Best Multi-Day Hikes & Day Hikes

The best hikes in Europe take you around Mont Blanc through three countries, hut to hut through the Dolomites, along the cliffs of Cinque Terre and up into Spain’s Sierra Nevada. These 32 European hikes run from easy day hikes to the best multi-day hikes in Europe, with the difficulty and the best time of year for each one.

You’ll find thousands of the best hiking trails in Europe, from easy coastal paths and rolling hills to hut-to-hut routes high in the Alps. That’s the good news. The bad news is that with so much choice, picking one can be mind-boggling.

Even if you know you want to hike in the Alps, they stretch 1,200 km (750 miles) through France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Liechtenstein. And that’s before you look at the amazing hiking trails in Europe outside the Alps!

That’s why I’ve put together this guide to the best places to hike in Europe, with the best time of year for each one. I’ve lived in Europe for 16 years and hiked almost every weekend, spending a lot of time in the German, Swiss, Italian and French Alps and the mountains in Bulgaria. Having grown up hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, I’m very picky about my hikes. 14 of these hikes are routes we now run as self-guided hiking tours in Europe, so you can hike them without the planning.

Best Multi-Day Hikes in Europe at a Glance

These are the top multi-day hiking routes in Europe that we run as self-guided tours, compared by tour length, distance, difficulty and season. Your accommodations are booked for you on every one, and you’ll find more about each hike further down.

The Best Multi-Day Hike in Europe: the Tour du Mont Blanc

1. Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy and Switzerland

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is one of the best treks in Europe, it’s consistently ranked among the best in the world, and it’s one of the most popular hikes in Europe. The 170 km (106 mile) trail circles glacier-covered Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe, through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Fair warning: the TMB ruins other hikes for a while. You will compare every trail you hike afterwards to it, and most of them will lose.

It’s strenuous, but you don’t need any mountaineering experience, because you hike around Mont Blanc rather than summiting it. Expect about 5,500 to 7,000 m (18,000 to 23,000 ft) of ascent on a 6 or 7-day route, and about 10,000 m (33,000 ft) on the full 10-day route.

What I love most about this hut-to-hut hike is seeing Mont Blanc from every side, 360 degrees of spellbinding views. As a Canadian, it’s also very cool to hike through three countries in one trip, with Beaufort cheese in France, pasta in Italy and fondue in Switzerland.

The TMB was the first long-distance hike I did, and it inspired me to start a hiking tour company. Our self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc tours run 6, 7 or 10 days, with your accommodations booked for you and a free in-person briefing before you start. If you’d rather plan it yourself, this Tour du Mont Blanc guide covers everything you need to know, and here’s how guided vs self-guided hiking tours compare.

If you only want to do day hikes, Chamonix, France, or Courmayeur, Italy make good bases.

Best time to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc: mid-June to mid-September. Before and after that, there’s too much snow on the passes and many of the mountain huts are closed. You can do easier day hikes lower down in the Chamonix valley all year, as long as you don’t mind snow. Here’s more on the best time to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Related Reading: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Staying in a Mountain Hut in the Alps

Best Hikes in Switzerland: the Haute Route and Swiss Alps Day Hikes

2. The Haute Route, Chamonix to Zermatt

The Haute Route links two of the most iconic mountains in the Alps, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. It starts in Chamonix, France, and finishes in Zermatt, Switzerland, crossing high passes of nearly 3,000 m (9,840 ft), alpine meadows full of wildflowers and the foot of several glaciers.

Think of it as the TMB’s bigger sibling: fewer hikers, more mountain, and a Matterhorn at the finish that makes every metre of climbing feel like a bargain.

It’s harder than the Tour du Mont Blanc, and it’s not a good first multi-day hike, because the terrain is rugged and rocky in many places. If you’ve hiked the TMB and want the next step up, this is it. Our self-guided Haute Route tours run 7 days (79.6 to 82.3 km, 49 to 51 miles) or 10 days (125.8 km/78 miles, with 10,295 m/33,780 ft of ascent), and both itineraries avoid the high vertical ladders at the Pas de Chèvres and Riedmatten Pass. It’s our most challenging tour.

The Haute Route is not as busy as the TMB, but its accommodations fill up very quickly because there aren’t very many, so plan ahead.

