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Euro Summer dreams not coming to fruition? We get you. But if it’s the landscapes alone that have you refreshing your Skyscanner tab, we’ve got good news – some of Europe’s most spectacular hiking trails have pretty convincing Aussie dupes, and a couple of them are right here in NSW. According to the hiking experts at AllTrails, Australian search interest in “Euro Summer” has jumped 285 per cent over the past three years, reaching an all-time high in June 2026. Their research (based on Google Trends data) found that demand for European getaway inspiration has also almost doubled since mid-2024. But with international flights still capable of doing serious damage to your bank account, the option to get your hiking fix closer to home is pretty tempting.
To help us get our hit of Euro summer-coded scenery, AllTrails has rounded up ten Australian hikes that channel some of Europe’s most iconic landscapes – from the Adriatic coastline to the Swiss Alps. And two of the most convincing Euro-inspired walks are within easy reach of Sydney.
If your perfect European escape involves turquoise water, impossibly white beaches and dramatic coastal cliffs, the St George Head via Steamers Beach Carpark in Jervis Bay should be high on your list. According to AllTrails, the clifftop trail has serious Algarve energy – with sweeping views across brilliant-blue ocean and stretches of powdery sand below.
For a more alpine-feeling adventure, head west to the Cliff Top Track and Grand Canyon in the Blue Mountains. This magical mountain trail winds through dense rainforest and fern-filled valleys, beneath towering sandstone cliffs and past waterfalls. The dramatic rock formations and shady forests feel a world away from Sydney’s urban sprawl – according to AllTrails, it’s a vibe that channels Germany's Black Forest.
Willing to travel inter-state to get your Euro summer experience? According to AllTrails, Victoria’s Oberon Beach Campsite via Tidal River at Wilsons Promontory channels Croatia’s Adriatic, and the Johanna Beach to Castle Cove Trail along the Great Ocean Walk has Isle of Skye energy. In Tasmania, the Cape Raoul Track evokes Norway’s dramatic fjords; WA’s Bald Head Hike recalls Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and Cape Naturaliste to Dunsborough brings a little Cinque Terre to Margaret River. Queensland’s Bare Rock Track and Morgans Walk is giving Swiss Alps, and South Australia’s Clare Valley Wine and Wilderness Trail and Granite Track via Bethany channel the vineyard landscapes of Provence and Germany’s Rhine Valley respectively.
Keen to get a Euro summer hit without the hike? These Sydney spots deliver.