Top 10 Walking Regions in Europe

Thanks to its temperate climate, Madeira is ideal for year-round walking. Not only that, the sheer scale and richness of landscapes packed within the island make it a joy to explore. There are contrasts everywhere – golden-sand beaches juxtaposed by black-sand beaches, tropical interiors and windswept sea cliffs in the west, flower-lined levada walks contrasted by wild expanses of moorland around the Paúl da Serra plateau.

 

In northeast Italy lies Europe’s most beautiful mountain ranges – the Dolomites. These UNESCO-listed peaks are characterised by their jagged shape, between which bucolic valleys house mountain villages where tradition thrives to this day. Our range of walking holidays in the Dolomites range from easy strolls using cable cars and funiculars to reach the peaks, or more challenging routes that navigate around the celebrated Three Peaks and Alpine plateaus.
 

Hiking the classic Tour du Mont Blanc is a challenge many enjoy for the sense of achievement and the unparalleled vistas over snow-capped peaks and glaciers that form the Mont Blanc massif. Not only that, you cross borders along the way, giving you the chance to soak up the cuisine and culture in France, Italy, and Switzerland. Going self-guided also means you can stop to take in the views when it suits you, peek into mountain huts you pass by, and add extra nights wherever you wish. We also transport your luggage from hotel to hotel, giving you the freedom to set off unburdened by heavy bags.

 

This thrilling coastline – one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful – makes for a thrilling walking experience. There’s no better way to explore here than on foot, following mule paths and stone stairways that have linked the villages since ancient times. There’s the chance to visit Pompeii while here, too, and take to the trails in the Lattari Mountains, part of the promontory’s spine.

 

When it comes to walking, Andalucia’s variety rivals that of some small countries. You could explore the desert-like landscapes of Almeria, reminiscent of North Africa; the chestnut-clad Aracena Sierra near Seville, home to free-roaming pigs; or the mountains surrounding famous Ronda.

 

Stretching from Liguria to Umbria, the rugged Apennine Mountains form Italy’s spine and offer some of the country’s best walking. This is Italy off the tourist map, where you will enjoy genuine hospitality, yet the rail journey from Bologna takes little over an hour.

 

Part of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote offers up an otherworldly landscape of black lava fields, rust-coloured mountains, white-sand beaches, and vineyard-clad valleys. The colours are spellbinding – and for its petite size, you’ll encounter a wide range of terrains – and microclimates – in a single day.

 

This land of ancient olive groves, whitewashed hilltop villages, and a coastline of vertical cliffs and sandy coves that stretches along the Adriatic coast. It’s Italy that’s away from the crowds; where ancient pathways meander between and diverse landscapes, and villages retain the charm of a by-gone era.

 

Framed by the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Wetterstein chain, whose lower slopes are thickly forested, this is an idyllic valley, dotted with pretty villages and onion-domed churches. It exudes the very essence of the Tyrol: charming and traditional, with high standards of hospitality.

 

One of the joys of walking in the Arrabida Natural Park is that you feel as though you are exploring a virtually unknown corner of Portugal, yet it is within easy reach of the capital, Lisbon. Another highlight is the variety of the scenery: glorious beaches of white sand; vineyards producing Moscatel dessert wine; and tranquil hills peppered with reminders of the past.