Nature in Europe

Gosh, everywhere?

Possible because many Europeans live in cities, and sprawl isn't as common as it is in the US, natural areas are readily available and appreciated.
Flying into Graz, Austria last fall, I was amazed at the open farmland and forest visible while we were landing, really close to the city.

Liz, thanks for your response. I should clarify that I am not referring to just seeing trees and mountains. I mean a bit more immersive. And nature is not everywhere. I spent 2 weeks in Paris last year and it was decidedly short on nature.

It depends a bit on how you define immersive, but the answer is sort of everywhere. Just avoid the more densely populated parts of the continent. Scandinavia is certainly a good place to immerse yourself in nature.

Thanks for your response Badger. Looking more for your own personal experiences in getting close to nature in Europe. Scandinavia is a big place. Can you be more specific?

Croatia felt this way to me. While there are plenty of cities and towns to base in if you want, there are also plenty of less inhabited areas. I didn’t choose those to stay in because of several factors, but they are there and accessible. People think of the islands and coastline - and that’s true. But there is also a whole inland mountainous area I haven’t seen, except for Plitvice.

I am also hoping I see and can access more nature on my spring trip through Albania and northern Greece.

Lots of places. Off the top of my head, some of my top "nature" experiences in Europe have been in:

• Ireland (west coast, many places)
• Faroe Islands (everywhere)
• Scotland (many places)
• France (Normandy, Brittany, Provence)
• Spain (many places)
• Italy (Sardinia, Sicily)
• Portugal (many places, especially the Azores)
• Slovenia (mountains)
• Croatia (islands)
• Estonia (Baltic coast and islands)
• Latvia (Baltic coast) ...

OK, I realize there's no point in listing places like this so I'm going to stop.

You can get "close to nature" in any country. It just takes a little effort and/or luck (same as anywhere). The key is (usually) to get out of the big cities and (often) head to far-flung corners. Sometimes it takes some extra time and some work (take a boat out to some little island, drive the the end of the road and hike a while), sometimes you just need to stop the car and jump out, sometimes all you need to do is open your eyes. Sometimes (often, if it involves animals) it's all about being in the right place at the right time.

It's easy to think of Europe as densely populated, full of big cities. But there is real wilderness (by any standard) in many parts of Europe, and lots of quiet places where nature can take your breath away.

👉 👉 👉  You know, this subject ("Nature in Europe") would be great for one for one of Rick's "Monday Night Travel" sessions (with plenty of content to easily fill an hour or two).  👈 👈 👈 Hey, RSE Production staff: Suggestion box item here!

Absent that, one might look on PBS or one of the "travel channels" on TV for various TV specials. The series "Nature" (on PBS) is always excellent (set the DVR to record all of them), and they often feature surprising regions in Europe. I routinely scan upcoming programs and there's a series call "Wild (insert country name)" that runs periodically. My DVR is full of shows like "Wild France", "Wild Spain", (yes, even "Wild Turkey" which is not just something to drink). There's LOTS of nature programming on TV; some of it focuses on Europe. No pith helmet or machete required.

I incorporate nature into all my trips. I always take binoculars for bird watching and often a telescope.

In recent trips - walking and bird watching in the Pennine hills in England in December.

Snorkelling in the Canary Islands (Fuerteventura) in October - fish, crabs etc. Plus bird watching.

Bird watching in Belgium in September.

Scottish highlands in July - deer, birds, otters etc.

Mammals and birds in France around Normandy, Brittany and Oleron in June.

You can find nature in parks, even in busy cities such as London.

Back in mid-May of 2010, I extended my first trip to Italy after the RS Heart of Italy tour. I spent 3 very lovely chill out days in Umbria at Lago Trasimeno. I stayed in a hostel near the lake, borrowed one of their bicycles, and rode on a very picturesque path along the lake and then came around the bend to a small field of brightly blooming poppies. The pictures you see of Tuscan poppy fields are very real. I purchased a painting of a similar scene directly from the artist on a street in Assisi. It’s a very nice reminder of that bicycle ride.

The next day, I took a small ferry to the middle of Lago Trasimeno and spent a day on the island of Polvese doing some birding, hiking and visiting a medieval fortress built on the island for protection. The “slow travel” in this lovely area of Umbria was just what I needed after touring Rome.

Poland is a good option for nature lovers in Europe, due to the historical conservationist spirit of the Polish people and Poland's excellent National Parks system, where many flora and fauna species that have since died out in other parts of Europe still survive in Poland.

Untouched Primeval Forests dot the landscape, while I have yet to visit Białowieża Forest National Park in eastern Poland, I was able to visit Stołowe Mountains National Park close to the border with Germany and Czechia, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Stołowe Mountains is a primeval forest deep in the Sudeten Mountain Range, dotted with some very unique rock formations (they actually filmed one of the Narnia movies there).

I also enjoyed hiking the Tatra Mountains National Park, just south of Krakow, along the border with Slovakia and Ukraine, there Bears, Forest Bison, and Wolves still roam wild. In fact Poland is now exporting its Forest Bison population to other parts of Europe to help "re wild" those less fortunate countries.

