Underrated Walking Routes in Europe: Which Trails Should Slow Travelers Add to Their List?
Slow travel is reshaping how people see Europe, and underrated walking routes are at the heart of that shift — quieter trails through wine country, coastal cliffs and volcanic landscapes that reward travelers willing to swap city-hopping for something deeper.
What Are the Most Underrated Walking Routes in Europe Right Now?
The most underrated walking routes in Europe include the Cammino di San Nilo in Italy, the Camino de Invierno in Spain, the Sheep’s Head Way in Ireland, the Skåneleden Trails in Sweden, the Drenthepad in the Netherlands and the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland — six long-distance trails that offer scenic immersion without the crowds of better-known paths.
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These routes have gained traction as travelers move away from fast-paced itineraries in favor of longer stays, nature and local culture. Each trail varies widely in distance and difficulty, from the 55-kilometer volcanic terrain of Iceland’s Laugavegur to the 1,300-plus kilometers of Sweden’s Skåneleden network. What they share is a focus on intentionality and connection rather than ticking off bucket-list sites.
The growing appetite for these trails reflects a broader trend. Walking holidays have become one of the biggest forms of slow travel in Europe, drawing visitors who want to experience a region rather than rush through it.
Why Is Slow Travel Driving Interest in Long-Distance Walking Holidays?
Slow travel is driving demand for long-distance walking because it prioritizes immersion and meaningful experiences over checklist tourism. Travelers are spending more time in fewer places, exploring lesser-known attractions alongside the iconic ones.
“Slow travel isn’t just about taking your time in the places that you visit,” Christa Adams told Forbes. “It’s also about immersing yourself in them with the intention of having a more meaningful experience off the main tourist paths.”
Adams, whose travel blog The Spirited Explorer often addresses the issue of slow travel, added, “It involves spending more time getting to know a destination rather than checking sites off your bucket list. Take Rome, for example. Instead of rushing from the Colosseum to Vatican City to the Trevi Fountain in just a few days, slow travel invites you to spend a couple of extra days exploring lesser-known attractions as well as the iconic sites. It means taking time to enjoy a coffee while people watching, savoring local cuisine, strolling through curious neighborhoods and not taking your itinerary too seriously.”
That mindset translates naturally to multi-day walking trails, where the pace is built in. Hikers spend days moving through a single region, meeting locals, eating regional food and seeing landscapes that car-bound tourists miss entirely.
Which Underrated Walking Routes in Italy and Spain Are Worth the Trip?
Italy’s Cammino di San Nilo and Spain’s Camino de Invierno are two of the most rewarding underrated walking routes in Europe for travelers who want history, quiet trails and regional culture without the crowds of better-known pilgrim paths.
The Cammino di San Nilo is an ancient eight-day trail through Cilento National Park, following the footsteps of Saint Nilo of Rossano, a Greco-Italian monk from the 11th century. The route runs from Sapri in the east to Palinuro in the west, passing waterfalls, woodland and tranquil trails far from mass tourism. The top viewpoint at Monte Gelbison offers vistas as far as the island of Stromboli. Walkers can collect a Pilgrim’s Passport at the first hotel, get it stamped along the way and finish with a Testimonium, or certificate of completion, at San Nazario — the site of the former Monastery of San Nazario, where San Nilo received his blessing to become a monk.
The Camino de Invierno, also known as the Winter Way, is a lesser-known route within the Camino de Santiago network. It was historically taken by pilgrims to avoid tougher winter terrain and remains far quieter than the famous Camino Frances, Portugues or del Norte. The full route stretches 262 kilometers over 13 days from Ponferrada to Santiago, with a shorter eight-day option from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago. Highlights include Galician wine country and the monasteries of the Ribeira Sacra region.
The Best Lesser-Known Long-Distance Trails in Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands
Ireland’s Sheep’s Head Way, Sweden’s Skåneleden Trails and the Netherlands’ Drenthepad are three lesser-known long-distance trails that showcase coastal, forested and rural landscapes most travelers overlook.
The Sheep’s Head Way sits on one of southwest Ireland’s most spindly peninsulas — just 19 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, yet packing 150 kilometers of hill walks inside it. The trail leads to dreamy coves, dramatic cliffs, ancient archaeological sites and a lighthouse at the tip, with a sandstone ridge running down the core of the peninsula like a central spine. A strong local community committed to sustainable tourism has helped make it one of Ireland’s finest lesser-known trails.
The Skåneleden Trails form a network across southern Sweden’s Skåne region totaling more than 1,300 kilometers, marked by recognizable orange signs. Walkers move through rocky shores, remote peninsulas, white sandy beaches and mature beech forests. Key sections include the northern Kullaleden and Bjäre peninsulas and the coastal Österlen Way in the east — a quieter alternative to the more popular Stockholm Archipelago routes.
The Drenthepad covers roughly 340 kilometers (211 miles) across the unspoiled Dutch province of Drenthe, passing megalithic tombs, heathlands, forests and small villages, and crossing three national parks. Many stages end in villages or towns with train or bus connections, making it easy to walk the route in sections rather than tackling it all at once.
Why Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail Is One of the Most Underrated Walking Routes in Europe
Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail is shorter than most long-distance routes at 55 kilometers (34 miles), but its otherworldly scenery makes it one of the most underrated walking routes in Europe for hikers seeking dramatic landscapes in a compact trip.
The trail crosses colorful mountains, lava fields, hot springs and glacial rivers — terrain that looks more like another planet than a European hiking path. Unpredictable weather and rugged camping conditions add to the adventure rather than detract from it, and the route sits high on many hikers’ bucket lists for that reason.
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It has been described as offering the most varied landscape of any trail in Europe, which explains why even seasoned long-distance walkers single it out. For travelers who want maximum visual payoff over a shorter window, Laugavegur delivers more changing scenery per kilometer than almost any other route on this list.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
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