The 22 Most Scenic Walks in Europe

Weaving around the waterways of East London, this little-known 7.7-kilometre public art trail is a hidden gem showcasing contemporary works by the likes of high-profile artists like Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin. The collection is ever-evolving, with historical architecture and natural landmarks also highlighted along the way to complete the London picture. Walking the entire route takes about four hours but you’ll want to factor in a stop for street food at the Design District Canteen, where you can sample everything from sSouthern Chinese youtiao donuts to Greek gyros, before taking a leisurely scenic ride above it all in the Emirates Cable Car.

An enchanting string of five pastel-hued villages on the Italian Riviera, the famed Cinque Terre isn’t short on views. The Sentiero Azzurro (or literally "Blue Path") that skirts the sea and connects the towns is one of the best ways to explore the area – if tackled in one go, the 12-kilometre track can be completed in six hours but many give themselves several days to take in the historic ports, stunning sandy beaches and waterfront gelaterias. Visit after the peak of summer to enjoy the area without the crowds.

Billing itself as the chance to explore an entire country on a single route, this 75-kilometre trail crisscrosses through each of tiny Liechtenstein’s 11 towns. The whole trail can be finished in two to five days and passes fairytale-pretty castles, the lush Rhine River valley, vineyards and plenty of places to stop for a slice of jam-filled Linzer torte. Visitors can also portion the trail into smaller, easier stages, starting at any point – the best way to navigate your route and book accommodation is through the official LIstory app.

Explore the birthplace of bubbly on the picturesque hiking trails around Épernay in the country’s north, which range from a strollable four to a more immersive 18 kilometres. A good midpoint? The eight-kilometre Seven Winds loop takes in valleys and vineyards, the Vine and Wine Museum, blooming nature reserves and 12th-century churches. For multi-day treks, companies like Sentiers de France offer self-guided packages that include accommodation, meals and luggage transport.

For those seeking solitude amid pristine wilderness, Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail can’t be beaten. Linking the towns of Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, the 160-kilometre, eight-day route is only for experienced hikers – tracks can be rough, there’s no phone coverage and even in a guided group, you’ll need to carry your own camping equipment and food. Intrepid travellers are well rewarded with unspoilt and uninterrupted views of ice caps and the undulating Arctic tundra, practically all to themselves.   

Snow-capped peaks, mirror-like lakes, pretty edelweiss and seemingly endless stretches of emerald valleys await on this 170-kilometre loop around the highest peak in western Europe. Usually taking between 10 and 14 days, you’ll stop into stays en route. Accommodation options range from simple huts to village hotels such as Auberge du Bois Prin in Chamonix, France. The trail is at its busiest in July and August, so it’s best to book ahead.

Multi-coloured rhyolite mountains, black lava fields and gasp-inducing glacial landscapes make the Laugavegur Trail Iceland’s most famous. The 55-kilometre trek generally takes four days, starting in the geothermal town of Landmannalaugar and finishing in the forested valley of Þórsmörk. Though challenging (and seasonally sensitive), the path is well maintained and marked, with huts along the way serving as basic but welcome refuge from the elements.

Tracing the craggy coast of Türkiye’s Tekke Peninsula, the country’s first long-distance hiking trail covers more than 500 kilometres and traces territory that was once ancient Lycia. You don’t have to take the whole route to see its splendour, however: along-the-way highlights include 6th-century ruins at Xanthos, seaside cliffs, Byzantine monasteries, rural villages and spectacular beaches «such as the 18-kilometre stretch (yes, really) at Patara. Completing the full length from Fethiye to Antalya takes over a month but can easily be broken down into smaller sections.

This 200-kilometre trail runs north to south on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. It’s not for the faint of heart: during the two-week trek – one of the toughest in Europe – walkers traverse the isle’s central wilderness, much of which sits 2000 metres above sea level. Epic panoramas are well worth the effort, not to mention the brocciu (soft sheep’s cheese) and charcuterie served in huts and hotels throughout.

Near Greece’s Albanian border, the town of Meteora is home to six monasteries that perch precariously atop natural sandstone spires. It’s possible to visit them all in one day on foot — the eight-kilometre walk around the UNESCO World Heritage Site takes four to five hours, with time to marvel at the 15th-century architecture and surrounding wildflower-filled countryside. Or, you can simply choose a few and admire the rest from afar. Though technical hiking equipment isn’t needed, with rocky terrain like this, sturdy shoes are a must.