While it can't measure to Alaska (which I have had the fortune to visit once), my home country of Spain is one of the richest in biodiversity in Europe and simultaneously one of the least densely populated countries of Europe. It's a haven for nature lovers in Western Europe.

Last time I was in the Picos de Europa in northern Spain I had the privilege of seeing a family of wild Iberian Bears (2 cubs and a mother) make there way off in the distance. The same can be said for the relatively untouched Pyrenees mountains, especially the Aigüestortes National Park. Down south there are a number of wild and rugged landscapes, such as the Albufera Lagoons of Valencia (where Paella was invented), the primeval coastline of Cabo de Gata, and the Doñana Wetlands National Park with the Andalucian cowboy town of El Rocio at its heart.

I think you might be amazed at how animals have adapted to big city life. Just like in the US, raccoons and oppossums live in cities, here in Germany it is peregrine falcons, foxes, rabbits, and lots of different water fowl. I see herons at all of the park ponds in Frankfurt, and mandarine ducks are a treat too. Swans, geese, ducks, cormorants are everywhere in the city. Nutrias abound and beaver are becoming widespread, wild boar are in all of the forests and can be a pest.

Cities here like to build up, to preserve their green space. We have an 11.000 acre city forest which they go all out to preserve. The Taunus mountains are close by and they control traffic to keep the green space healthier.

Walking the Camino in Spain and Portugal, puts one in the middle of nature every day. The storks, crickets and cuck-coos seem to be everywhere.

I should clarify that I am not referring to just seeing trees and mountains. I mean a bit more immersive.

Maybe if you get a little more specific about what you mean by immersive it would be easier to answer your question. Just what does incorporating nature mean to you.

For myself, as others have said in their responses, I like to make being in nature part of my trips. But for me, being in nature may just mean a walk in a city park with lots of green spaces, such as the Englischer Garten in Munich, or a hike along the cliffs on the coast of Brittany. I've also found that taking a ferry to almost any island will give me a good 'nature' experience, from watching sea or ocean animals (whales, dolphins, penguins, etc) to interacting with more domestic animals (goats, sheep, horses, cows, etc) on farms. Even just taking a lift or gondola to a mountain top in Switzerland and 'immersing' myself in the majesty of the views.

I guess we all have our own definition of nature and how close (or immersive) we want to get with it. If we want nature on our trips, we will find it.

Definitely Iceland, much more so than any other country we have been to, which are many. Seeing and being on a glacier there that is receding so fast it will be entirely. gone within 50 years is mind boggling. Iceland IS all about nature and exploring.

diveloonie, I've never been there, but have wanted to visit the Białowieża Forest nature preserve in eastern Poland. It's home to the last remaining herd of European bison. I'm thinking that other EU countries have similar preserves, or maybe they've killed and eaten all the wild animals to extinction.

Białowieża Forest nature preserve in eastern Poland. It's home to the last remaining herd of European bison.

Stan you may be surprised to know there are actually several free-range herds of European Bison throughout Poland and now exported to many European countries due to Poland's conservation efforts. In the last decade, Bulgaria, Spain, Romania, Czechia, UK, Germany, Denmark and others have reintroduced Polish Forest Bison into their woodlands, the European bison free-roaming population is now quite healthy in the several thousands and no longer in the Threatened Conservation Status.

You can read more about the European Bison Conservation Project here: https://rewildingeurope.com/impact-stories/european-bison/

Thank you all for your responses. Iceland is moving closer to the top of my travel list, and Poland would also be cool. I’m also thinking Switzerland alps would be cool.
Keep the recommendations coming!

In the US- I am lucky to live next door to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park which I travel to almost every day for hikes with my dog. It’s so beautiful! It’s magical. I feel so fortunate.

In Europe I always love Ireland for beautiful nature. There are so many areas to hike and see beautiful things but some of my favorites are Connemara, the Wicklow region and also Inishmore island off the coast of Galway. Lots of hiking, kayaking and seeing ancient sites which are incredible.

I also loved hiking the Dolomites in Italy this past year. So so so beautiful! And hiking in the hills outside of Varenna in Lake Como area.

I love nature and excited to see other’s posts on your thread!

Not in Europe BUT- I have one more! Can’t believe I didn’t say this first but my favorite nature travel trip was to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge near Vancouver Canada. Starfish the size of dinner plates while kayaking and looking down 30 feet into the crystal clear sound. Bald eagles, schools of orcas, black bear rambling along the beachfront. I mean- this was the trip of a lifetime! My husband and I won it on a travel auction many years ago. The prices are extremely exorbitant now- but I will post the link for any recent lottery winners. Truly the best vacation of my life! Full of nature.

https://clayoquotwildernesslodge.com/

I had an immersive experience in Geirangerfjord in Norway when the waterfall walk was a bit out of control due to the summer snowfall melt. We got drenched even with good rain jackets but loved it.

If you want nature and willing to venture out of Europe, then all I can say is New Zealand, New Zealand, New Zealand. Unless you've already been there. It's a nature paradise and very immersive. You can't get away from nature there even if you try.

