With input from the experts at Unforgettable Travel Company, Forbes recently revealed its list of the world’s most beautiful villages for 2025. The village of Reine was not surprisingly among the top picks, located on Moskenesoya in the Lofoten Islands of Norway, just above the Arctic Circle.
The archipelago is known for its charming fishing villages boasting a backdrop of soaring mountains that reflect the glow of the midnight sun during the summer, providing nearly endless hours of opportunity for outdoor adventure. From September through March, one can often marvel at the northern lights dancing overhead.
What Makes Reine So Magical
With many postcard-perfect villages in the Lofoten Islands, why Reine? This tiny village is known for its bright red rorbuers, or traditional fishing huts, many of which have been converted into rentals for visitors. Perched right along the edge of the fjord, looking out at the jagged mountain peaks, it would be hard to find a more extraordinary setting.
As Forbes notes, hikers can take a panoramic view over it all, from the “knife-edged ridgelines to the mirror-like surface of Reinevatnet” where kayakers ply through the glassy waters for a perspective from below. The trek that ascends the nearly 2,000 Sherpa Stairs of Reinebringen Mountain and guided kayak tours through the fjord are the two most popular activities here. Not only can you enjoy breathtaking views, but while paddling the waters, if you’re lucky, you might find yourself alongside a pod of orcas.
After taking part in any activity, one can enjoy the fresh catch of the day, perhaps in a famous fish burger, followed by a Norwegian dessert like multekrem. Creamy and fluffy, it’s made with a combination of whipped cream, sugar, and the cloudberries you’ll see piled high in wicker baskets, picked from the surrounding hills.
Other Notable Picks
Located north of Scotland between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are famous for their Viking folklore, puffins, and fantasy-like scenery, such as the famous Múlafossur Waterfall that plunges to the Atlantic near Gasadalur Village. Gasadalur on the island of Vagar, also made the list as the publication writes, “it clings to cliffs like a half-remembered legend where turf-roofed homes dot the glacial valley—framed by the towering silhouette of Árnafjall—the highest peak on Vágar.”
Oia village at the northern tip of Santorini, one of the most renowned islands in Greece, was another island village among the publication’s most beautiful. It’s no wonder so many have been drawn here with its vision of whitewashed homes and blue-domed churches cascading down the caldera cliffs while providing the perfect vantage point for taking in a glorious sunset.
