LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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11 HIKING & BEACH VACATIONS IN EUROPE FOR 2025.

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We love active vacations, particularly the chance to visit exotic places where we can explore nature on foot. But, we also love the chance to relax on the beach.

In this blog post, we pick out 11 destinations that we have traveled to that make ideal hiking and beach vacations in Europe.

1/ Madeira

A stunning tropical island, Madeira is a Portuguese island but has it’s own distinctive character.

Why pick Madeira for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

Madeira, with its rugged terrain and lush landscapes, serves as a haven for both avid hikers and beach aficionados. Traverse the Vereda do Larano Coastal Walk for breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Aside from coastal hikes, there are also incredible mountain hikes and Levada hikes – a unique style of walk to Madeira.

Madeira is not known for it’s beaches, but I’m not sure why particularly. Some are out of this world, like the black sand beach in Seixal. We also really enjoyed spending time in tidal pools, relaxing in the calm water.

You can find our full list of the 10 best hikes in Madeira here. And our guide to the 27 best things to do in Madeira here.

When to go to Madeira?

If you plan to hike and enjoy the beaches, we suggest travelling between March and May and September to October. This is the optimum time for weather to hike and sunbathe.

Summer is likely to be too hot, but do note that temperatures on Madeira tend to be cooler than on Portugal mainland.

Getting to Madeira

Madeira now has regular flights from the UK and many destinations in Europe. Flight time is roughly 3 hours 45 minutes from London. There is one flight per week from JFK direct to Madeira too – or Americans can fly to Madeira via mainland Portugal easily.

The airport is an incredible feat of engineering, the runway is supported by pillars. Quite unique!

2/ Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is one of the Canary islands. We’ve included three on this list as they are fantastic places to hike. Gran Canaria is particularly unique due to the mountains and national parks.

Why pick Gran Canaria for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

Gran Canaria’s diverse topography, from towering mountains to sun-drenched beaches, offers a myriad of outdoor adventures.

Embark on the challenging hike to Roque Nublo for panoramic vistas, then unwind on the golden shores of Playa de Maspalomas. The national Park, Tamadaba is also a popular hiking area.

Or, if you want something more challenging – consider the GR131. This is a hiking path that goes from the South to the North West of Gran Canaira over a few days. We particularly enjoyed the variety of terrain on this route. This takes in Pico Nieve, vies of Roque Nublo and the Tamadaba Natural Park.

When to go to Gran Canaria?

If you plan to hike and enjoy the beaches, then it is best to avoid peak summer. We visited Gran Canaria in January/ February and were able to hike in beautiful weather and sunbathe!

Ideally, we would suggest February to April or September to October as the ideal times to visit Gran Canaria for hiking and beaches.

Getting to Gran Canaria

There are regular flights from the UK and Europe to Gran Canaria. Flight time is around 4 hours from London. The main airport is in Las Palmas (LPA).

3/ La Gomera

La Gomera is one of the Canary islands, specifically one of the smallest ones. It is found close to Tenerife.

Why pick La Gomera for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

La Gomera, with its enchanting forests and secluded coves, offers an escape from the ordinary.

The island feels totally idyllic. And although it is becoming more popular, we still felt that we were exploring somewhere off the beaten track when we recently hiked in La Gomera.

When it comes to hiking, the GR131 runs through the centre of the island and takes 2-3 days to complete. Wheras the GR132 travels around the coast of the island in a circular route.

You can also combine the two paths to create your own adventure. It is also possible to walk day hikes in sections around the coast.

When to go to La Gomera?

If you plan to hike and enjoy the beaches, then it is best to avoid peak summer. We visited La Gomera in January/ February and were able to hike in beautiful weather and sunbathe!

Ideally, we would suggest February to April or September to October as the ideal times to visit La Gomera for hiking and beaches.

Getting to La Gomera

There are regular flights from the UK and Europe to Tenerife. From here, you can take a ferry to La Gomera in around 45 minutes. You can also fly into La Gomera from Tenerife if you would prefer.

4/ Fuerteventura

An island in the Canary islands, known for vast sandy beaches, volcanoes and national parks.

Why pick Fuerteventura for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

Fuerteventura has such incredible landscapes that any hiker would be entertained. If you wanted to, you could walk in sand dunes one day and around a volcano the next.

As for the beaches, these are vast, sandy and windswept. In my opinion, the beaches in Fuerteventura are the best in the Canary Islands. Particularly if you prioritize sandy beaches.

