Great ideas for walking holidays in Europe

Whether you’re admiring stunning views in the French Alps or strolling the Galician countryside on the Camino de Santiago, Europe’s got you covered with great destinations for your next hiking holiday.

Fan favourites for hiking in France

Looking for plenty of mountain trails dotted with charming Alpine villages? Maybe you’d rather stroll the headlands along the Atlantic Coast? Whatever you’re after, walking holidays in France offer a bounty of stunning sights.

Tame the Tour du Mont Blanc

One of the country’s most popular hiking routes, the Tour du Mont Blanc takes visitors on a real European hiking holiday. Starting from Les Houches, the 110-mile trail meanders through Switzerland and Italy along the iconic Mont Blanc massif, taking you through picturesque alpine villages along the way. Stay a night or 2 at a holiday rental in Chamonix or Argentiere to get your bearings, then hit the trail for an unbeatable European trek.

Beachfront views in beautiful Brittany

In northwestern France, Brittany boasts rugged coastline along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. Along the region’s Emerald Coast Walk, you’ll wend past pink-hued boulders and beaches, traditional fishing villages and medieval sights, all while strolling along coastal trails and wooded paths. Book holiday lettings in towns like Dinard and Sables D’Or-Les-Pins for some well-earned rest – and mouthwatering seafood – before continuing on your way.

Super selections for walking holidays in Spain

Whether you’re strolling the breathtaking scenery of Galicia in the north or hiking the peaks of the Alpujarra mountains in Andalucia, walking holidays in Spain are a great way to see more of this magnificent country.

Conquer the Camino de Santiago

A popular pilgrimage route as far back as the 9th century – which follows along an even older trading route that was travelled in Roman times – the iconic Camino de Santiago is a major walking route that ends at the Santiago de Compostela cathedral in the northwestern region of Galicia. Cosy holiday cottages and villa rentals in destinations like Puente la Reina and Leon offer easy access to the path, plus plenty of worthwhile historic sights that are well worth taking a few days to explore.

Elevate your travels in the Alpujarras mountains

In the south of the country, Andalusia’s Las Alpujarras boasts loads of great walking and hiking trails within Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Holiday lettings in the Poqueira valley towns of Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira make a terrific home base for long days strolling the slopes and taking in the region’s stunning views. The GR 7, one of Spain’s “gran recorridos”, can be found here as it makes its way from Tarifa in the south to the Pyrenees at the French border.

Perfect picks for hiking holidays in Portugal

With its striking scenery along the Atlantic Ocean and a charming interior made up of rolling countryside dotted with charming family farms, Portugal’s a picturesque pick for your next European hiking holiday. Book a holiday rental in Sagres or Porto and get to know a different side of Europe’s southwesternmost country.

Scenic sights from seaside Sagres

In the unassuming town of Sagres, you’ll find the so-called End of the World – the southwesternmost point on continental Europe. The destination is marked with the clifftop Cape St Vincent Lighthouse, which offers epic views over the Atlantic that are popular for sunset-seeking photographers. From here, you’re a short trip from the start of the Rota Vicentina, a series of footpaths that make their way north along the Fisherman’s Trail (a coastal walking path) and the Historical Way (an inland route).

Cross Portugal’s Camino de Santiago off your list

Who wouldn’t want to hike through Portugal’s Sintra region?

Believe it or not, Portugal’s also home to its own portion of the Camino de Santiago – the pilgrimage footpath that ends in Spain’s Galicia region. Known as the Portuguese Way, the route starts in Lisbon or Porto, and runs parallel to the coast as it makes its way north through charming towns. Book a stay in Porto to sample the city’s famous port wine warehouses and historic cathedral, or spend a night in atmospheric Rates, a village that dates from the Middle Ages.