Green destinations in Europe

For those who love trips to Natural Parks we have selected a few destinations that I can include in my plans for the next holidays.

Croatia

Croatia is an amazingly beautiful country. It is like a treasure island of natural beauty with an incredibly rich cultural heritage. A small country that hosts many rich forests, lakes, waterfalls and archipelagos.

Of the 8 National Parks, Plitvička jezera (Plitvice Lakes) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In these parks you can practice various sports activities: hiking, hundreds of kilometers marked for hiking or sport climbing; alpinisms or skiing; rafting on turbulent rivers; bike paths on specially designed tracks or diving.

On the island of Krk you can visit the 110 m route from Biserujka Cave.

In the Kopacki Rit Natural Park you will find the largest ornithological park in Europe. Here you can “adopt” a bird, to which is attached a ring and a tag with the name of your choice. After adoption you will be notified whenever the bird is observed, anywhere in the world.

Montenegro

Neighboring Croatia, Montenegro, is also a destination with many National Natural Parks where you will find many wild areas with a rich biodiversity.

The 5 National Parks cover 10% of the country’s surface, of which Lake Skadar National Park occupies 40,000 ha, with the largest lake in Southern Europe.

Durmitor National Park, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is known for its 18 glacial lakes and the Tara River Canyon (the deepest canyon in Europe).

In these parks there are also routes for hiking, mountaineering or winter sports: skiing or snowboarding, and in summer you can enjoy various water sports.

Portugal

On the mainland or on the island (Azores and Madeira), Portugal has many spectacular Natural Parks.

Alvão Natural Park is known for Fisgas de Ermelo, one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. Douro International Natural Park, located close to the Spanish border, is famous for its deep canyons and rocky terrain that offer impressive views. Arrábida Natural Park is a real green paradise, spread over an area of 17,000 hectares. Access to the park is only allowed with an authorized guide.

The Natural Park of the southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina is the perfect place for hiking and mountaineering trails, as well as for surf lovers.

The Ria Formosa Natural Park is considered one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. The park is a protected area and includes the islands of Faro, Barreta, Culatra, Armona and Tavira.

Germany

In Germany you will find 16 National Parks, some of which are included in the UNESCO Heritage. From parks with an area of 30 km2, such as Jasmund National Park, to almost 442,000 ha (such as Schleswig-Holstein National Park – Wadden Sea), in Germany you will surely find one that will convince you to return.

The West Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park is the largest nature reserve on the Baltic coast. Hainich National Park is home to the largest area covered by deciduous forest (uninterrupted by human settlements). And Jasmund National Park is home to several hundred-year-old beech forests.

If in your travels through Europe you have discovered other beautiful National Parks to include in our next vacations, you can write about them on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.