There are certain similarities between a good book and a great walk. Both must have a compelling story, create a multi-layered atmosphere, and linger in the memory for a long time. It’s also important to vary your pace and make lots of dramatic pauses. The hiking destinations below all meet these criteria, whether you’re following the story of St. James the Great along Spain’s Camino de Santiago on a pilgrimage to Christendom, or discover the stories of William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and the Lake District. By Beatrix Potter, our selection of the best walking holidays in Europe offers something for you.
You can spend a lifetime on a walking tour of Spain. The Guadarrama Mountains National Park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna among its rugged rock outcroppings and secluded shady pines. For a casual stroll, we recommend southern Spain and the Alpujarras. Guided walks take you along interlinking mountain passes dotted with eagles, leading to pleasant, white, sunlit villages with conclaves of olive groves. But Spain’s ultimate walking trail lies on the ancient paths of the Camino de Santiago, which stretch along the coastline.
• Camino de Santiago: how to walk Spain’s most famous route
• The best walking holidays in Spain
2. Cursed mountain for tricky routes
Are you hungry for a challenging walk? Forget trying to climb the highest point of Mont Blanc like everyone else and take on the cursed mountains. This mountain range crosses northern Albania and borders Montenegro and Kosovo, and walking routes here take in national park mountains, steep gorges fed by glacier-blue rivers, isolated but cozy villages, and unique You will pass through a dark green forest filled with plants. and fauna. This is an exhilarating adventure where you can experience a guided walking holiday in one of Europe’s last unexplored regions.
• Things to do in Albania
Garajonay National Park, La Gomera (Getty Images)
3. La Gomera, where you can experience the thrill of the volcano
Lose track of time and explore Canary Island on foot. It’s a volcanic region shaped by cloud forests, folklore and ancient hiking trails, and although it’s visible from the much busier parts of package holiday hotspots Tenerife and Gran Canaria, it’s a world away. Garajonay National Park presents this living museum up close. There are fairytale forests and volcanic spines that rise above valleys and plateau plateaus like giant fists. Climb to the top of Garajonay, the highest point on the island, or follow the sinewed footpaths and historic mule tracks that line the island.
4. Jurassic drama Scotland
Hiking the igneous, dragon scale ridges and Jurassic landslides of the Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland is a journey through both time and geology. After scrambling along the Black Cuillin, a ridge with 11 Munros, views of 16 other peaks and finger-like coves, your wish list for other walks beckons. Spot a red buck in the rut at Fairy Glen. Challenge the coastal cliffs on your way to Neist Point Lighthouse. Or reward yourself with a wild dip after hiking to the mirror-clear Fairy Pools. Pack your boots and Irn-Bru rucksack and you’ll quickly find that there’s plenty of hiking here every day of the year.
visitscotland.com
• Scotland’s most beautiful places
• Best hotels in Scotland
• Best walking holidays in the UK
Durbach of the Black Forest (Alamy)
5. Cake and Rumble Germany
Germans go to the Black Forest in the southwest of the country when they seek waldeinsamkeit, the feeling of being one with nature. This is a land of enchanting meadows, fairy-tale villages, and picnic basket lunches in Little Red Riding Hood’s woods. Medieval Triberg has trails that lead through evergreens to Triberg Falls, the highest waterfall in Germany, and long-distance western, central and eastern trails offer rejuvenating pleasures in these amazing woodlands. It’s a fast way to. Here, signposted walking paths span his overwhelming 15,000 miles. As an added calorie-burning bonus, it’s the perfect tonic for a guilt-free portion of Black Forest Gateau, available in any village.
Black Forest-tourismus.info
• Things to do in Germany
6. The wonders of the Swedish coast
Ready your outdoor gear for Fjällräven? Then head to Sweden’s Baltic coast for one of Scandinavia’s landmark trails, the High Coast Trail overlooking the Gulf of Bothnia. It has the world’s highest coastline, peaking at 286 metres, and the 130-mile route from south to north follows a series of forest trails overlooking rocky shores, shingle beaches and ancient sea beds. Start in Hornoberget overlooking the High Coast Bridge, relax in Skulskogen National Park, and finish with fika (Sweden’s ubiquitous coffee and cake) in Ornskoltsvik.
hogakusten.com/ja
• Things to do in Sweden
• Best hotels in Stockholm
7. Türkiye follows the Lycian path
The past springs up all around you on this walk. The trail leads to hilltop oak and cedar forests dotted with Lycian tombs, Roman heirlooms, and Byzantine mysteries. There is a walled acropolis, a collapsed church, and the ruins of a sandstone theater hidden in the bush. A ruby pink sun surrounds the scene, illuminating the empty beach and brilliant emerald sea. This is just a snapshot of Turkey’s 310-mile Lycian Way, which runs on a path once used by Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, and takes you through life from Oludeniz near Dalaman, over Mount Olympus and finishing on the doorstep of Antalya. This is a positive path. Packed with a month’s worth of ancient wonders, it’s equally ripe for days of soaking and enjoying.
