Europe is home to some incredible landscapes with jagged snow-capped peaks and steep ascents. While it may seem intimidating on the surface, there’s nowhere better for beginner hikers. You don’t need mountaineering ambition to experience the Black Forest, stroll around Lake Bled or breathe in the crisp alpine air of Switzerland. Below we’ve highlighted some incredible beginner-friendly hikes and hiking destinations in Europe.
1. Black Forest, Germany
Do not let the Grimm brothers’ ominous folklore tales fool you… you find witches or Hansel and Gretel in Germany’s Black Forest. This landscape of dense pine canopy, cuckoo clocks, and winding paths is an easy introduction to hiking in Europe. The trail around Lake Mummelsee delivers geographical rewards for minimal physical tax. It’s a flat, circular 1.2-mile loop rooted in local myth (supposedly home to an underwater king), taking roughly 45 minutes. You might have time to squeeze it in on Trafalgar’s Best of Germany tour – if not, you’ll have fun when you Dive Into Culture and learn about the centuries-old craft of cuckoo clock making.
2. The Alps, Switzerland
Pack your pick axe and avalanche kit…. we’re joking! You can experience the grandeur and beauty of The Alps without it being an extreme sport. In the shadow of the Eiger, Switzerland has a clever network of high-altitude trains and cable cars that do the heavy lifting. If you can take the gondola from Grindelwald to First, from here take on a gently rolling trail to Lake Bachalpsee. This 3.7-mile return walk takes under two hours on a wide, gravel path. Or while on Trafalgar’s Switzerland and Austria itinerary you’ll have a free day in Innsbruck, which you could use to hike some short, easy trails on the peripheries of the alpine city.
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3. Cinque Terre, Italy
The famous Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) connecting all five villages is famous around the globe. But the popular section between Monterosso and Vernazza has more than 700 grueling stone steps – not exactly what we call a beginner-friendly hike. But at the southern end of the dramatic Cinque Terre coastline, there’s a trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola, known as the Via dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane), is completely flat, paved and clings directly to the cliffside over the crashing Ligurian Sea. The trail is one-way, and you’ll have to buy a ticket – but best of all it takes an easy, breezy 20 minutes and the views are so worth it. You can experience the colorful magic of these coastal hiking trails stress-free on Trafalgar’s Northern Italy including Cinque Terre tour.
4. Lake Como, Italy
If your knees detest elevation changes, lakeside hikes are your best friend. A walk around a lake is calm, usually quite flat and ideal for beginners. On Lake Como, the Greenway del Lago di Como stretches 6.2 miles (10km), but you can prioritize the gentle 1.5-mile (2.4km) waterfront section between Lenno and Tremezzo. On this part of the trail you’ll stroll past grand liberty-style villas, manicured wisteria gardens and lakeside cafés in under an hour. You’ll stop to take so many photos you won’t even notice the time. Discover this slow-paced paradise on Trafalgar’s Northern Italian Lakes Countryside tour.
5. Salzburg, Austria
While Trafalgar’s Best of Germany and Austria tour focuses heavily on cultural orientation and city walks, you can easily sneak in a spectacular beginner hike right in the heart of Salzburg. Skip the funicular and take the gentle, paved walking paths up the Mönchsberg. The trail running from the Augustiner Bräu brewery along the mountain ridge to the Hohensalzburg Fortress takes about 45 minutes. It is entirely paved, mostly flat once you are up, and gives you sweeping, cinematic views of the Old Town’s baroque spires and the Salzach River without leaving the city limits.
6. Camino de Santiago, Spain
Did you know you don’t need to spend months trekking across northern Spain to earn your camino certificate? You just have to complete the final 100km (60 miles). Yes, that might seem like a lot for novice hikers but there’s no time limit and some routes to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela are easiest than others. Join the final stretch of the French Way, from the Galician town of Sarria, to experience the soul-stirring spirit of the famous pilgrimage. This treks through rolling green pastures, ancient oak forests and sleepy granite hamlets. If you walk around 10 to 12 miles a day, at your pace, you can pause for mid-morning tortilla and find yourself in the next destination by lunch.
READ NEXT: The top 5 religious walks, from the Camino de Santiago to Pilgrim’s Way
7. Lake Bled, Slovenia
Slovenia is an outdoor playground and the best entry-level European walk is the complete circuit around Lake Bled. The whole lake!? Yes, there’s a well-maintained, fully paved 3.7-mile (6km) pedestrian pathway that hugs the shoreline for the entire loop. Views? Gorgeous. It takes roughly 1.5 hours of flat, effortless walking, offering changing perspectives of the famous island church and the cliff-perched medieval castle. Frequent park benches and lakeside gelato stops along the way certainly help too! You can reward your efforts with a Bled Cream Cake (known locally as Blejska kremšnita or kremna rezina).
8. FAQs
What are some hiking essentials that I need to bring when hiking in Europe?
European weather is notoriously moody, transforming from sun-drenched to brisk in 20 minutes. For beginners, hiking boots might be overkill – instead bring broken-in, supportive sneakers with good grip. Pack a small backpack with a compact, waterproof jacket, snack and a refillable water bottle. Always carry a small pack of blister plasters! Better yet, if your feet are prone to blisters use physio tape before lacing up.
What is the best time of year to hike in Europe?
Late spring (May) and early autumn (September to October) are the undisputed sweet spots. Summer brings stifling heat to southern trails like Cinque Terre and swarms of crowds to alpine paths. Winter is often rainy or the trails are snowed under. In autumn, the air turns crisp, crowds depart and destinations like the Black Forest explode into amber and gold.
Which are the best countries for hiking in Europe for beginners?
Switzerland and Austria are unmatched for hiking because of the infrastructure. There is clear, color-coded trail signage and mountain infrastructure that allows you to ride a cable car to the top and simply stroll across a flat ridge. Italy is equally fantastic for its flat, coastal walks and lakeside promenades.
Is hiking in the Alps ok for beginners?
Surprisingly, yes. Great infrastructure means beginners do not need to scale vertical rock faces to experience the beauty of the region. Use Switzerland’s extensive network of cogwheel trains, funiculars and gondolas to bypass the exhausting uphill slog. You can step off a cable car directly onto wide, well-graded and heavily signposted ridge paths that offer grand alpine vistas with completely manageable, flat terrain.
That’s our guide to hiking in Europe for beginners. Any destinations you’d add to our list? Leave us a comment….