Hallstatt, Austria

© Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alam

A city so nice, they made it twice. Hallstatt, Austria

The salt mines in the hills surrounding the village of Hallstatt, Austria, are thought to be some of the oldest in the world. Salt was once the backbone of Hallstatt's economy. Today the mines make a popular tourist attraction. This storybook village draws in masses of visitors, so many that it is considered an area of over-tourism. The town has sought to limit the number of people who can visit each day. Hallstatt's charms were so considerable that an identical recreation of the town was built in Guangdong, China in 2011. So, if they can’t squeeze you into Hallstatt, perhaps you can pop over to China’s version.