12 Most Beautiful Lakeside Towns and Villages (7 of 7)

Hallstatt, Austria

While Lake Hallstatt is worth visiting in its own right, the main reason tourists flock to the area is for the town of Hallstatt itself. It’s dotted with colorful 16th-century timber houses and features stone cobbled streets that twist and turn as you make your way through the town. Make sure to hop on the funicular to reach Skywalk Hallstatt, where you can catch the panoramic views of the lake and mountains.

Sigtuna, Sweden

Founded more than a thousand years ago, Sigtuna is the oldest town in Sweden. Accounts of its early history can be found in the Norse Sagas. Located on the banks of Lake Mälaren, the medieval center is worth your time.