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When dreaming about Europe, most travelers imagine sipping READ MORE: How Mass Tourism is Destroying Destinations Travelers Love

  THE LEAST VISITED NATIONAL PARKS IN EUROPE

Sipoo National Park

Sipoonkorpi National Park (Finland)

Considering the fact that it’s a relatively small country,there an incredible number of national parks in Finland (39, and soon to be 40).

The easiest to access from Helsinki is Nuuksio National Park, which is famous for its Sipoonkorpi National Park, a wild stretch of pine and birch READ MORE: Winter Adventures in Finnish Lapland

Marloes Peninsula, Pembrokeshire by Donar Reiskoffer  GFDL

Pembrokshire Coast National Park (Wales)

Wales is famous for its castles, hills, and sheep. But did you know that the Welsh coastline is also home to dramatic Pembrokshire Coast Path. 

The path is mostly at cliff-height, affording stunning views over the incredible rock formations dotted around the coast. Think arches, stacks, and sea READ MORE: 10 Eco-Friendly European Islands (World Travel Bucket List)

Slovenský raj, © Matej Kohút

Slovenski Raj National Park (Slovakia)

If you like adventure and you’re not afraid to clamber up and down a slippery ladder over a waterfall, this is the place for you! Slovenski Raj means “Slovak Paradise.”

It’s one of Slovakia’s nine national parks, located in the Eastern part of the country, not far from Poprad and Tatra Mountains.

The area is rich in rivers and streams, which have carved the surrounding mountains over the centuries to create gorges and canyons with beautiful waterfalls.

READ MORE: The European Green Capital of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Calanques National Park By Vincent, Public Domain

Calanques National Park (France)

Though it’s not as well known as Cévennes National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), climbers from all over Europe have been flocking to the mountains of Calanques National Park since the 1970s.

Located relatively close to the city of Marseille, the park’s dramatic limestone cliffs overlook the sea, and offer perfect climbing conditions year round.

But fear not– you don’t need to be a rock climber to enjoy this national park. There are also miles of well-marked hiking trails, several caves, and opportunities forREAD MORE: 

Wolf in Abruzzo National Park By Guido Mastrobono-Lupo Appenninico, CC

Abruzzo National Park (Italy)

The Abruzzo region is located in central-eastern READ MORE: A Local’s Favorite PLaces to Visit in Le Marche, Italy

Kornati National Park (Croatia)

The Kornati archipelago has been called “a sailing paradise” by those in the yachting world. It easily ranks as our favorite national park in Croatia, and among the most beautiful national parks in Europe

Located not far from the coast of Zadar, Kornati National Park includes 140 islands in an area that is only 35 kilometers long, making this the densest archipelago in the world.

The best way to explore the archipelago is by chartering your own sailboat. That way you can spend as many days as you want hopping from one island to the other, sampling delicious seafood at local konoba, and swimming in the clear Adriatic waters.

If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, you can always join a group boat tour from Zadar. Either way, it’s a great, uncrowded place to add to your national parks checklist. 

READ MORE: Overtourism at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Narrowest part of Samaria Gorge, Crete by Japo Public Domain

Samaria National Park (Greece)

A hike across the Samaria Gorge (one of our kri-kri, an endemic Cretan goat, which can sometimes be seen munching on grass along the cliffs. –Margherita Ragg; photos by Nick Burns unless otherwise noted

  If you enjoy reading about the world’s best National Parks, you might also like: 

Pitch Your Park! Rangers Plug Six of the Best US National Parks

The Crowded Planet with her husband Nick Burns, an Australian  photographer. Margherita has an MA in Travel and Nature Writing from Bath Spa University, and was runner-up to the 2012 Guardian Travel Writer of the Year competition. Her other passions are rock climbing, skiing, homebrewing and her cat, Tappo. Follow Margherita on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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