18 storybook landscapes that will transport you to a fairy tale

Sitting at your desk and dreaming of distant lands? We don't blame you – making travel plans is the perfect antidote to January blues, after all.

If you're wishing for a magical holiday, check out these real life destinations that look like they belong in a fairy tale...

Shirakawago, Japan

Shirakawago, a village in the mountainous Chubu region of central Japan, is famed for its unique thatched houses.

Schloss Lichtenstein, Germany

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany. Credit: Dreamstime / Freesurf69

Perched on a rocky outcrop, the romantic Schloss Lichtenstein is located in southern Germany. The name of the castle means "shining stone" or "bright stone".

Saksun, the Faroe Islands

Saksun, Faroe Islands. Credit: iStock / miroslav_1

Sheltered by mountains and overlooking a fjord, the remote village of Saksun is made up of an idyllic clutch of turf-roofed houses.

Bled, Slovenia

With its placid lake, island church, clifftop castle and girdle of grey mountains, Bled is an icon of Slovenia.

Château de Chenonceau, France

Chenonceau, stretching romantically across the Cher river, is considered by many to be the loveliest of the Loire châteaux.

Corvin Castle, Romania

One of the largest castles in Europe, Corvin Castle (also known as Hunyadi Castle) pierces the sky with its red turrets.

Giardini di Ninfa, Italy

Not far from Rome, wisteria cascade over the crumbling ruins of the medieval town of Ninfa in Lazio, Italy.

Schloss Schwerin, Germany

Situated on an island and surrounded by a lake, Schwerin Castle was once the home of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Château de Chambord, France

Featuring elegant turrets, splendid gardens and a surrounding moat, Château de Chambord is the Loire's largest residence.

Cochem, Germany

The half-timbered town of Cochem on the Mosel river in Rhineland-Palatinate is crowned by a turreted medieval-style castle.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Remarkable conical rock outcrops, called peri bacaları (fairy chimneys), are the most famous and characteristic feature of the Cappadoica region.

Rakotzbrücke, Germany

The stunning Rakotzbrücke in Rhododendronpark Kromlau produces an almost perfect circle with its reflection in the water.

Nara Park, Japan

The cultural heart of the Japanese city of Nara, Nara Park is roamed by 1,300 tame deer which are regarded as messengers of the gods.

Riquewihr, France

Vineyards run right up to the ramparts of Riquewihr, the prettiest village on the French Route des Vins.

Fisherman's Bastion, Hungary

Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest, Hungary. Credit: iStock / Vladislav Zolotov

Perched on the edge of Castle Hill in Budapest, the ethereal Fisherman's Bastion twists effortlessly up into the sky.

Fairy Glen, Scotland

The strange and mysterious Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye feels otherworldly with its grassy hills and shimmering lochans (ponds).

Mont Saint-Michel, France

Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France. Credit: iStock / bluejayphoto

Wreathed in mist and surrounded by water, Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most extraordinary sights on the French coast.

Schloss Romrod, Germany

Schloss Romrod is located in the hilly, wooded landscape of Hesse, a quintessentially German region straight from the pages of a storybook – no surprise it nurtured the careers of the Brothers Grimm.