DanckTravel

Author: KDancks

There are numerous mountain ranges in Europe, including the Alps, Dolomites, and the Scottish Highlands. If you’re looking for a skiing vacation or just some places to hike, below is a list of countries in Europe with beautiful mountains to visit:

An Overview of The Most Mountainous Countries in Europe

Montenegro

With nearly 90% of the country covered in mountains, Montenegro is the most mountainous country in Europe. In fact, it is the fifth most mountainous country in the world.

Switzerland

Almost 84% of Switzerland is covered in mountains, making it a great place to go hiking or skiing. The Swiss Alps cover a wide area of land, but there are also the Jura Mountains to explore. 

Austria

Austria also benefits from having the Alps, but without the hefty price tag of Switzerland. The medium altitude for Austria is about 910 meters. 

Activities for the Mountains

Skiing

The skiing in Switzerland is incredible, though it is expensive (especially if you need to rent your own skis). Switzerland can get very foggy in the winter, making the whole experience more surreal as you descend above the cloud line.

Other countries with excellent skiing include Austria, Germany, and Italy. These countries all benefit from the Alps, which have high peaks and good snow.

Skiing in Switzerland. You can see the cloud line right next to the mountain peaks

Mountain Coasters

Throughout Europe, there are numerous places that offer mountain coasters or toboggan rides. Check out the below:

• Hotel Oeschinensee:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • About: This hotel offers toboggan rides throughout the spring, summer, and fall. You will need to take the gondola to reach the top of this slide. 

• Flumserberg:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • About: This coaster is located right near Zurich and is a good reward after a long day of hiking. 

• Kronberg:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • About: This coaster is also part of a ropes course, featuring zip lines and a big playground.

• Mount Pilatus:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • About: This is one of the most popular toboggan runs since it is among the longest. You will need to take a gondola up. After you’re done, you can enjoy the beautiful city of Lausanne below. 

• Oberammergau:
  • Location: Germany
  • About: Reaching about 25mph, you will be able to take picturesque views of the city below. 

Hiking

There is hiking all over Europe, offering various degrees of difficulty. Below are a few trails near major cities that you can take advantage of:

• Zurich: One of my favorites in Zurich is the Laternenweg (Lantern Way). I recommend taking this path up to make the sunset at the top. There’s a little restaurant once you finish your hike that you can get coffee and treats at. Then once night hits, you can enjoy the lanterns that light up the way.

Check out those views

• Heidelberg: Philiosphenweg is the most famous trail in Heidelberg, with beautiful views of the old city and the castle. At the top, you’ll find an old monastery. The hike takes about two hours.

Additional hikes and famous mountaintops are included below.

Paragliding

I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to go paragliding, but there are some beautiful places in Switzerland to go do it, including Jungfrau in Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen Valley, and Interlaken.

Famous Mountains & Trails to Visit in Europe

Mount Olympus 

Olympus, the home of the gods, is famous due to its association with Greek mythology. In order to reach Mount Olympus, you will need to fly into Thessaloniki and rent a car. It’s best to also plan this in advance, since if you won’t reach the summit, you’ll likely need overnight accommodations.

Beware that the lodge on the mountain, Spilios Agapitos, is only open between specific hours for check-in. The lodge is pretty nice, with a wide variety of food options available. There are 110 beds available for rent. We recommend booking in advance if you’d like a spot.

It was very foggy when we went to Mount Olympus

Mont Blanc

By hiking Mount Blanc, you will get to explore to cross the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Sitting at 4,808 meters, this is the highest point in the Alps mountain region. Most people start their hike in Les Houches.

Zugspitze

Zugspitze is located in Bavaria/ Austria and it is the highest mountain in Germany. To get to the top, you can take one of three options:

• The cogwheel train (This is nearly a century old)
• A cable car (There are two options for this, depending if you are reaching the peak from Austria or Germany)

From the summit, you can see Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy with a golden cross marking the highest point in Germany. This is a replica of the original from 1851, since the original got destroyed in the 1940s. 

You can also take a mountain coaster, ski, enjoy fine dining, or go mountaineering.

Eagle’s Nest

Now a tourist attraction, the Kehlstein Haus (also known as Eagle’s Nest) sits on the Austrian/ German border. It was constructed in 1938 as a place of entertainment during the Nazi regime. However, in spite of this, historians speculate that Hitler rarely made the journey here, due to it being considered too risky. 

Today, the Eagle’s Nest has been converted into a restaurant and a place to go site seeing. However, it’s also an important historic monument for visitors to reflect on the atrocities committed during the war. 

Matterhorn

Matternhorn is a well-known peak in Switzerland due to its shape and beauty. To get premium views of the Matterhorn, head over to Gornergrat’s viewing platform. 

The Blue Trail

Voted as one of the best trails by National Geographic, this trail connects five towns (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) in Cinque Terre, Italy. This trail goes through vineyards, showing beautiful views of the cities it connects.

Mount Vesuvius 

Surprisingly this wasn’t too much of a hike, as you drive with an Italian driver most of the way up the mountain. The last few feet, you do hike, so be sure to wear good shoes! SDanck and I made a spontaneous decision to do this hike, after making some friends on the Tour in Pompeii, so I only had sandals along.

The Phoenician Steps

The Phoenician Steps allow you to easily ascend to the beautiful cliffs of Capri in Italy. The trail consists of 921 steps that offer beautiful views and the island. 

The picture is old, so excuse the poor lighting, but check out those views!

Final Thoughts

There are many places in Europe with mountainous terrain, perfect for skiing and hiking. Which of these places have you visited? Which do you recommend? Let us know in the comments.