Six of the Best Places to Go Hiking in Europe in November & December

Winter doesn’t have to mean the end of walking for the year. While the chilly fingers of the season stretch out across much of Europe, there are still places where walking remains a joy - and even improves - as the year winds down. 

From volcanic islands and dramatic cliff-lined coastlines to ancient footpaths through olive groves, these destinations offer crisp air, quieter trails, and soft seasonal light. 

Here’s our pick of a few of the best places to go hiking in Europe in November and December.

 

La Gomera, Canary Islands

La Gomera is one of the least developed of the Canary Islands. As a result, it’s also one of the most rewarding to explore on foot, especially in the cooler months. With deep ravines, palm-filled valleys, and cloud forest clinging to its ridges, it feels a world away from the crowded beach resorts you can find lining the coast of one or two of the neighbouring islands.

Recommended route: Walk from Chipude to Valle Gran Rey, descending from the highlands into a lush canyon of terraced slopes and volcanic rock. It’s one of La Gomera’s most attractive routes, and captures the contrast between misty uplands and warm, subtropical lowlands.

We love: Stop for gasp-inducing views of the Taguluche Valley at the El Santo viewpoint (Lagomera.travel) midway through the descent. Here, the silence is broken only by the sound of goat bells and bird song.

Average temperatures: 23°C in November, 21°C in December

 

Kythira Island, Greece

Set between the Peloponnese and Crete, the Kythira Island is one of Greece’s best-kept secrets - especially for walkers in search of quiet paths and those timeless Greek Island landscapes. Late autumn and early winter bring cooler, gentler weather, and the olive harvest adds a seasonal feel to the island’s terraces.

Recommended route: Take the Karavas circular trail via Amir Ali springs (Visitkythera.com), a gentle but rewarding walk through citrus groves, myrtle-covered hillsides and shaded ravines. The trail loops through the greenest corner of the island, passing old watermills, ruins and the odd glittering sea view as it returns to Karavas.

We love: The deserted village of Mavrogiorgianika that you pass on the route. This atmospheric collection of abandoned houses is slowly, sadly, but rather atmospherically slipping into the surrounding landscape.

Average temperatures: 19°C in November, 16°C in December

 

Sintra, Portugal

The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park offers a rare combination of the rolling hills and Atlantic woodland of the Serra de Sintra mountains, hilltop palaces, and dramatic coastal cliffs (including continental Europe’s westernmost point) - all within easy jump-off distance of Sintra and Cascais. 

Recommended route: Pick up a circular trail from Praia Grande, looping inland past spectacular cliffs, along ancient tracks threading between coastal hamlets, before returning along quiet pine forest paths as the late afternoon mist descends.  

We love: Looking down on Praia da Adraga from the cliff-top - just you, the sea, and the sound of Atlantic waves pounding the rocks far below.

Average temperatures: 18°C in November, 15°C in December

 

Malta & Gozo Islands

Mild, green, and uncrowded, Malta and Gozo are ideal for walking in the winter sun. The islands’ limestone cliffs, winding coastal paths, and quiet farming villages offer a surprisingly varied landscape for off-season hikers.

Recommended route: Walk a circular trail from Xlendi to Dwejra Bay on Gozo, tracing high cliffs, fossil-rich rock formations, and hidden coves before looping inland through terraced farmland and carob trees. It’s one of the most scenic coastal walks in the Maltese archipelago.

We love: There’s a lot to like about Dwejra Bay. It’s dotted with unusual coastal features like the world-famous dive site, Blue Hole, a lagoon known as the Inland Sea, and the self-explanatorily named Fungus Rock and Crocodile Rock. But it’s the beauty of the place that stays with you - so spectacular is it, in fact, that it served as a location in the classic HBO series, Game of Thrones (Visitgozo.com). 

Average temperatures: 20°C in November, 17°C in December

 

São Miguel, Azores

Cast adrift in the North Atlantic, the Azores remain green and misty year-round, with volcanic peaks, crater lakes, and hydrangea-lined trails that feel a world apart from mainland Europe. November and December bring a mix of sun, showers, and cloud, but also solitude, rich colours, and mild walking weather.

Recommended route: On São Miguel, hike from Furnas to Lagoa do Fogo, where jungle-like forest gives way to high ridgelines and sweeping views of the island’s largest crater lake. It’s a dramatic walk through valleys pockmarked with geothermal pools, dense forest, and wild (and occasionally windswept) volcanic slopes.

We love: The changing light on Lagoa do Fogo - one moment completely hidden in mist, the next glowing turquoise under a sudden break in the clouds.

Average temperatures: 18°C in November, 15°C in December

 

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

With its high volcanic ridges, ancient pine forests and deep ravines, Gran Canaria offers some of the most varied winter walking in Europe. Sometimes overlooked, a little unfairly, in favour of its neighbours, the island’s interior is a paradise for walkers - especially in the cool, clear months of November and December.

Recommended route: Walk the stretch from La Culata to La Cumbre to La Lechuza. Starting from La Culata (1,225 m), the trail climbs over La Cumbre (the island’s central ridge), then descends via rural tracks toward La Lechuza, passing pine forest, ridge trails and volcanic terrain along the way.

We love: The optional ascent to Gran Canaria's highest (and stratovolcanic) peak, Pico de las Nieves. This bonus segment adds a dramatic summit moment that rewards with panoramic views across the island’s volcanic spine.

Average temperatures: 23°C in November, 21°C in December

 

Inspired by our pick of the best places to go hiking in Europe in November and December? Check out our winter walking holidays. 

Alternatively, if you’re looking for somewhere to go walking in the new year, see our selection of the best April and May walking destinations.