Europe's Best Trekking Routes: Walk the Most Stunning Trails

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Let's begin our journey in France, famous for the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris, Gérard Depardieu, baguettes and striped shirts.

FRANCE

In France, long-distance trails are known as "GR" (Grandes Randonnées/Long-Distance Routes) and form an extensive network of paths that crisscross the country, offering a variety of landscapes and experiences for hikers.

Some of France's most famous long-distance trails include:

GR 10: This trail traverses the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean, covering approximately 866 kilometres. It offers breathtaking views of mountains, valleys and lakes, and is renowned as one of the most beautiful and challenging trails in the world.

GR 21 Normandy: The GR 21 in Normandy is a popular hiking trail that follows the region's coast from Le Havre to Le Tréport. With a length of approximately 180 kilometres, this route offers stunning sea views, majestic cliffs, charming coastal villages and a wonderful variety of natural landscapes.

GR 20: Considered one of Europe's most challenging hiking trails, the GR 20 traverses the island of Corsica, from Calenzana to Conca, covering approximately 180 kilometres. It offers breathtaking mountain scenery and opportunities to camp in the island's pristine wilderness.

GR 34: The GR 34 trail, also known as the Customs Officers' Path or Cliff Path, is a famous hiking route that follows France's Atlantic coastline for approximately 2,000 kilometres. This trail offers hikers spectacular ocean views, steep cliffs, pristine beaches, enchanting fishing villages and a rich variety of coastal landscapes.

IRELAND

We now travel to Ireland, famous for being the home of Guinness, one of the world's most renowned beers, Oscar Wilde and U2. But beyond its culture, Ireland is known for its incredible landscapes and extremely popular trekking routes across Europe.

Wicklow Way: The Wicklow Way is a long-distance trail located in County Wicklow. Spanning approximately 127 kilometres, this path winds through some of Ireland's most breathtaking landscapes, passing through mountains, valleys, forests and vast countryside teeming with wildlife.

The Wicklow Way begins at Marlay Park, near Dublin, and ends in the town of Clonegal, in County Carlow. Along the route, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Wicklow Mountains, including Lugnaquilla, the highest peak in the province of Leinster. The trail also passes through sites of historical and cultural significance, such as Glendalough, an ancient monastic settlement from the 6th century.

The Wicklow Way is divided into seven stages, each with its own beauty and demands. You can choose to walk the entire trail in approximately one week, or opt for individual sections for day hikes. Additionally, a variety of accommodation options are available along the route, from campsites to bed and breakfasts, making it easy to plan a Wicklow Way trek for all experience levels and comfort preferences.

You can also discover the Kerry Way and the Dingle Way.

The Kerry Way, spanning approximately 215 kilometres, offers a unique experience through mountains, valleys, lakes and spectacular coastlines, as you walk sections of the famous Ring of Kerry.

On the other hand, the Dingle Way, covering around 179 kilometres, features impressive landscapes that include views of the Atlantic Ocean, breathtaking cliffs and charming coastal towns, offering immersion in Gaelic history and culture over approximately 8 days of walking.

ENGLAND

Let's jump to England, home of the Beatles, Hugh Grant, Sherlock Holmes and, of course, one of Europe's finest treks: Hadrian's Wall Path.

The Hadrian's Wall Trek is a long-distance trail that follows the route of Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Built by Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, this wall marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire and stretches from the west coast to the east coast of England, covering approximately 135 kilometres.

The Hadrian's Wall path follows the course of the wall, passing through breathtaking natural landscapes, picturesque villages and a series of archaeological sites and Roman forts.

The trail is divided into various stages, allowing hikers to complete it over several days. It's particularly popular among history and archaeology enthusiasts, as it offers the opportunity to explore one of ancient Rome's most iconic monuments in Britain.

PORTUGAL

Portugal is famous for its fado, its textiles, its dried salt cod and for being the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, but it also offers absolutely incredible trekking routes for spending rejuvenating days admiring the wonderful Portuguese coastline.

