• Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

Evelyn Kanter ecoXplorer

smarter traveling, driving and spending

  • Green Hotels
  • Green Cars
    • Best Cars under $20,000
    • Test Drives
    • Diesel Cars
    • Electric Cars
    • Hybrid Cars
    • Hydrogen Fuel Cell
    • Luxury Drives
  • Travel Deals
    • Free
    • Budget Travel
    • Discount Tickets
  • Xplore More
    • Safety and Health
    • How To
    • Five Best
    • Travel Pioneers
    • Motorcycles
    • Vintage Cars
  • Scam Alert
  • Where to Go Next
    • Historic Travel
    • Epic Adventures
    • National Parks
Home » 5 Must Visit National Parks in Europe

5 Must Visit National Parks in Europe

Leave a Comment

It is fair to say that nearly everyone has a touch of cabin fever from being cooped up for most of 2020 and so far in 2021, and that we all are eager to travel again, including internationally.

According to a survey by USA Today travel is the first thing one in five Americans will do when it’s safer is to book a trip internationally or domestically.

And after being cooped up for over a year, few things are more appealing for a getaway vacation than exploring Europe’s beautiful national parks for solace or for adventure.

If that appeals to you here are a five top national parks in Europe to put on your bucket list.

best national parks in europe
Triglav National Park, Slovemia

Triglav National Park, Slovenia

Despite being the only national park in Slovenia, it’s highly popular among nature lovers since it preserves 3% of the country’s land, including the Triglav Mountain and most of the Julian Alps.

There are various routes to the top – from easy walks to strenuous paths only for the seriously fit – all of which reward your effort with  great views.

The hiking trails around the park are also a good way to appreciate the other beautiful areas of the park, such as Lake Bohinj and the Kozjak waterfall.

Water sports like kayaking and rafting in the rivers are popular during the summer.

best national parks to vsit in europe
peakdistrict.gov.uk image

Peak District, UK

The Peak District was established in 1951, making it the first national park in the UK.

One-third of the park is protected for nature conservation, and the varying landscapes have made it one of the most scenic parks in the country, with some 555 square miles of rolling hills, caverns, limestone dales, and gritstone edges.

In addition to the usual hiking and cycling activities, the Peak District also has “Dark Sky Places” designation, and is popular for dog walks.

With light pollution in many parts of the UK making it nearly impossible to see the night skies in their full glory, these “Dark Sky Places” are just a few locations in the country to truly see the stars.

best national parks in europe to visit
Ordesa National Park, Spain

Ordesa National Park, Spain

Also called Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, this magnificent destination is located along the border of Spain and France — the French side of the park being called the Pyrenees National Park.

According to the Global Alliance of National Parks, the Ordesa National Park was the first national park  established in Spain and is one of the first national parks in the whole world.

The main sights here are the Monte Perdido Range and the Ordesa Valley.

Those who love adventure have three trail options they can choose from depending on their hiking ability and time.

best national parks in europe
Cinque Terra National Park, Italy

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is different from other national parks in Europe, including in Italy.

This national park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which showcases the colorful coastline of Italy.

The five towns that make up the Cinque Terre have only become popular with tourists since the 1960s, and are unique since they can be reached only by boat.

You can cool off in the beaches, walk along the cliffs and between the towns, and just appreciate the Old World charm.

 

best national parks in europe
Peneda Geres National Park, Portugal

Peneda Geres, Portugal

This is the only national park in Portugal, catering to both nature and history lovers.

It’s famous for its  wild Garrano ponies that have been in the region since the first millennium BCE. There are also domesticated ponies that can take you across the park’s countryside to see the granite cliffs, forests, and bogs.

For history lovers, there’s the Laboreiro Castle, the Santa Maria dos Pitoes monastery, megalithic tombs, and a Roman road.

For everyone, there are shaded forest trains, including past murmuring brooks.

Travel Tips

Famous urban destinations including Paris, Rome, Berlin and London are always worth visiting. But this year may be the time  to go beyond towns and cities and get some fresh air and open space.

When planning the trip make sure you catch the right season to see the best of your destination.

 

Thanks for visiting ecoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars, smart spending and frugal living by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.
Welcome back to exoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars and smart spending by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Posts:

  • 24 Best Historic Golf Courses in USA
  • 22 Things to Do in New York State This Spring
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • National Parks Free Admission Days 2020
  • 21 Reasons to Visit England, Scotland & Wales in 2022
  • Ski Utah: What's New for the 2020/21 Season

Filed Under: Adventure Travel, Bucket List Trips, Green Travel, National Parks, Sponsored, Travel Tips, Where to go Next Tagged With: Italy, National Parks, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

What do you think? We value your comments and love hearing from you. Cancel reply

ecoXplorer is your guide to smart spending and eco-friendly living

Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

Evelyn currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), and is a past Board Member of a prestigious professional group for travel journalists.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Most Popular Recent Posts

  • Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
    Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
  • 2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
    2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
  • Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
    Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
  • Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
    Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
  • Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in February & March
    Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in February & March
  • Where to Eat in Times Square & Theater District at Local Restaurants Not National Chains
    Where to Eat in Times Square & Theater District at Local Restaurants Not National Chains
  • Bertha Benz: Automotive Pioneer
    Bertha Benz: Automotive Pioneer
  • Free Hotel Rooms for Cancer Patients
    Free Hotel Rooms for Cancer Patients
  • NYC Culture Calendar: February
    NYC Culture Calendar: February
  • Cyber security tips for holiday shopping
    Cyber security tips for holiday shopping

Search ecoXplorer by category

© 2010-2022 EcoXplorer by Evelyn Kanter. All the stories and photos on our site are protected by US (C) Copyright laws. Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. Plus, it’s just not nice.

  • Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

ecoXplorer.com is an independent information service which is compensated by advertisers and sponsors. This site includes some links to other websites which are compensated for by our sponsors when you click them.

 

Loading Comments...