Europe’s most beautiful walking routes: 10 highlights for active holidays

Contents:

• Tour du Mont Blanc: A classic Alpine trek around Europe’s highest peak
• Alta Via 1: Hiking through the Dolomites
• Haute Route: A spectacular trek from Chamonix to Zermatt
• West Highland Way: The Highlands, lakes and vast landscapes
• Kungsleden: Nordic expanses in Swedish Lapland
• Peaks of the Balkans: Three countries, one extraordinary mountain experience
• GR20: Corsica’s great challenge
• Malerweg: Germany’s most beautiful rocky trail
• Camino de Santiago: The famous Way of St James through Spain
• Fishermen’s Trail: Coastal hiking along the Atlantic
• Conclusion: Ten trails that will whet your appetite for a walking holiday

Tour du Mont Blanc: A classic Alpine trek around Europe’s highest peak

The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the great classics amongst Europe’s long-distance hiking trails and delights with impressive Alpine panoramas, varied stages and authentic mountain hut charm. The route circles the Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy and Switzerland, beautifully combining high-Alpine landscapes, green alpine meadows and charming mountain villages.

• Length: approx. 170 km
• Duration: usually 7 to 11 days
• Difficulty: moderate to high – significant elevation gain, but with great mountain huts and various options for descending into the valley
• Highlights: the panoramic views around Mont Blanc, the unique ‘three-country’ atmosphere and the mix of alpine meadows, glaciers and typical mountain villages such as Chamonix and Courmayeur

Alta Via 1: Hiking through the Dolomites

The Alta Via 1 is one of Italy’s best-known long-distance hiking trails and is ideal for anyone wishing to experience the Dolomites to the full over several days. Striking rock faces, high-altitude trails offering spectacular views and rustic mountain huts make this route a real highlight for active holidays. The combination of stunning mountain scenery, easily planned stages and that typical Dolomite atmosphere is particularly appealing.

• Length: over 120 km
• Duration: usually 8 to 10 days
• Difficulty: moderate – a good level of fitness and sure-footedness are essential, though technical climbing skills are generally not required on the classic route
• Highlights: spectacular Dolomite panoramas, high-altitude trails with stunning views, cosy mountain huts and the impressive mix of rocky landscapes, alpine pastures and mountain lakes

Haute Route: A spectacular trek from Chamonix to Zermatt

The Haute Route is one of the most impressive Alpine crossings in Europe and links two legendary mountain resorts: Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. The route is aimed at experienced walkers who appreciate high-Alpine landscapes, long stages and spectacular views. It is precisely the combination of towering peaks, glaciers, remote valleys and rustic mountain huts that makes this tour a special experience for active holidays.

• Length: approx. 180 to 200 km
• Duration: usually 10 to 14 days
• Difficulty: high – long stages, significant elevation gain and some challenging sections require excellent fitness and sure-footedness
• Highlight: the impressive Alpine scenery between Chamonix and Zermatt, spectacular passes, high-Alpine landscapes and the feeling of experiencing one of Europe’s great long-distance hikes

The West Highland Way: the Highlands, lochs and sweeping landscapes

The West Highland Way is one of Scotland’s best-known long-distance walking routes and captivates visitors with its rugged natural beauty, vast skies and quintessential Highland atmosphere. Starting in Milngavie, near Glasgow, the route leads through green valleys, alongside lochs and ever deeper into the wild landscape of the Scottish Highlands, all the way to Fort William. It is precisely this combination of an easily accessible long-distance walking route and stunning natural scenery that makes the West Highland Way a particularly attractive choice for active holidays.

• Length: approx. 154 km
• Duration: usually 6 to 8 days
• Difficulty: moderate – the route is well within reach, but requires a solid level of fitness and stamina over several stages
• Highlights: atmospheric Highland landscapes, Loch Lomond, vast moorland and the special feeling of experiencing Scotland intimately on foot

Kungsleden: Nordic expanses in Swedish Lapland

The Kungsleden is one of Scandinavia’s best-known long-distance hiking trails and is ideal for anyone seeking wide open spaces, tranquillity and unspoilt nature. The route winds through Swedish Lapland and delights hikers with open mountain landscapes, clear waters, sweeping valleys and a very special sense of freedom. Compared to the classic Alpine routes in particular, the Kungsleden feels quieter, more unspoilt and less hectic – which is precisely what makes it so appealing to many. 

• Length: approx. 450 km along the entire route between Abisko and Hemavan 
• Duration: usually 20 to 25 days for the full route; shorter sections such as Abisko–Nikkaluokta, taking around 5 to 7 days, are also popular 
• Difficulty: moderate to high – less technical than many Alpine routes, but the length, changeable weather and remote location require a good level of fitness and some trekking experience 
• Highlights: vast Nordic landscapes, secluded sections, the atmosphere of reindeer herding and Lapland, and a unique experience of nature far removed from the major Alpine classics 

Peaks of the Balkans: Three countries, one extraordinary mountain experience

Peaks of the Balkans is one of the most impressive long-distance hiking trails in South-Eastern Europe and is ideal for anyone seeking unspoilt mountain landscapes, secluded valleys and authentic stop-off points. On the route through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, walkers experience spectacular nature, breathtaking mountain panoramas and a unique sense of traversing three countries. It is precisely this blend of alpine scenery, uncrowded trails and cultural diversity that makes this route a real hidden gem for active holidays.