Rota Vicentina: The Rota Vicentina is a system of long-distance trails located in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. This route offers the opportunity to explore Portugal's beautiful Atlantic coast, as well as its lovely rural interior.

The Rota Vicentina is divided into two main trails: the Historical Path and the Fishermen's Trail. The Historical Path is a 230-kilometre trail that crosses the rural interior of the Alentejo, passing through historic villages, forests, valleys and hills. The Fishermen's Trail, on the other hand, is a 120-kilometre coastal trail that follows the Atlantic coast of the Alentejo and Algarve, passing through cliffs, pristine beaches, dunes and breathtaking escarpments.

SPAIN

We now travel to Spain, famous for its Iberian ham, its paellas, its beaches and Real Madrid (and Barcelona, yes). Spain has a rich historical and cultural heritage and naturally a wide range of hiking trails such as the Camino de Cavalls or the famous Camino de Santiago.

Camino de Cavalls: The Camino de Cavalls is a circular trail of approximately 185 kilometres that follows the coast of the island of Menorca, Spain. Dating back to the 14th century, this ancient path was once used for coastal surveillance and transport, but today it's a popular hiking trail that offers walkers the opportunity to explore the island's extraordinary natural and cultural beauty. 

Winding along the coast, the trail passes beautiful beaches, hidden coves, sea caves, bays with crystal-clear waters and unique rock formations, as well as historic sites such as watchtowers and windmills.

The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes that converge in the city of Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. The Way is one of the oldest and most famous pilgrimage routes in the world, and has been walked by pilgrims for over a thousand years in search of the tomb of the Apostle James.

The Camino de Santiago has several main routes, with the French Way being the most popular and well-trodden. This route covers approximately 800 kilometres from the French border in the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, passing through historic towns and cities such as Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León and Sarria, among others.

The Camino de Santiago is not just a physical journey, but also a spiritual and emotional one for many pilgrims, offering the opportunity to reflect, find yourself and connect with nature and other travellers along the way.

ITALY

Let's jump to Italy, famous for its pizzas, Raffaella Carrà, Maximus Decimus Meridius and a long list of incredible cheeses, but beyond all this, Italy also has breathtaking trekking routes.

Via Francigena: is an ancient pilgrimage route that connects Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy (but don't worry, you can walk just the section that covers Italy!).

The Via Francigena is well-marked and crosses a variety of landscapes, from lush countryside to rolling hills, to mountains and valleys, passing through towns and villages with a rich history and cultural heritage along the way. Some of the most significant places along the route include the Champagne region in France, the Aosta Valley in Italy and the Tuscany region.

Today the Via Francigena is a popular route for walking and cycling excursions, as well as for walkers following in the footsteps of ancient travellers.

The Way of the Gods: The "Via degli Dei" is a famous hiking trail in Italy that connects the cities of Bologna and Florence through the Apennines. This route crosses mountainous and forested landscapes, offering hikers impressive panoramic views and a unique nature experience. The trail follows ancient paths and medieval roads, passing through enchanting villages, ancient churches and historic sites along the way.

You can also discover other trails such as the Via di Francesco, which follows the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, from Assisi to Rome.

MALTA

Finally, but not least, we travel to Malta, a landmark destination for cinema, as it's where "Troy" was filmed and some episodes of "Game of Thrones" were shot.

The Gozo Coastal Walk spans approximately 50 kilometres, from the coastal town of Marsalforn to the historic citadel of Victoria, also known as Rabat. Along the route, you'll have the opportunity to admire breathtaking cliffs, hidden coves, sea caves, bays with crystal-clear waters and unique rock formations.

Personally, I'm not sure which I like best. What I do know is that A Piedi Per Il Mondo can help you plan your routes in the most convenient way possible so you can focus solely on staying fit and enjoying the journey!

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