When it comes to hiking, if you’re keen for day hikes – there a couple of areas that are popular. All of which offer unique and spectacular scenery. The sand dunes of Parque National de Corralejo , the volcano of Calderon Hondo and the GR131 path along the coast between Jandia and Morro Jable.

For multi day hikes, the GR131 runs through the centre of the island. The path starts in Corrajelo and ends in Puerto de la Cruz. On the way it bounces along the west and east coast, allowing breaks on the beach. It will take around 6 to 9 days to walk the entire thing, which we did. But, you can also walk stretches of it.

Find out more about the GR131 in Fuetreventura here. And you can find our guide to where to stay & the 17 best things to do in Fuerteventura here.

When to go to Fuerteventura?

If you plan to hike and enjoy the beaches, then it is best to avoid peak summer. We visited Fuerteventura in January/ February and were able to hike in beautiful weather and sunbathe!

Ideally, we would suggest February to April or September to October as the ideal times to visit Fuerteventura for hiking and beaches.

Getting to Fuerteventura

There are regular flights from the UK and Europe to Fuerteventura. Flight time is around 4 hours.

5/ Northern Spain

Northern Spain feels like a secret hidden gem, especially if you like hiking and beaches.

Why pick Northern Spain for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

The first time we visited Northern Spain, it took our breath away. Since then, we have returned many times and it still has the same effect.

To the East are the fantastic glitzy Basque cities of San Sebastian and Bilbao. You can walk between the two on the Camino del Norte walking path. To the west, you will find Cantabria – known for wine, beautiful beaches and the charming and low key city of Santander.

Continue further along, and the coast gets even quieter. Through the quaint fishing villages of Asturias, to the windswept beaches and lush landscapes of Galicia.

For hiking, you can walk the entire way along the Northern coast on the Camino de Santiago del Norte should you want to. Or, consider walking a short section and take in a few cities, such as Santander, Bilbao and A Coruna along the way.

When to go to Northern Spain?

You could visit Northern Spain for beaches and hiking any time from May to October. Do keep in mind that the weather in Northern Spain tends to be milder than the rest of the country.

It is possible to visit in Summer and find temperatures that are cool enough to hike. Personally, I think June and September are ideal times to visit.

Getting to Northern Spain

There are regular flights from the UK and Europe to various airports in Northern Spain. If you plan to visit Cantabria, the best international airport in Santander. To visit Bilbao, you fly directly to Bilbao Airport. For Asturias, consider a flight to Santiago de Compostela, or to Madrid and take trains to the North.

6/ Portugal

Portugal is known for it’s fabulous cities, Porto and Lisbon. And of course the beaches around the Algarve. But did you know there’s also some fantastic hiking too?

Why pick Portugal for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

Whilst many will flock to the coast of the Algarve, we recommend flying into Porto to walk the Camino route along the Atlantic coast.

You can walk the entire route – 250km from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Or pick a smaller section to tackle. For example, Porto to Vigo in Spain will take around 10 days, or just walk north from Porto for 4-5 days enjoying the coastal scenery.

We recommend this route because it is cooler than the Southern Coast of Portugal, and we think a little more interesting. Plus the beaches of the Atlantic coast are wild and wonderful.

When to go to Portugal?

If walking from Porto to the North, you could travel for a beach and hiking vacation in the summer. In particular, temperatures in June and July are ideal for hiking (around 23 to 25 degrees centigrade) and spending time on the beach.

Getting to Portugal

There are regular flights to Porto from the UK and the rest of Europe.

7/ England

It may not be the most obvious choice, but England offers some incredible hiking and beach opportunities, in particular on the South West Coastal Path.

Why pick England for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

In future, you will be able to walk the entire coast of England! But until then, we would recommend the South West Coastal Path.

The trail runs through some of the most stunning areas of England including Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. It starts in Minehead and ends in Poole, having wrapped around Lands End in Cornwall on the way.

Picture sweeping coastlines, rugged scenery and a pint of cold cider to end your day.

The South West Coast Path is 630 miles/ 1014 km. Therefore to walk the entire trail would take over one month. But, you could walk half of it, or a section of this path easily in a shorter time period.

When to go to England?

As a proud Brit, I would say that the best time to go to England for hiking and beaches is summer. Any other time of the year is unlikely to offer the chance for good weather. That said, you cannot always guarantee a day free of rain in the summer.

Avoid School holidays (end of July to August) if you can as accommodation around the South West coast can get booked up.

Getting to England

Regular flights from around Europe to the UK. For the South West Coast Path, fly into one of the London Airports, Bristol or Southampton.

8/ Wales

Wales, a gem tucked away in the United Kingdom, is often-overlooked despite being a little pocket of paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Why pick Wales for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

The Welsh Landscape makes this country a great pick for a beach and hiking vacation.