While staying in Arles, France, we biked one day and took a car another day into the Camargue Natural Regional Park, which is the delta of the Rhone River. We went to see flamingos, but there were also many shore birds and water fowl, like geese and nesting great blue herons. It is a symbiotic relationship of nature, the cattle ranchers, and the horsemen. They use the bulls and horses in the nonlethal bull fighting (The horsemen try to get the ring off the bull's horn).
On the Cyclades Islands we saw bee eater birds while hiking and owls at the Knossos Palace on Crete.
June in Alpi di Suisi there were over 30 different wildflowers blooming in the meadow and the rocks, half of which I was unable to identify. In the Alps at Reutte, Austria, our German son couldn't translate the name of the mountain goats we saw (Ibex is my guess). These were spotted by a varmint hunter/tracker/ranger.

Living in a landlocked state, being near the ocean on a trip is a real change of pace. Six years ago, a sea kayak trip off the coast of Brittany, camping out on the Ille de Groix and having the guide provide a Kouign Amman for dessert, then circling the island the next day before paddling back to the mainland in a headwind, that was an outdoor experience! Reflecting on the 60 Minutes story, though, we didn’t see lots of animals.

The boat from Ireland out to Skellig Michael, followed by a climb on that island - amidst puffins everywhere - was an immersive seabird experience. We didn’t see puffins in Iceland, but we were there in April, and if you’re there at the right time, you can get “Puffined” on Iceland.

Cyn, I love that term "puffined". I got puffined on the Isle of May, an island in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.

In Germany you can find tons of nature as well - no idea if this is what you are looking for? In all of my vacations (mostly in Germany) I'm getting very close to nature or let's say I'm picking the destinations because of its nature.

-The Alps are in some places still stunning nature and I like hiking there specially in the Berchtesgaden National Park
-I love hiking the various gorges in Germany like Breitachklamm, Wimbachklamm, Partnachklamm and many more
-I'm a fan of the German caves as well. Some still on my list but the ones in Franconia I've liked a lot.
-The German coast line with the Wadden Sea National Park or the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park is pure nature that blows my mind away
-I was very impressed when I was hiking Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland. Nature did a very good job here
-On our plan for next year is to vistit the Kaiserstuhl are to photograph bee-eaters and hoopoes in hopefully beautifuly nature
-OK mostly trees but I also like the nature of the Black Forest National Park and the Bavarian Forest National Park

And this year we will visit Slovenia in fall. This for sure will be a majestic nature experience as well :-) Really looking forward to visit the Soca Valley.

Just look for regional and national parks. France the Cevenne springs to mind. UK - Dartmoor, Exmoor, Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia etc. There are loadsall over Europe

Someone else mentioned walking the Camino de Santiago. We walked part of it some years ago and fell in love with walking tours, which are a wonderful way to really get into nature. Nothing like being on foot for a few days (or a few weeks), trekking through fields and forests, up mountains and around lakes, for a true slow-down-and-take-in-the-nature experience. There are numerous companies that offer everything one needs for a self-guided walking tour, including baggage transfers, accommodations and meals, maps and directions (sometimes including GPS!)

While there are a lot of British and American walking tour companies, we always try to track down groups that are local to where we want to walk. That way we know most of the money we spend is staying right there. For inspiration, there are plenty of books about the joys of walking and where to do it.

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovakia come to mind.

Thanks AMann and Mister E. AMann, you have done some very adventurous hikes. Not for us! We like hiking, but easy. We too want to do the Alps and Dolomites, but I have seen many, many glaciers 😂 Been to Ireland twice, wonderful place for hiking. I would love to take a strictly hiking/walking focused trip there.

I grew up in a big city and definitely prefer to be “in nature” when I travel. We purposely seek out the “awe-inspiring” wherever we go.

Slovenia was the first place that came to mind. Stunning natural beauty abounds there. We spent 5 nights there and barely scratched the surface. I’d love to return and explore more.

I also love Austria, particularly the Salzburg area. We went paragliding over Salzburg and it was spectacular.

Our next trip will include the Dolomites and Switzerland, which I’m so excited to see.

Some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. I've only done a few km on the Valbona end.

https://www.travelsofabookpacker.com/blog/hiking-theth-valbona

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PcrWYFd-MIU

Sorry to revive this topic, but I know there was some interest in the resurgent European Bison population in Poland, and saw this bit of great news out of Białowieża Forest national park. Apparently an enormous herd of European Bison, containing up to 170 animals, has been spotted on the outskirts of Białowieża Forest National Park in eastern Poland. Scientists say it is the largest they have ever seen.

"The herd, which includes 40 calves, is thought to have formed from a combination of several smaller groups of bison observed in the area at the beginning of winter. Bison were hunted to extinction in the wild in Poland and elsewhere in Europe in the early 20th century, surviving only in captivity. However, programmes were launched in the 1950s to reintroduce them in Poland. Poland now has the continent’s largest population of the animal."

“The number of bison in Białowieża Forest – and in Poland as a whole – is regularly increasing,” notes IBS PAN. “Last winter, the Białowieża National Park counted 779 bison in the forest. Part of the population migrates seasonally from the forest to open areas.”

You can read more here: https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/01/20/unprecedented-herd-of-170-bison-spotted-in-poland/