26 Real-World Places So Magical They Belong in a Fantasy Film

23. Pamukkale, Turkey: The Cotton Castle

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a cascade of gleaming white travertine terraces filled with sky-blue mineral water. Formed over thousands of years, this natural wonder looks like a frozen waterfall or a crystalline staircase to the clouds. Visitors can walk barefoot through the warm pools, soaking in healing waters while surrounded by ancient ruins—like the nearby Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis. As the sun sets, the terraces glow gold and pink, creating a scene so surreal it could belong in a dreamscape.