The Trails Worth Lacing Up For: Europe's Best Hikes
With the recent rise of one of my favourite hobbies, hiking, I couldn't help but start gathering a future bucket list. You know how it is. You go down one rabbit hole on the Dolomites and suddenly you've got seventeen tabs open, a new pair of boots in your basket, and a very real urge to book a flight for next week.
And while it's really tempting to just rush straight to the Alta Via, one good benefit from getting deeper into the options is realising how much else is out there. The Dolomites are still probably sitting at the top of my list, they've earned that spot, but I want to know which trails haven't made it to my For You page yet.
We're approaching that weird in-between season now, the one where you're allowed to get excited for Halloween but you're still dusting the sand off your feet. The energy is shifting. And honestly, what better way to transition than to trade the coastline for the treeline? Surrounded by fresh air, greenery, and a necessary sense of silence.
So here's where my list is at right now: eight trails I'm keeping an eye on, from the obvious to the slightly more off-grid. Some I'll probably book for next year. Some I might just keep in the notes app a little longer, as motivation.
Alta Via 1, The Dolomites
The one that started it all. Still top of the list. Still the one I compare every other trail to. A lake that looks edited, eight to ten days of proper mountain drama, refugios that serve incredible pasta at altitude, and a sense of achievement that you can't fake. The booking process is basically a part-time job, but honestly worth it.
Why it's staying on the list: Because some classics are classics for a reason.
Alpe-Adria Trail, Slovenia
This one came up in a deep scroll and hasn't left my head since. Same sort of alpine beauty as the Dolomites but with fewer crowds and a slightly more undiscovered feel. Wildflowers, crystal-clear rivers, and landscapes that look like they belong in a film. Slovenia's been having a cultural moment and this trail is living proof of why.
Why it's staying on the list: Because I want the views without the queues.
Laugavegur, Iceland
I keep seeing photos of this one and having to check they're not renders. Fifty-three kilometres through terrain that looks like it belongs on another planet: rhyolite mountains, geothermal pools, volcanic slopes. The weather will be temperamental, the light will be extraordinary, and I will probably pack all the wrong things. Still going.
Why it's staying on the list: Because I want to see something I genuinely haven't seen before.
Camino de Santiago, final 100km, Spain
This one's different. Less about the physical challenge, more about the rhythm. Walking toward a fixed point for days, through villages and vineyards, with a community of people doing the same thing. There's something meditative about it that a summit trail doesn't quite give you. No technical skills required, just time and a willingness to be present.
Why it's staying on the list: Because sometimes it's about the journey, not the view.
Cinque Terre coastal path, Italy
The one for a long weekend, or for convincing a friend who says they're "not really a hiker." Pastel villages, sea views, and stretches short enough that you can stop for wine and pasta halfway through. It's gentle, it's beautiful, and it's the kind of trip you can actually plan without needing to train for months.
Why it's staying on the list: Because not every hike needs to be an expedition.
Tatra Mountains, Poland
Still feels slightly off the radar, which is exactly why I want to go. Rugged, dramatic, and refreshingly under-Instagrammed compared to the Alps. Apparently the beer's good at the end of the day, which is honestly not a small consideration. I want to get there before the algorithm does.
Why it's staying on the list: Because I want to feel like I found it first.
Pyrenees, France and Spain
Stretching across the border of France and Spain, this range has been on my radar for a while. It's not as polished as the Alps, not as famous as the Dolomites, and that's exactly the appeal. There are trails that go on for days, villages that feel untouched by tourism, and a rawness that's getting harder to find in Europe.
Why it's staying on the list: I want the wildness. I want to feel small in a landscape that hasn't been fully tamed.
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Not a summer trail in the traditional sense, but that's exactly the point. Moody, grey, dramatic, prehistoric-looking landscapes that feel like they belong in a different era. The weather will be unpredictable, the light will shift constantly, and I will probably get rained on.
Why it's staying on the list: Because some places don't need sunshine to be beautiful.
I’m not a professional hiker, but as someone who has hiked a fair amount, I feel the need to mention that none of these need to be done as some kind of personal-best challenge. The point isn't to crush it, it's to be in it, feet on the ground, head clear, genuinely present.
I don't know which one I'll book first. The Dolomites are calling, but so is Slovenia. And Iceland keeps appearing on my feed.
For now, they live in my notes app. Waiting for the right season. Waiting for the right window. Where are you going first?