The Best Hikes in Europe: Hit The Most Beautiful Trails Posted on April 22, 2024 By wilderdiscoveries.com If you are looking for the best hikes in Europe – congratulations, you have come to the right place! I don’t know if it’s because I myself come from Europe (Lithuanian to be more precise), hiking in Europe is my favorite! European nature stands out for its diversity, wonderful landscapes, forests of exceptional beauty, endless meadows and the most beautiful plants! Another thing that makes best hikes in Europe truly the best is the infrastructure. The hiking trails themselves are clearly marked, the trails are adapted, and they are easy to navigate (of course, if you want more off-road hiking, you will find them too). Due to the convenient development of public transport, you won’t even need a car in most places! So here we go – my personal best hikes in Europe – I hope you find an idea for your next adventure here! Best Hikes In Europe – My Personal Top 8 Table of Contents Toggle 1. Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland) – One of the best hikes in Europe?2. Cinque Terre Coastal Trail (Italy): 3. West Highland Way (Scotland):4. GR20 (Corsica, France): the Hardest on Best Hikes in Europe List5.Tatra Mountains (Poland): the Most Suprising Hike on the Best Hikes in Europe List6.Corfu Trail (Greece):7. Rota Vicentina (Portugal): One of The Best Hikes in Europe for History Lovers8. Camino de Santiago (Spain): One of the best hikes in Europe for spiritual people 1. Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland) – One of the best hikes in Europe? In my opinion – it is THE hike that everybody should do at least once in a lifetime! Can you believe that you can visit three different countries – France, Italy and Switzerland – during one trip? This is probably only possible in Europe! 😊 Mont Blanc (15,781 feet), the namesake of this hike, rises more than 12,000 vertical feet above the famous resort village of Chamonix, France. This legendary hike stretches for around 170 kilometers, giving each hiker exceptional views of the Mont Blanc mountain range. Here, everyone immerses themselves in a breathtaking journey, where it is simply impossible not to admire the alpine scenery while crossing charming villages, romantic meadows and exclusive mountain passes. In my opinion, it’s really one of the best hikes in Europe, and what’s most important is that it’s also suitable for beginner hikers – it’s only important that you have a good fitness level – then this hike will be one of the most beautiful adventures of your life! 2. Cinque Terre Coastal Trail (Italy): Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Italian Riviera! Explore the beautiful villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore on one of the best hikes in Europe. Cinque Terre – a paradise of five lands in Italy, which will not leave any traveler indifferent! It is a wonderful travel route, especially for those who love climbing, swimming and walking. The path of this hike will lead you along high and sometimes steep slopes washed by the Ligurian Sea, and on the slopes you can see colorful buildings of stunning architecture, which hide their own history and legends. This hike is not technically difficult, but requires slightly more than minimal physical preparation. 3. West Highland Way (Scotland): The West Highland Way hike, for me personally, is definitely one of the best hikes in Europe! This hike is a legendary journey through the Scottish Highlands – the 154 kilometer route takes walkers from the charming town of Milngavie to the natural landscapes of Loch Lomond and Glencoe. The hike takes you through impressive ancient forests, along the shores of tranquil lakes, and through endless meadows. Plus, you’ll get a closer look at Scotland’s rich history and hospitality, which you’ll likely feel at every turn! The West Highland Way is suitable for experienced walkers and beginners alike and can be completed in 7-9 days depending on the speed of travel. It’s not a particularly difficult route, but be prepared to hit the slopes in places! By choosing this trek, you will be choosing one of the coziest and most beautiful adventures of your life! 4. GR20 (Corsica, France): the Hardest on Best Hikes in Europe List Challenge and immerse yourself in one of the most strenuous hikes in Europe! This difficult, strenuous 15-day (168 km) journey across the island of Corsica has become legendary for the variety of landscapes and obstacles. The road passes through forests, granite wastelands (similar to the surface of the Moon), wind-formed craters, glacial lakes, along rushing springs, marshes, monuments to World War II French partisans, snow-capped peaks, and plains. However, it is not easy to see everything: the road is rocky, sometimes even steep, and sometimes over wobbly bridges and slippery rocks, but as travelers say, this is the charm of the trip. It was put into use in 1972. The GR20 trail runs through almost all of Corsica from Calenzana (in the northwest) to Konza (in the southeast). But don‘t get me wrong, yes, the hike is super hard, but it is on the list of best hikes in Europe for a reason – this hike may have the most breathtaking scenery in whole Europe! 