Trekking in Europe
For long-distance walking, Europe is unrivalled, threaded with waymarked trails that link mountain huts, ancient villages and spectacular scenery. You can walk for days carrying only a light pack, sleeping and eating well each night.
The Alps offer the grandest hut-to-hut treks, the Mediterranean and the north add rugged coastal and volcanic trails, and historic pilgrim routes cross entire countries. The network of refuges and reliable public transport makes multi-day walking easy to plan.
These are the treks worth lacing up for.
Europe's Best Treks#
The Tour du Mont Blanc The most famous trek in the Alps, a 170km circuit of Western Europe’s highest massif through France, Italy and Switzerland. Comfortable refuges and villages line the way. Most walkers complete it in ten to eleven days.
The Walker’s Haute Route The classic high-level traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt, linking the two great peaks of the Alps over a fortnight of glaciers, passes and valleys. It is more demanding than the Tour du Mont Blanc. The scenery is relentless.
The Alta Via 1, Dolomites, Italy A stunning hut-to-hut route through the heart of the pink-tinged Dolomites, passing beneath towering rock walls and WWI history. Well-spaced rifugios serve hearty food and wine. It is achievable for fit walkers.
The GR20, Corsica, France Reputed to be Europe’s toughest waymarked trail, a rugged 180km traverse of the mountainous spine of Corsica. It rewards effort with wild, empty scenery. Two weeks of demanding, rocky walking await.
The West Highland Way, Scotland Scotland’s most popular long-distance path, running 154km from near Glasgow to Fort William through lochs, moor and mountains beneath Ben Nevis. Cosy inns and bunkhouses line the route. It is a superb introduction to trekking.
The Laugavegur Trail, Iceland A surreal multi-day trek through rhyolite mountains, steaming vents, black deserts and glacial rivers in Iceland’s remote interior. Mountain huts must be booked far ahead. It is one of the world’s great short treks.
The Camino de Santiago Not one trail but a network of ancient pilgrim routes crossing Spain to the shrine at Santiago de Compostela. Walkers of all faiths and none share the road and its villages. The camaraderie is as memorable as the scenery.
The Kungsleden, Sweden The ‘King’s Trail’ runs through the Arctic wilderness of Swedish Lapland, past Sweden’s highest peak and vast tundra. Wooden huts and reindeer-herding Sami country line the way. Autumn brings a blaze of colour.
Mount Olympus, Greece The trek to the mythical home of the Greek gods climbs through forest and alpine meadow to a dramatic summit ridge. Refuges break the ascent. Reaching the top of Greece is deeply satisfying.
The Julian Alps & Triglav, Slovenia Superb hut-to-hut walking amid turquoise rivers and jagged peaks, culminating in the ascent of Triglav, Slovenia’s beloved national symbol. The trails are well marked and scenic. It is a compact alpine gem.
The Picos de Europa, Spain Dramatic limestone trekking in northern Spain, including the celebrated Cares Gorge and high routes between mountain refuges. Cheese-making villages dot the valleys. The scenery is fierce and beautiful.
The Lycian Way, Turkey A 540km waymarked coastal path along the turquoise shores of southwest Turkey, past ancient ruins, pine forest and hidden coves. Sections can be walked in a few days. Spring and autumn are ideal.