism destination is located on a family farm approximately eight kilometers (five miles) west of the Hinuera settlement and 10 kilometers (over six miles) southwest of the town of Matamata. Tour the hobbit-sized village. Visit Bilbo Baggins’ home and enjoy a pint of ale at the famous Green Dragon.

Cappadocia is more than just a historical area in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is also the land of odd, interesting rock formations and whimsical fairytale chimneys too. This particular region is truly unique. Veteran visitors confirm that the local landforms are so uncommon that you just might not believe they are real unless you travel there and see them for yourself. If you enjoy visiting lands that make you think you’ve traveled to another planet take a magical balloon ride over Cappadocia.

Located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the quaint town of Mostar appears to have been lifted from the pages of a children’s storybook. Known locally for its cultural import, one of the highlights of this place is the town’s centerpiece, the old bridge known as Stari Most. It crosses the picture-perfect Neretva River. Explore the numerous cobblestoned streets here, and see all the ancient stone buildings. Browse the many cute cafes and visit the nearby village of Goranci as well.

Enter the land of the giants. Yes, this is a true fairytale destination. The Giant’s Causeway is located in County Antrim in Ireland, almost three miles northeast of the village of Bushmills.
This storybook spot is actually a stretch of northern coastline that features approximately 40,000 perfectly formed hexagonal interlocking basalt columns, all grouped together at the edge of the water. This unusual place is actually the result of volcanic activity that occurred eons ago although the locals claim it was constructed by the famous Irish giant Finn MacCool.

Also known as Druk Yul, Bhutan is sometimes called the Land of the Thunder Dragon. It’s named that due to the major, violent Himalayan thunderstorms that occur there. The light caused by the thunderbolts were once thought to be the scarlet fire of a thunder dragon.

Need more fairytale features? Check out the quiet, little villages and the impressive, towering mountains there. Explore the olden fortresses and the Eagle’s Nest monastery thus named because of its position precariously perched on a cliffside.

Some travel critics call Cesky Krumlov “the ultimate fairytale village.” This small town found in the South Bohemian Region magically escaped bombings during the Second Wolrd War. The ancient architecture here, centered ‘round the well-known Cesky Krumlov Castle, was listed as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992 along with the Prague castle district. See the bears that guard the castle. Stroll along the olden, narrow streets and take in all the ancient architecture.

The ancient city of Bagan is situated in the country’s tropical Mandalay Region. Known today as a “mystical land of temples”, it was the capital of the official Pagan Kingdom from the ninth century to some time in the 13th century. Once the home of more than 10,000 monasteries, pagodas, and Buddhist temples, you will still find over 2,200 of them dotting the misty landscape there today. See them by bike, bus or even hot air balloon.

Some say that the famous Isle of Skye is “the ultimate fairytale destination.” After all, where else in the world can you drop by the Fairy Pools or hike through the Fairy Glen? You can also tour Dunvegan Castle and visit the Old Man of Storr. If you need more magic just hop into your rental car and take a short drive to the remarkable Eilean Donan Castle too.

If you are visiting Dresden or Berlin, and you’re in the mood for a storybook day trip, then Rakotzbrücke is the place to go. Situated in Saxony, this picturesque bridge looks just like something from a fairy tale. It was opened in 1860 and was built entirely by hand. Also known as the Devil’s Bridge, it is ensconced in a lovely little park where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.