As most people already know, walking holidays in Europe are a perfect way to escape your daily routine while being active outdoors. Walking holidays allow you to experience parts of a destination that you may not otherwise see, while experiencing the rewarding nature of walking/hiking around rather than simply laying on a beach or relaxing in a holiday rental.
But, for all my fellow Insta-savvy travelers, there’s an added benefit – endless picture opportunities in some of the most stunning landscapes! Europe truly has so many incredible destinations for stunning walking holidays, from mountainous treks to more unchallenging yet equally picturesque walks in flatter landscapes.
So, here are ten amazing destinations for walking holidays in Europe for you to experience!
Portugal’s Coast
Portugal is home to one of Europe’s most popular walking trails, Rota Vicentina. The Fishermen’s Trail, in particular, is a beautiful route with 89 kilometers of coastal landscapes. This path follows ancient fishing villages through dramatic cliffs and golden beaches, offering breathtaking views of the Portuguese coastline.
The Fishermen’s trail also covers around 75 kilometres of the picturesque Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina National Park. And, if you decide to travel in the spring, you may also observe storks nesting on the cliffs.
This stunning European walking holiday allows the opportunity to do more challenging lengths of walking, or takeit easy and enjoy untouched beaches and waves. It’s up to you to decide your holiday, but it’s sure to be stunning either way.
Scottish Highlands
Scotland is another destination with spectacular nature and, therefore, lots of opportunities for great walks and snaps. You can do hundreds of shorter walks, or commit to some iconic longer trails while are sure to impress with varying landscapes.
The West Highland Way is a popular walking trail, stretching from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William, a municipality on Scotland’s west coast. This 152 km route takes you through the magnificent Scottish wilderness, including lakes, mountains, lochs, and valleys. It’s definitely for more advanced walkers, or you can choose your favorite part to walk while you learn facts about the Scottish Highlands.
Slovenian Alps
Although less well-known than the likes of Italy and Portugal, Slovenia is a must-visit destination with incredible nature. The country is home to the Julian Alps mountain range, with a vast selection of scenic walking trails available in the area.
One of the most visited is the route circling Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, and passing the beloved local attraction of Lake Bled. The crystal-clear lakes and the dramatic mountains make for a perfect background. For an easier walking holiday, there are trails around the beautiful Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj that are equally worthwhile.
Spain’s Camino de Santiago
Spain is a very well-known destination for walking holidays, as it is the original place for the ancient pilgrimage routes of Camino de Santiago. With so many different trails to choose from, something is available for every taste along the 825 km long Camino de Santiago.
Some of the paths are based in nature, while others focus more on medieval towns and historical landmarks. The most popular Camino routes are Camino Frances, Camino Portugues, and Camino del Norte.
However, there are dozens of others to pick from. Regardless of your choice, you can be sure that each trail will feature a number of picturesque spots, plenty of cheap tapas and wine, mountain/coastal views, and new friends and perspectives along the way.
Italian Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast in Italy boasts one of the most stunning vistas in the whole of the Mediterranean. With charming clifftop villages and lemon groves along the way, the walking trails here are nothing short of picture-perfect.
The Path of the Gods is a popular hiking route that connects Amalfi’s colorful towns with coastal viewpoints from clifftops. It’s definitely hilly and can be tough at times, but being rewarded with the most jaw-dropping colorful coastal towns (and dips in the sea) makes it more than worthwhile!
Greek Islands
Greece is known for its jaw-dropping islands with some of the most photogenic walking holidays in Europe. In Santorini, for instance, you may walk along the Santorini Caldera cliff, from which views of the infamous whitewashed villages open up, with the background of the Aegean Sea.
In the largest of Greece’s islands, Crete, the Samaria Gorge offers ample hiking adventures through Europe’s longest canyons and gorgeous sceneries. Corfu is also a great island for walking holidays, with trails through traditional villages and scented orange groves.
There are walking holidays in Greece for every adventure and skill level, from leisurely walks to more intense treks. Which one will you choose?
French Loire Valley
France offers many European walking holiday destinations around the whole country, but the Loire Valley, also known as the “Garden of France” presents a truly unique experience.
Starting at Chinon and finishing at Amboise, this 7-day walking trip takes you through incredible medieval cities, castles of ancient royalty, magnificent vineyards, and historic fortresses. Not only is this journey brimming of beautiful photography opportunities, it is also an opportunity to learn lots about the French history as well as savour delicious local wines.
This is one of the best walking holidays in Europe to enjoy culture, food, wine, and walking and appreciate a lot of history along the way.
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is a destination of unmatched Mediterranean charm. The most popular city here, Dubrovnik, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich history. The entire coastline is popular for walking and also biking/sailing tours, too.
The trails in the region around the ancient cities of Split and Dubrovnik will include visiting the Peljesac Peninsula, the vineyards in the Konavle region, the Elaphite Islands, and, of course, a tour around Dubrovik’s “Pearl of the Adriatic,” which features in one of the most popular TV series of all times – “Game of Thrones.”
A walking holiday in Croatia will likely involve a lot of sun, delicious Mediterranean food, and wine too! While there are definitely some larger mountains to scale, much as Mt Biokovo in the Makarska Riviera, many walks here are more leisurely and relaxed.
Transylvania in Romania
The mythical region of Transylvania, known for its vampire legends and colorful churches, is situated amongst the natural landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. It’s more remote but truly worth visiting for the stunning landscapes and history.
In addition to exploring the medieval villages and the attractive castles here, you can also go on hikes surrounded by dramatic mountainous sceneries. The nearby Piatra Craiului National Park, in particular, is a must-visit with limestone ridges and traditional mountain villages, with great views into the medieval Transylvania for a unique European walking holiday.
Swiss Alps
Last, but certainly not least, the Swiss Alps is a paradise for nature-based walking holiday enthusiasts. Contrary to how it may sound, there are walking holidays for a gentle adventure here aswell as for intense, high-level trekkers and climbers.
The region around Lake Oeschinen is truly spectacular, with a wide range of UNESCO World Heritage trails in the area. The views of the alpine lakes and the snow-capped peaks speak for themselves, while the traditional Swiss villages are a great stop for a local meal. The Bernese Highlands, only a short drive away from Bern, will dazzle you with its countless hills and lush valleys.
Booking Walking Holidays in Europe
Planning a walking holiday requires more time and research than a regular holiday, since you have to pick the best route for your needs and fitness level, pre-book accommodation in advance, and draw up a realistic itinerary for each day. If doing all that is not your strongest suit, you can use a travel agency to help you.
Orbis Ways is a travel agency specializing in walking holidays, including the Camino de Santiago routes. Based on your specific requirements, they will plan and book the perfect walking holiday for you, taking care of accommodation booking, luggage transfers, airport pick-ups, and any other services. The trips can be either guided or self-guided, depending on your preferences. So, all that is left for you to do is embracing the adventure and creating memories in these beautiful destinations!
Final word
Whether you are looking for a stroll around medieval towns or a rewarding hike in the Alps, Europe has you covered for some of the most incredible walking trips in the whole world! And, each of these walking holidays is guaranteed to have the perfect background for epic travel photos.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.