Looking for a digital detox? We all need to get into nature every so often, and sometimes touching grass isn’t enough. Sometimes you need to head up a mountain with no signal and just embrace the slow life for a while.
If you are in the mood for a trek into nature, you may as well do it properly. Luckily, Time Out has just curated a list of the world’s most gorgeous hikes for you to choose from. These are the sorts of views you usually only see as a computer screensaver, or while scrolling through your super-cool friend’s social media accounts (no shame – we’ve all been there). In short, each of these hikes is a bucket-list level experience.
Recommended: This 35-day trek in Türkiye is one the world’s best hikes – here’s why
In first place, officially named the world’s most beautiful hiking trail by us, was the Lycian Way, a 540km route through the most stunning landscapes Türkiye has to offer. The complete journey between Oludeniz to Geyikbayırı would take around 30-40 days to complete, but there are smaller stretches marked along the way for those not lucky enough to have a whole month to spare.
The Lycian Way was the first long-distance trail in Turkey, but its historical interest goes well beyond that. Time Out Travel writer India-Jayne Trainor explains that ‘it was once an old trade route connecting settlements in Lycia, but now draws tourists to explore the ruins of temples and towns left by ancient civilisations’.
Sounds pretty cool, huh? If you’re not much of a history buff, don’t worry, because that’s only part of the allure. According to Trainor, ‘the trail snakes past sheer cliffs and secluded beaches’ too, and ‘a dip in the gin-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz’ is a highlight of the trip.
In second place was the O Circuit in Patagonia, a region that’s so popular with hikers that they named a company after it, and for good reason. This ten-day route will treat you to ‘towering peaks, brilliant blue lakes and vast plains’, and without the crowds of the better-known W Trek.
In third was the Tour du Mont Blanc through the Alps. Traversing three countries (don’t forget your passport), this Alpine adventure offers ‘uninterrupted mountain views throughout, along with sections that cross rushing rivers, lush alpine meadows and steep valleys’.
Have a look at Time Out’s full list of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world.
Did you see that these are officially Europe’s happiest cities in 2025, according to locals?
It’s official: this is Europe’s best Christmas market to visit this year.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.