Majestic mountains, gleaming glaciers, charming rural sights – the natural beauty of Europe’s many national parks is nothing if not diverse. From humbling Scottish Highland vistas to otherworldly Icelandic ice caves, here are 31 amazing shots of 15 of the most beautiful parks on the continent.

Centered around the snowy peak of Mount Triglav – Slovenia’s highest mountain, with an elevation of 9,396 feet (2,864m) – Mount Triglav National Park covers 340 square miles. Its fairy-tale forests, glassy lakes (like Lake Bohinj, pictured) and dramatic valleys make up 4% of the country’s lands. Situated in the northwest of Slovenia, the park can be reached in two hours by car from the capital, Ljubljana.

While here, you can ski through the park’s stretch of the Alps, visit the Mlinarica gorge and try fly fishing in the glass-like emerald waters of the Soca and Save rivers. Look out for fearless Alpine ibex goats ascending near-vertical cliffs and Eurasian Pygmy Owls nesting in picture-perfect pine trees.

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A 90-minute car journey from the Welsh capital of Cardiff is all it takes to get to the Brecon Beacons. This rugged, mesmerising mountain range covers 520 square miles, and is home to a rich array of wildlife, including otters, badgers and Welsh Mountain Ponies. Established in 1957, it’s one of three national parks in Wales, along with the Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia.

Why not inspect immense caverns at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales and windsurf on Llangorse Lake? Or simply set up camp and stare at the night sky, as the park’s a well-regarded stargazing destination since becoming the first International Dark Sky reserve in Wales in 2012. A hike's essential, whether to see the waterfalls of the Four Falls Trail, or to southern Britain’s highest point, the 2,907-foot (886m) peak of Pen y Fan.

Home to giant, sweeping valleys and wild, open moorlands, the Cairngorms is accessible in 45 minutes by car from Inverness. The park covers a staggering 1,748 square miles, making it the largest national park in the UK, followed by the Lake District National Park. Wildlife lovers, take note: it’s home to 25% of the UK’s rare and endangered species.

Head here to scale some of the UK’s highest mountains including Ben Macdui, Braeriach and Cairn Toul. Even its smaller mountains – like the 3,294-foot (1,004m) Devil's Point, pictured – brood with character. As well as hiking and biking, snow bunnies will love Glenshee Ski Centre and history lovers the wonderful 17th-century Braemar Castle.

In southeast Germany, the sprawling, unspoiled Bavarian Forest National Park extends almost 94 square miles. The country’s first national park, founded in 1970, can be reached in just over two hours from Munich. It straddles Germany’s border with the Czech Republic, and with Bohemian Forest in the next-door country, is the largest protected woodland in Central Europe.

Things to see and do include motorbiking on Grosser Arber mountain, wildlife watching at the Tierfreigelande open air habitat (wild species include lynxes and bears) plus tobogganing and snowshoeing. The forest offers over 300 miles of marked trails, but the best might be the wooden tree top boardwalk Baumwipfelpfad Bavarian Forest, complete with a 144-foot (44m) observation tower.

Next, a beautiful swathe of northern England stretching 555 square miles, spanning Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire – the picturesque Peak District. It’s the UK’s first National Park, established in 1951. Accessible in just over an hour by car from Manchester, it’s home to an array of charming sights, from the Victorian Midland Railway Headstone Viaduct, (pictured) dating back to 1863, to Peveril Castle, dating from 1080.

Take in staggering sights such as the Salt Cellar rock formation, or the 1,696-foot high (517m) Mam Tor on foot. Elsewhere, enjoy the splendid gardens of Elvaston Castle Country Park, brave the treetop rope course of Go Ape and, for a boat trip with a difference, explore the flooded 18th-century lead mine Speedwell Cavern. 

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Distinguished by jagged mountains, steep slopes, giant plateaus and green-blue water, you’ll find the 444-square-mile Jotunheimen National Park in the heart of Norway. The capital, Oslo, is four hours south by car. It’s home to 29 of Norway’s highest mountains, including the tallest, Galdhøpiggen, at 8,100 feet (2,469m), and the strikingly cone-shaped Kyrkja, pictured here.

Soak up undisturbed valleys on horseback and hike the some 186 miles of marked trails, including the stunning Besseggen ridge, walked by over 60,000 people a year. Along its 3,608-foot (1,100m) rise, you can enjoy views of the crystal-clear waters of both Gjende and Bessvatnet lakes, and perhaps elegant animals like reindeer and elk.

Vibrant valleys, mystical lakes and densely-forested mountains define Ireland’s Killarney National Park, established 1832. It’s found in the southwest of the county, 90 minutes from Cork, and covers 40 square miles. Head here to conquer Ireland’s tallest mountain range, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Elsewhere, soak up the serenity of Upper, Muckross and Lough Leane lakes, and enjoy the magic of the 66-foot (20m) high Torc Waterfall.

The 15th-century Ross Castle, a commanding presence on the shores of Leane, the largest of the lakes, is one of Killarney’s most iconic sights. A more modern attraction is the 19th century lakeside Muckross House, with its handsome exterior and manicured gardens. Popular outdoor pursuits revolve around the lakes, from kayaking and boat touring to cycling loops.

