12 Stunning National Parks in Europe Worth Visiting

Europe’s national parks come in every form imaginable: from glacier-carved valleys and alpine peaks to turquoise lakes, rugged coastlines and vast forests.

Some are famous for dramatic hiking trails, while others are best explored slowly by boat, train or scenic road trip.

In this guide, I’m sharing some of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, including a mix of iconic landscapes and a few places that still feel surprisingly under the radar.

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Quick guide to the best national parks in Europe

🇭🇷 Plitvice Lakes National Park: Best for waterfalls and turquoise lakes.
🇩🇪 Saxon Switzerland National Park: Best for dramatic sandstone formations and hiking.
🇮🇹 Cinque Terre National Park: Best for coastal hikes and colourful villages.
🇮🇸 Thingvellir National Park: Best for volcanic landscapes and geology.
🇬🇧 Lake District National Park: Best for lakes, hiking and cosy villages.
🇲🇪 Durmitor National Park: Best for rugged mountain scenery and rafting.
🇸🇪 Sarek National Park: Best for remote wilderness adventures
🇦🇹 Hohe Tauern National Park: Best for alpine landscapes and scenic drives
🇳🇴 Jotunheimen National Park: Best for dramatic peaks and hiking trails
🇸🇮 Triglav National Park: Best for mountain lakes and outdoor adventure
🇪🇸 Picos de Europa National Park: Best for dramatic mountain scenery without Alpine crowds
🇫🇷 Calanques National Park: Best for coastal hikes and turquoise coves

Map of the best national parks in Europe

Use this map to see where all of the most beautiful national parks in Europe are located.

1. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

✨ Best for: Waterfalls and turquoise lakes
🥾 Top experience: Walking the wooden boardwalk trails through the Lower Lakes
📍 Best base: Plitvička Jezera or Rastovača
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic walking routes and shuttle boats
📸 Don’t miss: Veliki Slap, the park’s tallest waterfall

If there’s one national park in Europe that genuinely lives up to the hype, it’s Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Famous for its vivid turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls and wooden boardwalks that weave directly across the water, this UNESCO-listed park feels almost unreal in places. Particularly in the quieter hours of the morning before the crowds arrive.

The park is split between the Upper and Lower Lakes, connected by a network of walking trails, boats and panoramic viewpoints.

While many visitors try to rush through in a few hours, I’d really recommend allowing a full day if you can.

The scenery constantly changes as you move through the park, from narrow limestone canyons and forest trails to huge waterfall amphitheatres.

Despite being one of Croatia’s most visited natural attractions, Plitvice still feels remarkably wild in parts, with dense woodland, crystal-clear water and regular sightings of wildlife including deer and rare bird species.

If possible, visit in late spring or early autumn when the waterfalls are at their fullest and the crowds are noticeably smaller than peak summer.

2. Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany

✨ Best for: Dramatic sandstone formations and hiking
🥾 Top experience: Sunrise at the Bastei Bridge
📍 Best base: Bad Schandau
🚆 Best explored by: Hiking trails and scenic train journeys from Dresden
📸 Don’t miss: The views across the Elbe Sandstone Mountains from Bastei

Despite its name, Saxon Switzerland National Park is actually located in eastern Germany, close to the Czech border.

Known for its towering sandstone cliffs, deep forests and misty river valleys, it’s one of the most striking landscapes in Europe – and still surprisingly under the radar internationally.

The park is best known for the dramatic Bastei Bridge, which stretches between huge rock formations high above the Elbe River. It’s undeniably popular, but for good reason.

Arriving early in the morning makes a huge difference here, especially if you want to experience the landscape before the tour buses arrive.

Beyond Bastei, the national park is filled with hiking trails that wind through forests, narrow gorges and rocky viewpoints. The scenery feels almost cinematic in places, particularly when low cloud or morning mist rolls through the valleys.

One of the things I love most about Saxon Switzerland is how accessible it feels without losing its sense of wilderness. You can easily combine hiking with scenic train rides, riverside towns and cosy guesthouses, making it a fantastic option for a slower-paced outdoor trip.

Autumn is particularly beautiful here, when the forests turn shades of gold and orange against the pale sandstone cliffs.

3. Cinque Terre National Park, Italy

✨ Best for: Coastal hikes and colourful villages
🥾 Top experience: Hiking between Vernazza and Monterosso
📍 Best base: Vernazza or Monterosso al Mare
🚆 Best explored by: Train and walking trails
📸 Don’t miss: Sunset views over Vernazza harbour

Cinque Terre National Park proves that national parks don’t always have to mean remote wilderness and mountain peaks.

