Unreal Places · Five countries · Series
5 more places that look edited but are real
These five places in Europe look edited, and every one is real: a fortified village on a rock in the sea, a mountain lake under a wall of stone, a church on an island, a peak shaped like a pyramid, and a river that falls down a staircase of cascades. All five are easy to reach by car or train.
The places in this film
- 1
Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
A fifteenth-century village on a small island joined to the shore by a causeway. The island is a hotel, and the beach and the viewpoints above the road are public.
- 2
Lago di Braies, Italy
A lake in the Dolomites at almost 1,500 metres with a wooden boathouse. In peak summer the road is restricted in the daytime, so go early or late.
- 3
Lake Bled, Slovenia
A church on the only natural island in Slovenia, reached by a wooden boat called a pletna. A castle stands on the cliff above the lake.
- 4
Matterhorn, Switzerland
A 4,478-metre peak above Zermatt, a village without cars. Small lakes above the village reflect it on a still morning.
- 5
Krka, Croatia
A river that drops over travertine cascades, with boardwalks around the largest falls. Swimming at the main falls is no longer allowed.
Tour links are partner links. They cost you nothing and help keep the guides free. How this works.
Plan it
- Best time
- June to September for the mountain stops. May, June and September for the coast and for Krka, when the water is high and the paths are less crowded.
- How long
- Each is a half-day to two days on the ground, as part of a longer trip.
- Getting around
- All five are on roads, and Zermatt and Bled are also reached by train and bus. Zermatt itself is car-free, with parking in the next village.
Good to know
- Still water gives the reflections. Go at sunrise, before the wind picks up.
- Check summer access rules for Lago di Braies before driving up.
- Sveti Stefan is best photographed from the road above, in the morning light.
Frequently asked
Can you go onto Sveti Stefan island? +
Only as a guest of the hotel that occupies the island, or on a guided visit when the resort offers one. The beach beside the causeway is public, and the viewpoints on the coast road above are free.
How do you get to the island on Lake Bled? +
By boat. Traditional wooden pletna boats, rowed standing up, leave from several points around the shore. You can also hire a rowing boat and row yourself. There is no bridge, and swimming across is allowed in the summer months.
Can you swim at Krka waterfalls? +
Not at the main falls. Swimming at Skradinski Buk has been banned since 2021 to protect the travertine. A few other marked spots in the national park still allow swimming during the summer season.
