This ‘Hiking in Europe’ series focuses on quiet hiking regions in Europe, where the trails are likely to be more remote and less visited. We searched for mountain ranges, national parks or just a region within a country. As usual, we have asked other travellers and hikers to help us to find those locations.
When one talks about a quiet trail, it is all relative of course, and we do realise that. However, we believe that the places covered in our article do fit the category of being less visited in the country they are located in. Some countries like Greenland are extremely remote, and you may not cross your paths with anyone for days. However, we tried to give you some options of quiet trails in European countries which are more accessible or, in fact, closer to home as well.
Without further ado – here there are 13 European summer destinations in quiet hiking regions in Europe. Have you visited any of these places already? Share your experience with us in the comments!
Hiking in Europe: quiet hiking regions in Europe
1.Inner Carniola, Slovenia
2.Arctic Greenland
3.Connemara National Park, Ireland
4.Stabbursdalen National Park, Norway
5.Svaneti National Park, Georgia
6.Muddus National Park, Sweden
7.Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland
8.Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
9.Pohorje, Slovenia
10.Peneda-Geres National Park, Portugal
11.Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland
12.Appenzellerland, Switzerland
13.Lelija and Zelengora mountain ranges, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.Inner Carniola in Slovenia
Džangir from Dr Jam Travels
Slovenia is a small European country that is mostly covered by hills and mountains. So it is no wonder that hiking is a very popular Slovenian activity! Most people will probably go hiking in the northwest quarter of the country. So if you are looking for not that crowded trails I would suggest the Inner Carniola.
This region is characterised by karst underground drainage systems with sinkholes and magnificent caves. Most notable are Postojna and Škocjanske (UNESCO site) caves. For less visited caves I would suggest Planina, Križna, or Zelške cave.
Above the ground, intermittent lakes change the surface they cover depending on the amount of rainfall. Cerknica lake is the most famous, but less visited are Pivka or Planina lakes.
Also, one of the amazing karst features is a collapsed cave in the valley of Rak Škocjan. A few-hour hike around this region with Big and Small natural bridges is a must.
For an easy hill walk head up to Slivnica 1114 masl, the legend says this hill was chosen by witches as home, hence you can visit Witch cave during your hike.
For a more strenuous option choose Snežnik mountain (meaning snow top) at 1796 masl, the highest peak in Slovenia outside the Alpine region. Finish the hike with a visit to a castle Snežnik, located at the foot of the mountain. Mind you, there are several different trails to the top of the mountain, ranging from 2h to 4h.
2.Arctic Greenland
Christian from Unusual Traveler
If you’re considering a hiking holiday in Greenland, undoubtedly you are looking for a remote hike, where you are likely to meet only a couple of people a day, at most. Although Greenland has seen an increase in the tourist traffic on its hiking trails but without a doubt, it is still an ultimate quiet hiking region in Europe!
The hike which attracts more and more hikers every year is the multi-day Arctic Circle Trail, a remote 10-day walk from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut on the west coast of Greenland.
The 164 km hike through the total wilderness that Greenland has to offer is best done in the summer, from late June to early September. But you should be aware that no shops, hotels/guesthouses or settlements can be found along the trail, so you will have to carry enough food, cooking and camping equipment to be sufficient for the entire 10-day hike. Although you may come across small emergency huts available to stay in case the weather turns bad, which it can and does.
Hiking the trail in mid-July (high summer), you can expect everything from snow, heavy rain and high wind to temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius, so you have to pack clothing for all seasons.
While the hike is marked most of the way, I still recommend bringing navigation tools like GPS or a good map and compass. Since you won’t have any phone signal during the entire hike, you will be mostly on your own throughout the entire walk.
Apart from Arctic Circle Trail, one can find other shorter hikes.
How about exploring Russell Glacier with Albatross Arctic Circle and then walk 40km back to Kangerlussuaq?
Another fantastic location for hiking in Arctic Greenland is Disko Island, with many walking trails, including Kuannit hike. While hiking this trail you will have a great chance to spot whales in Disko Bay and admire beautiful Greenlandic summer flowers which contrast with the basalt landscape.
