Castles have fascinating histories, once serving as homes and fortification to royal families and entire towns. Within the walls are portraits, tapestries, weapons, furnishings and other items that showcase life we've only read about in history books.

There are castle ruins scattered about the world, but there are also several that remain fully intact and are lovingly cared for to keep the history alive. Many of these are absolute stunners that bring us one step closer to a modern-day fairytale (hey, we can dream!).

Here, we take a look at 30 of the world's most beautiful castles — and, yes, you can visit them.

Location: Schwangau, Germany

Nicknamed Cinderella's Castle, as it inspired Walt Disney's castle in movies and theme parks, Neuschwanstein Castle was home to King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

When he died in 1886, the castle was opened to the public and now receives more than 1 million visitors every year.

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle.

Location: Windsor, England

The Queen of England resides in Windsor Castle, just outside of London, when she isn't fulfilling duties at Buckingham Palace.

The castle has housed the royal family for more than 900 years and is the oldest and largest of the still-occupied castles in the world.

Visit Windsor Castle.

Location: Sintra, Portugal

Located atop a mountain outside Lisbon is the Romanticist castle that was constructed in the Middle Ages.

The castle was built for Queen Maria II by Ferdinand II of Germany and is a colorful site that provides panoramic views of Portugal's Riviera.

Visit Pena Palace.

Location: Sterling, Scotland

Presiding atop Castle Hill, Sterling Castle was home to King James IV and is said to be the "brooch" that holds the Highlands and Lowlands together.

A symbol of Scotland's independence, the castle went back and forth between the Scottish and the English during the civil wars. 

Visit Stirling Castle.

Location: Matsumoto, Japan

Hirajiros (castles) are five-tiered and six-story castles in Japan, of which there were five. Of these, Matsumoto is the oldest, having been constructed at the start of the 16th century.

Nicknamed Crow Castle due to its black color, this hirajiro dates back to the Sengoku period.

Visit Matsumoto Castle.

Location: Sankt Georgen, Austria

Built on a dolomite rock rising 564 feet, Hochosterwitz Castle is a landmark of Austria that dates back to medieval times.

The castle belonged to the Khevenhuller family and features five drawing bridges and 14 gates to keep it secure.

Visit Hochosterwitz Castle.

Location: Oravsky Podzamok, Slovenia

Another castle built onto a rock above a valley was built in the 13th century.

Considered one of the most beautiful in Slovenia, Orava Castle is named for the river it overlooks.

Visit Orava Castle.

Location: Niasviz, Belarus

This World Heritage Site is a National History and Culture Museum and was the home of the Radziwill family.

Found on a peninsula on the Usha River, the castle walls were first formed in the late 1500s.

Visit Nesvizh Castle.

Location: Sirmione, Italy

One of the country's best-preserved castles, Rocca Scaligera Castle is found on Lake Garda.

Each year, more than 300,000 people visit the castle, which dates back to the 13th century.

Visit Rocca Scaligera Castle.

Location: Bisingen, Germany

One of three hilltop castles still owned by Prussian royalty, this neo-Gothic castle was built in the mid-19th century.

Located just south of Stuttgart, the castle attracts more than 300,000 people to walk its halls and get a look at the Prussian King’s crown. 

Visit Hohenzollern Castle.

Location: Veytaux, Switzerland

Chillon Castle was created as both a fortress and a castle with its foundations laid during the Bronze Age.

Located on an island in Lake Geneva, Chillon meant "rocky platform."

Visit Chillon Castle.

Location: Helsingor, Denmark

When William Shakespeare wrote of the great Danish Prince Hamlet, he set it in Kronborg (although he called it Elsinore).

Found along the border that separates Denmark and Sweden, the castle was a stronghold from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Visit Kronborg.

Location: Osaka, Japan

Another of the five Japanese castles, this one in Osaka is white in contrast to Matsumoto Castle.

Constructed in the 1500s, the castle was a setting for Japanese unification in the 1600s.

Visit Osaka Castle.

Location: Prague, Czechia

One of the oldest castles on this list as well as a World Heritage Site, Prague Castle's foundations began in the 800s. It served as the house for Bohemia's kings and is still the home of Czechia's president to this day.

Guinness named it the largest coherent castle complex in the world.

Visit Prague Castle.

Location: Gmunden, Austria

This island castle can be found on the Austrian lake known as Traunsee.

It is said the castle is built upon the remains of an ancient Roman castle.

