When many people think of Europe, they think of cities like Paris, Rome, and London, with their infinite museums, nightlife, historic monuments, and possibly castles. However, Europe, like the rest of the world, is home to a plethora of stunning national parks. While you’re there, take advantage of the opportunity to visit one or more, which will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to see picture-perfect scenery, fresh air, and peace. This knowledgeable guide will give you all details about the best 20 national parks in Europe.
National Park of Ordesa
It includes trails for all levels of endurance, including walks along with sagas, or geological ledges in the dolomite, some of which are barely a few feet wide. It is known for its nearly two-mile-deep glacial valleys that all come to a head at towering 11,000-foot-high Monte Perdido.
Triglav Nature Reserve is a Slovenian state monument
The national park, which is located in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, is a breathtaking display of the country’s natural splendour. Hiking through stunning green valleys, calm forests, and up to the peak of magnificent Mount Triglav is possible inside the country’s only national park.
Calanques National Park
The Calanques National Park is made up of a series of soaring limestone cliffs that jut out into the sea. The park’s eye-catchers are the nine rocky inlets or Calanques, which are separated by blue waters. Several boat cruises allow guests to get a bird’s eye view of this natural gem.
Albania’s third national park
The popular Theth to Valbona climb, a moderate full-day walk that carries you from one village to the next across a gorgeous mountain pass, is the ideal way to see this section of Albania. It is preferable to travel from Valbona Valley National Park to Theth National Park in the opposite direction.
National Park of the Dolomites of Belluno
This is a masterpiece that rivals any of the country’s renowned museums. Despite its easy accessibility (it’s only an hour and a half from Venice), the park is still entirely wild and unspoilt. Visitors can enjoy hiking, motorcycling, winter sports, and animal watching in the Dolomites, a beautiful mountain range that encompasses five northeastern provinces.
Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park
You won’t find a more stunning mountain retreat than Jotunheimen National Park, one of Europe’s best national parks. Throughout the park’s alpine vistas, several high mountains are flanked by cold lakes and glaciers. Jotunheim is ideal for hikers and mountaineers due to its undulating landscape.
UNA national park
It is located in northwest Bosnia, approximately south of Bihac, and runs parallel to the Croatian border. The river Una, with its blue, turquoise, and emerald green colours, is its distinctive characteristic. With a network of river streams, white water rapids, and waterfalls, the park is all about water. The natural splendour of the park is enough motivation to go.
Loch Lomond Park is a park in Scotland
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is one of the UK’s largest and most scenic national parks, covering 720 square miles. To the north, soaring mountains loom, while a smattering of islands dots the south end and lovely communities like Luss dot the western beaches.
Finland’s Oulanka National Park
Oulanka National Park is a playground for individuals who appreciate the outdoors and is located in Finnish Lapland, right on the Russian border. Hikers will enjoy the forests and valleys of Oulanka, while canoeists will enjoy the River Oulankajoki.
National Park of Krka
The Krka National Park is located in central Croatia, just 20 minutes by vehicle from Sibenik. Skradinski Buk, the largest and most popular of the seven waterfalls, is the largest and most popular. The Krka River, which runs through the park, is home to all of the waterfalls.
Swiss National Park
This is one of Europe’s oldest national parks, located in Graubunden’s eastern canton. There are almost 50 kilometres of hiking paths in the park, including one that leads to Alp Grimes, one of the park’s most beautiful peaks. It is home to a diverse landscape of lush woods, soaring mountains, and deep valleys.
Gran Paradiso National Park
To say that Gran Paradiso National Park is a significant natural and historic site is an understatement. The first national park in Italy, located in the Graian Alps in the northwest, was established to safeguard the once-endangered Alpine ibex.
National Park of Snowdonia
These renowned mountain biking and hiking destinations also allow visitors to learn about the region’s lengthy human history by seeing Neolithic burial cairns and Roman Forts. The magnificent nine-mile excursion around the shores of Bala Lake on the Bala Lake Steam Railway offers more gorgeous vistas for those who adore train rides.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Visitors can explore this park by walking along boardwalks that connect each of the lakes. This opportunity to come near to the Plitvice Lakes will allow you to admire not only the water’s magnificent blue hue but also the lush environment that forms barriers between each of the lakes.
Greece’s Vikos-AOOS park
There are mountains, rivers, and canyons to explore in the national park, which is mostly covered in woodland. The highest point, Mt Tymfi, has a massive plateau that many compare to Table Mountain in South Africa. Brown bears, deer, otters, lynx, and wild cats can all be found in the area.
Goreme National Park
Goreme National Park is a magnificent and one-of-a-kind natural creation. The valley and its surroundings are replete with rock-hewn shrines that show evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period, fashioned totally by erosion.
Ecrins National Park
The unspoiled wilderness of Ecrins National Park, which reaches altitudes of 4,100 meters, is well-known. With such diversity, you’ll come across anything from grasslands and woods to glacier fields and mountain peaks when exploring. The national park’s steep valleys and craggy mountain peaks were carved out by glaciers and rivers, providing plenty of stunning scenery.
Gauja National Park
Gauja National Park is located about an hour north of Riga and is named after the river that runs through it. Gauja National Park’s greatest allure is its unique blend of history and nature. Between Krimulda and Turaida, don’t miss the famed Gutmanis Cave, the largest in the national park with a tragic romance story.
Peneda-Geres national park
Portugal’s first and only national park, Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês. This area is famed not only for its breathtaking natural beauty but also for the intriguing relics of human settlement, including a Roman road that winds through it and is marked by 2,000- year-old milestones. The park also contains around 100 granite villages that appear to have remained largely unchanged since Portugal’s founding in the 12th century.
Pembrokeshire Coast
Exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast will provide you with everything you could want, from huge cliffs to calm moors and breathtakingly magnificent beaches. This diversity appeals to a wide range of travellers in this portion of Wales. The charming Strumble Lighthouse, the scenic Blue Lagoon, and the beach at Barafundle Bay are all worth seeing.
Conclusion
The top national parks in Europe described in this article are full of breathtaking landscapes and cultural value, and they can show you a whole new side of this amazing continent.
