Culinary Hiking Trails in Europe

We’re passionate about food and hiking. And when paired together, we’re in heaven. In the last few years, we’ve developed a love for hiking for food.

We can appreciate the experience of hauling our own meals up a mountain. But, how glorious is it to reward yourself with a delicious feast during a hike – one that you didn’t have to prepare? Or, go on a wine tasting hike?

As we travel the world, we’re actively seeking out the best culinary hiking trails.

Culinary hikes are those that combine the art of food with the beauty of nature. Several hikes listed below are thematic culinary trails, while others are culinary hiking destinations. Read on to find out where you can embrace epicurean pleasures with the glorious outdoors.

Berggasthaus Aescher, Alpstein, Appenzell Alps, Switzerland

Self-Guided Culinary Hiking Tours: 8 Day Austria Culinary Delight Hut Hiking Tour and 3 Day Austria Culinary Delight Extended Weekend Hiking
Top Culinary Hiking Destinations: South Tyrol in Italy, Styria and Salzburg in Austria, Appenzell in Switzerland.
Where to Hike in Europe in Spring: Mallorca and Portugal
Where to Hike in Europe in Fall: Austria’s Wachau Valley, Italian Dolomites, Mallorca, and Portugal
Where to Hike in Europe in Winter: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Malta
Where to Hike in Europe in Summer: the Alps, Nordic Europe, Picos de Europa National Park in Spain.

1. Aescher Mountain Inn, Appenzell, Switzerland

Berggasthaus Aescher restaurant and guesthouse in Appenzell, Switzerland

Built into the side of a mountain, Berggasthaus Äscher is one of those places that romances you at first sight. This picturesque mountain guesthouse is a rewarding place to eat lunch after a strenuous hike in the Alpstein in Appenzell, northeastern Switzerland.

You can reach this mountain inn in several ways. Those looking for a short and sweet hike can ascend from Wasserauen to Ebenalp via cableway and walk to the Aescher Mountain Inn in 25 minutes.

Those looking for a more strenuous hike can ascend to Aescher Inn via Lake Seealpsee.

What to Eat | Appenzeller Cheese, Rösti (hash browns). You can order Rösti with eggs, Appenzeller cheese (recommended), and bacon.

Where to Stay | Appenzell Village

Learn More: How to Get to Berggasthaus Aescher

2. Bollenwees Mountain Inn, Appenzell, Switzerland

Lake Fälensee and Berggasthaus Bollenwees, Alpstein, Switzerland

Bollenwees is a mountain guesthouse and restaurant located at the dreamy lake Fählensee in the Alpstein mountains of Switzerland.

We recommend beginning this culinary hike at the Hoher Kasten cableway mountain station. The Hoher Kasten summit affords sweeping views of the Rhine Valley, Appenzellerland, Lake Constance, Liechtenstein, and the Vorarlberg region of Austria.

The trail follows the rolling eastern ridge of the Alpstein. Along the way, you’ll have bird’s-eye views of Lake Sämtisersee, Lake Fählensee, and the iconic Kreuzberge mountain chain.

When you reach Fählensee, reward yourself with a much-deserved Rösti with Appenzeller Cheese at the Bollenwees Mountain Inn.

What to Eat | Appenzeller Cheese, Rösti (hash browns).

Learn More: Hoher Kasten – Saxer Lücke – Lake Fälsensee Hike

3. Tierser Alpl Mountain Hut, South Tyrol, Italian Dolomites

Tierser Alpl, Rosengarten Catinaccio Dolomites Hiking Trail

Rifugio Alpe di Tires (Tierser Alpl Schutzhaus in German) is a striking mountain hut, located in the Naturpark Schlern – Rosengarten in the Italian Dolomites.

Tierser Alpl specializes in Tyrolean cuisine with a Mediterranean influence.

There are several ways to hike to Rifugio Alpe di Tires. Starting at Compaccio (Compatsch) atop the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) plateau, you can hike to the hut via Rifugio Bolzano along this Rifugio Bolzano – Rifugio Alpe di Tires Circuit Trail, or over the Rosszähne (Denti di Terrarossa) saddle along this Compaccio – Rifugio Alpe di Tires hike.

Another option is to approach the hut from Val d’Ega (Eggental). Learn more in our 3-Day Rosengarten Trek.

You can hike here for lunch, or better yet, stay the night. Imagine eating a delicious three-course meal with wine after a three-hour hike.

What to Eat | Speckknödel (dumplings with bacon), Rindstafelspitz mit Röstkartoffeln (boiled beef in broth with roasted potatoes) and any of their homemade cakes.

