Walking Across the Alps: The 10 Most Beautiful Routes Over the Alps

Anyone who has experienced it can confirm: Crossing the Alps on foot is an unforgettable experience, especially the first time. To cross Europe's most famous mountain range under your own steam is not only humbling but also brings a great deal of joy. Putting one foot in front of the other for days, or even weeks, getting up with the sunrise.

My first attempt in 2014 was the 555 kilometres of the Munich–Venice Dream Trail. Three years later, my girlfriend and I walked from Vienna to Nice in 107 days. In between and afterwards came the GTA, parts of the Via Alpina, and in recent years, numerous smaller stage hikes in the Swiss Alps and the High Black Forest. The Alps have now become something like a second home for me.

But which route should we take over the Alps? To make the agony of choice a little easier for you, I'll introduce ten long-distance Alpine trails in more detail in this article. With variations for every timeframe. From 6 to 95 stages. For connoisseurs and long-distance runners.

The 10 Routes at a Glance

In the following table, you will find a clear summary of the ten Alpine crossings, sorted by total length. In addition to the route length, you will find information on the number of stages, the altitude gain, and the difficulty level.

Tegernsee – Vipiteno

The crossing of the Alps from Upper Bavaria Tegernsee to Sterzing In South Tyrol, one of the youngest routes. It is the result of cooperation between the four tourist regions that the path traverses. A section of the Alps is crossed over 7 stages on easy to moderately difficult paths. The total route length of approximately 144 kilometres is shortened to around 100 to 110 kilometres if all bus, boat, and cable car transfers are used.

Anyone who can get to grips with the concept of "Genusswandern" (indulgent hiking) should take a closer look at this route. For the more adventurous, there are more suitable paths across the Alps.

E5 | Oberstdorf – Merano

The most famous Alpine crossing is undoubtedly the route from Oberstdorf to Merano. At just 181 km with an average of 7 stages, it is also one of the shortest routes here. This means it can easily be incorporated into your annual hiking plans, even if you have limited holiday days. Its manageable duration and good transport links also make it very popular with aspiring long-distance hikers crossing the Alps.

Overbooked huts and heavily frequented paths are the resulting side effects, especially during the peak season of July/August. Therefore, timely planning is particularly advisable when booking hut accommodation. This traverse of the Alps is full of scenic delights and offers the possibility of staying overnight at over 3,000 metres in the Similaun Hut.

Unfortunately, some sections of this route also involve transfer journeys. For a pure alpine crossing on foot, the route needs to be altered somewhat, particularly towards the end, if one does not wish to travel by bus to Meran. Tip: From the Vernagt Reservoir, you can continue hiking to Merano via the yellow route of the Via Alpina.

L1 | Garmisch – Brescia

The L1 Alpine crossing starts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and leads past the Zugspitze for 437 kilometres into the Italian lowlands towards Brescia. In contrast to the preceding routes, this long-distance hiking trail is little known. Furthermore, the route, developed by Hans Losse in 1989, completely dispenses with the use of mountain railways or bus transfers, as well as long stretches of asphalt. The focus is on maximum nature experience.

Accordingly, remote areas without tourist infrastructure are often traversed. Optimal conditions for enjoying the majesty of the mountains and the scenic impressions undisturbed. The cardiovascular and technical challenge is among the highest of all the Alpine crossings presented here. This is because the L1 frequently crosses the 3,000-metre mark and also traverses some easy glaciers. However, no climbing sections need to be overcome; equipment with crampons is sufficient. Corresponding (high) alpine experience and excellent sure-footedness are, however, necessary.

Salzburg – Trieste

Also a relatively new link in the chain of Alpine crossings is the multi-day hike from Salzburg to Trieste. The hikers begin in the Austrian border town of Salzburg and cover 500 kilometres and a total of more than 50,000 metres in altitude over 28 stages. In addition to the High Tauern, the fantastic Julian Alps in Slovenia are also traversed.

This Alpine crossing was developed in 2013 by fellow blogger and author Christof Herrmann and is therefore far less frequented than the best-known examples in this overview. So, if you have a month to spare, you'll experience scenic highlights in three different national parks and cross seven mountain ranges. Furthermore, after the last stage, tired feet can be dipped into the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. A more than worthwhile finale.

