There are so many incredible and hugely underrated solo hiking destinations in Europe and I'm currently on a mission to explore as many of them as possible. From hiking to waterfalls hidden deep in the forest, to coastal hikes with jaw-dropping views and don't get me started on the stunning mountain backdrops. If you're keen to try a solo hike, but you want to stay close to home and in familiar territory, a solo hiking trip within Europe is a great way to get started.

Before booking a solo trip – read my guide on How to Safely Solo Travel as a Woman and don't miss my guide on Solo Hiking – Staying Safe & Planning Your First Hike

The Best Solo Hiking Destinations in Europe

  1. Solo Hiking in Portugal
  2. Solo Hiking in Montenegro
  3. Solo Hiking in Slovenia
  4. Solo Hiking in Albania
  5. Solo Hiking in Canary Islands
  6. Solo Hiking in Bosnia & Herzegovina
  7. Solo Hiking in Switzerland, Austria and Germany
  8. Solo Hiking in Cyprus

Solo Hiking in Portugal

Portugal is one of my favourite destinations in Europe for hiking – if you love adventure, this is the destination for you! While the mainland has some beautiful places to visit, it is actually the islands just off the coast of Portugal that have really captured my heart for solo hiking. If you long for a solo hike, skip Lisbon and Porto and swap them for The Azores and Madeira which have been nicknamed "the Hawaii of Europe". These volcanic islands are home to some magnificent and diverse landscapes from the mountains, to the lush, green countryside, to the rocky coastline. Read these blogs to plan your solo hiking trip:

Solo Hiking in Montenegro

Ahhh Montenegro – the sparkling gem at the heart of Europe. With towering mountains and sparkling ocean meeting at the banks of Kotor Old Town, this destination will leave you wanting to explore more of this beautiful country. I fell in love with the quaint winding streets, beautiful views and delicious food. Here you'll find the popular St John's Fortress hike which is bets done at sunrise to avoid the heat of the day, meanwhile there are lots of other amazing hikes around the surrounding mountains. Read Solo Travel in Montenegro: The Ultimate Guide (2025) and 20 Amazing Things To Do In Kotor, Montenegro

Solo Hiking in Slovenia

Slovenia stole my heart after a visit to Lake Bled last spring – this quaint, beautiful town is surrounded by mountains and lies just in the edge of Triglav National Park. While there are lots of great easier hikes around Lake Bled itself and up to popular viewpoints that tower over the lake, the solo hikers who like a challenge will prefer to head into the national park. Vintgar Gorge is a great hike that comes complete with beautiful views that you'll swear must be AI because they're just too perfect. Meanwhile, the Seven Lakes hike is a challenging day hike that asks for some scrambling and forces you to face the elements. 

Solo Hiking in Albania

My next destination and one I can't wait to share, but it just shows how huge the anticipation is for this trip that I'm already including Albania as a great destination for solo hiking. With epic hikes through the mountains including the iconic Theth to Valbona day hike which takes you to the famous Blue Eye. This is one to watch as a hugely underrated destination for travellers and hikers alike within Europe. Watch this space – I'll be adding lots of blogs very soon.

Solo Hiking in Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are another impressive volcanic island chain that will leave you speechless at the diversity of the landscapes between one national park and the next. So far I have visited Tenerife and created this Tenerife Hiking Guide which goes into lots of detail about the best hikes and national parks to explore with some incredible gems waiting for your next solo hiking adventure. I can't wait to visit Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma to see what these islands have to offer for solo hikers. If mainland Spain is your next destination, check out Camino de Santiago solo: What do you need to know?

Solo Hiking in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina is a hugely underrated country for travellers – but for solo hikers it has so much to offer. I was blown away by the landscape and the mountains, so if that sounds like your dream for hiking, keep reading. The hikes are peaceful and quiet, with some areas well known for spectacular hiking trails such as Lukomir. This area where you will find the most remote mountain village in the country, is surrounded by impressive mountains and panoramic views but due to how challenging it is to reach, you'll find that only the most dedicated travellers and hikers actually make it there. Read The Solo Travel Guide To Bosnia (2025)

Switzerland solo hiking

Solo Hiking in Switzerland, Austria & Germany

One of the more popular destinations for hiking trips in Europe and one that I will never forget after my wonderful summer of road tripping through Switzerland, Austria, Germany and other parts of Europe in a self-built camper van. I've put Switzerland and Germany together because there are some great overlapping hikes and areas to explore which offer fantastic solo hiking opportunities – check out these:

solo hiking in cyprus, paphos hiking guide

Solo Hiking in Cyprus

If you feel like escaping to the sunshine during UK winter – Cyprus is a great destination for solo hikers. With the cooler temperatures, it creates the perfect opportunities to enjoy the coastal hikes through the natural park and exploring the local attractions instead of sitting by the pool or on the beach. If you're an active traveller who loves an adventure – this is a great time of year to explore and see more of what the country has to offer hikers.