Europe’s best national parks: 3 routes and endless views
Summer will be here before we know it, and with it, hiking season will soon commence. If you’d like to take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities and connect with nature, make national parks part of your itinerary!
We’d love to bring you on the road with us to Europe’s most captivating national parks. Each park offers something a little different, and you can partake in various activities, such as hiking, fishing, camping, and via ferrata. We’ll delve into the best features of each park so you can choose which park to visit, and make it a road trip!
With Daytrip you can:
1. Book a day trip to any of these parks and return to your starting point on the same day
2. Take a one-way private ride and continue exploring on your own
3. Travel to your destination, stay as long as you like, and ride back with us when you’re ready
Ready to explore? Let’s go!
Route 1: Lakes and Peaks
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Salty blue waters and golden sands might be the first things that pop up in your mind when you hear Croatia. But did you know this beautiful country is also home to pristine lakes, waterfalls, and deep forests?
Plitvice Lakes boasts emerald lakes, cascading waterfalls and stunning foliage across its 115 square mile perimeter. Its lakes are separated by the upper portion formed by dolomites, and the lower portion formed in limestone canyons. Carved from years of interactions between biochemical processes and the teeming wildlife, the lakes make up the largest national park in Croatia and are a must-see for summer adventurers.
Our tips? Reserve your ticket online in advance, and bear in mind you cannot swim in the lakes. You can reserve tickets up to 24 hours beforehand and it ensures seamless access to the park.
Daytrip offers plenty of routes to Plitvice Lakes National Parks, and it’s also a popular sightseeing stop along numerous routes!
Triglav National Park
Meet one of the many gems of eastern Europe. Triglav National Park stands out as the country’s greenest spot, and is a door to wonderful natural sights.
Slovenia’s only national park encompasses much of the Julian Alps and is divided into 3 parts. You can summit the highest peak for which the park is named, admire Lake Zelenci’s turquoise shores, or take part in water sports in the emerald River Soča. Home to endemic species such as wolves, bears and lynxes, you’ll be enchanted by the unique landscapes, flora and fauna and sheer variety of things to do!
The park is in close proximity to many major cities and towns, including Bled, Bohinj, Kranjska Gora, Bovec and Tolmin, all of which are accessible when you book your ride with Daytrip!
Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
Everywhere you look, mountain peaks jut out of evergreen rolling forests.
When people say Italy has it all, they’re absolutely right. Beyond its incredible cuisine, refreshing drinks, and lively beach towns, Italy is also home to some of the world’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes.
Deep in the Dolomites, you’ll find a UNESCO-protected national park abundant with via ferrata trails, cycling paths, and cozy Alpine villages. It’s the only one of its kind in northeastern Italy, and its expanse is as wide as the variety of activities it offers. Whether you’re seeking an escape to a true Alpine natural park or want to scale big rocks on a via ferrata trail, making a stop here will make for unforgettable summer memories.
However you want to enter the national park, Daytrip can get you there, as this region is well connected by road from Venice, Verona and Innsbruck, to name a few.
Hohe Tauern National Park
Austria’s largest national park is home to thousands of animals and hundreds of plants. National park rangers are eager to welcome you on a guided tour where mountains, valleys and glacier-tipped mountains are visible for miles. You can hike on the trails, learn about the park’s history, and gaze upon Austria’s Highest Mountain, Grossglockner, towering at over 10,000 feet. Not only is Austria’s highest mountain present there, but also its longest glacier, Pasterze Glacier.
Are you planning your escape in the winter rather than summer? Ski lovers will delight in the plentiful slope options nearby, such as Zell am See, Kals-Matrei, and Bad Gastein.
Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck and Villach are an easy driving distance away, allowing for a quick break from the city to spend time in nature.
Berchtesgaden National Park
Germany’s only alpine park is reminiscent of its Austrian, Italian and Slovenian counterparts, with rugged landscapes, gushing torrents and rolling forests. You can simultaneously enjoy nature and learn about environmental protection efforts when you choose to visit this part, allowing for a nature escape and educational experience all in one. Want to maximize your access to the park? Check out the “hiker’s bus”, which will take you from one point in the park to another with minimal walking. At the end of the day, tuck into some Bavarian culinary treasures in a tavern or café.
Situated about 30 minutes away from Salzburg by car or an hour and 45 minutes from Munich by car, this park is only a stone’s throw away from major cities.
Picked your park?
Route 2: From wetlands to mountain tops
What about a route that takes you through some of the best sights of Eastern Europe and ends up in a little Switzerland hidden in Germany? Well, if it sounds tempting, hop on in!
Hortobagyi National Park, Hungary
This national park is one like no other. The 82,000 hectares it covers preserve a range of different worlds, from wetlands and meadows to river systems. And the vast horizons you’ll get to gaze at there, will stay with you for a while.
Hortobágyi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Great Hungarian Plain, in the eastern part of Hungary. It’s not only a haven for wildlife, but also the traditional Hungarian rural life thrives here. As you walk along, animal sightings such as the famous Hortobágy cowas well as small villages will be your constant companion.
Another delight to your sight will be the famous Nine-Hole Bridge, a 19th-century structure that crosses the Hortobágy River. Crossing it will present you with better views of the park’s vast steppe landscapes.