3.Connemara National Park, Ireland
Sarah from The Tales of Tiny Boots
If you’re looking for quiet trails in Ireland, look no further than Connemara National Park in Galway. The park offers scenic mountains, expanses of beautiful bogs, grasslands and woodlands. Hiking in Connemara is no boring; contrary it provides stunning views over varied terrain.
The Twelve Bens hike is without-a-doubt one of the best things to do in Connemara. However, it is a challenge that would only suit experienced hikers. If you want to tackle a couple of Bens try Derryclare and Bencorr hike. This trail is also quite challenging, takes about 5-8 hours to complete (depends on the weather conditions) and takes you through very varied terrain from forest walk, rough rock, to mountain bog.
Another more popular option would be hiking to the top of Diamond Hill. The hill is located on the outskirts of Letterfrack- a small village well known for its traditional Irish music. The 445 m climb to the top will give you outstanding panoramic views of Connemara, Inishbofin, Inishturk, Caher and Clare Island off the coast.
If you look for lower level walks near Diamond Hill try Ellis Wood Nature Trail – an easy 0.5 km trail in the woods (suitable for children), or Lower Diamond Hill Walk – a 3km loop walk.
4.Stabbursdalen National Park in Norway
Megan & Aram from Megan Starr
There are many fantastic places to go hiking in Norway where you can escape the crowds; one of the least-visited (yet remarkable!) national parks in Norway is Stabbursdalen National Park (Rávttošvuopmi in Sami) in Arctic Norway.
If you travel from the north (from Magerøya and North Cape), the scenery changes from barren land completely void of trees to the world’s northernmost pine forest. Stabbursdalen is brimming with arctic pines, lakes, waterfalls, and some of the most magical scenery in the North.
Located west of Lakselv, at the foot of Porsanger peninsula makes it a perfect hiking destination if you’re road tripping along Porsanger National Scenic Route.
The park covers area of over 747 square kilometers and has several marked hiking trails. None of them are ever busy making the park one of the most remote locations to go hiking in Norway.
The most known trail to embark upon in Stabbursdalen is the Stabbursfossen(waterfall) hike. This 15.4km moderate walk takes about 5 hours to complete.
If you want to walk up to the mountain top, head up to Stuorra Binalvarri. The trail starts at the parking located at the end of Lombolaveien (8 km from the national park centre) and heads to the border of the park through high mountains, heather, and pine forest. It is 15 km long, with 520 meters of total elevation gain, takes about 5 hours to complete.
For multi-day hiking, there is one mountain hut at Ivarstua, in the park’s north, however in the rest of the park you will need to wild camp as not huts are available.
Stabbursdalen National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to go hiking in Norway and you may feel like you have the park to yourself when exploring.
5.Svaneti National Park, Georgia
Kristin from Adventures With Ensuite
Svaneti National Park in the north west of Georgia on the border with Russia is a stunning location for summer hiking in the fabulous Caucasus mountains.
Whilst trekking in the area you will see mountains over 5000 masl, glaciers and ancient villages, and enjoy easy to hard difficulty trails, with no risk of altitude sickness.
Mestia is the largest village (in fact a townlet) in Svaneti National Park and it has the best choice of hotels and restaurants. Many day hikes start from Mestia and two I highly recommend are: linear hike to Mazeri via the Guli Pass and Chkhuti Ridge. First of them is a very demanding day hike offering superb views of Ushba mountains with the highest point at 2961 masl at Guli Pass. The latter is a long (23km) but moderate hike on a narrow ridge providing stunning views.
Both trails are more suitable for seasoned hikers rather than beginners.
If you seek for multi-day hike, I recommend 4-day route from Mestia to Ushguli. The route provides amazing views and goes through different valley each day. You do not need to carry a tent as you can spend the nights in authentic Caucasus villages.
Although Svaneti is growing in popularity it still sees significantly fewer hikers than other popular destinations around the world. It also sees much fewer visitors than some of the other Caucasus regions in Georgia such as Kazbegi. The main reason being the amount of time required to get to Svaneti.
