European Best Destinations 2026 fairy‑tale travel list features Italy, Germany and France

European Best Destinations has published its 2026 ranking of 17 European sites described as fairy‑tale destinations. The list was compiled from expert selections and votes by travelers, narrowed from more than 4,200 candidates to a shortlist of 68 and then to the final 17.

Italy appears twice: the Renaissance garden of the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo in Lazio secures the 11th spot, while the cliff‑side sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola in Tropea, Calabria ranks 16th. The top three positions are held by Germany’s Castle Eltz, France’s Mont‑Saint‑Michel and Spain’s Tossa de Mar.

New entrants this year are Riga in Latvia and Craiova in Romania, each making their first appearance. Other locations highlighted include the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland, Lake Bled in Slovenia, Popeye Village in Malta, Prague in the Czech Republic, and Sintra in Portugal, among others.