Az-zabadani, Syria

With a population of just 26,285, this Syrian mountain town is no tourist paradise. The weather may be milder than Damascus, but bitter winters bring heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. And while the French once made it a colonial resort, the Syrian Civil War has left Al-Zabadani's infrastructure in tatters, with the population barely growing in two decades. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town switches between rebel and government control. For all its scenic views, this is no easy place to call home - unless you're seeking a quiet, remote refuge from the chaos elsewhere in Syria.