4 of the Best Walking and Hiking Destination in Europe
The countries of Europe offer many diverse landscapes to explore, from Spain to Sweden and from Belgium to Bulgaria. One of the best ways to explore new territory has to be by walking through it, and thousands of people enjoy walking holidays every year. You can do anything from a slow and gentle ramble to a challenging hike up a mountain, and each country offers something different. But some places are more attractive than others, whether it’s because of how easy they make it for walkers or the unparalleled views that they offer. If you want to go on a walking holiday this summer, check out our recommendations for where to go.
The Italian Dolomites
The Dolomites are a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports during the winter. But in the spring and summer, they’re the perfect place for a walking holiday. These mountains in the north of Italy are an incredible landscape to explore, from towering peaks to impressive valleys and picturesque villages. Whether you enjoy hiking up mountains or walking through the lowlands, you’ll have a spectacular time in this region. Walk through fields full of wildflowers, explore a quaint Italian village or catch a cable car up a mountain for an effortless view.
The South of France
The south of France is a vast region, but it offers a diverse range of landscapes to explore on foot. You can experience the south of France countryside in Provence, perhaps using a beautiful French villa as your base. Take in both charming towns and the beauty of the nature in the region. It’s a great area for food and drink too, and you’ll find many restaurants and hotels to delight you. Or you could walk the coastal paths of the Cote d’Azur instead, enjoying the sea breeze and marine wildlife.
Camino Portugés, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage is a well-known and popular walking path, but many people walk it regardless of their religion or lack of one. One of the more commonly walked routes begins in France, but the Camino Portugés is a less crowded way to get to your destination. You can walk along old Roman roads and take in vineyards, forests and historic towns. It will take you about two weeks to get there, but with plenty of cheap hostels along the way, you can do it on a budget.
Tatra Mountains in Slovakia
If you want to venture a little further east, keep going past Italy and go to Slovakia instead. The Tatras are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains and lie across both Slovakia and Poland. You could walk along the famous Tatranska Magistrala trail or climb a mountain to reach its peak and look out over the mountain range. You could even visit two countries at once, and see some of Poland too.
Wherever you choose to go walking, you’ll see something different in every part of Europe. As well as diverse landscapes, you’ll see a range of cultures, languages and peoples too.
About Ella
Becky, Steve or the other two useless ones (shhh they won't read this) form part of the Openstories team, a collaborative travel blog that we use to dump our ideas, plans and experiences onto the worldwide web. We're honored that you're hear reading this, and we'd love to hear from you. Thanks for dropping by!
