There’s something special about hiking alongside a river. The sound of flowing water, beautiful scenery and the chance to discover hidden viewpoints make it so special. When choosing a place to hike in Europe, be inspired by something special like these alluring river hikes. Besides amazing lakes in Europe, beautiful rivers unveil their beauty to discover- don’t stop here, discover the stunning European canyons.
Some trails take you through dramatic gorges with crystal-clear water, while others lead through rolling vineyards. Whether you’re after an easy stroll or a scenic day hike, these places are amazing hiking ideas. Here are a dozen of river hikes thanks to amazing travel bloggers, helping me make this collab post. Perfect if you love combining nature, photography and unforgettable landscapes- feel free to suggest yours in the comments.
Soča Valley, Slovenia- contributed by myself
Soča Valley is one of those places that completely lives up to the photos. The emerald-green Soča Rive ris even more beautiful in person, with plenty of easy wakls to enjoy it.
My favourite spot is Velika Korita Soča (Great Soča Canyon) near Bovec. Here, the river flows through a narrow limestone gorge with unbelievably clear turquoise water. It’s completely free to visit and one of the most beautiful places in the valley.
If you have more time, I also recommend visiting Tolmin Gorge (Tolminska Korita). Although there’s an entrance fee, it’s equally stunning. With wooden walkways, dramatic cliffs and incredible shades of blue and green, you’ll be enchanted.
If you’re visiting Soča Valley, I honestly wouldn’t skip either. They each offer a different perspective of this beautiful river. During my visit in Soča Valley, I chose the Hostel Soča Rocks in Bovec, which was so cozy and peaceful.
Douro Valley in Pinhao, Portugal- contributed by myself
Douro Valley in Pinhao was a charming day trip from Porto for me and unveiled the stunning autumn views.
Starting in the lovely riverside town of Pinhao, the hike follows the road for about an hour.
Passing the quiet road, the views over the Douro River and surrounding vineyards are absolutely worth it. Before reaching the village, make sure to stop at the official Miradouro de Casal de Loivos. Many tours also arrive here and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the valley.
If you can visit Pinhao in autumn even better- the vineyards turn golden, orange and red. You can also take a longer route to Valle de Mendiz.
Beyond Pinhao, well worth the visit are the towns of Lamego with its castle, Provesende, and Peso da Regua.
Lamego Hotel & Life offers a stunning pool and also has its own vineyard and orchard.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany- contributed by Sophia from The Always Wanderer
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a medieval town overlooking the Tauber Valley in southern Germany. Inside its walls, narrow streets, towers, and timber-framed houses make you feel transported back to the Middle Ages.
Rothenburg is most famous for its Christmas market, whose roots reach back to the fifteenth century.
As you leave Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s town walls, you’ll find yourself in the Tauber Valley. Beautiful hiking trails run beside the Tauber River. You can hike for as long as you want in either direction. Along the way, you pass old mills, small villages, vineyards, hills, bridges, and castles.
When to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber:
The Tauber Valley and Rothenburg ob der Tauber offer plenty of things and are beautiful year-round. Summer brings festivals, while autumn covers the hills in magnificent colours. In winter, you can visit the Christmas market. Christmas is so important here that some Christmas shops stay open throughout the year.
How to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber & where to stay
Driving is easiest, especially because you can travel along Germany’s Romantic Road with amazing views. Trains connect through Steinach from Würzburg or Ansbach. Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt are the nearest airports.
Stay at Wildbad Rothenburg, a castle-like spa hotel beside the river and within walking distance of town.
Turda Gorge, Romania- contributed by Juan from Planet of Adventures
Cheile turzii (The Romanian name for Turda Gorge) was one of the most beautiful places to visit in Romania I went to. Located near the city of Cluj-Napoca, it offers a great and very accessible hike along the Hășdate River.
This natural reserve in the heart of the Transylvania region offers incredible rock formations and a relatively flat hiking trail that makes this a fantastic place to go no matter your hiking abilities.
The main trail is fairly short, but you can spend hours hiking around the gorge as there are side trails that will take you to the top of some of the cliffs. So, make sure to go with good hiking shoes and some food and water to make the most of your day there.
I went from Cluj-Napoca with public transport as a day trip, but if you want to soak up more of the beautiful nature, you can stay at Cazare Conacul Tusinean which is just 2.5Km away from the gorge for a perfect mountain stay.
Lesvos river hike, Greece- contributes by Vanessa Morgan from Traveling Cats
The Tsiknias River on Lesvos Island is more than 25 km long. Most visitors, however, prefer the lower wetlands and estuary because the area attracts many migratory and resident birds. These include Greater Flamingos, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Black-winged Stilts, and Glossy Ibises. You’ll also find ducks, waders, and birds of prey. In fact, it’s one of the best birdwatching spots in Greece.
I’m not a birdwatcher myself, but I still love hiking here. The mix of riverbanks, wetlands, reed beds, and open countryside makes it a beautiful area to explore. The terrain is flat and easy to walk.
The river lies near Skala Kalloni, in the central part of Lesvos. The easiest way to reach it is by car. Its central location also makes it a great base for exploring other hiking trails on Lesvos Island.
If you choose just one hotel in the area, make it Hotel Pela. The setting is quiet, away from the busiest parts of Skala Kalloni. The owner also goes out of her way to care for the many stray cats on Lesvos.
Steam Valley river hike in Iceland, contributed by Yulia from Miss Tourist
Reykjadalur in South Iceland is a river hike with a twist and the best hike in Iceland. You finish it by soaking in the river itself. Its name means “Steam Valley.” You’ll see why quickly. The trail climbs out of Hveragerði through hissing steam vents and bubbling mud pools. You pass the pretty Djupagilsfoss waterfall on the way.
On a clear day you can see the sea from the ridge. After about 3.5km of steady uphill, the warm river appears. Move upstream for hotter water, or downstream to cool off. The whole walk takes around 45 minutes each way. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, and good shoes. To get there, drive Route 1 from Reykjavik for about 45 minutes to Hveragerði. Park at the Reykjadalur lot just north of town.
For a stay, Hotel Ork in Hveragerði is comfortable and has its own geothermal pool. Go early or late to dodge the crowds.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
I would love to experience all of these. 🙂 We are heading to Iceland in couple of weeks and I will definitely look up the Steam Valley River hike over there. Thanks for the suggestions.
What an amazing post! I’d never heard of any of these hikes but they all sound amazing. I’d especially love to do the Steam Valley hike in Iceland, how unique!
Europe really does offer such an incredible variety of hiking destinations. While I haven’t explored any of these, your post certainly provides plenty of inspiration for those who enjoy getting out into nature.
I also love hiking near water. It’s even better when you can cool off in the river after the hike like when hiking Reykjadalur.
My dream plan would be hiking near Rothenburg ob der Tauber—I visited once years ago in January, but it was too cold to really enjoy the outdoors—and maybe doing the entire Romantic Road in Germany.
Great collection of ideas and tips to plan my next adventure!
Oh wow! Iceland sounds amazing. I’m not much of a hiker – well – i kinda can walk for 7 miles but it takes a while. These sights sound wonderful. Iceland is on my list of places to go. Thanks for all this.
What a great post, thank you for sharing!