Must-visit Mountains in Europe

Europe has LOADS of incredible mountains to visit. However, these are our top 10 must-visit mountains in Europe we think are totally worth a visit!

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We love hiking! This is obvious from our other posts on long-distance trekking, including this one from the Tour du Mont Blanc and the GR20 in Corsica.

Being outdoors is rejuvenating for the soul and so rewarding.

Mount Snowdon, Wales

Snowdon is famous in Wales and the UK as a training mountain for those wanting to climb the tallest in the world, including Everest. The reason? The mountain isn’t necessarily super high, but it’s technical and requires skill to summit. The surrounding area of Snowdonia National Park is a perfect place for a retreat. Explore small villages, babbling brooks, and wonderful landscapes with heather-hewn hills and agricultural paddocks. Hiking is best during August and September when the mosquitoes have mostly died down and the weather is more likely favorable.

The surrounding views as you start the trek up Snowdon are worth the visit alone! Photo by Christa Rolls

Mont Blanc, France

This mountain is known as one of the top alpine destinations in the world. And is one of the most-visited mountains in Europe. Getting to the summit of Mont Blanc is no small feat. It truly requires some expertise and experience with mountaineering and traversing across glaciers. In fact, the variable weather and glacial crossings make the Mont Blanc trek a true challenge, requiring a guide to aid in safe crossing. For those not interested in a summit, the Tour du Mont Blanc travels around the base of Mont Blanc. This trek allows hikers to visit France, Italy, and Switzerland all in one hike. There is also a tram that goes just below the summit for wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.

Click here to read all about trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc!

Mont Blanc and the Val Veni on a sunny day

This stunning view of the Mont Blanc is from the Italian side of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Photo by Christa Rolls

Zugspitze, Germany

The tallest mountain in Germany is a must-visit for those traveling to the beautiful Alps in Bavaria. Opportunities for visiting the mountain range from family-friendly to hardcore mountaineers. The myriad options to reach the top help with the variety in visitors! Three hiking trails, which range from fairly easy to requiring equipment and skill, lead to the Zugspitze’s summit. Mountain-side trains and multiple cable cars allow visitors to easily access the summit center at the peak, with panoramic views and a restaurant. This is an incredibly popular destination year-round, especially for skiing in wintertime. The Zugspitze is easily accessible from nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a sweet Bavarian village, and is incredibly close to the famous Neuschwanstein fairytale castle.

In winter, the Zugspitze is a popular destination for skiers. Photo by Christa Rolls

Dolomites, Italy

It’s hard to choose just one mountain to visit in the Dolomites. The region has some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe and the world. Their unique basalt peaks rise up dramatically in the landscape and are a true wonder to behold. The Drei Zinnen, or Three Peaks, Nature Park is the perfect place for trekkers and lovers of nature alike. A round loop of the Peaks can be completed in a day. Visits to or stays at the accompanying hutte, for dinner, a beer, or a good night’s sleep, make it an ideal long-weekend visit destination. Drei Zinnen can be reached from the Fischleinbodenhutte parking area or Rifugio Auronzo, both of which have buses running to them from the nearby main villages multiple times throughout the week.

The whole region of the Dolomites mountains is one for the books, but the Drei Zinnen is truly spectacular. Photo by Alessandro DeRosso

Monte Cinto, Corsica

Corsica is technically part of France, but everything about the island is uniquely Corsican. Monte Cinto is the highest peak along the extensive mountain range that travels the entire length of Corsica. From the top, hikers can have incredible Panoramic views of the entire northwest part of the island, over the mountains, and all the way to the coast. Getting there is no walk in the park. Monte Cinto is located along the GR20, heralded as one of the most difficult long-distance treks in the world. It’s possible to see and experience the surrounding mountains without actually trekking them, however. Consider a visit to Refuge Asco-Stagnu for some dinner and drinks, and exploration for the surrounding mountains.

Read more about trekking the GR20 and getting to Monte Cinto here!

The surrounding mountain range of Corsica from Monte Cinto is truly remarkable… and challenging to get to! Photo by Christa Rolls

Mount Olympus, Greece

Lovers of Ancient Greek history will love a visit to Mount Olympus. Known as the home of the Gods in ancient times, seeing the sunrise and set amongst these mountains make it easy to believe. Olympus is the tallest mountain in Greece and is located in Mount Olympus National Park in the Olympus Range, just a few hours’ drive south from Thessaloniki. The region is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its exceptional biodiversity, so plant and animal lovers will enjoy seeing what this stunning area has to offer. The weather changes often in this part of the country, so be aware if you venture into the mountains here. Getting a guide to trek the mountain itself is preferred, as the trails run along some pretty exposed edges. However, many of the hikes within the park are perfectly accessible for those with some walking experience.

You can’t go wrong with treks around the Olympus Range. Photo from Pixabay

Vatnajokull, Iceland

Unlike the other mountains on this list, Vatnajokull is an active volcano! Just a handful of years ago, it erupted and caused quite a bit of trouble with the international airways. Its year-round glaciers lead into the stunning Glacier Bay on its south end, and black sand and lava stone surround the mountain in Iceland’s Highlands. Accessing the interior of Iceland requires a guide for glacier traversing. If driving in the National Park to access the surrounding trails, visitors must have an approved 4×4 vehicle and a good map. Get off the busy beaten track and enjoy the stunning nature that Iceland has to offer!

Iceland south road at sunset with rainbow

Lava sand and rocks make up most of the interior of Iceland. You can see why it is called the Land of Fire and Ice! Photo by Christa Rolls

Cairngorm Mountain, Scotland

The Cairngorm Mountains are located in the vast Cairngorms National Park, the largest natural area in Scotland. The country’s Highlands are known for being out-of-this-world beautiful, and the Cairngorms are no exception. Small villages, myriad lochs and streams, and plenty of hiking trails make this a very accessible location for visiting. Staging in the sweet town of Aviemore, a road leads right up to Cairngorm Mountain, which offers wonderful views of the surrounding Highlands and hills, skiing, hiking, and awesome birdwatching opportunities. Be sure to stop in at the ranger station at the mountaintop before continuing on. Here, you can ask about wildlife sightings of interest and any hazards to be aware of.

Check out our itinerary for visiting Scotland in wintertime!

The Cairngorms can be a wonderful place to visit year-round, even in winter. Photo by Christa Rolls

Tatra Mountains, Poland

Some of the most underrated mountains in Europe, the Tatra Mountains are incredibly beautiful and only a couple of hours’ drive from the city of Krakow. These beautiful mountains are also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, rich in plants and animals that make the area especially unique. While there isn’t a particular mountain we’d recommend, exploring the High Tatras alone is adventure enough. Day hikes to Murowaniec via the Kasprowy Wierch cable car are a great way to enjoy alpine lakes and mountain vistas while also beating some of the crowds. Hiking on the north side of the range means many snowfields will be present through summer, so going later in the summer helps to avoid early-season snow.

The Bergsee in the High Tatras is one of the many alpine lakes to explore in these stunning mountains. Photo from Pixabay

Galdhopiggen, Norway

It’s no surprise that we’ve added Norway to this list, but it may surprise you that we selected mountains outside of the popular (and still stunning) north. Galdhopiggen is the tallest peak in Norway and Scandinavia. It is located in Jotunheimen National Park, a vast wilderness northeast of the Sognefjord outside Bergen. True solitude awaits visitors to this region of Norway, making the trekking experience that much more enjoyable. There are multiple routes, ranging from easy to expert-level, to actually summit Galdhopiggen. While all routes require some trekking experience, the easier route from Spiterstulen can be done without a guide as long as the trekker is sure-footed.