Best time to hike the Haute Route: mid-July to late September. Our tours run from July 13 to September 27.

Related Reading: 16 Best Things to Do in Chamonix

I don’t have one favorite hike in Switzerland. If you could only visit the Alps in one country, I’d say Switzerland: the WOW factor is very high, and some of the best hiking in Europe is here.

You can’t go wrong hiking anywhere in Switzerland, but my favorite regions for day hikes are the Engadin Mountains for their lunar-like landscapes and the Jungfrau Region for classic Alps scenery. For hiking with a thrill, ride the Gelmer Funicular, one of the steepest funiculars in Europe, up to Lake Gelmer in the Haslital. The hike around the lake is easy and mostly flat, and experienced hikers can carry on to longer trails from there.

Best time to hike in Switzerland: the third week of June to mid-September at higher elevations, and all year for day hikes lower down.

Related Reading: Muottas Muragl: Some of the Most Beautiful Day Hikes in Europe

Best Hikes in Italy: Dolomites, Italian Alps and Cinque Terre

The Dolomites are a dramatic mountain range in northeastern Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I confess I hadn’t heard of them until I moved to Germany. I’ve since hiked in several different parts of the Dolomites and loved all of them, and some of the best trekking in Europe is here, from hut-to-hut high routes to gentle meadow hikes. Our two shorter Dolomites tours, Seiser Alm to the Rosengarten and Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi, are just 3 days of hiking each.

3. Alta Via 1, Dolomites

There’s something special about the Alta Via 1, the most famous high route in the Dolomites. The full trail runs about 120 to 125 km (75 to 80 miles) hut to hut, from Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) in the north to Belluno in the south, linking Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri, Monte Pelmo and the Civetta massif.

You will take more photos on day one than on your last three vacations combined, and then do it again on day two.

What I love about the Alta Via 1 is that you can choose how much of it to hike. Our tours run the full 11-day route (9 hiking days, 111 km/69 miles) or an 8-day northern or southern section (6 hiking days). The views change constantly, from the panoramas on the Lagazuoi massif to the 5 km (3 mile) west face of Civetta on the full route.

The 8-day routes are graded Moderate to Challenging and the 11-day route is Challenging. You’ll sleep in mountain huts (rifugi) and basecamp hotels.

Best time to hike the Alta Via 1: June to September, when the mountain huts are open. Our tours run from June 6 to September 30, depending on the route. Outside that window, there’s too much snow and many huts are closed.

4. Gran Paradiso National Park, Italian Alps

Gran Paradiso is Italy’s first national park, created to protect the ibex, and it’s still one of the most unspoiled corners of the Alps. Glaciers above you, wildflowers at your feet, and far fewer hikers than on the Tour du Mont Blanc. The ibex will keep you company, and they don’t judge your pace.

The ibex were here first, they know it, and they will not be moving off the trail for you.

Our Gran Paradiso hiking tour runs 7 days from Valgrisenche to Cogne in the Aosta Valley, on trails like the Alta Via 2. On the private accommodation itinerary you’ll hike 93 km (58 miles) with 6,605 m (21,670 ft) of ascent over 6 days, plus an optional seventh hike. There’s also a mountain-hut traverse if you want every night up high.

It’s graded Challenging, and it’s a great alternative to the Tour du Mont Blanc or the Alta Via 1 if you want quieter trails.

Best time to hike Gran Paradiso: July to mid-September.

5. Seiser Alm to the Rosengarten, Dolomites

If you only have a few days in Italy, this is one of the best short hiking trips in Europe. You hike 39 km (24 miles) over three days, hut to hut across Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high-alpine meadow, and into the Rosengarten, whose limestone towers glow pink and red at sunset. The locals call it enrosadira, and you watch it from the trail, not from a parking lot.

Three days, one enormous meadow, and dumplings at dinner that taste even better with that view out the window.

Our 5-day tour for hiking Seiser Alm is just 3 days of hiking, starting in Val Gardena and finishing near Carezza, with 2,460 m (8,070 ft) of ascent, about 5 hours of hiking a day, and the lunar landscape around Antermoia Lake. It’s graded Moderate, and it leaves time on the same trip for Venice, Rome or Florence.