• Length: approx. 192 km 
• Duration: usually 10 to 12 days 
• Difficulty: medium to high – the route is generally considered easy to moderate, but requires a good level of fitness, suitable mountain kit and some preparation, as individual sections are remote 
• Highlights: wild mountain landscapes, secluded valleys, traditional guesthouses and the unique experience of crossing three countries in a single hike

GR20: Corsica’s Great Challenge

The GR20 is one of Europe’s most legendary long-distance hiking trails and is regarded as one of the continent’s most demanding routes. It crosses Corsica from north to south, winding its way through a wild, at times very alpine mountain landscape featuring rugged cliffs, ridges offering spectacular views, mountain lakes and charming stop-off points. It is precisely this combination of physical challenge, spectacular natural beauty and a genuine sense of adventure that makes the GR20 a real highlight for very active holidays. 

• Length: approx. 180 to 200 km 
• Duration: usually 12 to 16 days; officially, the route is often described as comprising 16 stages 
• Difficulty: high – excellent fitness, sure-footedness, suitable kit and thorough preparation are essential, as the route frequently reaches altitudes of around 2,000 metres, involves significant elevation gain per stage and is tricky in places 
• Highlight: the wild Corsican mountain landscape, spectacular ridges and rocky sections, high-altitude lakes and the special feeling of experiencing one of Europe’s most challenging long-distance hikes

Malerweg: Germany’s most beautiful rocky trail

The Malerweg is one of Germany’s most beautiful long-distance hiking trails and demonstrates just how impressive hiking holidays can be, even away from the High Alps. The route winds through Saxon Switzerland and delights visitors with striking rock formations, table mountains offering stunning views, gorges, forests and a constant succession of spectacular panoramic vistas. Particularly appealing is the combination of experiencing nature, easily planned stages and the unique cultural backdrop, as the trail follows in the footsteps of famous Romantic landscape painters. 

• Length: approx. 116 km 
• Duration: usually 8 days; officially recommended in 8 stages 
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging – whilst the stages, ranging from 11 to 18 km, are certainly manageable, the significant elevation gain should not be underestimated 
• Highlights: bizarre rock formations, famous viewpoints in Saxon Switzerland and the unique blend of nature, culture and the hiking experience 

Camino de Santiago: The famous Way of St James through Spain

The Camino de Santiago is one of Europe’s best-known long-distance walking routes and is far more than just a classic long-distance trail. It is the combination of nature, culture, history and a special pilgrimage atmosphere that makes it so unique. For many, the Camino Francés is the best-known and most memorable route: it passes through a wide variety of landscapes, connects towns and villages steeped in tradition, and offers a well-developed infrastructure that makes it easy to plan a hike, even over a longer period. 

• Length: approx. 780 to 930 km, depending on the route definition and starting point; the Camino Francés is considered the best-known route. 
• Duration: usually around 4 to 6 weeks for the entire route; however, many people also walk just individual stages or the final 100 km to Santiago. 
• Difficulty: moderate – less technically demanding than many long-distance Alpine trails, but the distance, the daily stages and changing weather conditions require stamina and good planning. 
• Highlight: the unique blend of scenery, historic sites, the pilgrimage tradition and the feeling of moving closer to Santiago de Compostela with every step.

Fishermen’s Trail: Coastal walking along the Atlantic

The Fishermen’s Trail is one of Europe’s most beautiful coastal walking routes and deliberately adds a touch of variety to this list. On Portugal’s south-west coast, the landscape is characterised by wild Atlantic cliffs, unspoilt beaches, dune landscapes and small villages – rather than high mountains and mountain huts, the focus here is on walking by the sea. It is precisely this blend of open spaces, wind, sea views and unspoilt nature that makes the route so special. As the trail follows narrow coastal paths and includes many sandy sections, it is often more physically demanding than it appears at first glance.

• Length: approx. 226.5 km 
• Duration: usually 13 stages; shorter sections are also popular 
• Difficulty: moderate to quite challenging – the numerous sandy sections, the wind and the proximity to the cliffs in particular make the route more strenuous 
• Highlight: the impressive Atlantic coast, rugged cliffs, unspoilt beaches and the special feeling of experiencing Europe on foot, not in the high mountains but right by the sea

Conclusion: Ten ways to whet your appetite for a walking holiday

Whether it’s classic high-alpine routes, wild coastal paths or vast Nordic landscapes: Europe’s most beautiful hiking trails demonstrate just how varied active holidays can be. Each route has its own character and offers unique experiences of nature, breathtaking views and unforgettable stages. Anyone looking to combine exercise, scenery and the thrill of travel is sure to find inspiration here for their next hiking trip.