• Türkiye’s best tourist attractions
• Best hotels in Türkiye
Lake Oeschinen (Alamy) in the Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps
8. Swiss mountains and alpine meadows
Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike through the towering majesty of the Alps or an easy walking tour through idyllic meadows where cowbells ring and patchwork colors of primroses, gentians and buttercups dapple in the sunlight, Switzerland is the place to be. has a walking holiday for everyone. Enjoy a guided walk in the southern Ticino region near Italy. The walking route here follows a tranquil lake surrounded by palm trees. The lake sparkles in the brooding shadow of sharp mountain ranges. Want to go even further? Italian lakes await.
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• Best hotels in Switzerland
Mediterranean town of Amalfi (Getty Images)
9. Amalfi Coast route with the scent of lemon
Seeing the crowds of celebrities sailing on yachts to the Amalfi Coast may make you hesitant to go there unless you’re famous. Don’t despair, get over it. The walking route criss-crosses the hillside, offering breathtaking views of the sea glistening in the sun and the jeweled island of Capri in the distance. Elsewhere, walking routes take you through chestnut forests, fragrant lemon groves and vineyards. As you continue your guided walking holiday, you’ll be right next to the sea, where the sun’s rays sparkle with different atmospheres.
• The best villas on the Amalfi Coast
• The best hotels on the Amalfi Coast
Heiligenblut Church at the start of the Grossglockner Alpine Road in Austria (Getty Images)
10. Austria’s natural beauty
Beautiful Austria is alive with hills and mountains, promising both easy and rewarding walking holidays. Perhaps a guided walking tour high up in the Alps. The air is as clear as the voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Alternatively, follow the walking route along the Danube River as it cascades through the Wachau Valley. And don’t forget the Tyrol region, dotted with picture-book villages, majestic mountains and deeply forested valleys.
austria.info/ja
• Best hotels in Vienna
Holy Trinity Monastery overlooking the town of Kalambaka in central Greece (Getty Images)
11. Greek History Hike
The Greek landscape pulsates with history and mythology, and a walking holiday will make you feel like you’re following in the footsteps of gods and monsters. Centaurs, for example, lived in the pristine Zagori region near Albania. Spend your holidays on challenging walks through rugged mountain terrain, where monasteries sit on rocks and tavernas in ancient villages offer a casual welcome. Island-hopping on a guided walking holiday, passing through historic olive groves or casually strolling along mountain passes overlooking the burgundy waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
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• Best Affordable Villas in Greece
12. Easy trails in Portugal
As you’ll see on our guided walking holidays, there’s much more to Portugal than Lisbon and Porto. Is it the howl of a lone wolf as it cuts through the rugged beauty of Peneda Geres National Park to the north? Meanwhile, in the Algarve, sea breezes make it easy to stroll away from the beach-goers. And in the southern Alentejo region, a guided walk reveals towering cork trees and olive groves standing guard over Instagram-worthy photos of castles and hilltop villages.
visitportugal.com/en
• Best Tours in Portugal: 19 Trips from Lisbon to the Algarve
• Best luxury villas in Portugal
Sunset in Tuscany (Getty Images)
13. Tuscany is known for its rolling hills.
The lush rolling hills of Tuscany are dotted with medieval red-tiled villages that watch invaders come and go but continue to sleep securely with a sense of their permanence. This is a welcoming land where history, flora and fauna, food and wine come together for an unforgettable walking holiday. There are many easy guided walks that will take you into the heart of one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
• Things to do in Tuscany
• The best luxury villas in Tuscany
Lavender fields at Senanque Abbey in Provence (Getty Images)
14. Stroll through Provence full of flowers
The picturesque villages of Provence are the ideal starting point for peaceful walks through impressive greenery. From medieval villages to ancient Roman aqueducts, the footpaths are well-maintained and quiet. The meadows are filled with the scent of fresh bouquets of Provencal herbes. Marjoram, rosemary, and thyme compete with oregano, which has been soaked up in the summer sun. Spend the morning sampling local gourmet food at Gordes’s lively market, then walk across fields of purple lavender to Senanque Abbey. For a change of pace, visit Saint-Remy, the town that gave Van Gogh the inspiration for many of his paintings, in his Provence. Strolling through medieval architecture provides an alternative to more strenuous hiking. If you’re looking for more stamina, try trails that run in multiple directions through rugged mountain terrain. Mount Ventoux, known as the “bald mountain” due to the lack of vegetation on its summit, offers spectacular views.
15. The Lake District is an easy place to explore
From challenging walks at Old Man of Coniston to easy walks with grassy moors and views of Lakeland Fells at Tarn Hows, the beautiful Lake District has walking routes to suit all abilities. Whichever path you choose, expect breathtaking views, cool, clear lakes, and abundant wildlife. Keen hikers will enjoy the walk to the top of Helvellyn. It’s 950 meters high, so make sure to wear proper walking equipment and take plenty of breaks as you climb. Another route perfect for sunny days is north of the Lake District at Blencathra, also known as Saddleback. This mountain has six of his peaks, the highest being Hallsfell his top at 868 meters. The 3-4 hour walk from Thirlmere to Blair Tarn is a more difficult route, but the beautiful surroundings make it worth it. If you want to quench your thirst after a lot of walking, there are pubs lining the various walking routes. Try one of Grasmere and Patterdale’s most stocked pubs.
lakedistrict.gov.uk
• Things to do in the Lake District
• The best hotels in the Lake District
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