Dolomites Travel Guides | Best Things to Do in the Dolomites and Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites

Where to Stay in the Dolomites | Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Summer and Best Hotels in the Dolomites

How to Get to the Dolomites | How to Get to the Dolomites and How to Visit the Dolomites Without a Car

Dolomites Travel Itineraries | 5 Day Dolomites Road Trip, 7 Day Dolomites Road Trip, and 10-14 Day Dolomites Road Trip

Dolomites Hiking Guides | Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

4. Büllelejochhütte, Sexten Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

Büllelejochhütte (Rifugio Pian di Cengia), Trekking Tre Cime di Lavaredo - Hut to Hut

Büllelejochhütte (Rifugio Pian di Cengia) is a charming mountain hut that dishes up some mind-blowing food in Tre Cime Natural Park (Drei Zinnen) in the Sexten Dolomites.

To reach this spectacular hut, take trail no. 101 from the famous Dreizinnenhütte. The mountain hut Dreizinnenhütte faces the north side of the iconic three peaks – Tre Cime di Lavaredo – and also offers hearty South Tyrolean cuisine.

The trail to Büllelejochhütte begins with stunning views of the two Bödenseen lakes (Lago di Piani) and traverses a treeless rocky landscape beneath the mountain Paternkofel.

Büllelejochhütte serves a three-course dinner for overnight guests. The quality and presentation of the meals exceeded our expectations. Seated in a cozy wooden dining space, dinner is served at a specific time, where all hut guests eat together. Amazing experience!!

What to Eat | Schlutzkrapfen (ravioli) and Knödel (dumplings)

Learn More: Tre Cime di Lavaredo 3 Day Trek

5. Ahr Valley Red Wine Trail, Germany

Ahr Valley village surrounded by vineyards

The Ahr Valley (Ahrtal in German) is a region in Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia that surrounds the narrow River Ahr. It’s also Germany’s largest red wine-growing region.

The best way to experience the Ahrtal is by drinking wine, and even better, by hiking the Red Wine Trail (Rotweinwanderweg) while drinking wine.

We recommend starting the hike in Altenahr and ending in Dernau. While the region is famous for its reds, the Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir white wines were the ones that impressed us the most.

What to Drink | Spätburgunder (pinot noir), Dornfelder, Frühburgunder, Portugieser, Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir

Where to Drink Wine | Weingut O. Schell, Hofgarten Weingut Meyer Näkel, Weingut Kloster Marienthal

More Hikes in Germany | Partnach Gorge Hike, Kreuzeck to Höllentalklamm Gorge Hike, and Hochplatte Hike, Ammergau Alps

Learn More: Ahr Valley Travel Guide

6. Schladminger Tauern High Trail, Styria, Austria

Preintalerhütte Lunch, Schladming, Austria

The Schladminger Tauern High Trail (Schladminger Tauern Höhenweg in German) is an epic multi-day hike in the Austrian Alps.

The trail runs along the summits and ridges of the Schladminger Tauern mountains and drops into idyllic valleys and alpine cirques along the way.

As you hike from hut-to-hut in this beautiful region of Styria, you’ll always have a delicious meal at the end of the day.

Culinary highlights of this hut-to-hut hike included the Kaiserschmarrn at Keinprechtshütte and the Schweinsbraten at Preintalerhütte.

Where to Eat | Ignaz-Mattis Hütte, Keinprechtshütte (phenomenal), Landwirseehütte, Preintalerhütte

What to Eat | Käsespätzle, Bauernpfandl, Schweinsbraten mit Kraut und Knödel, Goulash

What to Drink | Fresh Buttermilk and Schladminger Beer

7. Hochschwab Summit – Schiestlhaus Hut, Hochschwab Group

Schiestlhaus mountain hut interior in the Hochschwab mountains — Schiestlhaus

Hochschwab mountain is the highest point in the Hochschwab mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps of Austria. The dome-shaped mountain is a fantastic hiking destination for those seeking beautiful mountain scenery, wildlife viewings of ibex and chamois, and delicious food.

You can hike to the summit and overnight in the modern mountain refuge, Schiestlhaus, which is located directly below the summit.

The hut’s bright and cheerful interior offers a lovely place to dine. Most mountain huts in Austria only offer traditional food, but Schiestlhaus serves up the traditional fair alongside more fusion-styles.

What to Eat | Griesschmarrn, Käsespätzle, sweet potato curry

Learn More: Hochschwab – Schiestlhaus Hike