Wer einen Monat lang am Stück unterwegs ist, läuft praktisch garantiert in zwei oder drei verschiedene Wettersysteme hinein – und das bedeutet meist auch ein paar Tage Dauerregen am Stück. Auf solchen Touren ist mir mit den Jahren immer klarer geworden, dass der Unterschied zwischen „wasserabweisend“ und „wirklich wetterfest“ beim Rucksack oft erst nach drei nassen Tagen sichtbar wird – wenn das Innere trotz Regenhülle feucht zu werden beginnt, weil die Nähte nicht versiegelt sind.

Munich – Lake Garda

Whilst in its initial stages it resembles the Dream Trail, the shared time of the two paths also comes to an end with the mountain stages. This long-distance hiking trail was created as a conscious alternative to the well-trodden classic. Nevertheless, it crosses the aforementioned Dream Trail in a few short sections.

The resulting destination, Lake Garda, is as attractive as the Venetian Lagoon. However, with some challenging ascents and long stages, this trail should not be underestimated in terms of physical demand. Unlike the "Traumpfad" (dream path), the amount of ascent remains comparatively high until the final day.

Dream Path Munich – Venice

Next to the E5 is the Munich–Venice Dream Trail By far the best-known and most popular Alpine crossing. The route leads from the Bavarian state capital and the Alpine foothills 555 km south to the Venetian lagoon on the Adriatic coast. In 29 daily stages, a total of 47,500 metres in altitude need to be overcome.

As a reward, this multi-week long-distance hike leads through some of the most diverse regions and mountain ranges of the Alps. From the Bavarian pre-Alps, it leads into the limestone cliffs of the Karwendel. This is followed by the Tux Alps and the main Alpine ridge. Via the Lüsen Alm, the Dolomites with their impressive rock towers are reached. In Belluno, the Alps are left behind, and the Italian lowlands are crossed in five stages to Venice.

Technically, the dream path also offers a certain variety. In addition to narrow and scenic mountain paths, several scrambling sections as well as a via ferrata (Schiara) await hikers. Almost all of these climbs can be bypassed via alternative routes. Those travelling in July and August should book their accommodation not too late.

Der Traumpfad war 2014 meine erste lange Tour. Ich kam damals mit einem deutlich zu schweren 65-Liter-Rucksack los und habe spätestens am dritten Tag verstanden, dass das Konzept „lieber zu viel als zu wenig“ auf einer Mehrwochen-Tour ziemlich schnell ad absurdum geführt wird. Was an Tag 1 noch nach vernünftiger Sicherheitsreserve aussah, fühlte sich an Tag 5 nach zwei Kilo bestraftem Optimismus an.

Alpe Adria Trail

The Alpe Adria Trail takes you south of the main Alpine ridge, from the foot of the Großglockner to the Adriatic coast at Muggia, near Trieste. With an average length of 17 kilometres, the 38 or so stages are designed in such a way that no exceptional athletic ability is required to complete them. The key to this Alpine crossing is leisurely long-distance walking.

However, the scenery is definitely not neglected on this long-distance hiking trail. The first stages lead the Alpine crossing hikers through the Hohe Tauern, the Nockberge and to the picturesque Carinthian lakes, before continuing into Slovenia and into the impressive rock giants of the Julian Alps.

Via Alpina – yellow

The yellow route of the Via Alpina, at 800 kilometres, is a truly extensive Alpine crossing. Unlike most of the routes presented here, the starting point is by the sea in Trieste. Instead of heading south, you tend to follow a more northerly direction. After leaving the Italian plains, hikers first encounter the Julian Alps and then the Carnic Alps.

Once we’ve crossed the Dolomites, we’ll already be more than halfway there in Bolzano. Soon, the route meets the end point of the E5 route between Oberstdorf and Merano. We then follow this route in the opposite direction back to Oberstdorf. With some very long stages involving significant elevation gain, this Transalp is a physical challenge.

Note: There are many more Via Alpina long-distance footpaths. However, they often overlap with other routes presented here. On via-alpina.org Is there a good overview of all possible variants?.

Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA)

The Grande Traversata delle Alpi – or GTA for short – is one of the few long-distance trails that goes through the western part of the Alpine arc. It runs from the Gries Pass in Switzerland to Ventimiglia on the Italian Mediterranean coast. Along the way, we’ll cover around 1,000 kilometres in 65 stages and tackle a staggering 65,000 metres of elevation gain on the ascent alone.

Although the mountain trails of the GTA are rarely technically demanding, climbs of well over 1,000 metres in altitude per day are not uncommon. You should therefore have a solid level of basic stamina to tackle this route. But it is well worth the effort in every respect. You’ll explore the most secluded mountain regions of Piedmont, pass through abandoned Walser villages and sample the fantastic Piedmontese cuisine. In addition, there are opportunities for a few detours to impressive peaks such as the 3,538-metre-high Rocciamelone, towering high above the Susa Valley.

