Magical trail named Europe’s most underrated hiking route in 2024 - full list

Do you love to get outside in the great outdoors and hike? Well, look no further as these are the best trails to go on.

By Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

Colourful volcanic landscape with hills and snow, Laugavegur trekking trail, Landmannalaugar, Fjallabak Nature Reserve, Icelandic Highlands, Suðurland

Hiking is a great way to explore a location (Image: Getty)

Sometimes there is nothing better than getting out in the great outdoors and going for a hike

While the UK has plenty of beautiful spots to get your hiking boots on, Europe has pretty stunning trails too.

Thankfully there are plenty of walkable cities to get around by foot on the continent. 

Even better, travelling by foot is where you can unearth some unexpected treasures that will make your holiday. However, if you’re stuck on where to go hiking then don’t worry as experts have done all the hard work for you.

This is according to Much Better Adventures who have analysed the best hiking routes. The trails had to be at least 20km long with not many reviews. 

Stunning shot at Eyjafjallajokull area in the western part of Iceland

The Laugavegur trail in Iceland was named the best (Image: Getty)

The routes did, however, need a high score rating to ensure they were the most underrated paths.

They found the Laugavegur trail in Thórsmörk, Iceland as the top hiking route in Europe. The route is located in the country’s southern Highlands with a 52.9km hike journey.

During the hike, you will get to witness thermal pools, magical Glaciers, volcanic slopes and mountains. What more could you want, right?

Panorama over alpine huts of Stafelalp to Rinerhorn, Davos, Grisons, Switzerland

The Edelweiss Höhbalmen Trail in Switzerland came second (Image: Getty)

In second place was the Edelweiss Höhbalmen Trail in Switzerland. This trail isn’t for the light-hearted with it being deemed as “hard”, according to Zermatt Matterhorn. 

Not only do you take in the beautiful Swiss Alps but also the north face of the Matterhorn.

Finally, scoring bronze was the Palenica Białczańska trail in Rysy, Poland.

Yet again, this trail offers views of beautiful mountains and stunning blue lakes. The distance is 26.2km and has an elevation gain of 1,657m. 

The best hiking trails in Europe for 2024:

  1. Laugavegur in Thórsmörk, Landmannalaugar, Iceland

  2. Edelweiss Höhbalmen Trail, Stafelalp, Switzerland

  3. Palenica Białczańska, Morskie Oko, Rysy, Poland

  4. Ehrwald, Coburger Hütte, Austria

  5. Val Ferret, Les Ars Dessous, Italy

  6. Fimmvörðuháls Trail, Skógar, Þórsmörk, Iceland

  7. PR17, Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal, Bica da Cana, Portugal

  8. French Way, Melide, O Pino, Spain

  9. Pradera de Ordesa, Cola de Caballo, Refugio de Goriz, Spain and France

  10. Palenica Białczańska, Five Polish Ponds Valley, Morskie Oko, Poland

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?