Best time to hike Seiser Alm and the Rosengarten: late June to late September. Start dates run from June 20 to September 28.

6. Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi, Dolomites

Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi is our easiest tour in the Dolomites, and the one to pick for your first multi-day hike. It’s just 3 days of hiking, none longer than 13 km (8 miles), across Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest alpine plateau, with the jagged Odle spires as your backdrop. It’s rolling meadow rather than scree, so you spend the day looking up at the Sassolungo instead of down at your boots.

It’s the gentlest tour we run, and your photos will still look like you conquered something enormous.

Our 5-day tour for Alpe di Siusi hiking covers 36 km (22 miles) with 1,680 m (5,510 ft) of ascent. You’ll spend two nights in mountain huts, and your main bag is moved for you. It’s graded Good first trip, though you still need some basic fitness.

Best time to hike Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi: June to early October. Start dates run from June 5 to October 5, so you can pick the quiet weeks in fall.

7. Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera

Cinque Terre is a UNESCO site famous for its five colorful fishing villages, and it’s easy to see why hundreds of thousands of people visit every year. Most of them miss the gems just outside the Cinque Terre. That’s why our Cinque Terre hiking tour starts in Camogli and goes beyond the famous trail: to San Fruttuoso Abbey, a 1,000-year-old monastery you can only reach on foot or by boat, to Portofino, and along the cliffs from Riomaggiore to Portovenere.

The stairs between the villages come with warm focaccia at the top, which is a very fair exchange rate.

I love knowing that almost every hike ends in a village where fresh seafood and gelato are waiting. The 8-day tour has 6 hiking days and 55.0 to 64.8 km (34 to 40 miles) of trail, depending on the route options you choose. It’s graded Good first trip, though some sections are steep.

If you only have a day, the coastal trail between the five villages is one of the most popular hiking trails in Europe. Sections can close for repairs after storms, so check before you go. Here’s how to get to Cinque Terre.

Best time to hike Cinque Terre: March to October (we recommend spring or fall before it’s too hot). July and August are peak season, when the trails are crowded and hot.

8. Path of Gods, Bologna to Florence

On this trail, you’re literally following in the footsteps of the Romans, on an ancient 135 km (84 mile) route from Bologna to Florence. It’s one of the oldest hiking trails in Europe.

The Romans built it to move armies, not to impress hikers. They accidentally managed both.

What I love about this hike is that it’s still undiscovered. Most Italians haven’t even heard of it, and it shows you a side of Italy that most visitors miss. It also supports rural tourism, and the guesthouse owners you meet along the way are some of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet.

You can hike the whole route in six days, or a shortened version in three. Don’t confuse it with the Path of the Gods day hike on the Amalfi Coast: they share a name, but they’re two very different hikes.

Best time to hike the Path of Gods: April to June, and September and October. I hiked it at the end of September and thought it was a great time to go. July and August are very hot, and winter can be rainy or even snowy.

Related Reading: Best Hiking Holidays in Italy

Best Hikes in Spain and Andorra: Catalonia, the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada and the Canary Islands

Spain is one of the best hiking destinations in Europe in spring and fall, when the trails are quiet and the light is golden. Summer heat makes most of these hikes uncomfortable, so plan around it.

9. Costa Brava South Coast, Catalonia

The Costa Brava South Coast follows old paths once used by fishermen, smugglers and pirates, past hidden coves, golden beaches, pine forests and fishing villages. Pack your swimsuit in your daypack.

Keep the swimsuit at the top of your daypack. Digging for it while everyone else is already in the sea is a rookie move.

Our Costa Brava hike runs 8 days from Sant Pere Pescador to Sant Feliu de Guíxols: 98.1 km (61 miles) over 6 hiking days, 11 to 21 km (7 to 13 miles) a day, past the Greek and Roman ruins of Empúries. Your luggage is moved between accommodations, so you hike light, and it’s graded Good first trip.

Best time to hike the Costa Brava: spring and fall. Start dates run from March 1 to November 14, and July and August get really hot.

10. Mountains of Catalonia: Montseny to Montserrat

This one is a genuinely unexpected gem. The Mountains of Catalonia hike links three natural parks near Barcelona: the forests of Montseny, the rock formations of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac, and finally Montserrat, home to the famous monastery and the Black Madonna.