When we followed this route over 40 stages in 2017, we got to know the Alps all over again. Away from tourist facilities and well-known peaks, amidst unfamiliar cultures, long-distance hiking becomes a particularly appealing adventure. The GTA comes highly recommended, especially for walkers who enjoy exploring the mountain trails on their own.

Vienna – Nice

With around 1,900 kilometres and at least 95 stages The unofficial Alpine crossing from Vienna to Nice is the longest of the long-distance walking routes listed here. I mapped out this route with my girlfriend in 2016 and walked it in 2017 over a period of 107 days. But we weren’t the first to tackle this route. Several people before us had already set off on foot from the Austrian capital with Nice as their destination.

Dieser Weg besteht aus einer Reihe von alpinen Fernwanderwegen, die an ihren Kreuzungspunkten verbunden wurden. In der Gesamtheit folgt die Route dem gesamten Alpenbogen vom östlichsten Punkt bis zu der Stelle, wo die Alpen an der Côte d’Azur sanft ins Mittelmeer fallen. Von den sanften Hügeln in Kärnten zu den schroffen Felstürmen der Dolomiten, hin zu den verlassenen Walserdörfern im westlichen Piemont.

An Alpine crossing – which is more akin to an Alpine traverse – could hardly be more varied. However, technically, like all other Transalpine routes, it can be easily mastered by experienced mountain hikers. Apart from a few scrambling sections where hands are used, the route follows pure mountain paths. A via ferrata set is therefore not necessary.

107 Tage am Stück mit dem Rucksack auf dem Rücken verändern den Blick auf Ausrüstung grundlegend. Was an Tag 1 noch zu vernachlässigen erschien – ein zu hartes Schulterpolster, ein nicht ganz passender Hüftgurt, ein Liter zusätzliches Gewicht – wird ab Tag 30 zur täglichen Quälerei. Andersherum stellt sich heraus, dass viele der Dinge, die man „für den Notfall“ eingepackt hat, in 100 Tagen Bergwandern genau null Mal zum Einsatz kommen.

What I've learned about gear from ten tours

Once you start long-distance running, you don't stop easily. Between my first tour in 2014 and today, there are thousands of kilometres of mountain paths. Here are the five insights I would give to anyone planning their first multi-week Alpine crossing today.

Volume: You probably need less than you think

Most first multi-week tours are started with backpacks between 60 and 75 litres. Luggage is known to expand to fill the available space – those with 70 litres available will pack 70 litres. Those with 50 litres will pack 50 litres and won't miss anything.

For nearly all the routes described here, 45 to 55 litres are perfectly sufficient if you're staying in mountain huts or guesthouses. Only for tent tours, like on some sections of the GTA or the L1, is a larger volume truly needed – and even then, rarely more than 60 litres. Anyone who doesn't believe this only needs to speak to experienced long-distance hikers: most have ended up at the same volume at some point.

Weight matters – but not in the way many think

„Ultraleicht“ wird gerne verwechselt mit „spartanisch“ oder „Verzicht“. Tatsächlich geht es bei UL-Trekking weniger darum, Komfort wegzulassen, als darum, jedes Ausrüstungsteil ehrlich zu bewerten. Wenn du jeden Gegenstand wiegst und entscheidest, ob das Gewicht den Nutzen über drei Wochen rechtfertigt, fällt überraschend viel weg – und das, was bleibt, lässt sich oft durch leichtere Versionen ersetzen, ohne dass du wirklich Komfort verlierst.

The first 3 kilos of savings usually come almost as a gift – simply by cleanly decluttering. For the next 2 kilos, you need to think more seriously about materials and constructions.

Weather: What taped seams really mean

Bei einer Wochenend-Tour ist es egal, ob dein Rucksack vollständig wasserdicht ist oder nicht – im Zweifel zieht man die Regenhülle drüber und gut. Bei einer 28-tägigen Tour wie Salzburg–Triest oder den 100+ Tagen einer Wien–Nizza ist das anders. Da gibt es praktisch immer eine Woche mit mehreren Tagen Dauerregen am Stück. Und nach drei oder vier nassen Tagen merkt man schmerzhaft, wo der Unterschied zwischen „wasserabweisend“ und „wirklich wetterfest“ liegt: Die Regenhülle schützt nur den Stoff, nicht aber die Nähte. Wenn Wasser an den ungetapten Nahtkanten in den Rucksack hineinläuft, ist irgendwann auch der Schlafsack feucht.

