Have you ever thought of visiting Europe by feet?
Autumn is the best season to discover Europe by hiking a long-distance trail; from the shortest to the longest, wheter suitable for everyone or recommended for the most experienced, you can choose from several options to plan your next trek and trip in Europe.

We suggest here the most famous 10 European thru-hikes:

1. CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
France and Spain

 

Starting point: San Juan Pied de Port, France
End point: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Total lenght: 485 miles
Suggested sections: 30

The legendary Camino de Santiago, the most famous European hike, starts from Saint-Jean Pied de Port and follows the ancient route of S. James pilgrimage; by crossing the Pyrenees, it descends into Spain along the Basque county, the desolate Meseta, the regions of Navarre, Castile and Galicia and leads to the Cathedral of St. James Apostole in Compostela. From there, with few more miles you can reach Finisterre, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

An alternative route is the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, which starts from Lisbon and you can arrive in around 10 days in Santiago de Compostela by crossing Santarém, Coimbra, Porto e Pontevedra.

2. VIA FRANCIGENA
Italy

 

Starting point: Great St. Bernard Pass
End point: Rome
Total length: 633 miles
Suggested sections: 44

It is a 633 miles-long millenarian footpath from Canterbury to Rome; Bishop Sigerius first traveled the route in 990, coming back from Rome after his investiture by Pope John XV. The path crosses France and Switzerland and descends into Italy from the Alps to the Apennines to reach the tomb of St. Peter in Rome.

The route runs through the whole Italian peninsula, from the Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome and then to Puglia: in fact you can reach Santa Maria di Leuca to ideally connect to Jerusalem. The whole path could be very long but you can choose to hike some sections; in any case, you will certainly walk among nature, art, culture, spirituality and typical gastronomy.

3. ROTA VICENTINA
Portugal

 

Starting point: Santiago do Cacém
End point: Cabo de São Vicente
Total lenght: 161 miles
Suggested sections: 12

The Rota Vicentina winds its way through the southern Portugal; the footpath, 161 miles long, starts from Santiago do Cacém and heads to the Cabo de São Vicente, located at the most southwestern point of the continental Europe.

The route is divided into two sections: the main trail (Historical Way) and the Fishermen’s Trail, a 46 miles path which starts from Porto Covo and leads you to Odeceixe in four sections through cliffs, dunes and beaches bathed by the Ocean, pine, acacia and eucalyptus forests amid fishing villages. Thanks to its scenic and naturalistic value, many consider it the most beautiful multi-day hike in Europe as well as a successfull eco-tourism initiative in a relatively unspoiled area of Portugal.

4. LAUGAVEGUR
Iceland

 

Starting point: Landmannalaugar
End point: Þórsmörk
Total lenght: 34,1 miles
Suggested sections: 4-5

Rated as one of the best trekkings in the world by the National Geographic, the Laugavegur (literally “the path of hot springs”) in south-western Iceland starts from the colorful, geothermally active Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve and arrives in the green glacial valley of Þórsmörk (the so-called “The Valley of Thor”) nestled between Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull glaciers.

With its 34 miles the footpath passes through an incredible variety of landscapes: from the most colourful Icelandic mountains, to the glaciers and up to hot springs, canyons and wide desertic areas. The route isn’t technically challenging, but you have to consider that you might encounter rain, very strong wind, snow or the dense fog along the way.

5. GR20
Corsica

 

Starting point: Calenzana
End point: Conca
Total lenght: 112 miles
Suggested sections: 14

The GR 20 (literally “Grande Randonnée”) runs through Corsica from north to south following the island’s main mountain range for 112 miles. It takes two weeks to complete the route, but it is recommended only for experienced and well-trained hikers. The writer Paddy Dillon defined it as one of the most beautiful routes in the world but it is also considered Europe’s most challenging long-distance hiking trail.

A mountaineering route among the Mediterranean and the Thyrrenian See which traverses wild and little-trodden paths, without no ferratas or artificial supports and with numerours ups and downs; a total elevation gain of 42650 feet that often doesn’t allow everyone to complete the hike. Along the way, however, you can find more simple trails to enjoy the landscapes and some indicated to those with less experience.