Stretching along a rugged section of the Italian Riviera, this UNESCO-listed coastal park combines dramatic hiking trails with pastel-coloured fishing villages, vineyards and sweeping Mediterranean views.

The five villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – are connected by a scenic railway and a network of walking trails carved into the cliffs above the sea.

While each village has its own character, Vernazza remains my personal favourite for its tiny harbour, colourful facades and sunset views.

One of the best ways to experience Cinque Terre is on foot. The hiking trails between the villages offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Europe, with terraced vineyards, hidden coves and panoramic sea views around almost every corner.

Summer can feel extremely busy here, so I’d strongly recommend visiting in late spring or early autumn if possible. The weather is still warm enough for swimming and hiking, but the villages feel noticeably calmer.

4. Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

✨ Best for: Volcanic landscapes and geology
🥾 Top experience: Snorkelling between tectonic plates at Silfra
📍 Best base: Reykjavík or the Golden Circle
🚗 Best explored by: Self-drive road trip
📸 Don’t miss: The dramatic rift valley and Öxarárfoss waterfall

One of Iceland’s most famous natural landmarks, Thingvellir National Park sits within the country’s popular Golden Circle route, yet still manages to feel surprisingly wild in places.

The park is best known for its dramatic rift valley, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly drift apart.

Walking through the rocky fissures and lava landscapes here feels unlike anywhere else in Europe, particularly when combined with Iceland’s ever-changing light and weather.

Thingvellir also holds huge historical significance as the site of Iceland’s original parliament. It was founded over 1,000 years ago, giving the landscape both geological and cultural importance.

One of the park’s most unique experiences is snorkelling or diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Silfra fissure. Visibility can exceed 100 metres thanks to glacial meltwater filtered through volcanic rock.

Although many visitors stop briefly as part of a Golden Circle day trip, I think Thingvellir is worth slowing down for. Especially early in the morning or later in the evening once the larger tour groups have gone.

5. Lake District, UK

✨ Best for: Lakes, hiking and cosy villages
🥾 Top experience: Hiking Catbells or Helvellyn
📍 Best base: Ambleside, Keswick or Windermere
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic road trip and walking trails
📸 Don’t miss: Sunrise or sunset over Derwentwater

Home to England’s highest mountain and deepest lake, the Lake District is one of the England’s most beloved national parks – and for good reason.

The landscape shifts constantly as you explore, from mirror-like lakes and rolling green valleys to dramatic mountain passes, breathtaking waterfalls and rugged fells.

Some areas feel peaceful and pastoral, while others are surprisingly wild, particularly in the higher mountains around Scafell Pike and Helvellyn.

While hiking is one of the main draws, the Lake District also works brilliantly for slower-paced trips built around scenic drives, cosy pubs, luxury hotels and lake cruises.

Towns and villages such as Ambleside, Keswick and Grasmere make excellent bases, each offering easy access to both walking trails and some of the region’s best restaurants.

I also think the Lake District is one of the best national parks in Europe for combining nature with comfort. You can spend the morning hiking through dramatic scenery before settling into a country pub, spa hotel or Michelin-starred restaurant by evening.

6. Durmitor National Park, Montenegro

✨ Best for: Rugged mountain scenery and outdoor adventure
🥾 Top experience: Rafting through the Tara River Canyon
📍 Best base: Žabljak
🚗 Best explored by: Road trip and hiking trails
📸 Don’t miss: Black Lake surrounded by pine forests and mountain peaks

Wild, dramatic and still relatively under the radar compared to many of Europe’s more famous national parks, Durmitor National Park feels like a true adventure destination.

Located in northern Montenegro, the park is known for its jagged limestone peaks, glacial lakes, dense pine forests and deep canyons.

The scenery feels especially dramatic around the Tara River Canyon – one of the deepest canyons in Europe – where rafting has become one of the area’s most popular experiences.

Despite the scale of the landscape, Durmitor remains surprisingly accessible. The mountain town of Žabljak makes an excellent base for hiking, scenic drives and outdoor activities, with many of the park’s highlights located within a relatively short distance of each other.

One of the most photographed spots is Crno Jezero, or Black Lake, where forest trails circle dark reflective water beneath the mountains. It’s particularly beautiful early in the morning before the crowds arrive.

Compared to many better-known European national parks, Durmitor still feels refreshingly uncrowded, especially if you visit outside the peak summer months.

