ADVERTISEMENTNothing beats a European city break - but sometimes you need to escape the crowds.
Luckily, mountains, fjords and forests are often closer than you’d think. In alpine towns, nature on your doorstep is a given, while even some of the continent’s party capitals are gateways to the great outdoors.
If you’re looking to blend culture and nature, these day hikes from major European cities offer the best of both worlds.
Immerse yourself in a sensory hike close to Innsbruck, Austria
Alpine Innsbruck is treasured for its blend of mountain and city life, making it the perfect gateway to Austria’s stunning nature.
Up in the Tyrolean Alps, St Anton am Arlberg is just over an hour’s train ride away. It has been recognised by UN Tourism as one of the best villages for tourists to discover in 2024.
Known in winter for its skiing, the village is also home to the WunderWanderWeg - Wonderful Hiking Trail - which promises to ignite all of your senses.
On the ‘Alpenblumen and Kräuter’ trail, walk among alpine flowers and olfactory herbs spread across 14 gardens. Kick off your shoes and take the barefoot trail with grassy meadows beneath your feet.
Winding along clear mountain streams, the water trail will relax you even further, while kids can blow off steam in a natural playground complete with a treehouse.
With 300 km of marked trails, St Anton am Arlberg has no shortage of adventures for both novice and experienced hikers.
Innsbruck is easily accessible by train from many major European cities with Eurostar, TGV Lyria, Deutsche Bahn and SNCF.
Weave your way around glacial lakes near Bergen, Norway
Climbing to Preikestolen’s (Pulpit Rock) towering flat plateau is one of Norway’s most popular - and iconic - hikes. But the country has no shortage of other natural wonders to explore.
Less than three hours outside of Bergen by bus and boat, lies the glass-like Lake Bondhusvatnet. Part of the Folgefonna National Park, the lake can be reached on an easy, two-hour round hike. It is backdropped by the Bondhusbreen Glacier, which you can reach in an additional 30 minutes by foot.
Want to level up? Try the dramatic Trolltunga hike - three hours from Bergen and one hour from Bondhusvatnet. Hovering 700 metres above Ringedalsvatnet lake, the jutting rock formation is a seven to 12 hour round-trek from the parking lot.
If you plan to take the bus to Trolltunga, you’ll likely need to overnight in the closest town, Odda, which offers convenient shuttles to the start point.
Walk among limestone formations close to Krakow, Poland
Poland’s second city is known for cheap eats and wild nights out. But just a short way out of Krakow’s historic Old Town lie rolling green forests towered over by Jurassic limestone karsts.
ADVERTISEMENTAccessible by bus or taxi in around 45 minutes, Ojcowski National Park offers a calming escape with kilometres of walking and biking trails.
Discover castle ruins and Neolithic caves along the well marked tourist route before stopping at one of the handful of cafes to refuel.
Visit in autumn for a spectacular display of gold and scarlet leaves.
Want to venture into the Tatra Mountains? Krakow is also just two hours from Zakopane, a tourist town that acts as a gateway to their scenic trails, pine forests and lakes.
ADVERTISEMENTHike mystical sandstone bridges close to Dresden and Prague
Straddling the border between Germany and Czechia, the Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland national parks span 700 square kilometres of rugged wilderness in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
Hike among majestic rock formations on the Bastei Bridge, accessible from Dresden on the S-Bahn to Kurort Rathen in just 40 minutes.
On the Czech side of the border, the striking Pravcicka stone archway has a mystical allure that saw it featured in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ movie.
Various tour operators offer day trips from Prague or, to travel independently, you can take the 1.5 hour train to Děčín and then a bus.
ADVERTISEMENTRide the world’s steepest cogwheel railway into the Swiss Alps near Zurich
While Germany and Czechia’s national parks were named for their resemblance to Switzerland, nothing compares to the real thing.
With international train connections to Paris, Munich, Budapest and more, Zurich is your gateway to the Swiss Alps.
To take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up Mount Pilatus, catch a 40-minute train from Zurich to Lucerne and on to Alpnachstad. Once at the top, soak up the views across the Swiss Alps all the way to France and the Black Forest in Germany.
Escape the crowds on one of the many hiking trails, which range from easy to alpine.
ADVERTISEMENTThe 40-minute Drachenweg (Dragon’s trail) follows a circular route that, legend has it, was once home to the mythical creatures. Mix things up by taking the cable car down to Kriens once you’re done.
Want more of a challenge? Skip the cog railway for the 4.5 hour hike from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm via Ämsigen, taking in flower-filled alpine meadows and flowing streams along the way.
Admire the Dolomites from Bolzano, Italy
The north Italian city of Bolzano is known as a gateway to the beautiful Dolomite Mountains. But if you’re really strapped for time, you can still admire them from afar.
Hop on the Renon Cable Car close to the main train station to be whisked up to a mountain village in minutes.
ADVERTISEMENTSurrounded by 300 km of hiking trails and views across this section of the Italian Alps, Renon or Ritten has routes for every type of walker.
Take the medium difficulty trail to Soprabolzano to see the earth pyramids - natural spires of eroded rock that jut from the wooded landscape.
Alternatively, walk the well signposted St Oswald Promenade, which will lead you to Castel Roncolo - known for its medieval frescoes - and the vineyards of Santa Maddalena.