Three natural parks, one monastery on a mountain of rock pillars, and almost nobody from your flight will have heard of any of it.

Our 8-day Mountains of Catalonia hiking tour has 6 hiking days of 4 to 6 hours: 116.1 km (72 miles) with 5,144 m (16,880 ft) of ascent, or 108.1 km (67 miles) and 4,849 m (15,910 ft) if you skip the optional La Mola summit. There are no technical sections, and your luggage is moved for you. It’s graded Moderate to Challenging, with easier options built in, including a train that skips the final climb to Montserrat. You’ll stay everywhere from rural farmhouses to a historic stay beside the Montserrat basilica, and eat very well: wild mushrooms, local cheeses and Pla de Bages wines.

Best time to hike the Mountains of Catalonia: spring and fall. It’s not recommended from June 23 to September 15 because of the heat.

11. Spanish Pyrenees, Catalonia

The Spanish Pyrenees are raw, dramatic and far less crowded than the Alps. In Catalonia, you get the warmest climate in the Pyrenees, stone villages, Romanesque churches, and views of Puigmal, Mont Canigou and the volcanic hills of La Garrotxa.

All the drama of the Alps, a fraction of the hikers, and dinner comes with a view you’d pay extra for in Chamonix.

Our 8-day Spanish Pyrenees hiking tour runs from Ripoll to Ribes de Freser: 79.7 km (50 miles) over 6 hiking days, about 13 km (8 miles) a day, with 3,831 m (12,570 ft) of ascent. It’s graded Moderate, your luggage is moved so you only carry a daypack, and the longest day, 20 km (12 miles), has a shorter 12.4 km (8 mile) option.

Best time to hike the Spanish Pyrenees: March to June and September to November.

12. Lakes, Valleys and Peaks of Andorra, the Pyrenees

Andorra is a whole country of high Pyrenees between France and Spain, about three and a half hours by bus from Barcelona, and most hikers fly straight over the top of it on the way to the Alps. The hiking trails in Andorra climb past glacial lakes into granite cirques, and the highest of them tops out on Comapedrosa at 2,942 m (9,652 ft), with most of the country laid out below you.

You can drive across the entire country in about an hour, and still spend a week looking down on it from a different direction every day.

The two Andorra hikes worth building a trip around are Comapedrosa, the highest peak in the country, and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, Andorra’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and the last corner of the country with no road into it.

Our 8-day Andorra hiking tour links six of the best hikes in Andorra: 71.4 km (44 miles) over 6 hiking days, about 12 km (7.4 miles) a day, with 5,315 m (17,440 ft) of ascent and a glacial lake on five of the six days. It’s graded Moderate to Challenging, and your luggage is moved between hotels so you carry a daypack only.

Why Andorra is such good value: high mountain hiking in Europe usually means Alps prices and a bunk in a dormitory. Andorra starts at €1,195 per person for 8 days based on two sharing, which is less than our Tour du Mont Blanc (from €1,295, for a shorter trip), our Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites (from €1,540) and our Haute Route in the French and Swiss Alps (from €1,795). All seven nights are in 4-star hotels rather than mountain huts, and transfers, breakfasts, luggage moves, the route app with maps and GPS tracks, and a free custom training plan (valued at €300) are included.

Best time to hike in Andorra: May 1 to October 30, and mid-June to the end of September is the sweet spot.

13. Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada, Granada

The Alpujarras, on the southern slopes of Spain’s Sierra Nevada, are a side of Andalusia most visitors never find: whitewashed villages with Moorish roots, terraced valleys, and high mountain trails with huge views.

White villages, terraced valleys, and the quiet satisfaction of hiking somewhere your friends can’t pronounce yet.

Our 8-day Sierra Nevada Granada hiking tour has just two bases, 3 nights in Trevélez and 4 in Capileira, so you only change hotels once. Take the harder option each day and you’ll hike up to 103.3 km (64 miles) and climb up to 6,282 m (20,610 ft), including Mulhacén, the highest peak in mainland Spain, or swap in easier routes like Peñabón. It’s graded Moderate to Challenging. Add a day in Granada for the Alhambra before or after.

Best time to hike the Sierra Nevada: March to June and September to November, when it’s not too hot.

14. Camino de Santiago, the Last 100 km

The Camino de Santiago is the most popular pilgrimage route in Europe, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims hike it every year. It’s a good choice if you want to meet people, because you can always find someone to hike with if you want company.

You’ll set off planning a week of solitude and finish with six new friends and a group chat.

Unlike the others, it wasn’t my favorite hike. I think the scenery on the last 100 km is OK, but nothing special. Having said that, everyone I met on the trail really enjoyed it, which is why I’ve included it.

The full Camino takes about a month. If you don’t have that long, you can hike the last 100 km from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in 5 hiking days, like I did. Here’s my guide to hiking the last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago, day by day.

Best time to hike the Camino de Santiago: May and June, or September and October. I hiked it in October and loved it: warm but not too hot, with enough pilgrims to keep it interesting. July and August are the busiest months and can be very hot. You can hike the last 100 km in winter too, with shorter days, more rain and fewer pilgrims, which is lovely if it’s a personal journey and less so if you want to socialize.

15. Anaga and Teide National Park, Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa, and what I love about hiking here is the variety. Teide National Park is a volcanic lunar landscape that will make you question whether you’re still on Earth, and there are coastal hikes to beaches you can only reach on foot.

One morning you’re in a laurel forest, that afternoon you’re on Mars. Same island, same pair of boots.

I especially loved hiking in Anaga, in the north. It’s the greenest part of Tenerife, and with its lush mountains plunging into the ocean, I felt like I was hiking in Southeast Asia. Base yourself in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, right below the Anaga mountains.

Without a car, Tenerife is tricky, because many of the best hikes start and finish in different places, so a self-guided tour or a rental car makes it much easier. You’ll find lots of easy day hikes in Teide National Park and in Anaga.

Best time to hike in Tenerife: September to May. Tenerife is warmer than mainland Europe, snow in January and February doesn’t usually last long, and June to August is usually too hot for hiking.

16. Mount Teide, Tenerife

Teide is the highest mountain in Spain at 3,718 m (12,198 ft), and measured from its base on the ocean floor, it’s the third-highest volcano in the world.

Sunrise from the top is worth the alarm clock, and that’s not a sentence I say at home.

There are two ways to hike it. Advanced hikers can do it as a very long day hike and take the cable car down, or you can break it into two days with a night at the mountain hut. Volcano Teide’s guide has more on climbing Mount Teide.

Best time to hike Teide: April and May, and September and October. It’s possible all year, but snow makes winter difficult and summer is too hot.

17. La Gomera, Canary Islands

La Gomera is the second-smallest of the Canary Islands, about 100 km (62 miles) off the northwest coast of Africa, and an easy ferry ride from Tenerife. There’s also an airport. Base yourself in Valle Gran Rey on the west coast.

Tiny island, enormous ravines. Every corner opens onto a valley that looks nothing like the last one.

This volcanic island is packed with diversity and plants found nowhere else. Valleys and steep hills rise dramatically from the sea, and you can hike coastal paths, red rock, banana plantations, dry slopes covered in succulents, and lush green forest, the largest and best-preserved Laurel Forest in the world. You’ll never be bored hiking in La Gomera.

Best time to hike La Gomera: September to the end of May. The subtropical climate and Atlantic breezes keep it mild most of the year, and June to August is possible, but hot.

Related Reading: Best Hikes in Spain

The Best Coastal Hike in Croatia: Split to Dubrovnik

18. Split to Dubrovnik, Dalmatian Coast

Some of the best hiking trips in Europe aren’t in the mountains at all, and hiking the Dalmatian Coast is an experience you shouldn’t miss. Split and Dubrovnik are two of the most popular places to visit in Croatia, so why not link them in one self-guided hike, with the islands in between?

The Adriatic does a lot of your recovery work: hike in the morning, swim in the afternoon, repeat.

Our 8-day Croatia hiking tour from Split to Dubrovnik takes you to Hvar, Korčula and Mljet National Park, and to lesser-known places like Supetar, Vela Luka and Pomena that aren’t on the usual itineraries. Over 6 hiking days you’ll cover 50.8 to 84.7 km (32 to 53 miles), with 2 route choices on 2 of the 6 days. Luggage transfer is included, and it’s graded Good first trip.

Best time to hike in Croatia: April to October (we recommend spring or fall before it’s too hot). Summer is peak season on the coast, so it’s hot and busy.

The Best Hike in Ireland: the Wicklow Way

19. Wicklow Way, Ireland

The Wicklow Way is Ireland’s oldest long-distance trail, through the hills and valleys of County Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland.

Forty shades of green, a lake nicknamed after a pint, and a fire in the pub at the end of the day. Ireland knows exactly what it’s doing.

I love the trails in the Wicklow Mountains, the views over Lough Tay and the Valley of the Two Lakes, and the monastic city of Glendalough, one of the most important monastic sites in all of Ireland.

Our Wicklow Way tour runs 5 days (3 hiking days, 50.9 km/32 miles) or 8 days (6 hiking days, 89.5 km/56 miles) from Dublin to Laragh, near Glendalough, with 3-star guesthouses and B&Bs and luggage transfer included. It’s graded Good first trip. You can also read my Wicklow Way guide.

Best time to hike the Wicklow Way: March to October. I hiked it in March and really enjoyed it, despite a couple of rainy days, and winter is too wet. Our tours run from March 15 to November 15.

Best Hikes in Austria: Krimml Waterfalls and the Karwendel Alps

Like Switzerland, it’s hard to name one favorite hike in Austria. I’m a fan of hiking in Hohe Tauern National Park, Wilder Kaiser, Zillertal and Grossarl, where there are a TON of trails. Head higher in summer, or hike in the valleys (and snowshoe in winter) any time of year.

20. Krimml Waterfalls, Hohe Tauern National Park

For a day hike, visit the Krimml Waterfalls in Hohe Tauern National Park. At 380 m (1,247 ft), they’re the highest waterfalls in Austria, and an easy, well-marked trail climbs beside them, which makes for a great day trip. Base yourself in Krimml, at the foot of the falls.

Stand at the bottom and you’ll feel the spray on your face, which is half the fun.

Best time to hike to the Krimml Waterfalls: mid-April to the end of October, when the trail is open.

21. Großer Ahornboden, Karwendel Alps: the Best Fall Hike in Austria

By far THE best place to hike in fall in Austria, in my opinion, is the Großer Ahornboden (Big Maple Plain) in the Karwendel Alps. There are about 2,000 maple trees, some of them 600 years old, and the colors are spectacular. There are hikes of all lengths in the area, and you can base yourself in Hinterriss, the village in the valley below.

Autumn colour on this scale makes even the non-photographers in your group stop every ten minutes.

Best time to hike the Großer Ahornboden: fall, for the colors. The road is only open from May to October, and in winter you can cross-country ski along it.

Related Reading: The 7 Best Places to Visit in the Austrian Alps

Best Hikes in Germany: Some of the Best Day Hikes in Europe

22. Partnachklamm, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

If you could only do one day hike in Germany that’s reasonably easy, with views that far outweigh the effort, it would be this one.

The gorge roars the whole way through, and lunch with a view at the top turns the climb into a formality.

Hike from Garmisch-Partenkirchen through the gorgeous Partnachklamm gorge up to Berggasthof Eckbauer, a mountain guesthouse where you can eat lunch with views into the Austrian Alps. You can also stay the night there, and if you do, you may want to take the cable car. Base yourself in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is also where the Schachenhaus hike starts.

Best time to hike the Partnachklamm: all year, but check that the gorge is open on the Partnachklamm website before you go. It closes now and then for maintenance, or when the icicles get too big and become dangerous. It’s absolutely stunning in winter when the icicles are huge, but it’s slippery then, so be warned.

23. Schachenhaus, King Ludwig II’s Mountain Hut

For something more strenuous, start again at the Partnachklamm and hike up to the Schachenhaus, King Ludwig II’s mountain hut. It’s nowhere near as opulent as his castles, like Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee or Linderhof, but the second floor will surprise you. The king spent most of his birthdays here, celebrating with his servants.

King Ludwig II had a Moorish hall built up here, which is a lot of effort for a mountain. You’ll arrive quietly impressed by his commitment to the idea.

You can only go inside on a guided tour, and there’s a botanical garden and a mountain hut for lunch nearby.

Best time to hike to the Schachenhaus: early June to early October, when the Schachenhaus is open, because the hut is the highlight of the day.

24. Höllentalklamm, Grainau

In Grainau, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, I also love the Höllentalklamm (Hell’s Valley Gorge), another gorgeous gorge hike. Hike through it to the Höllentalangerhütte mountain hut and return the same way. For a harder option, experienced hikers can take the Alpspitzbahn cable car (or hike up), cross the Osterfelderkopf to the hut, and descend through the Höllentalklamm. There’s a small entrance fee.

Hell’s Valley Gorge sounds like marketing until you’re inside it, with the water thundering past an arm’s length away.

Best time to hike the Höllentalklamm: mid-May or late May to the end of October, depending on the year. A gate closes the gorge outside those dates, so check the opening dates for the year before you go.

Best Hikes in England and Wales: National Trails and Snowdonia

25. Coast to Coast Walk, England

The Coast to Coast is England’s most iconic long-distance trail, and one of the most challenging in the UK. It runs over 190 miles (306 km) from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea, through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, with 6,077 m (19,933 ft) of ascent.

Tradition says you finish by throwing a pebble into the North Sea. Don’t skip it. You earned that pebble.

Most hikers take 12 to 16 days, and by tradition you start by dipping your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees. Here’s our Coast to Coast Walk itinerary, day by day.

Best time to hike the Coast to Coast: spring. Summer has the most pleasant weather, but the trail gets very busy and accommodations fill up, while spring gives you warm days, fewer crowds and wildflowers.

26. Cotswold Way, England

The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile (164 km) national trail through classic English countryside, from the market town of Chipping Campden to the Roman city of Bath. Along the way, you pass pretty villages like Broadway, Stanton and Painswick, Broadway Tower, Hailes Abbey and Sudeley Castle.

Honey-coloured villages, cream teas, and a final descent into Bath. The trail practically ends in a bathtub.

Most people take 7 to 10 days, and it’s gentler than the mountain hikes in this guide. Here’s our Cotswold Way guide with an 8-day itinerary.

Best time to hike the Cotswold Way: summer has the warmest weather, but it’s peak season on the trail, so book your accommodations ahead.

27. Snowdonia Way Mountain Route, Wales

For many hikers, Snowdonia National Park is one of the best places to hike in the UK. The Snowdonia Way Mountain Route is a 122-mile (196 km) high-level version of the 97-mile (156 km) Snowdonia Way, from Machynlleth to Conwy, over some of the most famous peaks in Wales.

Wales doesn’t do gentle high routes. It does ridges, big skies and views that make every climb worth it.

It takes 9 or 10 days, and outside summer you need to be comfortable with a map and compass. Here’s the Snowdonia Way Mountain Route, stage by stage.

Best time to hike the Snowdonia Way: summer. In fall and winter, whiteouts and slippery ridges make it much harder.

The Best Hike in Scotland: the West Highland Way

28. West Highland Way, Scotland

Scotland’s first official long-distance trail is a beautiful way to experience the country. The West Highland Way is 154 km (96 miles) long, and it’s not as strenuous as the Alps hikes above, but you’ll still feel challenged. It starts fairly flat and gets steeper as you go, so you have time to find your hiking legs.

Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and the Devil’s Staircase in one trail, and a pub at the end of each day as part of the plan.

What I love most about hiking the West Highland Way is the ever-changing scenery and the warm Scottish hospitality. It’s a popular trail, so it’s easy to meet people. The route finishes in Fort William, known as the adventure capital of Scotland, and it’s worth staying on for a few days of day hikes.

Experienced hikers can also climb Ben Nevis from Fort William, the highest mountain in the UK. Be forewarned: it’s a steep climb, and the summit is often in cloud, as it was when I did it. If you want the bragging rights, you gotta do it, but add another hike with better views of the Scottish Highlands too.

Best time to hike the West Highland Way: April to October. The days get shorter towards the end of October, and fall is my pick: I hiked it in the third week of September and loved it.

Best Hikes in Greece: Samaria Gorge and Mount Zas

29. Samaria Gorge, Crete

Hiking the White Mountains of Crete should be on every hiker’s bucket list, and the one hike to do is Samaria Gorge. The trail drops 16 km (10 miles) from Xyloskalo on the Omalos Plateau, at about 1,230 m (4,035 ft), all the way down to the village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea.

