European Day Hikes: A Few Steps Off the Beaten Path
You came to see Europe, so let’s go see it!
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is get out of the city and really see the country I came to see. Hiking is a fantastic activity for budget travelers because it’s free! It’s also much less crowded than tourist attractions, which can be a nice change of pace.
Below are some of my favorite European hikes. I don’t claim that they are the “Best in Europe.” I certainly haven’t traveled enough to make that claim. But what I love about all of these hikes is that they’re easily accessible from major cities by public transportation and only about a half-day commitment at most, so you can explore the surrounding area as well.
6. Lugano, Switzerland
Lugano was a pleasant surprise for us! We had planned to go hike in Interlaken, but with a forecast of cold, heavy rain, we decided to reroute to Lugano. The city itself is gorgeous, and we loved our hike up into the mountains above the city where we could look down over the lake and the winding lanes below. The hike was pretty much straight uphill through deep snow when we went in late December, but the view at the top made it worth it! If you are ever in the Lake Como region, Lugano is a must see! Check out the vlog to see more of our hike and the city of Lugano!
6. Montserrat, Spain
Just a short train ride outside of Barcelona, you will find the mountainside monastery of Montserrat. The monastery itself offers free daily concerts, and there is a small cafe, museum, and visitor’s center to welcome you. Heading up into the mountains, there are paths connecting small chapels and shrines, views of the coast, and mountain goats! Check out the vlog to see more panoramic views and the elusive goats.
4. Howth, UK
We only had a few days in Ireland, but we wanted to see the coast. Not wanting to spend a huge portion of our day on a train, we were happy to find Howth, a little village just outside of Dublin. After eating amazingly fresh fish and chips on the seawall, we hiked off around the coast. This is an easy hike without too much elevation and plenty of cliff-side views. Check out the vlog to see us in action on the trail and the quintessential British tea we had at a cafe in town afterwards.
3. Halstatt, Austria
After exploring the village of Hallstatt, we headed up…straight up…the mountain towards the salt mines for which Saltzburg gets its name. Alpine vistas galore. Pictures could not do justice to the splendor of pine trees stretching down the steep slope behind us. Check out the vlog to see more of our adventures in Austria!
2. Ronda, Spain
If you want to feel like you just landed in Middle Earth but don’t want to fly all the way to New Zealand, Ronda is a good compromise! The dramatic gorge creates an epic backdrop for this hike. You can continue down into the gorge as far as you like to take in the bridge from all angles and marvel at the audacity of the city planners who decided THIS was the best spot to build a city. The hike is easy (at least on the way down, a little steep on the return) and won’t take you too long to do, leaving plenty of time to explore the rest of Ronda! This was an easy stop for us on our return trip from Granada to Sevilla. To see more of the gorge and the bullfighting museum in Ronda, check out the vlog!
1. Edinburgh, Scotland
Ah, Edinburgh, my lost love. I only spent a few days there, but when I came home, I felt truly homesick for this city. The history in Edinburgh comes in layers. From the Elephant House Cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote several of the Harry Potter books (if you don’t think this counts as history, you’re on the wrong blog), to Queen Elizabeth’s former yacht, to the Georgian New Town, to the medieval old town, all the way to little Dean’s Village, there seems to always be one more layer to discover. But perhaps the oldest layer of all is Arthur’s Seat. Formerly part of the royal grounds at Hollyroodhouse, the extinct volcano is now a public park. The path is steep at points, but well maintained, and the summit yields a spectacular view of the city and down to the Firth of Forth. As you wind your way to the top, the city is obscured behind the hill and, for a moment, you might forget that you are in one of the largest cities in Scotland, but as you round the last curve and the city unfolds below you, I challenge you not to fall in love with Edinburgh, too. To see more of our exploits in Edinburgh, check out the vlog! You might also like the vlog of our first day in Edinburgh when we saw the Queen of England! TWICE!