Walking (or “tramping” to the locals) the Cotswold Way, you’ll chance upon quintessentially English countryside scenes: green fields, beech woodlands, stately homes and picturesque villages with plenty of honey-hued stone. The 160-kilometre trail starts in Chipping Campden and snakes southwest to historic Bath — take on the full path in seven to ten days, or pick one of its more achievable 15 sections. Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill (nine kilometres) is particularly beautiful as it weaves through gardens at 15th-century Sudeley Castle and the Cotswolds’ highest point, Cleeve Hill.

Following the former border that encircled West Berlin during the Cold War, this 160-kilometre path is open to both walkers and cyclists. Choose your portion wisely and you can pass Checkpoint Charlie, history hubs, the indoor/outdoor Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery — a 1.3 kilometre stretch of wall splashed with more than 100 murals. The trail is divided into 14 sections, each between seven and 21 kilometres, so you can walk as little or as long as you like.

Opened in 2024, the Stockholm Archipelago Trail connects 20 islands off Sweden’s east coast, spanning 270 kilometres with a mix of new and existing paths. All 22 sections can be reached by public ferry and offer a range of experiences, from easy beach walks and stroller-friendly forest paths to more challenging outcrops. While one-night camping is allowed on most islands (and some have designated campsites), it’s hard to resist the appeal of waterfront hotels like Nynäs Havsbad and Sandhamn Seglarhotell, where water views and rejuvenating saunas beckon.

The inspiration for New York’s High Line, the Promenade Plantée is an elevated park built atop a revitalised railway structure in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. Also known as Coulée verte René-Dumont, the path stretches for five kilometres between the Bastille and the Bois de Vincennes and leads wanderers through gardens ranging from manicured rose beds and fragrant lavender to wild, self-seeded flowers.

Beginning at the base of the Grossglockner — Austria’s highest mountain — the Alpe-Adria Trail winds through Slovenia to Muggia on the Italian coast. Though ambitious in length (43 stages totalling around 750 kilometres) the easy-to-moderate route has been designed with pleasure hikers in mind, running mainly through less challenging non-alpine areas. Highlights include the imposing glaciers of Hohe Tauern National Park and postcard-perfect Lake Bled, with its church-topped island. 

An ancient path restored by local volunteers, the Andros Route winds its way from the north to the south of this under-the-radar Greek Island. In addition to rocky mountain ranges, citrus groves, clusters of cypress trees and shimmering beaches on the shores of the Aegean, hikers can take in whitewashed fishing villages like Batsi and the Byzantine Panachrantos Monastery. The 10-day hike covers 100 kilometres and starts at the watermill ruins in Frousei but its shorter options, such as the 2.5-3-hour slice from Ormos Korthiou to Upper Castle (Epano Kastro) and Dipotamata, provides a stunning snapshot of rugged, rural landscapes and even a castle, elevated at an impressive 600 metres.

Linking the hilltop towns of Agerola and Nocelle some 600 metres above the Amalfi coast, the eight-kilometre Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) delivers breathtaking — and sometimes dizzying — views. Look down to see the tiled domes of Positano and out to islands like Capri across the sparkling Mediterranean. A reasonable level of fitness is required to manage the steep inclines, uneven terrain and 1500 steps of the final descent.

One of the most famous pilgrimages in the world, references to this 900-kilometre journey were first recorded during the 9th century. Today, Christians and the non-religious alike follow the network of trails to the shrine of Saint James in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, northwest Spain. A popular starting point is Porto, Portugal and the 10- to 14-day route includes ancient Roman roads, quaint villages, under-the-radar wine regions and even the hot springs of Caldas de Reis.

The Czech Republic’s easternmost region is often called Moravian Tuscany thanks to its uncanny resemblance to the landscape in Italy (think rolling hills, colourful patchwork fields and rows upon rows of grapevines). Soak in the scenery, practise your photography skills and sample local wines on this six-kilometre, two-hour trail that starts in Šardice and ends in the tiny village of Stavěšice (population 365).

England’s longest marked trail, this 1014-kilometre route skirts the Cornish coast from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Expect dramatic cliffscapes, windswept beaches, expansive grassy hills and seaside towns such as St Ives and Penzance, with ample accommodation and cheerful pubs for a pint at day’s end. It takes more than 50 days to complete in full but coastal villages dot the path, making shorter sections easy to plan.

Reaching up to 25 metres high, Dubrovnik’s imposing medieval walls offer sweeping views over the Old Town and the turquoise Adriatic Sea. Start at the Pile Gate entrance (you’ll need to buy a ticket) and follow the two-kilometre fortification past towers and draw bridges, peering down at terracotta-tiled roofs and the city’s grand main thoroughfare, Stradun. In summer, it’s best to tackle the route early in the day to avoid the heat and crowds.