The World’s Most scenic Villages In 2021 Are Named
40 beautiful and distinctive villages have been compared in terms of popularity on social media. The ranking was compiled by the British company Uswitch. Russians need a visa to visit most of the places in the ranking. We tell you which villages made it into the top 10 and how you can visit them without a visa.
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Travelling to the countryside has been a trend for the past two years. People go there to experience life in the countryside, to admire nature, and the old buildings. In many villages, traditions are honoured, remembered and respected, and the locals organize themed holidays for guests.
Entry to many countries is still closed due to the pandemic. But some of the states have opened their borders: Greece, for example, is fully accessible to tourists, while Portugal has only allowed foreigners to come on holiday to the island of Madeira.
The most beautiful villages to visit
10. Fu as, Portugal
The country is partially open to Russians
Visa required
Fu as is a small village on the island of San Miguel, part of the Azores archipelago. The village lies inside a giant volcanic crater. It has many geothermal pools, hot springs and steam wells. Some tourists call Fu as a place of peace and tranquillity.
According to the World Travel Guide, Fu as is one of the top five places in the world to see various volcanic activities, such as fumaroles
9. Tobermory, UK
The country is open to Russians
Visa required
The village of Tobermory is situated in a secluded bay in the north-east of the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The colourful houses of the main street and harbour were built in the 18th century. They now house hotels, museums, galleries, shops and pubs.
Tourists come to Tobermory to enjoy the scenery and boat trips. If you’re lucky, you might spot golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, otters, whales and dolphins.
The village of Tobermory is situated on the small Scottish island of Mull in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean
8. Shirakawa Go, Japan
The country is closed to Russians
Visa required
Shirakawa Go was cut off from the rest of Japan for a long time. This is why the village houses — wooden buildings with steep thatched roofs — have survived to this day. Such buildings are not found anywhere else.
In spring, locals and tourists gather in the village to watch the cherry blossoms bloom, and in winter for the beautiful snowfall. Shirakawa Go is one of the snowiest places in Japan.
A winter tale in the Japanese village of Shirakawa Go
7. Ve azza, Italy
The country is closed to Russians
Visa required
The village of Ve azza offers tourists a traditional Mediterranean-style holiday with a pleasant climate, clean beaches and fragrant local cuisine.
Ve azza is located in the Cinque Terre National Park. The village cannot be traversed by car and is therefore an ideal place for walks and intimate conversations.
Ve azza is a vibrant Italian village. The rocky coastline is home to restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops. The ancient churches and castles are open to tourists
6. Wanaka, New Zealand
The country is closed to Russians
Visa required
Wanaka is a popular ski resort in Otago on New Zealand’s South Island. Nearby is the lake of the same name and Mount Aspiring National Park.
A popular attraction in Wanaka Village is bungee jumping. Visitors can also take a helicopter ride and enjoy the local scenery and spectacular mountain views.
Lake Wanaka. Walking paths, benches and toilets along the lake
5. Mission Beach, Australia
The country is closed to Russians
Visa required
Mission Beach is a coastal village in Queensland. In September, the local beach hosts an annual festival of casuars, large flightless birds that inhabit the rainforests of New Guinearnand Australia. The festival was created to let the world know about the unique nature of the region.
Tourists choose Mission Beach for beach holidays, hiking, biking and skydiving. Accommodation is available on the beach, with a wide range of cheap campsites and beach hotels in Mission Beach.
East of Mission Beach offers spectacular views of the Coral Sea
4. Hallstatt, Austria
The country is open to Russians
Visa required
The most picturesque views of the Alpine mountains in Austria are near the village of Hallstatt. It is situated near the lake of the same name and centuries-old glaciers. The village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourists can take a hike in the mountains on their own or with a guide, take a boat ride on the lake, or simply stroll through the cosy local streets.
The town from the famous Austrian postcard. The mountains can be reached by cable car, a journey that takes fifteen minutes
3. Goreme, Turkey
The country is open to Russians
No visa required
Goreme is like an oriental fairytale. The houses are built right inside the mountains. The houses are shaped like palaces from the Aladdin cartoon, according to some travellers. There are craft markets, shops and cafes in the streets of the village.
Next to the village is the National Park, the most popular attraction in the region. The park contains cave monasteries and outbuildings from the 10th and 11th centuries. Hot air balloon rides at dawn are also popular in Goreme.
Evening in the village of Goreme, Turkey
2. Halong village, Vietnam
The country is open to Russians
Visa required
Halong is a small village on the northern coast of Vietnam. Nearby is the bay of the same name, which is known for its bizarrely shaped islands.
The name of the village means the place "where the dragon descended into the sea". The name comes from a local legend about the origin of the cove. In the old days, the Vietnamese fought against the Chinese. To support the locals, the gods sent dragons. They created islands in the bay that blocked the way for the Chinese warriors.
Tourists can visit the floating fishing village located in Halong Bay and buy a ticket for a trip on a junk, a traditional sailing boat
1. Oia, Greece
The country is open to Russians
Visa required
The village of Oia is built on the slopes of the volcanic island of Santorini. If tourists arrive in Ia via the old port, they can go up to the village on a donkey. The cost of such a trip is about €5.
Many houses in Oia are built inside the cliffs and have a stepped floor plan. The buildings are painted in the traditional colours of the Greek flag, white and blue.
Tourists stay in Oia until evening to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea
How to travel around the world without a visa
Get a second citizenship. In order to travel freely around the world and explore new cities and villages, cosmopolitans obtain a second passport. The standard route to another country’s citizenship is naturalisation. This requires many years of residence in the chosen country, then passing a language and history test. Obtaining a passport can take up to 20 years.
Some countries offer a quicker route to second citizenship by investing in the state’s economy. This option exists in Malta, Turkey, five Caribbean countries and Vanuatu.
Malta
€690,000+
Turkey
$400,000+
Antigua & Barbuda
$100,000+
Dominica
$100,000+
St. Lucia
$100,000+
St. Kitts & Nevis
$250,000+
Grenada
$150,000+
Vanuatu
$130,000+
Obtain a Schengen residence permit to travel within the region. The residence permit and the residence permit allow you to visit other countries of the agreement freely and to stay in them for 90 days within a six-month period.
Who ranked it and how
Uswitch is a UK-based price comparison service for energy, personal finance, insurance and communications products and services.
The service has compiled a list of small settlements that, according to the National Geographic Society — National Geographic — qualify as villages. They are home to between 500 and 2,500 people. Uswitch then studied the list and chose 40 of the most beautiful places in different regions of the world.
To compile the top 10 villages, the service calculated the number of mentions of the villages on Instagram and Pinterest social media.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent that helps you get citizenship or residency by investment in European and Caribbean countries. If you want to travel around the world without visas, seek advice from investment programme experts.
