Eight European Walking Routes That Aren't the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is the world's most famous pilgrimage route, and for good reason. But in recent years it has reached numbers that transform the experience: over 400,000 pilgrims a year, hostels booked months in advance, stretches that resemble processions. If you're looking for silence and discovery, Europe offers alternatives just as beautiful and far more tranquil.

The Portuguese Coastal Camino is the least known variant of the Camino itself. It starts in Porto and follows the Atlantic coast northward through fishing villages, wild beaches, and eucalyptus forests. It's shorter (around 280 km), less crowded, and no less spiritual.

The Via Dinarica crosses the Balkans from north to south, from Slovenia to Albania. It is Europe's wildest long-distance route: limestone mountains, primeval forests, villages where time has stood still. It's not a path for beginners — experience and self-sufficiency are required — but the reward is a Europe you didn't know existed.

The West Highland Way in Scotland is a classic of British trekking. 154 km from Glasgow to Fort William through the Highlands, across lochs, moorland, and mountains. Well waymarked, with accommodation at every stage, walkable in 6–8 days. The weather is unpredictable, but that's part of the adventure.

The St Olav Way in Norway runs from Oslo to Trondheim, following the medieval pilgrim route to Nidaros Cathedral. 640 km through valleys, forests, and high plateaus. It is one of the few Nordic routes with a hospitality network comparable to the Spanish Camino.

The Path of Peace in Trentino-Alto Adige follows the First World War front line from the Marmolada to Lake Garda. It is not a traditional pilgrimage but a route of memory: trenches, fortifications, war cemeteries, and Alpine panoramas that take your breath away.

The GR20 in Corsica is considered the toughest long-distance crossing in Europe. 180 km from north to south along the island's mountain spine, with alpine passages and high-altitude bivouacs. It's not for everyone, but those who complete it find it changes the way they think about mountains.

The Camino Primitivo, in Spain, is the original Camino de Santiago: the route King Alfonso II followed in the ninth century. It starts in Oviedo, crossing Asturias and Galicia along mountain paths. It is harder and more solitary than the Camino Francés, and for many it is the finest of all.

The Lycian Way in Turkey follows the Lycian coast for 540 km, from Fethiye to Antalya. Trails wind between ancient ruins, deserted beaches, mountain villages, and pine forests. The climate is mild even in winter, making it one of the few European-adjacent routes walkable year-round.

Each of these routes offers something different: landscape, history, challenge, solitude. All share the same promise: a journey on foot that changes the way you look at the world.