6.Muddus National Park, Sweden
Ellis from Backpack Adventures
Swedish Lapland is a great destination for hiking in summer. The pristine nature of the Laponian area became a UNESCO World Heritage site. Not only due to its unique flora and fauna, but also because it is still used as pastures by the native Sami reindeer herders.
Laponia offers several national parks that see thousands of visitors in summer. Muddus National Park, however, is often overlooked.
This park is slightly less mountainous than Sarek or Stora Sjöfallet, but has vast old-growth forests, boggy marshes, ravines and waterfalls.
Muddus National Park is home to the forest Sami that let their reindeers graze around in the park. There is a good chance you might encounter reindeer in Muddus. In summer you might even have a chance to see reindeer calves. Other animals you might spot if you are lucky are moose, brown bears and wolverines. It’s also a great place for birdwatching.
There is a network of well-marked hiking trails that all connect in a loop making it possible to do a multi-day hike while staying in self catering mountain huts along the way. Although there are some climbs involved, the trails are not that difficult making it the perfect place for less experienced hikers.
It’s also possible to do day hikes in Muddus National Park. The most popular day hike is the one way 7 km hike to the Muddusgahtjaldak waterfall. Or another easy 6 km trail that runs along the Lule river to the Måskosgårsså ravine viewpoint.
Muddus National Park should be on your hiking list if you are looking for more quiet trails in Swedish Lapland. The park entrance is easy to reach by car from nearby Jokkmokk. Bring some food and snacks as the park offers no catering facilities.
7.Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland
Annabel from Smudged Postcard
The Mourne Mountains are located in Northern Ireland, 50 kilometres from Belfast, not far from the border with the Republic of Ireland. For those wishing to hike in peaceful surroundings and with only few fellow tourists, the Mournes are a brilliant destination.
Whilst the peaks in the Mournes are not at high altitude, the weather can be very changeable in Northern Ireland so this is the factor that can make hiking in the Mournes a challenging endeavour. At 850 masl Slieve Donard is the highest peak in the range. However, Slievelamagan (704 masl) and Slieve Binnian (747 masl) peaks tackled together, as a day hike, require the most endurance. The 16 km route, on a generally well defined paths, gives you also a chance to visit two caves. Moreover, with the mountains’ position close to the Northern Irish coast, on a clear day the views from the summits over the surrounding Mourne mountains, the green fields and then on to the sea, are pretty spectacular.
There are many enjoyable hiking routes to try in the Mourne Mountains, depending on your level of fitness and how many miles you’d like to walk each day. The mountains are enclosed by a 22-mile long stone wall which was built at the turn of the 20th century to prevent livestock contaminating the mountain reservoirs. Walking the route of the wall tops seven of the 10 highest peaks and is a challenging hike for keen walkers.
For something more moderate, the 26 mile Mourne Way is an enjoyable route to complete over several days following a mix of forest and mountain pathways but avoiding the summits. Starting in the seaside town of Newcastle, this is a good hike for families as it follows the Shimna River through the delightful Tollymore Forest Park. Here, visitors can spot red squirrels and admire the old stone bridges and follies in this magnificent park.
8.Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Stunning Outdoors
Dumfries and Galloway, area located in the south west of Scotland, is often overlooked by those rushing to Scottish Highlands. We, however, wanted to discover what the area has to offer and are happy to let you know, that it will make a perfect summer holiday destination, with many walking and cycling routes, but without the crowds.
Dumfries and Galloway is home to the largest forest in the UK, Galloway Forest Park, and some of the best local hikes are near Glentrool Visitor Centre, this includes Loch Trool Loop or Water of Trool Trail, both of moderate difficulty.
For something more challenging take a trail up to the top of The Merrick, the highest peak in southern Scotland. The easiest approach to the top is 13km long and takes about 5 hours to complete. On a nice day, you will be able to enjoy the views over Galloway Forest Park, towards Northern Ireland and Isle of Man.
The hills around Moffat will also provide a great opportunity for a day adventure.
