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11 Long Trails to Hike in Europe
Have you ever wanted to backpack through Europe and actually, you know, go backpacking? Then you’re in luck! Along with great history, great food, and great wine, many countries in Europe also have great hiking trails. So if you’re planning a months-long Eurotrip, or are just getting away for two weeks in the summer, make sure to check out some of the amazing hiking Europe has to offer.
1. El Camino de Santiago
Length: 500 miles
Country: Spain
Also known as St. James’s Way, the Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. While there are plenty of hostels along the path – no camping required! – the trail has gained popularity over the years, which has lead to crowds of pilgrims walking the path during the peak hiking season (June to September).
photo via
2. Tour du Mont Blanc
Length: 110 miles
Country: France, Italy, and Switzerland
Tour du Mont Blanc is one of Europe’s most popular hiking paths, circling the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps. The hike is usually completed counter-clockwise over the course of 11 days. There are several huts along the route that provide beds, bathrooms, and cooked meals, though the popularity of the hike sometimes makes it difficult to find accommodations. Unfortunately, wild camping is illegal in France.
photo via
3. Haute Route
Length: 112 miles
Country: Switzerland and France
The Haute Route starts at Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, and winds through the French and Swiss Alps to finish at the famous Matterhorn. The trip usually takes two weeks, and hikers gain 12,000 ft in elevation over 112 miles. The Haute Route is less crowded than the Tour du Mont Blanc, which means it will be easier to find accommodations at hostels. While tenting in the wilderness is perfectly legal in Switzerland, it is illegal in France.
photo: tramplite.com
4. Nordkalottruta
Length: 500 miles
Country: Norway, Sweden, and Finland
The English name for this hike is The Arctic Trail because – surprise! – the entire route is in the Arctic Circle. The trail winds through Sweden and Norway, with a brief stop in Finland, ultimately crossing international borders a total of 15 times. There are plenty of huts along the route, and wild camping is legal in all three countries. While best hiked in the summer, the Nordkalottruta can also be completed with cross-country skis during the snow season.
View more photos here.
photo via
5. Kom–Emine
Length: 447 miles
Country: Bulgaria
The Kom-Emine is Europe’s longest uninterrupted high-mountain path. The trail usually takes a little under a month to complete, and there are around 30 mountain huts to accommodate hikers. The trail goes over Botev Peak, which is the highest summit of the Balkan Mountains. Fun fact: Bulgarian runner Kiril Nikolov holds the FTK record, having completed the trail in 4 days, 13 hours, 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
photo via
6. Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls
Length: 34 miles and 16 miles
Country: Iceland
Combining these two routes together allows a hiker to witness the best of what Iceland has to offer: hot springs, glaciers, and volcanoes. Together, these trails can be completed in under a week, though they are only accessible between mid-June and late-August. There are several hostels along the route, and wild camping is legal in Iceland.
photo via
7. West Highland Way
Length: 96 miles
Country: Scotland
The West Highland Way is the most popular walking route in Scotland, with over 80,000 visitors every year. This trail allows hikers to experience the full Scottish countryside, from the pastoral landscapes, to the rugged Scottish Highlands. Wild camping in Scotland is legal, and there are several hostels and inns along the trail. In 2010, the West Highland Way was co-designated as a part of the International Appalachian Trail.
View more photos here.
photo: globetrotter-magazin.de
8. Grande Traversata delle Alpi
Length: 620 miles
Country: Italy
The Grande Traversata delle Alpi – translated as the Great Crossing of the Alps – runs through the Piedmont region of Italy. The trail is best hiked between July and September, with stopovers in small mountain villages for overnight stays. According to the GTA website, overcrowding is not an issue, as managers of hostels and inns will “find accommodation for everyone in homes (or barns) of the village”. Now that’s some Italian hospitality!
9. Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
Length: 186 miles
Country: Wales
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs along the shoreline of Britain’s only coastal national park, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The path passes 58 beaches, 14 harbors, and goes over more than 100 footbridges. While wild camping is not allowed in the park, there are a number of campsites for hikers, as well as hostels, B&Bs, pubs and inns for hikers to enjoy.
photo via
10. Kungsleden
Length: 270 miles
Country: Sweden
Kungsleden, which translates to The King’s Trail, is a hiking path in Northern Sweden. This trail passes through the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Europe. There are 21 huts along the trail and, for a small fee, hikers can pitch their tents right outside them. The peak hiking season is from June to September, and the trail can also be crossed on skis during the winter season.
View more photos here.
photo: mountainhikingholidays.com
11. Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail
Length: 370 miles
Country: Slovenia
The Slovenian Mountain Hiking Trail is the oldest hiking track in Europe. This trail covers all the Alpine ranges in Slovenia: Kamnik Alps, Karavanke, and Julian Alps. There are 58 huts and two museums on the trail, and the route also passes through the Škocjan Caves.
View more photos here.
BONUS!
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Cinque Terre Coastal Trail
Length: 8 miles
Country: Italy
While not a long trail by any means – you could hike the entire Cinque Terre Coastal Trail in a day – the beauty of this path is not to be missed. The distance is perfect for a weekend getaway, and the little fishing towns along the route are wonderfully romantic. If you’re looking to spend some time exploring the towns, consider staying the night at a hotel. There is a train you can hop on at the end of your hike to return you to the start of your trip.
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Comments 6
In France, wild camping (staying a few days in a non designated camping spot) is forbidden however you can stealth camp in most National Parks usually from 7 pm to 8 am (no one will check if you leave your spot at 8.30 :)) and generally speaking if you are one hour walking from any entry of the park, you should be totally fine. Along any GR (Grande Randonnée > long trails of France), you can usually stealh camp without too many issues since you are arriving late and leaving early. Otherwise, you can try talking to farmers, I had no issues pitching my tent i fields along the GR10 every night when i was not in the forest.
There is more info here but it’s in French 🙁
https://www.lecampingsauvage.fr/legislation-et-reglementation/camping-sauvage-bivouac
Other amazing long trails in French;
– GR10 : crossing the Pyrenees from Hendaye (Atlantic Ocean) to the Mediteranean sea.
– GR20 : crossing Corsica through the middle – gorgeous views!
– Stevenson Way, etc, etc!
Many trails to do in France 🙂
You can legally bivouac in France. Like along the GR70, pyrenees, les ecrins, les ardennes. Actually it is allowed everywhere unles its stated as forbidden (certain nature reserves f.i.)
Thanks I took notes from your post.
The Lycian Way in Turkey is absolutely beautiful (although it´s not located is the european part of Turkey ).
Thanks for the information – what a great list! Hoping to do at least 1 when this pandemic ends.
Hey Kat! Pegleg and I were reading this article when I scrolled down and saw that you were the author! 😀 Hope you’re doing great and staying trashy my friend