7. Sarek National Park, Sweden

✨ Best for: Remote wilderness adventures
🥾 Top experience: Multi-day hiking through untouched Arctic landscapes
📍 Best base: Jokkmokk
🚁 Best explored by: Guided trekking expeditions and wilderness hiking
📸 Don’t miss: The dramatic mountain valleys around Rapadalen

If you’re looking for one of Europe’s last true wildernesses, Sarek National Park is hard to beat.

Located deep within Swedish Lapland, this vast and remote national park has no marked trails, no mountain lodges and very little infrastructure.

Instead, you’ll find dramatic glacier-covered peaks, rushing rivers, wide alpine valleys and huge expanses of untouched Arctic landscape.

Sarek forms part of the UNESCO-listed Laponia region and is often considered one of the wildest places in Europe.

Hiking here is very different from the more accessible national parks elsewhere on this list. This is a destination best suited to experienced hikers or those travelling with knowledgeable local guides.

What makes Sarek so special is the sheer sense of isolation. Days can pass without seeing another person, particularly outside the short summer hiking season.

Wildlife sightings are also common, with reindeer, moose and even wolverines inhabiting the region.

For many travellers, simply reaching Sarek is part of the adventure; whether by train through northern Sweden, long-distance hiking routes or helicopter transfers into the mountains.

8. Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria

✨ Best for: Alpine landscapes and scenic drives
🥾 Top experience: Driving the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
📍 Best base: Zell am See or Kals am Großglockner
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic road trip and mountain hiking trails
📸 Don’t miss: Krimml Waterfalls and views of Grossglockner

Covering a huge stretch of the Austrian Alps, Hohe Tauern National Park is home to some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Europe, including Austria’s highest peak, Grossglockner.

The landscapes here feel quintessentially alpine, with glacier-fed rivers, wildflower meadows, dense forests and towering snow-capped mountains stretching in every direction.

One of the highlights is the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, a winding mountain route with panoramic viewpoints, hairpin bends and access to hiking trails across the park.

The Krimml Waterfalls – among the tallest in Europe – are another major draw.

Despite the scale of the scenery, Hohe Tauern still feels relatively relaxed compared to some of the Alps’ busiest resort areas.

In summer, the park is ideal for hiking and road trips, while winter brings skiing and snow-covered mountain landscapes.

If you visit during warmer months, keep an eye out for marmots, ibex and golden eagles, all of which can be spotted within the park.

9. Jotunheimen National Park, Norway

✨ Best for: Dramatic peaks and hiking trails
🥾 Top experience: Hiking the Besseggen Ridge
📍 Best base: Lom or Gjendesheim
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic road trip and mountain hiking
📸 Don’t miss: The turquoise waters of Lake Gjende

With its jagged peaks, glaciers and vast mountain plateaus, Jotunheimen National Park feels like the definition of wild Scandinavian scenery.

Often referred to as the “Home of the Giants”, the park contains the highest mountains in Northern Europe and some of Norway’s most spectacular hiking routes.

The landscapes here are dramatic even by Norwegian standards, with deep valleys, icy lakes and snow lingering on the peaks well into summer.

One of the park’s most famous hikes is the Besseggen Ridge, a challenging but unforgettable trail overlooking the vivid turquoise waters of Lake Gjende.

Even if you’re not tackling the longer hikes, there are plenty of scenic viewpoints and gentler walks throughout the region.

Jotunheimen also works brilliantly as part of a wider Norwegian road trip, particularly when combined with the fjords and scenic mountain roads nearby.

The drive itself is a huge part of the experience here, with winding routes cutting through some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes.

Summer is the best time to visit for hiking, though conditions can still change quickly in the mountains, even in July and August.

10. Triglav National Park, Slovenia

✨ Best for: Mountain lakes and outdoor adventure
🥾 Top experience: Visiting Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps
📍 Best base: Bled or Bohinj
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic road trip and hiking trails
📸 Don’t miss: Lake Bohinj at sunrise

Named after Slovenia’s highest mountain, Triglav National Park is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations for alpine scenery, emerald rivers and outdoor adventure.

The park covers a huge stretch of the Julian Alps, where glacier-fed lakes, dramatic mountain peaks and dense forests create landscapes that feel almost impossibly picturesque.

Despite its beauty, it still feels noticeably quieter and more affordable than many alpine destinations elsewhere in Europe.

While Lake Bled often steals the spotlight, I actually think nearby Lake Bohinj is even more special.

Surrounded by mountains and far less developed, it’s one of the best places in the park for swimming, kayaking and hiking.

Triglav National Park is also incredibly varied for outdoor activities, whether you’re interested in mountain hiking, rafting, cycling or simply driving through the Julian Alps at a slower pace.

