Europe's 9 Most Picturesque Towns

From the islands of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Alps, Europe's postcard-perfect towns continue to inspire travelers with distinct architecture preserved from 100 to 1,000 years ago. In addition to graceful preservation, one thread that connects many of these small cities and villages is limited automobile traffic, so part of their charm is best experienced by biking through the town square, strolling the cobblestone streets, or riding a boat along the canals. TIP: Many of these locations are extremely popular for day trips, so consider an overnight stay for a more intimate experience.

Known as the "Venice of the North," Brugge is one of the most beautiful small cities in Europe. Strolling through the maze of winding, cobbled alleys, alongside the winding canals and over the romantic bridges, it's easy to see why UNESCO included the entire medieval city center on its World Heritage list.

Holland's most attractive town feels like a tiny Amsterdam, with canals, cobblestone streets, and the air of a simpler time. You can recognize the quiet atmosphere that pervades many of the paintings by Delft's most famous citizen, Johannes Vermeer.

The most perfectly perched of the French Riviera's villages perchés, Èze has some of the most breathtaking views this side of a NASA space capsule.

This laid-back yet elegant town is surrounded by tree-bedecked 16th-century ramparts that are now a delightful promenade. With limited automobile traffic within the city walls, Lucca is an ideal place for getting around by bike.

A Noah's Ark village pasted 5,400 feet up a mountainside, Mürren offers a so-close-you-can-touch-it vista of the Jungfrau and the Eiger. This was the birthplace of downhill and slalom skiing, and it remains a great place to hit the slopes.

Backbackers and jet-setters alike share the beautiful beaches and the Dionysian nightlife, but the old ways of life continue undisturbed along mazelike streets of Mykonos Town. Not only are the hotels and cafés picture-perfect, the famous windmills actually seem to be posing for your camera.

Germany's classic medieval town seems almost too perfect to be true, with its towers, fountains, half-timber architecture, and explosions of flowers. An economic downturn resulting from the 30 Years' War had the beneficial effect of preserving the town in time.

"A glorious Eden" is how Lord Byron described Sintra, a town west of Lisbon that served as a retreat for Portugese royalty. It's a magical place studded with magnificent palaces, gardens, and luxury quintas (manor houses). UNESCO has deemed the entire town a Word Heritage Site in recognition of its splendid architecture.