Mountain views, waterfalls and ancient architecture: 16 best European villages for traveling in 2023

To help travelers find unexplored destinations, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the Best Tourism Villages of 2023. These are places where tourism preserves culture and traditions, celebrates diversity, and benefits local people.

This year, 53 villages received the award - 16 of them in Europe - and the winners were announced in October at the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.Euronews told about the winning villages from Europe that received the award.

Ordino, Andorra: traditional stone houses and alpine lakes

With a population of less than 80,000, Andorra is one of the smallest countries in Europe. Sandwiched between France and Spain, high in the Pyrenees Mountains, this tiny country is popular for skiing and duty-free shopping - but it has so much more to offer.

Ordino is a medieval town lined with picturesque townhouses, one of which you can see in the Casa Areny museum. From the alpine lakes of Tristaina and the Sortena National Park - the largest natural area in the country - to Mount Casamagna and the Ordino Arcalis ski resort, there is no shortage of panoramic hiking trails and snow-covered slopes to conquer. Ordino can be reached in one day from Barcelona, Girona or Toulouse, each of which is about three hours away.

St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria: skiing andsensualhiking

High in the Tyrolean Alps, Sankt Anton am Arlberg is the gateway to the Arlberg ski area. And there's no better place to hit the slopes, as the area is known as the "cradle of alpine skiing" thanks to its pioneering role in the invention of the sport. Learn all about it at the St. Anton am Arlberg Museum, which is housed in a wooden ski hut.

When you're tired of snow sports, let your senses be overwhelmed by the WunderWanderWeg. This is a great hiking route that consists of a barefoot trail, an alpine herb trail and an alpine flower trail.

Schladming in central Austria also received the UNWTO award. The former mining town is now known for its world-class ski resorts, beautiful cycling and hiking trails, and refreshing lakes.

Slunj, Croatia: cascading waterfalls and traditional mills

Most tourists head for the Croatian coast of Dalmatia, but head into the mountainous interior and you'll be rewarded with cascading waterfalls and coastal beaches.

The city of Slunj is just a short drive from the famous Plitvice Lakes, but offers its own water spectacle. In Rastock, 23 waterfalls flow into the Korana River, lined with traditional mills. In the summer, you can take a refreshing dip in the water before cycling through the quiet Jelvík forest along the riverbank.

Tokaj, Hungary: Museum of Wine and Tradition

Wine lovers should not miss the historic Hungarian city of Tokaj. It is the center of the Tokaj-Hedjalja wine region and the birthplace of Tokaj wine, the original "noble rot" wine.

This sweet, complex beverage is made from botrytis, a special type of fungus that infects overripe grapes and turns them into shriveled, sugary berries. This process requires weather conditions unique to the region, and the grapes are harvested by hand.

It goes without saying that no visit is complete without wine tasting and a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Wine Museum in Tokai.

Lerici, Italy: underwater "living" laboratory and colorful buildings

Lerici, on the northwest coast of Italy, is dotted with the iconic, colorful buildings for which the Cinque Terre is known. But it is the city's commitment to the blue economy that has earned it UNWTO recognition.

It is home to the Santa Teresa Smart Bay, Italy's first underwater living laboratory. Here, scientists monitor the destructive ocean acidification by observing the growth rates of bryozoans, aquatic invertebrates.

This research will help in their mission to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Gulf and promote sustainable tourism in the region.

Sortelha, Portugal: 13th century castle and wind turbines

From Lisbon to Porto, Portugal has skyrocketed in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years. But the country still has many hidden gems to discover.

Among them is Sortelha, an ancient walled town that has preserved its medieval and Renaissance architecture.

Above its majestic 13th-century castle, rustic granite houses stand as a reminder of times gone by, while wind turbines offer a vision of a sustainable future.

Portugal has received many accolades at the UNWTO Best Tourism Village competition. The surfer's paradise of Ericeira, the green mountain village of Manteigas, and Vila da Madalena on the island of Pico in the Azores also received awards.

Valeni, Moldova: Pelican watching on Lake Belo

Immerse yourself in the world of natural wonders of Moldova in the village of Valeni, in the southwest of the country. This tourist destination has been improving its tourist image since 2014, when the Valeni Eco-Village was created as a base for visitors to explore the area.

Witness flocks of pelicans on their way to the Danube Delta at Lake Bello and explore the Lower Prut Nature Reserve, registered in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Ciguenza, Spain: medieval trainride and fortress castle

Ciguense in central Spain is known for its fortress castle and the Diocesan Museum, which houses famous works of religious art. But in recent years, this living museum of the city has fallen into decline due to depopulation.

Now the mission is to change this by becoming a center for rural development - and tourism is a key element of this mission.

The city encourages weekday travel on its Medieval Train, which runs from Madrid and takes one hour and 20 minutes. Troubadours and knights accompany you on your journey, using music and theater to tell the story of the villages and towns you pass through along the way.

Onyati, a Basque city that is developing smart tourism, and the historic municipality of Cantavieja have also received the UNWTO Best Tourism Village award.

Morcot, Switzerland: greenery and a picturesque lake

Morcote on Lake Lugano, resembling a postcard, is an irresistible place to travel to.Drowning in greenery, the arches of old patrician houses line the shore, welcoming the ferry from Luniano to this protected Swiss village.

The Swiss town of St. Ursanne, with its Romanesque abbey church and medieval houses, also received the Best Tourist Village award.

Shirince, Turkey: car-free streets and vineyards

The city of Širince, whose history dates back to the Hellenistic period, strives to preserve its ancient atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in the narrow streets, so the locals get around on foot or on horseback.

The hilltop town was a Greek village before the Greco-Turkish War. It is located 12 kilometers from the ancient city of Ephesus and is surrounded by vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees.