These Are the Greatest Hiking Trails in Europe

15 Sep These Are the Greatest Hiking Trails in Europe

Passionate hikers are always looking for new places to explore. With 44 countries with diverse landscapes, Europe offers plenty of breathtaking natural sites. We have made a list comprising of some of the greatest hiking trails in Europe.

Slovenian Mountain Trail, Slovenia 

The Slovenian Mountain Trail connects all the marvelous mountain ranges of Slovenia: Pohorje, Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Karavanke, and the highest one, Triglav. Triglav is the country’s national symbol, and its highest peak is at 9,396 feet. Hiking this mountain is a rite of passage for Slovenians and outsider hikers.

The trail features a diversity of landscapes from mountain ridges, peaks, Pannonian plains, plateaus and hills, valleys with picturesque lakes and distinctive karst topography. 49 huts dot the trail, with the patch connecting five towns among 23 peaks.

There are two ways to reach the summit, with both routes having ferratas or fixed cables to help climbers to ascend more easily through the narrow paths. 

Caucasus Mountains, Georgia 

Hiking in the arid Caucasus Mountains of Georgia will take you to new unexplored places even if you are an experienced hiker, as the path was opened in recent years. Here you will be able to see deer, chamois, and marmot, as well as different lakes, sky-high peaks, as you go through medieval villages and towns.

Haute Route, France & Switzerland

From the foot of Mont Blanc in France, the highest massif in Western Europe, the Haute Route will take you to the stunning mountain of Switzerland, Matterhorn. While most of these hills have a reputation for being the best skiing locations, in the summertime, this 200-kilometer-long trek comes to life to offer lush, green landscapes. The route has a total of 11 passes, with peaks that reach altitudes of 12,000 meters, and includes ten of the twelve highest peaks of the Alps.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a perfect spot for hikers who adore abundant natural scenery. With plenty of picturesque, turquoise lakes, and majestic waterfalls which are connected through sturdy wooden walkways, this trek will make you feel that 8 hours have passed in just a few minutes. From Lake Kozjak, you take a ferry boat ride which can go to any of the two halves of the park and its sixteen lakes that are all hidden in rich, green foliage.

Kungsleden, Sweden

Set in the most northern part of Sweden, Kungsleden (The King’s Trail) crosses one of the last untouched spots of wilderness in Western Europe. Be it in the summer or in the winter, Kungsleden presents an unforgettable Arctic scenery with towering glaciers, tundra, and birch forests, with the impressive Mount Kebnekaise in the backdrop. There are five trail sections that you can take on this route, with some more accessible for the novice hikers.

With this, we end our list of the greatest hiking trails in Europe. If you’re on the old continent and a hiking enthusiast, be sure to check at least one of these locations.