If the thought of lying on a sunbed for days on end is not your idea of the perfect holiday, but the idea of exploring mountains, forests, coasts and lakes gets your wanderlust flowing, then it sounds like you need a stay-and-walk holiday…
The good news is that there is no shortage of incredible walking hotspots right on our doorstep here in Europe, which is why you’re being encouraged to ‘Walk The Inghams Way’ by Inghams Walking, who've been taking guests on holidays for 90 years.
Confused? Don’t be. By walking the Inghams way, you can walk as much or as little as you like – and still get to enjoy everything else you love to do on holiday.
The whole point is that you simply pick your base in one of Europe’s best walking destinations, unpack, lace up your walking boots and go exploring.
There’s no set itinerary and no need to move hotel every few days – though you can explore multiple destinations during your holiday if you want to.
What you do get, though, is a fantastic choice of accommodation, up to two guided day walks a week in selected resorts and support from Destination Experts from the moment you click book. That means there’s always someone on hand to help recommend your next walk, a delicious meal or a local secret or two.
All holidays include flights from the UK (or rail travel) and transfers, plus a handy, bespoke guide outlining things to do and experience in resort.
Founded by Walter Ingham over 90 years ago, Inghams started as a club of like-minded people united by a love of the outdoors. And that’s still the core driver today.
With all that experience, it’s fair to say Inghams has its finger on the pulse and knows some of the best places across our continent in which to explore on foot.
There are over 75 resorts to choose from across eight countries, providing a diverse range of options to suit everyone’s tastes.
Below, we pick out five of our favourite options…
5 top walking destinations in Europe
1. Interlaken, Switzerland
Switzerland offers such an incredible wealth of stunning destinations that it can be hard to pick just one as a base.
Zermatt gives you the quintessential alpine experience and a stunning backdrop of the iconic Matterhorn (plus other 4,000m+ peaks). Lucerne, meanwhile, offers a beautiful lakeside setting and excellent valley walking. Then there’s magical Grindelwald, sitting over 1,000m high in the Bernese Oberland.
For a mix of everything, though, consider Interlaken. Sometimes referred to as Switzerland’s adventure capital, Interlaken gives you easy access to a range of unforgettable experiences, most of which are reachable via public transport.
You have a choice of two lakes (Lake Thun and Lake Brienz) to explore by foot, boat or stand-up paddleboard, while the villages of Lauterbrunnen, Murren (with its epic via ferrata) and Grindelwald can also be visited in a day.
There’s over 500km of diverse walking trails, excellent viewpoints and a backdrop of three iconic alpine peaks – the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
Here’s how you can plan an incredible holiday in Interlaken (and Switzerland as a whole).
2. Selva, Dolomites, Italy
If you’re looking for the ‘wow’ factor then the Italian Dolomites are certainly it. The mountains in this part of Italy don’t quite hit the heights of some of their alpine cousins, but they more than make up for it with the drama.
Imagine layer upon layer of jagged peaks bursting from the horizon and you’ve pretty much got it. This rocky terrain, flanked by luscious green fields and forests, holds over 900km of trails (plus a huge range of via ferrata routes), with everything from easy valley strolls to challenging mountain hikes.
The region is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s easy to see why, with national parks and nature reserves dotted across the landscape.
Selva is the perfect base for exploring the area, with a range of exceptional walking routes right on your doorstep. For example, take on the six-mile Seceda Ridgeway to explore lush meadows, forests and rocky landscapes on your way to the top of the spectacular Seceda mountain.
While there’s also a host of excellent mountain biking trails nearby, one of the absolute musts if you stay here is to hike up to one of the area’s many mountain huts for lunch with a view.
Discover everything Selva and the rest of Italy has to offer.
3. Bergen, Norway
On its own, the city of Bergen is an exceptional city break. But branch out of the city, into the surrounding wild spaces, and you’ll be transported into a landscape reminiscent of tales from the Norse mythology.
Bergen, with its colourful waterfront houses and excellent museums, is wedged in between the ocean, two of Norway’s biggest fjords and a maze of mountains. It’s one of the oldest port cities in northern Europe, having been founded over 950 years ago.
From the city itself you can easily take the funicular to Mount Fløyen, where you can enjoy incredible views across the city and surrounding areas. From here, you’ll also have access to some brilliant walks.
There are over 100km of trails in and around Bergen, plus more further afield. Footpaths line the fjords and are perfect for easier days, while there’s a range of boats that will also take you onto the water and give you the chance to see some incredible waterfalls.
You could decide to split your time between Bergen and Voss with a multi-centre trip, you could even set your sights on a hike to the now infamous Trolltunga (or Troll’s Tongue) – an iconic rocky platform that juts out into the air over the lake below.
A stay in Bergen (or Voss) also gives you access to some of the most scenic train journeys in all of Europe. The Bergen Line runs between Oslo and Bergen, passing over vast mountain plateaus and offering incredible views of the fjords.
Stop at the mountain station of Myrdal and you’ll also be able to experience the Flåm Railway – it’s doubtful you’ll have ever taken a train ride as spectacular as this.
4. Chamonix, France
Chamonix is an icon in the Alps and for many it’s the adventure capital of all of Europe. The town is flanked by the highest mountain in western Europe, Mont Blanc, and is the launchpad for many going for its summit.
An alpine ascent isn’t all it has to offer, though, with 350km of trails to explore and an excellent range of activities. The Tour du Mont Blanc (no need to do it all, as you can also just do a section!) is within easy reach, while a selection of mountain lifts help you enjoy exceptional views on your walks without having to put in hours of uphill graft.
One of the most famous attractions here is the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, which whisks you up to an altitude of 3,842m and puts you onto the heart of the Mont Blanc massif.
Alongside the seemingly endless choice of hikes, other available adventures include e-biking, rafting, canyoning and rock climbing.
5. Funchal, Madeira
Although Madeira is a Portuguese territory, its landscapes often make you feel like you’re very far removed from Europe.
And in a sense, you are, because Madeira is 1,000km away from the European continent and about 500km west of Africa, yet you can get there from Britain in around four hours.
A spine of mountains run down the centre of this volcanic island, topping out at 1,861m with the summit of Pico Ruivo, which you can walk to on an epic ridgetop trail. If you’re lucky enough (or early enough), you’ll get to enjoy a cloud inversion or clear skies revealing a chain of peaks covered in greenery.
Aside from the jagged mountains of the interior, there’s a range of dramatic coastal trails and a network of trails that crisscross the island alongside Maderia’s historic irrigation channels known as levadas.
The island holds a staggering 3,000km of trails in total, which range in difficulty depending what part of the island you’re on.
Using Funchal as a base means you only have a short transfer from the airport, while you’re also well primed to explore the island.
The waterfront city has plenty to offer itself, with botanical gardens, colourful, narrow streets and excellent restaurants. Plus, if you hop on a boat trip you may even spot dolphins and whales.
What makes this a truly top option for a walking holiday, though, is that thanks to the temperate weather, you can visit all year round.
Alongside the destinations featured here, Inghams also offers trips to alternative resorts in these countries, plus options in Andorra, Austria and Slovenia. See the full list and book your next summer holiday here.
If you're looking for something for this year, you can now save up to £250pp on all 2025 holidays.