For hikers – The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is a 300km long-distance trail which offers some of the best coastal scenery in the UK. You don’t have to hike the entire path; shorter sections, such as from St. David’s to Whitesands Bay, provide equally stunning views and a taste of the Pembrokeshire coastline.

Alternatively, you could enjoy some day hikes along the coast – like the walks offered on the Gower Peninsula. Or, mix it up and spend some time in the Brecon Beacons, soaking incredible views.

When to go to Wales

The best time to visit Wales for a hiking and beach vacation is between late spring and early autumn, from May to September. During these months, the weather is milder and (a little) more predictable.

How to get to Wales

If you’re flying in, Cardiff Airport is the main gateway, with regular flights from various UK and European cities. From Cardiff, you can rent a car or take a train to explore the rest of the country.

9/ Cyprus

A bit of a hidden gem in the Mediterranean, we would recommend Cyprus for anyone looking for a beach holiday with a smattering of day hikes.

Why pick Cyprus for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

As a large island, Cyprus has much to offer anyone looking for a varied vacation in Europe with a bit of hiking and a lot of beach time!

The beaches are wonderful, particularly the crystal clear seawater. And, after a day of hiking, I can’t think of much better than an evening meal of Cypriot Meze.

For hikers, the Akamas Peninsula in the North of the Island, or the Capo Greco National Park in the South East offer the best opportunity for exploring. The Troodos Mountains, particularly various hikes to waterfalls are also very special.

When to go to Cyprus?

Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate, but it is close to the Middle East, so you can expect extremely hot temperatures in summer months. For hiking and beach vacations to Cyprus, travel in April, May or October and even November. This avoids peak crowds and peak temps.

Getting to Cyprus

Regular flights operate to either Larnaca or Paphos airports from the UK and Europe.

Our detailed blog posts on Cyprus will help you decide which airport to fly into. Find out more here.

10/ Albania

Albania is our rogue pick for beach and hiking vacations in Europe. A country that you may not have previously considered, but one which offers so much for visitors.

Why pick Albania for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

Despite Albania being a small country in Europe, there’s so much to see and do.

Albania is home to the Accursed Mountains, otherwise known as the Albanian Alps to the North of the country. Our first visit here took our breath away. We’ve designed a three day itinerary for walking in the Alps.

To the South of Albania, is the spectacular coast line. Spend a few days hopping along the riviera, staying in old fashioned beach resorts like Dhermi and Himare. Find our guide to the best beaches in Albania here.

When to go to Albania?

If you want to hike in Albania, it is best to avoid the peak summer months. Incidentally, July and August are also extremely busy on the coast and accommodation gets booked well in advance.

Instead, visit in late May or June, or opt for September when temperatures are cooling.

Getting to Albania

Fly into Tirana, the capital of Albania. From here you can get to the North for hiking and the South for the beaches.

11/ Turkey

Whilst not in Europe, we include Turkey on this list as it is close enough to Europe to consider for your beach and hiking vacation.

Why pick Turkey for your hiking & beach vacation in Europe?

There are so many reasons that we loved our walking vacation in Turkey.

Firstly, the Lycian Way is a long-distance hiking trail taking you from close to Dalaman to Antalya. The path shows off some absolutely monumental coastal hiking.

Secondly, the beaches in Turkey are stunning. Whilst many aren’t sandy, they still offer incredible water. Along the Lycian Way, there are many quiet coves providing idyllic escapism.

Finally, Turkey offers interesting culture, food and history in abundance.

Find our guide to the highlights of the Lycian Way here. You don’t need to walk the entire route – pick the best bits if you’re short on time.

When to go to Turkey?

If you plan to hike in Turkey it’s best to avoid the summer months as they will be far too hot. Pick spring – April or May, or late summer – September to late October area ideal.

You can expect temperatures in low to mid 20s – perfect for hiking and a bit of time on the beach.

Getting to Turkey

There are regular flights from the UK and Europe to the Turkish Coast. Fly into either Dalaman or Antalya, depending on which stretch of the Lycian Way you intend to hike.

Would you like us to plan your walk for you?

Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Lotus Eaters Travel Planning, where we turn your dream of long-distance walking into a meticulously planned reality.

Our passion for exploration, love for diverse cultures, and commitment to providing an unparalleled experience drive us to offer personalized consultation services for some of the world’s most iconic walking trails

Find out more here.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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Most of our planning is done using other blogs, but you can’t beat a guide book at the bottom of your case. Find yours on here and get the travelling started!

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