Sprawling over eastern Hungary, this national park is best reached from Debrecen, approximately 30 minutes away. From Budapest, you’d need to travel about 2 and a half hours to reach the park, but the scenic views will be well worth it. So, let’s explore these amazing Hungarian lands!
Tatra Mountains, Slovakia
Embrace nature and savor the view.
Your second stop? The majestic mountain range that spans across two countries.
Tatra Mountains are on the border between Slovakia and Poland and are divided into two main sections: the High Tatras and the Western Tatras. This mountain range is dotted with magnificent peaks from the 2,655 meters of Gerlachovský štít to the 2,499 meters of Rysy.
Hiking here means going through so many different beauties. You’ll find yourself deep in forests of pine and fir trees, then end up in the bluest lake you’ve ever seen. Then you’ll take a rest in a vast meadow with purple flowers and grass. Trails usually lead to cottages in the middle of valleys, or on the way to some top. Believe us, there’s nothing more delicious than a halušky with a beer after a long hike.
From Bratislava, you can expect the journey to take 4-5 hours; the park can be reached from Košice or Kraków, however, in about 2 hours. So if you’re in for some of the best hikes ever, book your one-way, round trip or return transfer with Daytrip and make this park part of your itinerary today!
Giant Mountains (Karkonosze), Poland
Hiking the best mountains in Europe is never enough. So let’s continue with another gem, the Giant Mountains of Poland.
The Czech Republic might not be the country with the highest hills, but at least it has Karkonosze. This mountain range is along the border of the Czech Republic and Poland, stretching for about 40 kilometres. Now that’s a lot of beautiful terrains and valleys.
We mention the valleys for a reason. The region has been shaped by glacial activity, which resulted in leaving amazing post-glacial valleys and rock formations such as Słonecznik (Sunflower) Rocks. Another one of the most famous (and prettiest) natural wonders is the Kocioł Małego Stawu (Little Pond Cirque), a glacial lake surrounded by steep cliffs.
Don’t think twice, the Giant Mountains are a delight to visit. From Wrocław, you can expect to arrive at the mountains within 2 hours.
Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany
Germany values and takes care of its green areas well. And this national park is a perfect example of it.
Our last stop on this route is Saxon Switzerland National Park. Don’t be confused about its name, it’s nowhere near Switzerland. But according to two 18th-century Swiss artists, Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, it looked a lot like their homeland, hence the name stuck. The park is part of the larger Elbe Stone Mountains and is known for its rock formations. Their outer-wordly beauty is not only a sight to rejoice in, but they attract climbers all over the world.
The Bastei Bridge will likely be your most photographed spot. It winds through towering sandstone cliffs, and once you reach a vantage point to see it from afar, its breathtaking beauty is simply unforgettable.
Get here from Dresden in 40 minutes, Berlin in two and a half hours, and from Prague in 2 hours.
So, are you in for exploring Europe’s greenest sights?
Route 3: Mediterranean and Atlantic climates converge
Parc national des Pyrénées
The Pyrenees National Park is located in the Pyrenees Mountains, which are a mountain range even older than the Alps. So you’re in for a little time travel.
Within the park, you’ll find incredible mountain scenery, torrential waterfalls, and bountiful mountain climbing and hiking trails. No matter what time of the year you go, you are guaranteed to be enchanted by rich backdrops and unique animals. This park is especially a convenient option for travelers visiting both France and Spain, as it straddles the border between both countries. Activities you can enjoy include mountain climbing, biking, paragliding, and skiing in the winter.
Accessing this national park is a breeze from Lourdes and Toulouse.
Picos de Europa
The Pyrenees aren’t the only notable mountain range in Spain– the Picos de Europa is a formidable runner-up, within which you’ll find the Picos de Europa National Park. Quainter than its larger counterparts at 30x25km, the park encompasses the Asturias, Cantabria and León provinces. Within it, you’ll find charming backdrops with unique rock formations, scenic mountain faces and towering oak and beech trees.
The sheer variety of flora and fauna within the park is also something to behold. Depending on which side you approach the park from, you’ll find Mediterranean shrubbery or contrasting Atlantic flora. If you’re a fan of hiking or just want to try it for this first time, this is the national park for you, as there are a plethora of trails that are suitable for all sorts of levels.
From Santander, Leon, or Asturias, getting to this park is a breeze; so book your city break with Daytrip, and experience nature up close.
Parque Nacional Peneda-Gerês
Behold natural wonders in their various forms.
The last stop on our wilderness escape circuit is the Parque Nacional Peneda-Geres. It’s situated in northern Portugal about 2 hours north of Porto by car, and hosts a variety of plant and animal species including wild horses, Iberian wolves and cows. Atlantic and Mediterranean climates converge in this region of Portugal, so the weather can be sunny and warm one day and rainy and cloudy the next. No matter the weather, you’ll feel like you are looking at a postcard brought to life in each direction you look.
When you travel out of Braga or Porto, you’ll reach the park within an hour or hour and a half. The park is also accessible from Spanish towns such as Santiago de Compostela. Make this park part of your itinerary and enjoy the solitude of nature.
So, ready to book your national park road trip?
