These five destinations deliver the best combination of scenery, trail quality, and accessibility. Ranked from great to greatest. These are the 5 best hiking destinations across Europe.
#5 — Cinque Terre, Italy
Five colorful villages connected by coastal cliff trails above the Mediterranean. This is hiking for people who want views, food, and swimming built into the same day.
Why it's here: The trails connect Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore along cliffs overlooking the sea. Hike a section in the morning, eat seafood pasta for lunch, swim in the afternoon, take the train back. Few hiking destinations offer that rhythm.
Know before you go: Some trail sections close periodically due to landslides or maintenance — check current trail status before your trip. Summer is brutally hot and crowded; shoulder season is dramatically better. Some sections require a Cinque Terre Card for access.
Image of Cinque Terre, Italy
#4 — Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
Wild, moody, and vast. The Highlands feel remote in a way most of Europe doesn't. Glens, lochs, munros (peaks over 3,000 feet), and weather that changes by the hour.
Why it's here: The West Highland Way (154 km, Glasgow to Fort William) is one of Europe's classic long-distance walks. The Isle of Skye delivers otherworldly rock formations. Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak and a satisfying single-day summit. And with the heat waves hammering southern Europe, the Highlands' cool weather has become a genuine selling point.
Know before you go: Weather is unpredictable year-round — waterproofs are mandatory, not optional. Midges (tiny biting insects) are relentless in summer, especially near water at dawn and dusk. Bring repellent.
Image of Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
#3 — Picos de Europa, Spain
Northern Spain's limestone mountain range, and one of Europe's most underrated hiking regions. Dramatic gorges, high peaks, and a fraction of the crowds you'll find in the Alps.
Why it's here: The Ruta del Cares is a path carved into a gorge wall, running roughly 12 km between Poncebos and Caín with sheer drops and constant views. The Fuente Dé cable car lifts you into high mountain terrain in minutes. The region combines serious mountain scenery with green valleys, mountain cheese (Cabrales), and Asturian cider culture.
Know before you go: This is northern Spain — it's greener and cooler than the south because it rains more. Weather can shift quickly at altitude. The Cares Gorge trail gets busy in August; go early in the day.
Image of Picos de Europa, Spain
#2 — Norwegian Fjords, Norway
Trolltunga. Preikestolen. Romsdalseggen. The fjord region delivers the most dramatic single-viewpoint hikes in Europe — trails that end at cliff edges suspended over deep blue water.
Why it's here: The payoff-per-hike ratio is unmatched. Preikestolen is a half-day hike ending at a flat rock platform 604 meters above Lysefjord. Trolltunga is a full-day commitment ending at a rock tongue jutting over a lake far below. And with coolcations booming, Norway's 14-22°C summer weather makes all-day hiking genuinely comfortable while southern Europe swelters.
Know before you go: Trolltunga is long, start extremely early and check conditions. Norwegian weather changes fast; pack layers even in summer. Norway is expensive, so budget accordingly. Trails are busiest in July-August.
Image of Norwegian Fjords, Norway
#1 — The Dolomites, Italy
The best hiking destination in Europe. Jagged limestone towers, green alpine meadows, mountain huts serving fresh pasta at 2,000+ meters, and infrastructure that makes serious mountain hiking accessible to almost anyone.
Why it's #1: No other region combines scenery, trail variety, and comfort like this. The Tre Cime loop circles three iconic rock towers in about 10 km of mostly gentle trail. The Alta Via 1 lets you trek hut-to-hut for a week without carrying a tent, sleeping in rifugios with hot meals and real beds. Cable cars put high-altitude ridgelines within reach of casual hikers. The scenery is so distinctive — pale vertical rock erupting from green meadows — that it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Know before you go: Book rifugios well in advance for summer, especially on the Alta Via routes. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July-August, so start hikes early. Popular trailheads (especially Tre Cime) fill parking early or require reservations in peak season.
Image of Dolomites, Italy
Practical Tips for Hiking in Europe
- Download offline maps before you go. Apps like AllTrails let you download trail maps for offline use — essential in mountain areas where signal drops. Download while you have data, not at the trailhead.
- Start early. Beats crowds, beats afternoon heat, and beats mountain thunderstorms, which typically build in the afternoon.
- Layer up regardless of forecast. Mountain weather changes fast everywhere on this list. A waterproof shell and a warm layer belong in your pack even on sunny days.
- Check trail conditions before travel. Trails close for maintenance, landslides, or weather. Verify current status close to your trip date.
- Respect your fitness level. The difference between a great day and a miserable one is picking the right trail. Ratings and recent reviews on hiking apps help calibrate.
Quick Pick Guide
Want views with minimal effort? Dolomites (cable cars) or Cinque Terre.
Want one iconic photo hike? Norwegian Fjords (Preikestolen or Trolltunga).
Want to escape crowds? Picos de Europa.
Want cool weather? Scottish Highlands or Norway.
Want the complete package? Dolomites. It's #1 for a reason.
Stay Connected on the Trail
Hiking abroad makes connectivity more important, not less. You need data to download offline maps, check weather and trail conditions, coordinate pickups, and reach help if something goes wrong. Get a Europe eSIM before you travel so you have data across Italy, Norway, Spain, and the UK on one plan — no roaming charges, no hunting for local SIM cards between countries.
Hiking across Europe this summer? One eSIM covers every destination on this list.
Get Europe eSIM from Globie →The Bottom Line
Europe's best hiking spans coastal village paths (Cinque Terre), wild highlands (Scotland), underrated gorges (Picos de Europa), dramatic fjord viewpoints (Norway), and the complete alpine package (Dolomites).
Pick based on what you want: comfort, drama, solitude, or cool weather. Download your maps, start early, pack layers, and go.
