The greatest European strolling holidays I like to recommend in 2026

Thankfully, it should quickly be the season of longer days and extra sunshine.

Spring is the very best time of the yr to lace up your mountaineering boots and get strolling. While the UK affords some wonderful choices, why not head barely additional afield in 2026?

Europe has some epic mountaineering prospects for all the things from huge views and difficult altitudes to gentler lakeside strolls. Walking holidays provide an distinctive option to discover a vacation spot.

With the recognition of lively holidays on the rise, you gained’t be alone in contemplating a strolling vacation in 2026. According to journey operator Explore, curiosity within the firm’s lively holidays was up 29 per cent this yr, with strolling holidays up as a lot as 52 per cent since earlier than the Covid pandemic.

But with a wealth of choices to choose from, which strolling holidays are the very best?

As a journey author, these are the journeys I’d suggest.

Best Europe strolling holidays

1. Dolomites and Lake Garda

Among HF Holidays’ new strolling holidays for 2026 is a seven-night guided strolling journey in Northern Italy’s Unesco-listed Adamello Brenta Natural Park.

There’s a alternative of two completely different walks every day – with an skilled information – so relying in your temper and power ranges, you possibly can select from lakeside strolls alongside turquoise waters and olive groves, to tougher mountain hikes, appreciating the rugged limestone peaks.

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Accommodation is the small, family-run Hotel Regina Elena within the village of Caderzone Terme – a central spot to discover from. The scenic route takes within the well-known Five Lakes, the Nardis Waterfalls, and the Genova Valley in addition to a day journey to the western shore of Lake Garda.

Sene evening for £1,479 pp on a half board foundation, with wine at night meals, together with flights, baggage, transfers and a alternative of two guided walks per day on strolling days.

2. Lefkas and Meganisi

Head to the Greek Islands of Lefkas and Meganisi for uncooked magnificence, olive groves, waterfalls, quiet mountain trails and villages, the place cobbled streets result in stone homes and native tavernas.

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The views on this Sunvil strolling vacation are jaw dropping however the islands aren’t overrun with vacationers. Lefkas is known for its dramatic white cliffs and Meganisi has hidden seashores, clear waters and an genuine laidback attraction.

Read extra: Two new strolling trails set to launch in Wales this yr

May is an ideal time to hike in Greece, earlier than the temperatures soar in the summertime. Choose from simple strolls to reasonably difficult hikes, the paths will take you off highway and past the guidebook.

Departs May 24, 2026, £1,466 pp (two sharing), together with return flights to Preveza, 20kg pp maintain baggage allowance, lodging with breakfast, and transfers.

3. Sierra Nevada, Spain

Spain’s largest mountain vary, Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, affords enormous variety to discover.

This three-day weekend journey from Ramble Worldwide is new for 2026, and relies within the picturesque city of Lanjarón. With recent spring water and tranquil squares, it’s a wonderful location for strolling by way of the pure great thing about the nationwide park – taking within the rugged panorama, deep gorges, fairly white-washed villages and epic vistas.

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An skilled native information will take a median group dimension of 10-12 on difficult hikes, together with a stretch of the GR7, the well-known long-distance mountaineering path that’s a part of the E4 European strolling route.

Hiking within the Sierra Nevada Weekend Adventure (Grade 6), three-nights from £476, departures in May, contains three-star lodge (B&B foundation) and native taxes, native transport and skilled native information.

4. Slovenia

This eight-day strolling vacation by Explore in Triglav National Park is stuffed with pure wonders, huge vistas and conventional farming villages. It takes within the Julian Alps, Lake Bohinj – Slovenia’s largest glacial lake – and Savica Waterfall within the partitions of the Komarca Gorge.

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Stay at The Art Kristal Hotel, a family-run property on Lake Bohinj, with mountain and countryside views. The hikes are graded ‘leisurely’ or ‘moderate’ with 4 to seven hours of strolling on 5 of the times, with a tour chief, so a very good stage of health is required.

The eight-day journey begins at £1,795 (excludes flights).

Read extra: Why it is best to go to Slovenia’s 5 Unesco heritage websites in 2025

5. Connemara National Park and Aran Islands, County Galway

Follow new trails at Connemara National Park and on the west coast of Ireland. The nation’s second oldest nationwide park has been present process a serious enlargement and improve venture, which goals to extend in dimension by greater than 12 per cent and double the community of strolling trails.

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This six-day Walkers’ Britain and Europe journey begins in Galway City – residence to vigorous pubs and conventional Irish music – earlier than heading to the rugged great thing about Ireland’s distant Aran Islands to stroll to the traditional Black Fort, and stand on the fringe of Dun Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fortress regarded as 3,000 years outdated.

Walkers will then head again to the mainland to hike Connemara’s Western Way and embark on an outdated pilgrim path by way of the Maumturk Mountain, earlier than visiting Leenane, a village on Ireland’s solely fjord.

The dramatic backdrop of the Galway coast featured within the Oscar-winning movie, The Banshees Of Inisherin.

Exploring the Aran Islands and Connemara with Walkers’ Britain and Europe departs April-October, from £990 pp.