Europe is more likely to be seen as a living museum of cobblestones, cathedrals and café terraces… but where the pavement ends lie granite peaks, ice-blue glacial rivers, and ancient forests that have outlasted empires. Whether you’re chasing wild horses in Portugal or ice caves in Iceland, these protected parks across Europe each offer something entirely unique.
Here’s our list of the 11 best national parks in Europe. Pack your layers – the wild is calling!
How many national parks are there in Europe?
Europe is home to roughly 500 national parks, though the definition of wild varies. From the sprawling, icy reaches of Iceland’s Vatnajökull to the more compact, sun-baked cliffs of Italy’s Cinque Terre, there’s a huge amount of variety between parks and ecosystems. Some are all about total wilderness preservation, while others are home to centuries-old villages and support traditional farming.
What is the largest national park in Europe?
The title belongs to Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. It covers about 14% of the entire island, it is a staggering landscape of fire and ice where active volcanoes simmer beneath massive glaciers.
When is the best time to visit national parks in Europe?
Spring and autumn are the sweet spots to avoid peak summer heat and crowds. In spring (March to May), European waterfalls are at their thundering peak as snow melts, and more southern parks like Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês are awash in wildflowers. Autumn offers crisp air and golden larches in the Dolomites, minus the summer humidity. If you’re eyeing Iceland ice cave tours, winter is essential, while August is the prime window for high-altitude mountain treks in Europe.
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1. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Sixteen turquoise lakes linked by a series of moss-draped travertine barriers and crashing waterfalls. Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s oldest and the largest national park, and it is a magic place that’s even better in real life. If you can, arrive at sunrise when the mist still clings to the wooden boardwalks and other visitors are still in bed. The air here is heavy with the scent of damp beech forest and the constant, percussive hum of falling water. It’s a highlight of many Europe and Croatia coach tours as it’s one of the most famous hidden gems in Eastern Europe.
2. Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Vatnajökull is where the Earth’s internal heat meets its frozen exterior. Dramatic? Totally. Here, you can descend into the crystalline blue of Iceland with ice cave tours or stand on the edge of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, watching ancient icebergs groan and drift toward the Atlantic. The landscape is monumental with black basalt rock and clear ice. Did you know Iceland has no native reptiles? Keep your eyes out for arctic foxes and the occasional puffin colony nesting on the jagged coastal fringes.
3. Peak District National Park, England
The Peak District landscape has two halves – the rugged, peat-covered Dark Peak and the gentler, limestone dales of the White Peak. Beyond nature there are a handful of scenic villages in the Peak District like Castleton, where Blue John stone is still mined, and walking through might feel like a Brontë novel. Be sure to reward any efforts with a pint of local ale in a pub that’s older than most countries.
4. Cinque Terre National Park, Italy
Most people visit Cinque Terre for the pastel-colored houses, but beyond the five cute villages is a protected national park with vertical vineyards. This reserve, Italy’s smallest national park, is a triumph of human grit against the geography, which you can admire while walking the famous Via dell’Amore (Path of Love). It’s one of the top scenic coastal walks in the world, pinning you between the scent of citrus terraces and the crashing Ligurian Sea. You can take the train between the villages – but if you have the energy, the walk is well worthwhile!
5. Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany
Don’t let the name confuse you – this national park is deep in Eastern Germany. Saxon Switzerland National Park offers a surreal skyline of sandstone pillars and deep, narrow gorges that inspired the Romantic painters. Places like the Bastei Bridge, a stone structure leafing through the rock formations, offer a view that feels more like a fantasy film set.
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6. The Lake District, England
If the Peaks are poetic, England’s Lake District is dramatic. This UNESCO World Heritage sites home to England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike) and its deepest lake (Wastwater). Days here will be dictated by changing weather, so prepare and pack well. One minute you’re in a sun-dappled oak wood, the next you’re standing in a fog. This park offers some of the best hiking trails in Europe, through peaceful countryside scenes.
7. The Dolomites, Italy
Do you know why the Dolomites don’t look like the rest of the Alps? The jagged, pale peaks are actually fossilized coral reefs! Some 250 million years ago, this region was a tropical sea and now this park is the home of the best mountain treks in Europe. Depending on the time of year, you might find wildflower meadows or hear the high-pitched whistle of marmots echoing through the valleys. Try to catch the enrosadira phenomenon (alpenglow), which turns the mountains a burning orange at dusk. The mountain culture here combines the best of Italy and Austria – you’ll find polenta served alongside strudel.
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8. Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Slovenia’s only national park is named after the three-headed Mount Triglav. Within it’s borders find turquoise lakes and the Soča River, which is so clear it looks like liquid glass. Sadly the glacial temperatures make swims difficult! Triglav is a prime spot for wildlife watching – look for chamois and ibex who scale near-vertical walls.
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9. Jotunheimen National Park, Norway
The name translates to “Home of the Giants” and this park contains Northern Europe’s highest peaks, with more than 250 peaks over 6,560 feet (2000m). It’s a high-altitude tundra of reindeer herds, deep blue lakes like Gjende and massive glaciers. The Besseggen Ridge is one of the most celebrated hiking trails in Europe and offers a dizzying view of two lakes of completely different colors separated by a narrow strip of rock. Expect the air to be thin, cold and incredibly pure. This is a remote landscape of immense scale.
10. Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal
Tucked into the northern tip of Portugal, the nation’s only national park is filled with granite peaks, rushing waterfalls and oak forests. It’s where you’ll find wild Garrano ponies roaming free and ancient Roman roads still marked by 2,000-year-old milestones. The atmosphere is unhurried, with cattle free ranging across the park and stone villages with little restaurants dotted around. It’s a hidden gem for curious souls, and only 90 minutes from Porto. Keep an eye out for wolves!
11. Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, Wales
In Eryri the mountains meet the sea and myth meets slate. From the peak of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) to the deep, silent valleys of the south, the park is a stronghold of Welsh culture and language. Admire the geography’s craggy ridges and hidden llyns (lakes), and listen for the sound of steam trains huffing up the slopes. Snowdonia contains all 15 mountains in Wales above 3000 feet high (914m) – a challenge to conquer them all? Set by the ocean, this huge park offers some of the most rewarding scenic coastal walks by the raw, Atlantic too.
That’s our guide to the best National Parks in Europe. Would you add any others to our list? Leave a comment….