Europe's diverse landscapes offer a plethora of breathtaking hiking trails, from rugged coastlines to picturesque alpine villages. Each trail offers a unique experience, with the possibility of different seasonal adventures.
For instance, the Matterhorn presents a snowy spectacle in late fall, while early summer brings meadows alive with butterflies. Overnight hut-to-hut hikes also provide an immersive wilderness experience.
Here are some of the top hiking destinations in Europe for your next outdoor adventure.
1. Tour du Mont Blanc, Europe
The 170-kilometer Tour du Mont Blanc encircles the highest peak in Europe, offering one of the world's premier hiking experiences. Accessible from France, Switzerland, or Italy, the trail can be completed in about 12 days, with mountain refuges for overnight stays. The French side's Chemin des Rognes and the Glacier d'Argentiere route are particularly popular for their stunning vistas.
2. Corsica's GR20 Trail, France
Corsica's GR20 trail, stretching 180 kilometers with a 12,000-meter elevation, is a challenging trek for fit hikers. It takes up to 15 days to complete, but can be tackled in sections, with huts for overnight stays. The central village of Vizzavona is a hub for shorter, easier trails.
3. Cinque Terre, Italy
The Cinque Terre trail links five picturesque fishing villages along Italy's dramatic coastline. The full hike takes about five to six hours, but can be split over multiple days. The trail offers varying difficulty levels, with the section between Vernazza and Monterosso providing the most challenge and best views.
4. Saalbach to Schmittenhöhe Hike, Austria
The 17-kilometer hike from Saalbach to Schmittenhöhe is a high-altitude journey through the Eastern Alps, offering six hours of breathtaking scenery. Starting with the Schattberg X-Press gondola, hikers traverse alpine meadows and peaks, ending in the charming town of Zell am See.
5. Switzerland's Engelberg Valley
The Engelberg Valley boasts a variety of trails, including the seven-kilometer Brunni Trail, which starts with a cable car ride and offers stunning alpine views. The Brunni Tickle path, a textured trail for barefoot hiking, is another unique option.
6. Samaria Gorge, Greece
The 16-kilometer Samaria Gorge trail in Crete descends from high elevations to the Libyan Sea, passing through cliffside vistas, Byzantine ruins, and the famous "Gate" passageway.
7. Green Lake Hike, Slovakia
In Slovakia's High Tatras, the Green Lake hike is a 16-kilometer, five-hour trek through valleys and stunning landscapes, culminating at the picturesque Green Lake.
8. Matterhorn Base Camp, Switzerland
The Matterhorn Base Camp hike offers a chance to experience one of the Alps' highest mountains. The Hornlihutte trail, accessible by cable car, provides breathtaking views and a path to the base camp.
9. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park features a range of trails, from a 3.5-kilometer stroll to an 18.3-kilometer trek, showcasing waterfalls, lakes, and bridges.
10. Pravčice Gate Hike, Czech Republic
The Pravčice Gate Hike in Bohemian Switzerland National Park is a 10-kilometer journey through sandstone formations and forests, leading to the largest natural stone arch in Europe.
11. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve Hike, Iceland
Iceland's Hornstrandir Nature Reserve offers remote, unmarked trails through stunning landscapes, including a 23-kilometer loop around Hornvík Bay and Hornbjarg cliffs.
12. El Camino del Rey, Spain
El Camino del Rey in Malaga is a thrilling 7.7-kilometer hike along a gorge, featuring a renovated walkway with a glass floor section.
13. The Transcaucasian Trail, Georgia
The Transcaucasian Trail is an ambitious project in development, with a section from Chuberi to Ushguli in Georgia already mapped for hikers.
14. Zillertal, Austria
Zillertal Valley offers over 1,400 kilometers of trails, including the scenic Four Huts Hike in Hochfügen.
15. Pulpit Rock, Norway
Pulpit Rock in Norway is a popular four-hour round-trip hike, offering stunning views of the fjords from 600 meters above.
