Maybe it's the snow. Maybe it's the charming chalets. Or maybe it's the mountainous backdrops. Regardless, there is something truly special about visiting an alpine town and the following are some of the world's most inspiring high-elevation destinations.

Lauterbrunnen may only be a short train ride from the ever-popular Swiss town of Interlaken, but it feels many miles away. The town sits in the heart of a sweeping eponymous valley, surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls. The most stunning is Staubbach Falls, which cascades nearly 1,000 feet to the valley floor.

While you could approach Hallstatt, Austria overland, the grandest of entrances await those who arrive via ferry. Yes, you are sure to remember the feeling of gliding across Lake Hallstatt and spotting the village-encircled by placid water and crowned alpine peaks-forever.

The beauty of the Pyrenees is perpetually overlooked, which is craziness considering it's home to alluring places like Arties. Situated in the Aran Valley, this village is filled with fairytale cottages and a church complete with medieval bell tower.

Notre Dame de Bellecombe is a tiny village in the French Alps, known for being a base for skiers during the winter months. You'll also find plenty of rustic chalets and a quintessentially European church complete with arresting onion-style dome.

This storybook fishing village on the island of Moskenesoya in Norway is chock full of colorful fisherman's cottages-many of which have been converted into tourist accommodation. While the village itself sits near sea level, the view from the top of local mountain Reinebringen is the stuff Instagram likes are made of.

The Stiavnica Mountains sprawl across central Slovakia and you'll find the town of Banska Stiavnica nestled square in the middle of the range. The town is filled with colorful buildings that spill up the rolling hills to an atmospheric chateau and dozens of scenic hiking paths.

What would you get if you picked up Venice and moved it to the mountains? Annecy, France, that's what. This Alpine town on the shores of Lake Annecy is crisscrossed with canals and has become a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts who love to explore the surrounding hills.

Zakopane is Poland's premier winter sports destination. During winter, ski and snowboard to your heart's content then hike alpine paths during the summer. While the town is stacked with modern amenities, you will still find plenty of Old World charm in the wooden facades of the Old Town.

This Argentinian town sits on the shores of Lake Lacar-a stone's throw from the lovely Lanin National Park. San Martin de Los Andes is filled with rustic, wooden chalets and may just have you convinced you've been transported from South America to the Swiss Alps.

This tiny farming village lies high in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania and offers a genuine step back in time. Here, you will find traditional wooden residences with haystacks in the front yard and sweeping views of gorgeous rolling hills.

While most travel fantasies of Italy tend to be set in warm weather locales, the mountains in the north of the country are a treasure trove of history and beauty. Case in point is Cortina, which combines ancient architecture with access to some of the best skiing in the country.

Simply put, Chur is one of the most underrated places in all of Switzerland (or Europe for that matter). This sophisticated city sits at the doorstep of the Alps allowing you to travel from hiking trail or ski slope to trendy cafe in a matter of minutes.

Wanaka is just wonderful. This New Zealand town lies on the shores of Lake Wanaka and is ringed by a range of jagged peaks. It is the perfect base for hiking, skiing and exploring the otherworldly Kiwi landscapes-with fewer crowds than nearby Queenstown.

If you were asked to come up with a vision for what an ideal mountain village would look like, it would likely resemble Alpbach. Here, you'll find chalets festooned with flowery balconies and a traditional church complete with a bulbous dome.

Shirakawa-go, Japan is home to dozens of uniquely-designed, triangular chalets that are said to resemble praying hands. These structures are specially-suited for shrugging off the heavy snows that fall here each year, which transform the town into a winter wonderland.

Mittenwald is located in the heart of the Bavarian Alps and it is the perfect place to rest while touring this especially romantic part of Germany. Dine al fresco on the main street while admiring the frescoes painted on the local buildings and sipping a frothy local wheat beer.

Morzine lives in a magnificent neighborhood. The village calls both Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc neighbors and while it has evolved into a state-of-the-art modern skiing mecca, it's still quaint enough to have a weekly market and is home to a host of historic buildings.

It never hurts to have a castle. Balzers is definitely tiny Liechtenstein's most beautiful town and that has everything to do with Gutenberg Castle. No trip here is complete with a visit to this regal residence, which is nearly as memorable as the mountain scenery.

Hidden among the forests of Northwest Italy you will find the almost-secret Aosta Valley. Aosta is the main town of the region and its cobblestoned streets and romantic churches are the perfect places to recharge after exploring the surrounding hills.

Bansko is a budget-friendly skiing destination but this Bulgarian town has more than enough alpine charm to entertain non-skiers as well. Walk along the historic streets of the Old Town or take a ski lift deep into the Pirin mountains for excellent hiking expeditions.

Guarda sits high in the Swiss Alps and since it faces south, it's often bathed in sunshine. The town is so idyllic that it was chosen as the setting for a classic Swiss children's book, and today visitors are able to re-trace the steps of the characters.

Home to front-row views of the gorgeous Grand Canyon du Verdon, Rougon is as romantic as French villages get. The town is home to a crumbling medieval castle and streets lined with faded-stone buildings. While snow may be fairly rare in this area of France, Rougon still manages to feel like an alpine dream.

Ramsau has always been associated with the surrounding mountains and in 2015 it was officially recognized as "Bavaria's first mountaineering village." Located in the heart of the village, St. Sebastian church might just own the most scenic position of any in Germany.

Andorra may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it packs plenty of scenic punch. Ordino is the epitome of enchanting as you will find stone buildings with flower-strewn balconies and a beautiful bell tower in the town proper and mountain huts on the outskirts.

Those with a passion for playing in the mountains have been flocking to Vent for centuries. The tiny town sits in the stratosphere of the Tyrolean Alps and is home to the highest constantly inhibited farms in the entire country. Venture on the panoramic high-altitude trail for views that will leave you breathless.