6. CREATAN WAY
Greece

 

Starting point: Kato Zakros
End point: Chrisoskalitissa
Total lenght: 267 miles
Suggested sections: 28

The island of Crete, the ancient cradle of the Greek culture, is the bigger Greek island and one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea, known for it strategic location, the paradisiacal and unspoiled nature and its many archeological sites. A beautiful route crosses the island starting from it most eastern point, Katos Zakros, and heading to the monastery of Chrysoskalitissa, in the westernmost part.

A footpath of 267 miles runs the Creatan section of the E4, the European hiking trail which connects Spain with Cyprus; you can hike all the 28 suggested sections or just some little parts. The route runs among beaches, olive groves, forests, plateaus and Byzantine churches always overlooking the sea and pass through the central part of the island with more challenging high altitude sections on Crete’s three main mountain massifs.

7. WEST HIGHLAND WAY
Scotland

 

Starting point: Milngavie
End point: Fort William
Total lenght: 95 miles
Suggested sections: 7

The oldest (and most-loved) hiking trail of the United Kingdom, the West Highland Way is an iconic path of 95 miles with no great challenges that let all hikers to enjoy the most beautiful landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Leaving from the small town of Mingalvie, near Glasgow, you can reach in 7 sections Fort William, next to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK.

The route passes through moorlands, numerous lakes, open valleys and typical Scottish mountains; along the way you will hike on the famous military roads which connect the Highlands to the Lowland and on the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest lake in UK. The best period for this multi-day hiking goes from May to October, as the weather is more unstable and rainy in the other months.

8. KUNGSLEDEN
Sweden

 

Starting point: Abisko
End point: Hemavan
Total lenght: 301 miles
Suggested sections: 21

The Kungsleden (“Kingdom’s Trail”), more than 250 miles long, explores the Swedish Lapland from the north, from the village of Abisko on the Arctic Circle, to the south in the small village of Hemavan, among four national parks. The route unfolds through green heaths, tundra, glaciers, high peaks and infinite valleys with rivers, lakes and small mountain villages, that become more beautiful in Autumn season.

The route is suitable to hikers with less experience as well, thanks to its low altitude and the numerous huts, shelters and camping areas theare are along the way to break the hike on more sections at each one convenience. The most popular and impressive section is the first one, 67 miles, from Abisko to the feet of the Kebnekaise, the highest peak of the Sweden.

9. WESTWEG
Germany

 

Starting point: Pforzheim, Germany
End point: Basel, Switzerland
Total length: 178 miles
Suggested sections: 11

The Westweg is one of the most popular long-distance hikes in Germany; its name stands for “western way”, as it runs from north to south along the entire western ridge of the Black Forest. The route is divided in 11 suggested sections which start from Pforzheim and arrive to Basel, the Swiss city on Rhine River on the border with Germany.

From the undulating hills and valleys of the northern Black Forest to the Alpine peaks of the south, along the route you will cross heatlands and dense forests, you will climb up and down plateaus and will pass by secluded lakes. You can hike the whole trail or connect with other trails like the Mittelweg or the Ostweg or you can enjoy day hikes or week-end sections as well.

10. VIA DINARICA
Balkans

 

Starting point: Razdrto, Slovenia
End point: Valbona, Albania
Total lenght: 782 miles
Suggested sections: 28

If you are looking for an unusual and less known trekking, you can choose to hike the Via Dinarica, a footpath of around 782 miles which crosses seven different countries, starting from Razdrto, Slovenia, and arriving to Valbona, Albania. A network of old transhumance trails, war or old trade routes and new roads will take you to discover the Balkans with a conscious tourism approach that also supports local economies.
Along the way, you will hike through steep valleys, dense beech forests, rural villages, alpine lakes and high peaks and you can also explore the Europe’s deepest Tara River Canyon. Three great trails explore the Dinaric Alps: the main White Trail follows the summit of the ridge up to the highest peaks of the Balkans, while the Blue Trail, along the Adriatic coast, and the Green Trail, among conifer forests, are still under development.