23 Places Where Cruises Dock Right Into a Fairytale Village

16. Giethoorn, Netherlands: The Village with No Roads

Dubbed the "Venice of the North," Giethoorn offers a unique fairytale experience. Primarily accessible via river cruise extensions or day trips from ports like Amsterdam, this idyllic Dutch village has no roads in its historic center. Life revolves around picturesque canals navigated by whisper-quiet electric boats ("punters") or crossed via charming wooden bridges. Thatched-roof farmhouses sit on small peat islands connected by waterways, surrounded by lush gardens. Exploring Giethoorn feels like drifting through a serene, storybook landscape where time, and traffic, simply stand still.