Thanks to Slovenia’s relatively small size, the park is also easy to combine with Ljubljana, the Soča Valley and the country’s Adriatic coastline in a single trip.

11. Picos de Europa National Park, Spain

✨ Best for: Dramatic mountain scenery without Alpine crowds
🥾 Top experience: Riding the Fuente Dé cable car into the mountains
📍 Best base: Potes or Cangas de Onís
🚗 Best explored by: Scenic road trip and hiking trails
📸 Don’t miss: The lakes of Covadonga

Wild, green and dramatically mountainous, Picos de Europa National Park feels completely different from the dry, sun-baked landscapes many people associate with Spain.

Located across northern Spain, the park is known for its limestone peaks, deep gorges, alpine meadows and winding mountain roads.

The scenery is incredibly dramatic, yet the region still feels far quieter than many of Europe’s more famous mountain destinations.

One of the best ways to experience the park is by combining scenic drives with shorter hikes and traditional mountain villages.

The cable car at Fuente Dé offers quick access to high-altitude trails and panoramic viewpoints, while the lakes of Covadonga are among the park’s most iconic spots.

Food is another huge part of the appeal here. After long days exploring the mountains, you’ll find cosy taverns serving Asturian cider, local cheeses and hearty northern Spanish dishes in villages throughout the region.

Late spring and early autumn are particularly beautiful times to visit, with mild temperatures, green landscapes and fewer crowds on the hiking trails.

🚗 Find Spain car hire for a national park road trip
🏨 Browse hotels in Potes
🎟️ Book a guided hiking tour

12. Calanques National Park

✨ Best for: Coastal hikes and turquoise coves
🥾 Top experience: Hiking to Calanque d’En-Vau
📍 Best base: Cassis or Marseille
🚗 Best explored by: Boat trips and coastal hiking trails
📸 Don’t miss: The white limestone cliffs above the Mediterranean

Stretching between Marseille and Cassis on the south coast of France, Calanques National Park offers a completely different kind of national park landscape to the mountains and forests found elsewhere in Europe.

Here, towering white limestone cliffs plunge into impossibly turquoise Mediterranean water, creating a series of rocky inlets known as calanques.

Some are accessible by boat, while others require steep but rewarding hikes through fragrant pine forests and rugged coastal trails.

One of the most famous spots is Calanque d’En-Vau, where dramatic cliffs surround a narrow turquoise bay that looks more like Greece or Croatia than mainland France.

Visiting early in the morning makes a huge difference here, especially during summer when the coastline becomes extremely busy.

I also love how easily the park combines with a wider Provence or French Riviera trip. You can spend the morning hiking or kayaking through the calanques before heading back to long seafood lunches and sunset drinks in Cassis.

Just keep in mind that parts of the park can close temporarily during periods of extreme summer heat due to wildfire risk, so it’s always worth checking local conditions before visiting.

🏨 Browse hotels in Cassis and Marseille
🛶 Book a guided kayaking tour of Calanques
🥾 Book a guided hike of Calanques National Park

Visiting these national parks from the US

With 12 parks spread across nine countries, the logistics vary more than you might expect, so it’s worth planning around a few practical points before you book.

Driving side is the simplest: the Lake District is the only left-hand-drive park on this list, since the UK is the sole non-mainland-European country here. Every other park, from Plitvice to Jotunheimen, is right-hand drive, the same as at home.

Entry requirements are almost as straightforward. Every country on this list is part of the Schengen Area except the UK and Montenegro, so US visitors can stay across most of these parks for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Montenegro sits outside Schengen entirely and allows a separate 90-day visa-free stay of its own, so time spent at Durmitor doesn’t eat into your Schengen allowance elsewhere on the same trip.

The bigger planning point is simply how remote several of these parks are. Sarek, Durmitor, Jotunheimen and Triglav all sit well beyond the reach of a direct US flight, so budget for a connection through a major European hub, followed by a regional flight, train or long drive to reach the park itself.

Thingvellir and the Lake District are the two easiest to reach from the US by comparison, both within a short hop of an international airport with direct US routes.

Planning your national park adventure

Whether you’re drawn to the turquoise lakes of Plitvice, the wild isolation of Sarek, or the coastal cliffs of the Calanques, Europe’s national parks offer an extraordinary range of scenery within a relatively small area of the continent.

Take your time researching the logistics for whichever parks make your list, since several of these are considerably more remote than a typical European city break, and the journey itself is often as memorable as the destination.

I hope this guide has given you plenty of inspiration for your next outdoor adventure. You may also like:

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