A holiday does not have to be just a sun lounger and a pool. If you travel on foot or by bike, you experience a country quite differently: villages away from the roads, paths over the cliffs, lunch in a taverna that no coach can reach. And in the evening a swim in the sea feels twice as good.
The most beautiful regions
| Region | Ideal for | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Madeira | Walks along irrigation channels | All year |
| Mallorca | Road cycling, mountain walks | February to May, October |
| Tenerife and La Palma | Volcanic landscapes, laurel forests | All year |
| Crete | Gorges, coastal paths | April to June, October |
| Algarve | Coastal path over the cliffs | March to May, October |
| Northern Spain | Coast, mountains, the Camino de Santiago | May to September |
| Cinque Terre | Coastal paths between villages | April to June, September |
| Lake Garda | Cycling, mountains and the lake | April to June, September |
Walking by the sea
Madeira is one of the best walking islands in Europe. The old irrigation channels, called levadas, run along the mountainsides with narrow paths beside them. Many routes are almost level and suit beginners too. In the Canary Islands you can walk all year, on La Palma through laurel forests and over volcanic ridges.
On Crete, gorges such as the Samaria Gorge, which runs all the way down to the sea, are a big draw. In the Algarve, a walking trail runs high above the rocky coves. In Asturias and Cantabria in northern Spain, green mountains rise right by the coast, and it stays pleasantly cool there in summer.
Cycling on holiday
Every spring, Mallorca draws cyclists from all over Europe. The roads through the Serra de Tramuntana are winding and well surfaced, while on the flat interior of the island leisure cyclists can ride at an easy pace. Around Lake Garda and in South Tyrol there are cycle paths for every level.
With an e-bike, less trained cyclists can also manage longer distances and climbs. In many holiday resorts you can hire e-bikes by the day, often directly at the hotel.
Tours without luggage
On a tour without luggage you walk or cycle to your next accommodation every day, and your suitcase is taken there. You only carry a small daypack. The route, hotels and luggage transfers are all booked for you. It is comfortable and suits beginners well. If you would rather stay in one place, choose a base and go on day trips from there.
What to pack
- Broken-in walking boots: wear new boots at home first, or you risk blisters.
- Daypack: with room for water, food, a jacket and sun cream.
- A change of clothes: in the mountains it soon gets cooler than on the beach.
- Offline maps: download walking maps to your phone, as there is often no signal in gorges and mountains.
- Helmet and cycling shorts: if you cycle a lot, take your own kit, as bikes can be hired.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
