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Huffington Post has a list of their top 10 cool little towns in Europe, with lots of photos and info about each.

Here’s a sampling:

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER, GERMANY

Germany’s so-called Romantic Road — which slices north to south through the southern German state of Bavaria — earned its name for its string of stunning castles. But most of the region’s bastions are stand-alone tourist attractions, not thriving municipalities. A charming exception is Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a red-walled town set up on a hill above the Tauber River. It has all the pastoral views and scenery of the Romantic Road’s other castle stops yet has a strong civic pulse, too. Walt Disney was so taken by the town, in fact, that he used it as inspiration for the village in the movie Pinocchio. An earthquake destroyed the castle’s main tower in 1356, but the town’s red-roofed medieval and Renaissance houses have endured for centuries and were fully restored after World War II. Visitors can tour the castle’s stone towers — protected beneath covered walkways — and stop by its base, where crafts shops sell everything from antique clocks to handmade garden gnomes. Cuisine is celebrated here in a way it isn’t in larger German cities like Frankfurt or Berlin, let alone in castle canteens elsewhere. You may come here for the shining armor — but you’ll return for the delicious renditions of Bavarian comfort foods (more spätzle, anyone?).

How to Get There: The closest major tourist city to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is Munich, which sits about 130 miles southeast. Train service runs between the two cities and takes about three hours (tickets from $67). You can also drive: The A7 autobahn runs right past town.

This one sounds fabulous! Photo above. I think it would top my list:

BIBURY, ENGLAND

Located on the River Coln in hilly west-central England, Bibury was described by 19th-century artist-writer William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England” — which is saying something in a country known for its watercolor views. Honey-colored 17th-century stone cottages, the Saxon Church of St. Mary, and a still-working 1902 trout farm are some of the ancient village’s must-sees. The most photographed spot is Arlington Row, a collection of 14th-century stone buildings that were converted into weavers’ cottages in the 1600s.

How to Get There: The closest train station to Bibury is 12 miles away, in Kemble. Multiple trains make the 80-minute journey from London’s Paddington Station (nationalrail.co.uk, round trip from $57). Cirencester, seven miles away, is linked to London by daily buses (nationalexpress.com, round trip from $30). There is no public transport directly to Bibury, but taxis are available and local hotels will often arrange transport for guests.

For the entire list, see the article here: Huffington Post. For the slideshow, see it here Slideshow.

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Photo credit: Saffron Blaze – Wiki Commons