That is one of the reasons why, over the years, I have switched from normal trekking rucksacks to UL rucksacks with taped seams. That is also the standard I use today when Agilist I'll install it myself. Sounds like a minor thing, but it makes a very real difference on a long tour.

The Case of the Shoes

More tour break-offs are caused by incorrect footwear than by any other equipment decision. On long tours, I now walk almost exclusively in trail runners. They are light, dry quickly, require no breaking-in period, and drastically reduce blisters. Many classic hikers consider this heresy – until they try it once.

The exception: technical, high alpine stages, such as those on the L1, or snowfields in early summer. Sturdy shoes are still advisable for these. However, for the vast majority of stages on all other routes presented here, good trail runners with a grippy sole are perfectly sufficient.

What I'll never take with me again

A short, honest list of things I took on my first tour and less of on every subsequent one: a second pair of shoes (apart from lightweight slippers), three changes of shirts (two suffice), a thick book (Kindle or phone), a full spare rain jacket, a multi-tool with twelve functions (a small knife is sufficient), a 20,000 mAh power bank (10,000 is enough), a tripod, a spare gas stove.

Much of this sounds reasonable when packing at home. On day 12 in the mountains, you realise you don't need it – but you're still carrying the weight. Every long-distance hiker learns this lesson sooner or later. You can learn it faster by asking yourself two questions about each item before the tour: How often will I really need this in the next 3 weeks? And if something goes wrong: Can I buy it in the next valley?

Huts or tents? Overnight on the go

On most of the routes presented here, staying overnight in a mountain hut is the standard. The infrastructure in the Alps is designed for this: a dense network of DAV, ÖAV, and SAC huts, private mountain guesthouses, Italian refugios, and Posto Tappa stations on the GTA. Your backpack stays lighter as you can leave your tent, sleeping mat, and stove at home. In the evening, there's a warm meal, and the social aspect of hut evenings is truly worth its weight in gold on long tours.

The question of whether it's possible to cross the Alps with a tent comes up regularly. Theoretically, yes. In practice, it depends heavily on the route and the respective country. Wild camping is heavily restricted or forbidden in Austria and France, legally ambiguous in Bavaria and Italy, and mostly tolerated in Switzerland above the treeline. Anyone wanting to cross the Alps with a tent must inform themselves about the local legal situation for each stage.

What has proven itself on long tours is careful, unobtrusive wild camping: pitching late in the evening, packing up early in the morning, away from paths, huts, and private property. Nature reserves, military exclusion zones, and grazed alpine pastures are avoided. No fires, no rubbish, no traces. Those who travel this way generally have no trouble.

Navigation and route planning

On well-trodden paths like the E5 or the Traumpfad, the signage is usually sufficient. On less well-signposted routes like the GTA, the L1, or the Vienna-Nice, navigation becomes a daily tool. What has proven itself on long tours:

Eine Wanderkarte im Maßstab 1:50.000 oder 1:25.000 als Backup. Sie wiegt 80 bis 120 Gramm, aber in einem Akku-Notfall hängt deine Orientierung nur daran. Auf österreichischen Routen liefert das Freytag&Berndt-Sortiment gute Karten, in Italien Tabacco, in Frankreich IGN, in der Schweiz Swisstopo.

Digitally, on long tours, I've increasingly switched to Komoot, supplemented by OsmAnd for offline backup. Komoot is good for tour research, elevation profiles, and importing GPX tracks from other hikers. OsmAnd is the more robust offline option with OpenStreetMap data, which is more detailed than commercial maps in many remote regions. Outdooractive functions similarly to Komoot, though I personally find it slightly less intuitive.

Only one thing is important: download maps and GPX tracks offline before your tour. In the Alps, there are valley floors without reception, or you're low on battery, or you have to spontaneously choose an alternative. Even the best online route planner is useless without reception.

Food and water on the go

When on hut-to-hut tours, catering isn't a big concern. Breakfast and dinner come from the hut kitchen, with lunch breaks taken en route. What you bring yourself are snacks for during the day: dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, dark chocolate, perhaps a piece of hard cheese or dried sausage. 200 to 300 grams of snacks per day are usually sufficient, more is rarely needed.

When on self-sufficient camping trips with a tent, things look different. This is where dehydrated meals come into play. They weigh approximately 100 to 130 grams per meal, are filling, and can be bought in any major outdoor shop. Add to that a lightweight stove, fuel, and a pot. A Trangia-type spirit stove is standard, while a lightweight gas stove from BRS or MSR Pocket Rocket is a bit faster but requires cartridges that aren't available everywhere.