Visit Ort Castle.

Location: Predjama, Slovenia

Built into the mouth of a cave, this Renaissance castle appears in mention as far back as the 1200s.

One of the most famous attractions of Slovenia, the castle's secret tunnels used by plundering knights only add to the legends surrounding this medieval structure — the largest cave castle in the world.

Visit Predjama Castle.

Location: Utrecht, Netherlands

The largest castle in Holland, De Haar lies just outside of Amsterdam and was constructed in the late 1800s.

Reminiscent of fairytale castles, the art-filled halls and gardens are open to visitors.

Visit De Haar Castle.

Location: Heidelberg, Germany

The foundations of Heidelberg Castle date back to the early 1200s, but demolition of the large fortress occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The ruins have partially been restored and the Gothic/Renaissance castle draws in a million visitors a year.

Visit Heidelberg Castle.

Location: Angus, Scotland

The home of the Lyon family and the current Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis Castle has occupied this land since the 1300s.

The home inspired Shakespeare, who set "Macbeth" within the walls.

Visit Glamis Castle.

Location: Trieste, Italy

Overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, this castle residence was built for the Archduke Maximilian of the powerful Hapsburg family.

Situated on more than 54 acres of meadows, forests and shoreline, the castle's construction began in 1855.

Visit Castello di Miramare.

Location: Budapest, Hungary

The Hungarians had their own castle palace on Buda hill overlooking the Danube River. 

Built in the 13th century, the Baroque castle is the focal building of Budapest's Castle District.

Visit Buda Castle.

Location: Segovia, Spain

This medieval castle has the perfect perch on a rocky hill overlooking the confluence of two rivers, making it look like the bow of a ship.

While construction lasted centuries, its initial foundations were placed in the 1200s. Alcazar means fortress, stemming from the Arabic "al'qasr."

Visit Alcazar of Segovia.

Location: Vianden, Luxembourg

Another imposing castle built on rock above a river is Schloss Vianden, which overlooks the Rhine.

Dating back to the 10th century, the castle also grew over centuries, with its Gothic transformation completed some time in the 14th century.

Visit Schloss Vianden.

Location: Naha, Japan

This style castle of Japan was built for the Ryukyu Kingdom, serving as the palace for 400 years through 1879.

Nearly destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, the castle was brought back to life and named a World Heritage Site.

Visit Shuri-jô Castle.

Location: Arundel, England

Completely restored, Arundel was the home of Roger de Montgomery, who was made an earl by William the Conqueror in 1067.

It continued through the centuries to be the home of the powerful Dukes of Norfolk, which it remains to this very day.

Visit Arundel Castle.

Location: Cochem, Germany

With its hilltop location, Cochem Castle is the place to be for outstanding views of the Mosel River valley.

Constructed in the 11th century and serving as a royal home, visitors can take in 360-degree views from its restaurant.

Visit Cochem Castle.

Location: Connnemara, Ireland

Kylemore Castle was a decorative castle built in the late 1800s by a wealthy politician who outfitted it with nothing but the best for his wife. In 1920, the estate became a Benedictine monastery, of which it remains to this day.

Within the grounds is a 6-acre walled garden, and the 1,000-acre estate outside of Galway is open for visitors to fully explore.

Visit Kylemore Abbey.

Location: Bran, Romania

The Transylvanian castle that inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula," Bran Castle is commonly referred to as Dracula's Castle.

This national monument served as a medieval fortress during the 1300s and became a royal residence. Its most famous resident was Vlad the Impaler, son of Vlad Dracul, of whom also inspired the fictional novel.

Visit Bran Castle.

Location: Chambord, France

The epitome of a French chateau, this Renaissance castle combined French medieval fortresses in its construction that began in the 1500s.

Today, it is one of the most recognized chateaus in France and a World Heritage Site.

Visit Château de Chambord.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

It's hard to miss Edinburgh Castle, which is situated on Castle Rock and overlooks the entire city.

The home to Scotland and the U.K.'s monarchs, it is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe with evidence of man dating back 3,000 years.

Visit Edinburgh Castle.

Location: Gaspra, Ukraine

Built by a doctor to the Tsar, this castle was not built to protect but instead was a modern two-bedroom home that was given a castle-like look. Due to its small size, we add it to our list as a bonus out of pure beauty.

Built in the early 1900s, the castle overlooks the Crimea Sea.

Visit Swallow's Nest.