For those who love coastal walks, we recommend a circular walk on Mull of Galloway. There will be many people around the lighthouse, but when you walk a bit further you will have the trail pretty much for yourself.
The walks in Dumfries and Galloway are in general of moderate difficulty and relatively easy to navigate, although mostly unmarked. Check our post about some of the best walks in Dumfries and Galloway.
9.Pohorje, Slovenia
Stunning Outdoors
Head to Pohorje in northeast Slovenia, if you look for kilometres of trails in mature forests, with many lakes and waterfalls. Maribor is a well known winter sports resort but without doubt, it’s also a great summer destination for those seeking quieter trails in the great outdoors.
We highly recommend visiting two extremely remote waterfalls Mali and Veliki Sumik (check this post for more detail on how to find them).
For stunning views of Maribor, take a route to Trikotna Jasa, this short, but steep hike is definitely local’s favourite and tends to be busier than other places. But continue further to Cerkev of Sveti Areh (Chapel of St. Areh), to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Some of the most inviting natural sites of Pohorje are peat moors. Take a hike to Ribniško Jezero (Eng: Lake Ribnica), where you can also find six shallow, small marshy lakes with peat at the bottom; these small lakes will help you appreciate the beauty of peat moors!
To enjoy the walk in the forest reserve, take a 8.5km hike around lake Črno jezero.
Pohorje also offers many trails for vineyard lovers. Svečina is a great starting point for such hikes.
10.Peneda-Geres National Park, Portugal
Sarah and Joshua from Veggie Vagabonds
Right up in the northeastern corner of Portugal, you’ll find Peneda-Geres National Park. It’s actually Portugal’s only national park, and it’s almost like the Portugueese poured all the natural awesomeness of the country into one area.
It can seem quite a surprise but Peneda-Geres is not half as visited as you’d expect. The region is well-connected, affordable and has very reliable conditions, with adventure potential throughout the year… why it’s still relatively off-the-beaten-track stumps us.
But, their loss is our gain, I say.
You’ll find quite a variety of different outdoor pursuits within the park, but the star of the show is definitely hiking. There is such a vast network of trails zig-zagging across the region. Whether you’re looking for an afternoon scramble, a multiday epic adventure or a relaxed walk for first-timers, you’ll get it here.
For a sweet afternoon hike, check out the PR3 (Trilho dos Currais), a well sign-posted 10km route that should take you 4-5 hours. It takes you through beautiful, sun-bleached woodlands, onto the valley top with cracking vistas.
The PR3 trail takes you to the southerly valleys but the PR6 (Trilho dos Miradouros) is a good way to explore further west. It has roughly the same distance and altitude gain but takes you to new regions to explore.
Both these trails start from Geres town and can be taken on by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, there are no technical elements.
If you love waterfalls, you will love Peneda-Geres NP, there are many waiting to be discovered there, just to name a couple: Peneda and Fecha de Barjas.
While hiking in Peneda-Geres in summer, you may also visit several remote mountain villages where centuries old traditions and agricultural practices are still retained.
11.Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland
Paul and Mark from Anywhere We Roam
Kerlingarfjöll is a small but stunning mountain range that lies deep in Iceland’s central highlands. Wedged between two glaciers it rises out of the barren rocky landscape forming beautiful snowy peaks. Set between the mountain peaks is the geothermal area of Hveradalir: a small valley of red rhyolite mountains, steaming vents and bubbling rivers.
One of the best Kerlingarfjöll hikes is the easy trail from the Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Resort to Hveradalir. It crosses over a ridge with excellent views of the smooth snow-capped mountains before continuing along the top of a deep valley high above the geothermal area. The whole valley is filled with beautiful mystic vibe, and you’ll want to allow at least 2 hours to wander around the geothermal area.
The hike is not particularly difficult nor long. The path is in good condition with no exposed sections, however even in summer there will be some snow that you’ll need to cross, so good waterproof hiking boots are required. The walk itself should take around 2.5 hours and there is about 250 metres of elevation gain.