Water is generally not a problem on most routes in the Alps. Springs, streams, and fountains at mountain huts can be found every few kilometres. A water filter (Sawyer Mini, BeFree, or a similar model) will make you even more independent and costs between 30 and 50 euros. In some karst regions, such as parts of the Vienna-Nice Route, the Karwendel, or the Western Dolomites, water is scarcer. In these areas, it’s worth refilling your bottles at every spring, even if you’re not thirsty yet.

When it comes to energy balance: on long, strenuous stages, you lose not only water but also minerals. Electrolyte tablets or a bit of salt in your water make a noticeable difference, especially at temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius or with several thousand metres of elevation gain per day.

Weather, safety and altitude

Mountain weather is unpredictable. What was sunny at breakfast at the hut can be a thunderstorm two hours later at the pass. On long tours, you learn to read the weather: cumulus clouds growing upwards are a warning sign. From midday onwards, the risk of thunderstorms increases significantly in summer. A sensible rule of thumb: tackle difficult passes in the morning, and ideally, they should be behind you by 2 p.m.

What is essential in a backpack can be summarised in one sentence: a waterproof outer layer (jacket and trousers), an insulating mid-layer (fleece or a light down jacket, even in summer), and a hat and gloves for exposed ridges. This is the classic layering principle. Sunglasses and a high-factor sunscreen are not a luxury above 2,500 m, but a medical necessity, because UV radiation increases by about 10 to 12 percent per 1,000 metres of altitude.

Regarding emergencies: The European emergency number 112 works comprehensively in the Alps. Save it on your phone, plus the SOS EU ALP app, which transmits your GPS location directly to the responsible mountain rescue control centre. A first-aid kit with plasters, blister plasters, disinfectant, painkillers, tweezers and a space blanket belongs in every rucksack. A first-aid course is a worthwhile investment before a first long tour.

Höhenkrankheit ist auf den meisten hier vorgestellten Routen kein großes Thema, weil die Touren überwiegend unter 3.000 Metern bleiben. Wenn du auf Routen wie dem L1 oder Teilen der Wien-Nizza-Strecke länger über 2.500 m unterwegs bist, gilt: langsam steigern, viel Wasser trinken, auf Kopfschmerzen oder Schwindel achten. Bei klaren Symptomen 200 bis 300 Höhenmeter absteigen und schlafen, bevor du weitergehst. „Climb high, sleep low“ ist die alte Bergsteiger-Regel: tagsüber höher gehen ist okay, geschlafen wird in niedrigerer Höhe.

With Respect Through The Mountains

The Alps are a habitat under pressure. What you do on a small scale adds up. Stay on the paths because shortcuts damage vegetation and accelerate erosion. Take your litter with you, including other people's if you find it. Observe animals from a distance, do not feed them, and keep dogs on a lead. Where possible, travel by train rather than by car, which is easily possible on almost all routes presented here. Oberstdorf, Garmisch, Tegernsee, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna are all well-connected by rail, and you can also reach the destinations of Trieste, Venice, Brescia, Nice and Ventimiglia easily by night train or a day trip.

Mentally, the longer tour is different from a weekend hike. On day 1, everything is exciting; on day 8, it becomes routine; on day 15, your head starts asking itself what it's actually doing here. This is normal and part of the experience. What helps with this is realistic stages (don't overexert yourself), enough rest days (three or four on a four-week tour), and abandoning the rigid plan. Sometimes it's better to call it a day two hours earlier and tackle the pass the next day in better spirits than to slog through the rain because that's what the daily plan dictates.

Tips for planning

No matter which route you ultimately choose, a few things apply to almost all Alpine crossings. Here are the five most important planning points from my experience.

Understanding levels of difficulty

The difficulty ratings in the tables follow the SAC hiking scale (Swiss Alpine Club):

• T1 – Hiking wide, well-marked paths, flat terrain
• T2 – Mountain Hiking: Narrower paths, partly steep terrain, good marking
• T3 – Challenging mountain walking: Possible gaps in coverage; occasional use of the hands
• T4 – Alpine Hiking: Sure-footedness and a head for heights are required; simple rock steps
• T5 – Demanding Alpine Hiking high-altitude alpine terrain, easy climbs

Most of the routes here are predominantly in the T2 to T3 range – classic mountain hiking with occasional more demanding.

Frequently Asked Questions