10 Fairy-Tale Destinations in Germany You Won't Want To Miss

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous of all of the Brothers Grimm’s folktales, so the story’s setting, the Bavarian village of Oberammergau, is the ideal place to begin a tour of fairy-tale places in Germany. Your first stop should be the Hansel and Gretel House, which is adorned with colorful frescoes that depict scenes from the fairy tale. (Spoiler alert: It’s not actually made of candy and gingerbread!) Afterwards, leave yourself time to admire the traditional German architecture found throughout the town; buildings feature unique frescoes and wood-carved facades crafted by local artisans.

If Neuschwanstein Castle looks familiar, you can thank Disney—this magnificent mountaintop landmark served as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in the 1959 movie. The 19th-century masterpiece also has its own storied history: It was built by Bavaria’s “Mad King” or “Swan King,” Ludwig II. A guided tour lets you peek inside the lavish rooms and enjoy views across the surrounding peaks. This site sees about 1.4 million visitors every year, so it’s worth booking skip-the-line tickets to make sure you get access. You can also combine your visit with stops at nearby spots such as Linderhof Castle and Oberammergau.

If you want to visit the romantic villages in Germany, what could be better than an entire road devoted to just those kinds of spots? The long and winding Romantic Road is a 220-mile (355-kilometer) route from Füssen, in the Bavarian Alps, to Wurzburg, which is situated amid Franconian vineyards. You can see all the sights on a slow road trip with your love or take in the highlights on a day tour from Munich or Frankfurt that stops at scenic viewpoints, riverside castles, and traditional German towns with cobblestone streets and half-timbered buildings.

Boasting almost 70 castles and peppered with pretty medieval towns, Germany’s Castle Road is one of the oldest and best-known sightseeing routes in the country. The route makes for an epic road trip covering about 485 miles (780 kilometers), starting in Mannheim in southwest Germany and continuing all the way to Prague in the Czech Republic. The castles you’ll see along the way come in all shapes and sizes, from imposing medieval strongholds to hidden gems in the German countryside. Highlights include Heidelberg Castle, Nuremberg Castle, and Bayreuth Castle.

The German Fairy Tale Route brings many popular fairy tales to life. Stretching for 373 miles (600 kilometers) from Hanau to Bremen, the scenic drive comprises thick forests, medieval castles, and other notable landmarks such as the Brothers Grimm Museum in Steinau and the rat-catcher’s house in Hamlin, where the Pied Piper lived. Visit Trendelburg Castle, where Rapunzel let down her long hair, and Sababurg Castle, also known as the castle of Sleeping Beauty.

While this town is part of the Fairy Tale Route (described above), the picturesque German town of Bad Wildungen deserves its own shout-out. This quirky spa town not only boasts eighteen natural springs and lush landscapes—Kellerwald Forest and Edersee Lake are right on its doorstep—but is also famous as the home of the fictional character Snow White. The Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale was based on the 16th-century legend of Margaretha von Waldeck, who is said to have died of poisoning in Friedrichstein Palace, which is located on the outskirts of town. Best avoid any offers of apples while you’re here, just in case.

The land of traditional wooden cuckoo clocks, decadent chocolate and cherry gateau, and idyllic German market towns, the Black Forest region sprawls across Germany’s southwest border with France and Switzerland. While in the area, and you can visit scenic German villages like the spa towns of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, and Bad Wildbad; relax by the water at Lake Titisee; or go hiking, mountain biking, or cross-country skiing along forested trails, all while admiring the landscapes that inspired the Brothers Grimm.

If there were an award for Germany’s most beautiful small towns, Rothenburg ob der Tauber would likely snag the top spot. It’s also the most visited of all the fairy-tale towns along the Romantic Road. Steep cobblestone lanes, brightly painted half-timbered buildings, and remarkably preserved medieval city walls all add to the town’s atmosphere; wander the streets or take a walking tour of the old town, and you’ll find plenty of photo opportunities. Rothenburg can get crowded, especially during winter, when it hosts a famous Christmas Market. But the views are worth braving the crowds for; Disney’s artists thought so, too—Rothenburg was the inspiration for the setting of the 1940 film Pinocchio.

Related: 10 Fairy-Tale Towns in France You Need To See To Believe

Germany’s medieval castles and storybook towns might draw the biggest crowds, but fairy-tale vistas await in the country’s natural wonderlands, too. To escape the crowds, take a hike in the mountainous Saxon Switzerland National Park where you can explore the rugged and rocky peaks of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. If your goal is to capture stunning photos, you can opt for the spectacularly situated Bastei Bridge or take a cruise through the Kamenice Gorge. And if you’re visiting during the snowy season, the region is even more magical on a winter tour.

Of all the towns in Germany that look like settings for fairy tales, Tüchersfeld is the one that you’re least likely to have heard of. Tucked away in the Püttlach valley, between Nuremberg and Bayreuth, this tiny village is known for its cute-as-a-button timber-framed houses and the stunning sight of a pair of knobbly cliffs that tower right over the buildings. With just a handful of streets to wander, a small church, and a single restaurant, there’s little to do in the village itself, but it’s well worth a stop to take photos if you’re passing through the area.