Sixteen kilometres of downhill through the gorge, finishing at a beach with a taverna waiting. Not a bad way to spend a day.

Samaria Gorge is one of the longest gorges in Europe, a national park and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. You’ll follow trickling streams between towering rock walls to the narrowest point, known as the Iron Gates, and most hikers take 4 to 6 hours. There’s no road out of Agia Roumeli, so you finish with a swim and a ferry along the coast.

Base yourself in Chania, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Experienced hikers can also climb Mt. Gigilos, whose 2,080 m (6,824 ft) summit rises above the start of the gorge.

Best time to hike Samaria Gorge: May, June, September and early October. The gorge is usually open from May 1 to October 31, weather permitting, and Crete gets very hot in July and August.

30. Mount Zas, Naxos, Cyclades Islands

The Cyclades are a hiker’s paradise, with some of the best weather in Europe, and the hike to do is Mount Zas on Naxos. At 1,004 m (3,294 ft), it’s the highest peak in the Cyclades.

The view over the Cyclades is the kind that makes you sit down, eat everything in your pack and forget which ferry you booked.

From the mountain village of Filoti, the trail climbs past the Za Cave to the summit: about 9.5 km (5.9 miles) with 614 m (2,014 ft) of ascent, which takes most hikers 4 to 4.5 hours. The last stretch above the cave is rougher and steeper, and from the top you look out over Naxos and the surrounding islands.

On the days you’re not hiking, visit the Temple of Apollo and the giant Kouros statue, swim in the clear turquoise water and feast on Greek food.

Best time to hike Mount Zas: April to June and September to November. Summers are hot and crowded, so if you go then, start early.

Recommended Reading: The Top 9 Places to Hike in Greece and 22 Facts That Will Make You Want to Visit the Meteora Monasteries in Greece

Best Hikes in Portugal: Pitões das Júnias and the Seven Hanging Valleys

31. Pitões das Júnias Monastery and Waterfall, Peneda-Gerês National Park

Portugal is a perfect mix of culture, food and hiking, and Peneda-Gerês is the only national park in Portugal. It’s all forests, wildflower meadows and granite mountains, with a good chance of spotting the wild Garrano horses that roam parts of the park, plus free-roaming Cachena cows.

Wild horses, a waterfall and a ruined monastery in one short hike. Portugal is showing off.

The hike to do here starts in the stone village of Pitões das Júnias. The easy 4.3 km (2.7 mile) trail takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, with 171 m (561 ft) of ascent, and leads to the ruins of the Monastery of Santa Maria das Júnias and the Pitões das Júnias waterfall. Base yourself in Pitões das Júnias to be there early.

Afterwards, try the local Gerês honey and a glass of Vinho Verde from the nearby vineyards.

Best time to hike in Peneda-Gerês: May to October, but it gets very hot from mid-June to August.

32. Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, Algarve

The hike to do in the Algarve is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos) near Carvoeiro. It follows the clifftops for 5.7 km (3.5 miles) from Praia da Marinha to Praia de Vale Centeanes, past rock arches and hidden coves. Base yourself in Carvoeiro, at the eastern end of the trail.

Clifftops the whole way and a beach at either end, which makes this a very hard trail to rush.

It’s easy to moderate, with about 360 m (1,180 ft) of ascent, and takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way, so you can hike back the same way for an 11.4 km (7 mile) round trip. Further east, Ria Formosa Natural Park is a stop for migrating birds, including flamingos, and the fresh fish every day is well worth the effort.

Best time to hike in the Algarve: April to November. Avoid June to August if you want to skip the heat and the crowds.

Best Hikes in Europe: FAQs

Which of the Best Places to Hike in Europe Will You Choose First?

These are some of the best hikes in Europe, in my opinion, and as you can see from the variety, there’s no shortage of hiking trails in Europe. Let me know your favorites, because my list is always growing.

If you’d love to hike one of them without spending months on the planning, have a look at our self-guided hiking tours in Europe. We book the accommodations, send you the GPS routes and build your training plan, so all you have to do is show up and hike.