You can tell a lot about a country by its national parks. These preserved and protected spaces help teach visitors about the country’s natural landscape, resources, wildlife, weather and local produce, all while offering visitors the chance to disconnect from screens and reconnect with the earth.
Europe alone offers over 460 parks to explore, so Iglu Cruise studied TripAdvisor data to rank the best of the best of the continent. The top contender? Parque Nacional Ordesa y Monte Perdido in Spain.
This Pyrenees park stretches its jagged mountain peaks, elevated cerulean lakes and mouth-dropping waterfalls across 156 kilometres along the northeastern border between Spain and France. If you’re a nature junkie, Ordesa is your enabler, offering activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, camping, canyoning, rock climbing and then some.
Recommended: The best national parks in the world to visit once in your lifetime
Experienced climbers flock to Monte Perdido, or ‘the lost mountain’, the Pyrenees’ third-highest summit, for adrenaline-pumped climbing, while the Escupidera, Perdido’s final section, is a cold, icy challenge even in summer.
Less experienced nature dwellers will still be in awe down on the Ordesa Valley Floor, where a 16k route winds through fields of flowery meadows, silver-fir forests and waterfalls-a-plenty. Maybe you’ll stumble upon some of the wildlife or herds of curious cows grazing, accompanied by their shepherd, steering them away from dangerous edges.
Taking second place is Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, where the highest peak of the Julian Alps, Mount Trivalgo, stands at just under 2900 metres. Take the challenge of this intermediate trek, or, if you’re looking for a journey on wheels, cycle on the Radovna Cycle Route in the Radovna Valley on the park’s western border, suited for all levels.
Wales’ Snowdonia National Park (or Eryri) comes third, with 823 square miles of stunning Welsh wilderness. Climb the mighty Mount Snowdon, walk through its lakeside trails or simply camp out among Wales’ countryside, taking in the fresh air and lush green hills.
Did all this nature talk tempt you to a nearby trail? Check out our roundup of the 20 best hikes in the world after reading the rest of the Iglu Cruise winners below.
The top 10 national parks in Europe
1. Parque Nacional Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Spain
2. Triglav National Park, Slovenia
3. Eryri/Snowdonia National Park, Wales
4. Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Italy
5. Killarney National Park, Ireland
6. Caldera de Taburiente National Park, Spain
7. Parc National Des Calanques, France
8. New Forest National Park,
9. Goreme National Park, Turkey
10. Parque Nacional de Garajonay, Spain
Did you see the world’s best (and worst) airports have been revealed in a new ranking?
Plus: The glass-roof train that travels through the US and Canada named world’s best rail journey
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