5.Tatra Mountains (Poland): the Most Suprising Hike on the Best Hikes in Europe List I just can say WOW! You just must visit Poland for Tatras!! I can‘t get more mad at myself more for discovering Tatras just now. I live in Lithuania, which is neighbour of Poland!! Tatras has so much to offer – super nice mountain villages (with even nicer prices!!), so many breathtaking hiking trails with such a beautiful views… It is like a heaven for me. Here you can choose so many options – from hikes to a total beginners ( for example: „Morskie Oko“ – there are a lot of hikers with toddlers) to Orla Perć (Eagle’s Path) – the most difficult hike in Tatras. In Tatras you can explore National parks, amazing forests, view blue blue lakes and dive into rivers and waterfalls. For me, Tatras are the new Nr. 1 in Best hikes in Europe list. Make sure you‘ll add it to your bucket list – I promise, it is worth it! 6.Corfu Trail (Greece): For those who want warmth, sea and summer sensations on a hike! For me – Corfu hike is one of the most exotic hikes in Europe. Corfu is a relatively small Greek island, full of spectacular natural beauty, historical buildings, warm people and delicious food! The Corfu Walk is about a 10-day walk that will take you across the entire island and visit all the highlights of Corfu. In my opinion, this is really one of the best hikes in Europe, because it is suitable for practically everyone – even if you get tired in some part, you can travel certain sections by public transport or taxi. This hike can be one of the most chill and relaxing hikes in Europe – if you only want that! 7. Rota Vicentina (Portugal): One of The Best Hikes in Europe for History Lovers Rota Vincentina is an impressive network of hiking trails in southern Portugal, more precisely in the Alentejo region. You will find everything on these tracks – impressive coastal tracks, charming tracks through meadows and mountains, tourist trails and places of indescribable beauty untouched by tourism – here everyone will find something for their taste. As for the difficulty of the tracks – again, there is a lot of variety here. The Historical Way and the Fishermen’s Trail and the Circular Routes are something for both experienced, challenging hikers and less experienced, easy hikers alike. Even families with small children will find their way here! This, in my opinion, makes Rota Vicentina one of the best hikes in the world. 8. Camino de Santiago (Spain): One of the best hikes in Europe for spiritual people It’s not just a hike, it’s an amazing inner journey that everyone should take! The Camino de Santiago is an increasingly popular pilgrimage route that stretches across sunny Spain. Every year, this road welcomes all kinds of hikers, from die-hard hikers to 80-year-old seniors who cover thousands of kilometers. Pilgrims have traveled this road for hundreds of years, and upon reaching the last kilometers they are greeted by Finis Terrae – the end of the earth There are at least a few variations of this road in Spain. We chose the Camino Frances route. It is estimated that about 200,000 people go on pilgrimage every year. people. True, maybe only a tenth of all walkers go the whole way, others choose a shorter distance. In order for the pilgrimage to count and to receive a certificate at the end, you need to walk at least 100 kilometers. Rumor has it that Spaniards often even include this achievement on their CVs. The hike meanders through mountains, forests, fields, and many cities and towns. Not all of it is scenic, a significant part of the route is on asphalt or on roadsides near busy roads. Spanish villages are worthy of attention: houses built of stones, narrow streets and various squares make each of them interesting and unique. In my opinion, this hike is a must try for every hiker! Best Hikes In Europe: Final Thoughts I am glad that I could share with you my experience and in my opinion the best hikes in Europe. Europe really has a lot to offer – I’ve probably not even covered a third of it! Therefore, I would be very, very grateful if other fellow hikers would share their impressions – their favorite hikes in Europe, maybe something surprised them even more than those on the list? Maybe you didn’t like something from the list? I look forward to your thoughts! Blog Destinations Hiking
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