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Covering almost 115 square miles, Plitvice Lakes National Park is found near the Bosnia and Herzegovina border, two hours south by car from Zagreb. The park, founded in 1949, is famous for its collection of 16 crystal clear, colour-changing lakes – they morph between shades of green and blue due to their high mineral content – plus over 90 waterfalls.

The lake formations call for slow, meditative walking, via simple walking trails and pleasant, water-crossing boardwalks. Admire cascading waters – including the 229-foot (70m) Veliki Slap, shimmering with mist – at your leisure. But beware: swimming is prohibited in the park.

Despite its name, Bohemian Switzerland National Park is not in Switzerland, but the north of the Czech Republic, just over two hours from Prague. (It’s connected to Saxon Switzerland National Park, across the border in Germany). Featuring dramatic rock formations, alluring pine forests and relaxing streams, 18th-century Swiss artists Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff inspired the name, when they noted that elements of its 30.5 square miles reminded them of home.

One iconic sight is the Pravčická Archway: spanning 85 feet (26.5m), it's the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. It's easily reached via walkways and steps, and there’s a pretty chateau next door called the Falcon’s Nest, dating from 1881. Then, why not enjoy a relaxing boat ride up the craggy, charismatic Kamnitz or Kamenice gorges?

In northeast Spain bordering France, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park spans over 60 square miles and since 1997 it's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes part of the Pyrenees mountain range, a natural border between the two countries. It’s three and a half hours by car from Barcelona and under two and a half hours from Zaragoza. Founded in 1918, Spain's oldest park's characterised by dramatic drops and the limestone valleys of Ordesa (pictured), Pineta, Anisclo and Escuain.

Popular outdoor activities include paragliding and mountain biking, on which you can discover scenic waterfalls, lofty peaks – the highest, Monte Perdido, is 11,000 feet (3,355m) and a serious climb – plus storybook beech and oak forests. Plus, there's a wide range of hiking trails to suit all fitness levels. We suggest starting from the quaint villages of Torla or Broto. 

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In northern Portugal near the Spanish border lies the 271-square-mile Peneda-Gerês National Park, full of vast, stony landscapes, oak forests and glimmering mountain creeks. Established in 1971, it's just over an hour's drive from the charming city of Porto. The rich array of wildlife includes wild ponies, wolves, otters, plus 15 species of bat (including 10 that are endangered).

Get out on the Cávado River by canoe, or explore via centuries-old hiking trails. Historic things to see include the Castro Laboreiro, dating back to the 10th century, and the Santa Maria dos Pitoes monastery, dating from the 9th century.

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Established 1973, Vikos National Park is flecked with deciduous and coniferous forests, and covers 49 square miles of northeast Greece, near the Albanian border. It's remote, with Thessaloniki reachable in three hours. However, it's worth the trip with Vikos celebrated for its breathtaking Vikos Gorge, plus interesting rock formations like the Stone Forest.

Check out the traditional stone bridges crossing one of Europe’s cleanest rivers, the Voidomatis, and follow the cobblestone path to the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi, which dates from the 15th century. There are viewpoints for those on foot aplenty, but another great way to see the gorge is by car, on winding mountain roads such as these.

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In remote northeastern Finland, you'll find the 104-square-mile Oulanka National Park. Established in 1956, it’s a day's drive from the capital, Helsinki, although there’s an airport in the tiny town of Kuusamo, only 50 minutes away. It’s twice been expanded (in 1982 and 1989); expect evergreen forests, turbulent rapids, and Siberian-esque natural beauty, as the park shares a border with Russia.

Beautiful year-round, this park attracts many adventurous travellers during winter when activities include riverside snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. With accommodation in traditional wooden cabins. Wildlife lovers should keep their eyes peeled, as there are around 400 protected species of animals and plants in the region, with the chance to see everything from woodpeckers in late winter to calypso orchids at the start of spring. 

 

One of 20 national parks in the Netherlands, Hoge Veluwe is one of the oldest, having been established in 1935. Measuring 21 square miles, it has some of the most diverse landscapes of any park on this list. Think heather-strewn heathland, dense forests, peat bogs and gentle rolling sand dunes. It’s found in the centre of the country, an hour’s drive from Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Apeldoorn is just 19 minutes by car.

You’ll see an abundance of wildlife such as foxes, Corsican sheep, wild boar and red deer. As well as bird-watching and biking, a major draw is the on-site Kröller-Müller Museum, home to the world's second-largest Van Gogh collection.

 

Finally, to the Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland. There you'll find the 5,460-square-mile Vatnajökull National Park, the largest in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that can be reached in around four hours from the capital city, Reykjavik, this chilly playground is found in South Iceland around the Vatnajökull glacier, which itself covers 8% of Iceland’s land mass.

Created in 2008 after the merging of Jökulsárgljúfur and Skaftafell parks, Vatnajökull is known for grand, snowy mountains, powerful waterfalls, glacial lagoons and sparkling ice caves. Glacier hiking, ice climbing, snowmobiling and jeep tours are all popular here. Embark on multi-day excursions with overnight stays – and look out for the tempestuous Northern Lights. 

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