What makes a perfect fairytale castle? It all comes down to the details: elements like a magnificent collection of turrets, an asymmetrical facade and an ornate gateway, according to Oliver’s Travels , and it certainly helps if the castle is tall and situated in a unique or remote location. To crown the world’s most fairytale castles (and there are a lot: Germany alone has 25,000 castles and palaces), the luxury villa provider took all of these architectural and locational details into account when ranking the world’s most fairytale castles.

“Fairytales capture our imagination from childhood and as adults we can relive that enchantment by exploring castles and palaces,” says Oliver Bell, co-founder of Oliver’s Travels, which offers 200 castles and chateaus for rent.

The perfect castle, he says, combines awe-inspiring architecture with the whimsical elements of fairy tales, creating a nostalgic experience. “It’s a place where visitors can admire the intricate turrets, ornate entrances and winding paths, and imagine themselves as the protagonist of their favorite fairy tale,” he says.

Ideally situated in a unique location, such as a rugged hill or a remote island, the very best castles enhance the sense of wonder and fantasy, says Bell. Many of the castles that look like they’ve come straight out of a fairytale are open to the public to tour, visit and photograph.

To create the “fairytale formula”, the Oliver’s Travel team considered common elements often found in castles and palaces from folklore. Five of the castles achieved a perfect score with their tall and pointed turrets, asymmetrical facade and fascinating locations.

These are the 5 most fairytale castles in the world, according to Oliver’s Travel’s 2024 report.

Hochosterwitz Castle in Austria

With its imposing presence on a 525-root rock in Carinthia, Hochosterwitz Castle is the epitome of a fairytale castle, Bell points out, so much so that it is said to have been the inspiration for “Snow White.” Visitors can dine at the on-site restaurant or take a tour of the castle’s medieval museum.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

With a limestone facade and blue turrets, Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle is believed by some to have been the muse for “Cinderella” and the “Sleeping Beauty” castle at Disneyland in Anaheim. About 1.4 million people visit the castle each year.

“It is impressively situated on a rugged hillside overlooking the Alpsee lake, making it look like it has come straight out of a fairytale book,” says Bell.

Mont Saint-Michel in France

Mont Saint-Michel is a “perfect example of a fairytale castle,” says Bell. It sits in a bay shared by Normandy and Brittany and is surrounded by tidal flats. The holy island and bay are a former Christian pilgrimage site and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“When it is surrounded by the sea at high tide, the atmosphere is both magical and mysterious,” he says.

Some think that Mont Saint-Michel was the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s “Tangled”.

Hohenzollern Castle in Germany

“It is often referred to as the ‘castle in the clouds’ and its high mountain location means it is surrounded by the Black Forest mountain mist, making it the ultimate fairytale castle,” Bell said.

The castle in Swabia, Germany, is another popular castle destination for European travelers. About 300,000 people come to see behind the ramparts each year. A floor-to-ceiling mural in the hallway depicts the family tree of one of Europe’s most powerful ruling families, according to Britannica.

Lichtenstein Castle in Germany

Located on Germany’s 600-kilometer Fairy Tale Route, the neo-Gothic Lichtenstein Castle was built on a cliff in the 19th century and features the pointed arches, narrow spires and ornate details typical of a fairy tale castle, Bell says.

“Its precarious and dramatic setting reinforces the sense that it belongs in a fairy tale book,” he says.