Little-known walking trails in Europe – Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal, and Ireland that few people know about yet.
The newest walking routes in Europe offer a more thoughtful and less crowded way to explore countries compared to the packed Camino de Santiago routes in Spain and Portugal. These trails are a wonderful way to experience Europe’s natural beauty and hidden gems: small towns, churches, vineyards, national parks, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. All of these previously off-the-radar sights are becoming more accessible to walkers.
Walking is a great way to travel eco-consciously and mindfully. To make it easy, on the new routes you can rent tents, stay in mountain refuges, city hostels, or private bed & breakfast hotels.
Palmilhar Portugal, Portugal
The 3,000-kilometer Palmilhar Portugal (Walk Portugal) route is the world’s longest circular trail. Organizers presented the first section in 2024, already marked out in Alenquer, a small municipality north of Lisbon.
The official route website is still under development—waiting for full info on sections, infrastructure, etc.
Read more about hiking in Portugal: The best hiking trails in Portugal
Ireland’s National Walks Scheme, Ireland
Meanwhile, Ireland’s National Walks Scheme has nearly doubled the number of trails on the island. This government program is aimed at attracting income from tourists and creating jobs in rural communities. There are now 140 active hiking routes, with another 10 planned in the next two years.
Among the new Walks Scheme routes are:
- Carrigmeal Woodland Loops, Co Laois
- Streakin Mountain Walk, County Kerry
- The Devil’s Chimney, County Sligo
- Ardmore Cliff Walk, County Waterford
- Six Fastnet Trails, County Cork
Here are some of the well-known trails already in the scheme:
- Monaghan Way
- Lúb Dún Fearbhaí, Inis Meáin
- The Devil’s Chimney, County Sligo
- Lough Derg Way
- Ardmore Cliff Walk, County Waterford
- Ladiesbridge Loop Trail
- Durrow, County Laois
- Neville’s Mountain
- Enniscorthy Quay
- Long Lough Gara Way
- Miner’s Way and Historical Trail, County Roscommon
- Cavan Way
- Mount Melleray Pilgrim Walks
- Lough Kildra, County Leitrim
Camino Croatia, Croatia
Camino Croatia—a series of ancient St James pilgrimage routes across Croatia, connecting with other Caminos and ultimately leading to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela. This sequence of routes was almost unknown until it was revived in 2022.
The Camino in Croatia stretches over 2,000 km and is based on medieval routes from Croatia to Santiago de Compostela. The entire route is 20 stages, with over 10 currently signed and with infrastructure for pilgrims. Several others are in development and will launch during the year.
You can walk part of Camino Croatia for a week or a weekend on active stages. Pick your way and follow in the footsteps of Croatian pilgrims who have journeyed to Santiago de Compostela since 1203.
The Pagarine Route, France, Italy
An ancient salt trading route, the Pagarine Route is a new 159-km hiking trail from the French Riviera to the Italian hills that is now open to visitors.
The city beach in Nice has been lively for centuries. The city was an important salt trading center in the Middle Ages. Salt was delivered to Plage des Ponchettes in small wooden rowboats, taxed at the nearby centuries-old market Cours Saleya, and then taken by mules in a grueling journey to Italy.
Today, Plage des Ponchettes is the starting point for the Pagarine Route, a new 159-km hiking trail from Nice to Cuneo in Italy, tracing the steps of those medieval salt traders. The best way to hike all 10 stages of the route is to download the GPX tracks from the Outdoor Active site and search for ‘Les Routes du Sel: La Route Pagarine’. There you’ll find the full route with step-by-step directions, POIs, accommodation, and restaurant suggestions.
This route is the youngest of three salt routes (Les Routes du Sel) in the region. The others are the Royal Route from Menton to Cuneo; and the Smugglers’ Route from Imperia on the Italian coast to the Piedmont city of Mondovì.
Cammino degli Dei – Italy
Via degli Dei – the Way of the Gods is a route born from the vision and hard work of Bologna hikers from CAI (i Dû pâs e ‘na gran magnè, “two steps and a big meal” in Bolognese dialect), who wanted to walk to Florence across the Apennines—and the reward for this challenge was a big slice of Florentine steak and a glass of Tuscan red wine.
The Via degli Dei is also a historic route—the Etruscans and Romans traveled it in ancient times, and it was used by traders and travelers in the Middle Ages. The Tuscan-Emilian Apennines were also the scene of WWII tragedy, and this route crosses the Gothic Line. There are lodgings and classic Italian restaurants in the villages along the Apennines. The route helps keep local economies alive.
Useful articles and links:
- Camino Portugues – Portuguese route from Porto along the ocean
- Rota Vicentina – walk along the ocean
- Mardi Himal trek – the best route for beginners in the Himalayas
- Lycian Way – a hiking route through Turkey
- My journey through the Picos de Europa National Park
Travel health insurance – online at HotlineFinance
Hotel & apartment bookings – Booking.com
