- A new study sought to find the best island for hiking in Europe—destinations were evaluated by metrics such as safety, climate conditions, and accessibility.
- Mallorca, Spain is the best place to go for scenic trails. There are 500 of them that take you through forests, beaches and national parks.
- Crete, Madeira, Madeira and Sardinia are also known for their natural beauty.
Europe is absolutely brimming with opportunities hiking destinations, from vineyard strolls to countryside jaunts—and the ones with dreamy seaside views are some of the most memorable. Some are, of course more impressive than others. Island Hopping, a tour company owned by a family that specializes on Greek island travelRecently, conducted an extensive study to identify the best in the business.
The survey evaluated the quality and quantity of each island’s trails. To determine the quality of a trail, for example, we consider its length, accessibility, safety and climate conditions. Certain travel metrics such as the average nightly rate of a hotel and the number searches online for trails on a particular island were also taken into consideration. Each of the 20 locations included in the survey received a Hiking Quality Index.
One island easily topped the list after analyzing all the data: Mallorca, Spain.
Mallorca is Spain’s largest Balearic Island. It is covered with 500 trails. Palma de Mallorca Airport is located in the capital of Palma. It is home to approximately 949,00 residents. Airlines such as Ryanair and Lufthansa service the hub from major European cities such as Frankfurt and Barcelona.
The popularity of hiking is growing in Europe, as more people are looking for authentic nature experiences. Islands offer a perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, thanks to their varied landscapes and cultural heritage. Travel + Leisure.
Mallorca only has one National Park: Parc Nacional de CabreraCabrera Island is a largely unpopulated island located 14 miles off the south coast of Mallorca. Boat tours can be taken from Porto Petro, Colonia Sant Jordi or other locations for a full day excursion. It takes anywhere between 30 minutes and 75 depending on the weather conditions. It is popular for visitors to explore the caves, grottos and Cape Punta de Anciola’s lighthouse. S’Albufera Natural Park offers hikes that pass through wetlands. Often, flamingos can be seen. Mondrago Natural Park includes beaches, olive and pistachio groves and pinewood forests. Mallorca has a 100 Hiking Quality Index and an average of 4.6 stars for its trails despite the fact that it charges the most ($212) per night.
Like Mallorca, the top 4 islands have 500 trails. Crete, GreeceThe second highest Hiking Quality Index score was 77, 23 points less. The hotel rooms are much more affordable ($106 per day on average) with a 4.7-star rating.
Crete, Sicily, Italy and Madeira Portugal were the next two places. Sardinia is Italy’s fifth-placed destination, with 363 hiking trails. Texel (Netherlands) comes in second place, with 62. Santorini in Greece was last with only 42 trails, and had the third highest average nightly rate ($192).
