5 fairytale towns in North America that feel like Europe

Dreaming of storybook towns paved with cobblestones, leafy squares bordered by decades-old, legendary cafes and, why not a fairytale castle on a hill?

Chances are you’re probably looking at tickets to fly to Europe again. After all, that’s what the Old Continent is known for, and there’s nowhere else in the world you could find that, right? Well… you checked in your own side of the pond?

It turns out you don’t have to fly 8 to 11 hours to experience some of that historic charm, because there are 5 North American cities that look precisely Just like Europe, as they were built by Europeans, and rest assured, they are just as stunning as the ‘real deal’:

Québec City

The textbook example of a North American city that could easily belong somewhere in castle-minded Europe, Quebec City is a gem in French Colonial monumental castle To top it off.

The most prominent feature in the city’s timeless skyline, Château Frontenac is in fact a luxury hotel that opened in 1893, and it is heavily inspired by Renaissance castles– For the history buffs out there, it also hosted an important meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt during World War II.

Other must-sees around ‘old Quebec’ include the city walls, a rare example of a colonial fortification that has not been completely dismantled, and the romantic, lamp-lit Rue du Petit Champlaina street lined with craft shops and boulangeries Serving fresh-out-of-the-oven butter croissants and pastries.

Valladolid

A city-ready Spanish-era city of Spanish tucked away in the Yucatanian heart of Mexico, miles from the shores of tourists, Valladolid is everything you’d hope a Townscape from the 16th century to…and then some.

In the town square you will find an imposing Cathedral of San Gervasio, built in ocher stone with an ornate Baroque facade. Not far from the church there is an equally impressive monastery/temple of San Bernardino de Siena, built all the way back in 1552 by the Franciscan order.

If you want to see something truly uniqueHowever, make sure you hike up Calzada de los Frailesa historic cobbled thoroughfare flanked by colorful houses dating back centuries. About that comment, don’t miss it Casa de los Venadosthe best preserved colonial mansion in historic Valladolid.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Who said you have to grab a passport and fly abroad to experience some of that European-esque old world charm? A short 3 to 4 hour flight from most east coast hubs will take you straight to San Juan, Puerto Rico’s vibrant capital:

Clothed by Spanish colonizers during the Age of Discoveries, it retains much of its traditional Iberian character, including the warm-toned house facades, the stone-covered streets That led to secrecy squaresand even coastal walls that previously protected the colony from pirate invasions.

There is the entrance to San Juan Bay guarded and a 16th century San Felipe del Morro castle in San Felipe, while the Santa Catalina Palace is the oldest governor’s mansion still used in the Americas, and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista was raised one of the eldest on this side of the pond.

Charleston, SC

Now we understand if you don’t fly overseas for European aesthetics and beautiful architecture. In that case, there’s always the highly overlooked, but undoubtedly enticing Charleston, in South Carolina: founded in 1670, it One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in America.

Imagine an 18th-century church, St. Michael’s, attended by none other than George Washington, the Old Exchange, built by the British as a customs house, and the Rainbow Bow, a series of pastel-hue townhouses that immediately evoke a back street in London’s Notting Hill.

For the history buffs out there, you should probably know that the 1772 Heyward-Washington House is one of the best-known examples of Georgian-era homes in Charleston. Luckily for us, it is now open as a museum, completely furnished with historical pieces.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

We’re heading back north of the border for this one. We’re sure you’ve heard of Quebec City, but what about Lunenburg, the most valuable gem in the Nova Scotia Crown? We mean… you won’t find nearly intact colonial settlements left Almost exactly as the British left them.

Old town Lunenberg and the brightly painted house skins are one UNESCO World Heritagein recognition of their enviable state of conservation and preserved heritage, and there’s no better way to see it in full than, you know, randomly walking around.

That said, the Anglican Church of St. John is a good place to start, with its Gothic revival portal and starry ceiling; Or perhaps you’d rather check out the Knaut-Rhuland House, built by one of the city’s founding fathers—and might we add, Coffee Lovers No.’s paradise bar. 9 a short 2 minutes. walk.