Top 7 winter hikes in Europe: enjoying the winter sun and mountain climbing

In winter, tourists can get unforgettable impressions from the rest. The main thing is to choose the right place for traveling.

Here are the 7 best locations that will give unforgettable emotions. These are opportunities for a varied vacation for the whole family.

1. Camino de Santiago, Spain

The Way of Santiago is a 9th century network of pilgrimage routes through France, Spain and Portugal, culminating in the tomb of St. James the Great, Apostle of Jesus, in Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain.

The Camino attracts more than 200,000 walkers each year, and winter is a quiet time to stomp the frosty trails alone.

2. Dolomite Alps, Italy

This is an opportunity to venture off-piste on snowshoes to scenic destinations that come alive in winter with a variety of winter sports, hiking, and breathtaking mountain scenery among snow-capped peaks.

For those who want to ditch the skiing crowds and go exploring off-piste, donning a pair of snowshoes is the best way to appreciate panoramic views of the impressive mountain range.

3. Cairngorms, Scotland

Covered in winter snow, the Cairngorms mountain range in Scotland's eastern Highlands offers otherworldly snowscapes for hiking, snowshoeing and traversing with crampons and ice axes while climbing the frostiest pitches.

Although the harshest weather adorns the UK's largest national park from November to February, the frozen lakes and icy cliffs allow for unique encounters with golden eagles, Arctic hares and even festive herds of reindeer in an Arctic environment; it's worth dressing warmly and heading out in the temperamental Scottish weather.

4. The Alps, France

In winter mode, the French Alps are a picture of a frozen wonderland with ample opportunities for skiing, snowboarding and sledding to enjoy the fresh alpine air.

Those who don't ski need not worry about missing out: excellent snowshoeing opportunities in Chamonix lie at the foot of Mont Blanc , and hikers can still benefit from beautiful mountain villages, lively après-ski and fine dining in mountain huts and upmarket ski resort restaurants.

5. Madeira, Portugal

Madeira's varied volcanic terrain and stable year-round climate with average highs of 20°C in December make it a haven for tourists wishing to escape the winter chill and stroll along levada trails and dense mountain forests.

Routes, trails and footpaths run along the entire coastline of the Portuguese archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa - often through the splash zone of waterfalls. And the peaks of the central mountain ranges of Pico Ruivo and Pico Ariheiro rise to over 1,400 meters and can be reached by intrepid hikers.

6. Canary Islands, Spain

A great choice for hiking in the Canary Islands. You can still count on up to nine hours of sunshine a day on the subtropical island of La Gomera, one of the smallest and most pristine islands in the Spanish archipelago, even in winter.

Whether you're heading to the summit of Garajonay, the island's highest point at 1,487m, or traveling through juniper groves in Vallehermoso, hundreds of interesting routes through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Laurisilva Forest. And the rocky gorges ensure you'll never have to retrace your steps along the route.

7. Oulanka National Park, Finland

Winter travelers can blaze new trails among frozen pines, roaring rapids and frozen waterfalls as they hike through the idyllic snow-covered landscape of Oulanka National Park.

Suspension bridges, lookout towers and wilderness huts are scattered throughout the national park, providing great vantage points and much-needed campfire spots on trails such as the 50-mile Karhunkierros Hiking Trail, which stretches from Salla to Kuusamo.