Another great hike is to the small thermal spring that lies 1.5 kilometre upstream from the Kerlingarfjöll Mountain resort. It’s a simple, well-signed, easy to follow trail running along the riverbank. The pool is a great place to jump in, have a soak and relax those tired limbs.
For a slightly more adventurous hike, the trail from Keis Car Park to the summit of Snaekollur is a 7-kilometre round trip. As the summit is at 1,482 meters, the hike tough and steep in places, but at the same time perfectly achievable for most people with a moderate level of fitness.
12.Appenzellerland, Switzerland
Elke and Alastair from Stunning Hikes
If you only had a few days to visit Switzerland, what is it that you would want to see and do? Go to the typical tourist areas of Valais for the impressive mountain views, Vierwaldstätter for the beautiful lake; Engadin for the historic old villages; or to Jungfrau area for its spectacular hikes? And once you decided where to go, then the next question is ‘when to go’ to not be overrun by tourists?
What if there was one area in Switzerland where you had all this combined in one place not yet known to many?
Well, you are in luck, because there is just such an area in the north east of Switzerland. It is called Appenzellerland and offers all the above, including rolling hills with grazing cows, beautiful old farmhouses and villages, farm shops to buy milk, eggs and cheese, and even a golf course! Additionally, the whole area is interspersed with countless hikes of all lengths or difficulties. You can hike up Säntis (2502 masl), the highest mountain of Alpstein, which is never completely free of snow, or stay in the valleys, where there are easy flat walks through the meadows or walks around stunning lakes such as Seealpsee lake.
There are beautiful old wooden farmhouses dotted around and the village of Appenzell, at the heart of the area, is beautiful with its half-timber houses, traditional shops and not to forget – places to eat ice cream.
The mountain area of Appenzellerland is called Alpstein and there are some spectacular walks to be done there – ridge walks offering stunning views, or walks past mountain lakes. There are several huts to stay in if you are planning a multi-day hike. And of course, there are gondolas taking you up some of the mountains, if you would like to take it easy.
13. Lelija and Zelengora mountain ranges, Bosnia&Herzegovina
Sabina from Wild in the Balkans
Even though Bosnia & Herzegovina is a paradise for hikers due to numerous mountains and hiking trails, the country is still rather undiscovered by international hikers.
There are just a few mountains or trails that are pretty busy in the summer. Having said that, each mountain range has trails where you will enjoy the silence and not meet hikers or just a few people.
However, for quiet trails, I would recommend not one but two mountain ranges, since having trouble deciding between two of them.
Lelija Mountain range and Zelengora Mountain range are both connected, but currently, only Zelengora is part of the Sutjeska National Park.
Both ranges are located in the eastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, easily reachable from Sarajevo, the country’s capital.
Let’s start with Lelija Mountain. The best hike to choose is the one that will take you to the top – Velika Lelija (2032 masl). You will begin the walk in the picturesque Jalasci Village, actually at the edge of the village. The trail takes you through the deep coniferous forest, following the gravel road at the beginning, and gorgeous glades to the hillsides full of wild blueberries and incredible views.
Difficulty level: moderate
You can reach Zelengora Mountains, also known as the Green Mountains full of glacial lakes, just by continuing the hike from the top of Lelija Mountains or driving to Tjentiste Village, in Sutjeska National Park.
At Zelengora, I would recommend the hike to Gornje Bare Lake and Ugljesin Peak. For this hike, you can choose between two trails. One starts from the main road, just a few kilometres down the road from Tjentište Village at the spot known as Kovacev Panj. The second trail’s starting point requires a one-hour long drive up the mountain on a gravel forest road to Donje Bare Lake. This hike is shorter and less demanding.
The first trail involves a steep climb through the forest and two viewpoints before reaching Donje Bare Lake. Maybe you can consider an overnight stay in a charming mountain cottage at Donje Bare Lake.
Difficulty level: The first hike is moderate and the second one is difficult.
Either mountain range you choose, you will enjoy quiet walks, dense forests, and 360 panoramic views from the peaks. All mentioned trails are part of the Via Dinarica a long-distance hiking trail, which traverses the mountains of the Dinaric Alps mountain range in the Western Balkans.
