10 Best National Parks In Europe For Photography

Europe / By /
LAST UPDATED ON: February 15, 2023
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The continent is packed full of stunning landscapes, so here are 10 of the best national parks in Europe for photography

Whittling down this list to only 10 wasn’t an easy task. There are so many stunning national parks to choose from, but we got there in the end. We’ve picked 10 diverse and unique national parks, some you may not have heard of before and some you might not have realised were officially protected areas.

Let the countdown begin…

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park
Credit: Shawn Appel

Plitvice National Park in Croatia is one of the greenest and lushes parks you’ll find in Europe. It’s famous for its 16 lakes found at different levels that are interconnected by gushing waterfalls. Another one of the best national parks in Europe (that is similar to Plitvice and also found in Croatia, which is why it didn’t get its own spot on this list) is Krka. Both Croatian parks are well worth a visit.

Triglav, Slovenia

Triglav National Park
Credit: Oleg Brovko

Triglav is one for all the serious hikers out there. Its mountainous terrain makes it a hiker’s heaven and the surroundings make it the perfect location for landscape photography.

Écrins, France

Écrins National Park
Credit: Thierry

Écrins National Park has always been popular, so much so that artefacts have been uncovered here dating back as far as the bronze age. There are over 100 mountain peaks over 3000 meters in height, so make sure to pack a telephoto lens!

Göreme, Turkey

Göreme National Park
Credit: Darren Lee

You’ve probably seen plenty of photos of Göreme in the past. But it’s not necessarily the landscape that it’s famous for. The spectacle of seeing hundreds of hot air balloons is often what photographers flock to this national park to photograph.

Snæfellsjökull, Iceland

Snæfellsjökull National Park
Credit: Finnur Malmquist

Snæfellsjökull isn’t one of the more well known national parks in Iceland which is what makes it so special. It’s just as beautiful as the rest of the country and is the only national park in Iceland that runs all the way to the sea.

Lake District National Park, United Kingdom

Lake District
Credit: Herrcut

When talking about European national parks and photography, the Lake District was always going to make the list. It’s extremely popular with landscape photographers who like to hike and wild camp. It offers complete calm and an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Słowiński National Park, Poland

Słowiński National Park
Credit: Bartek Wa

Słowiński is different from the other parks on this list as it’s mainly made up of undulating sand dunes. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. The minimal surroundings force you to get creative and look closer at a more intimate landscape since the grand vistas just don’t exist.

Forlandet, Norway

Walrus

Forlandet is a park found on an island in Norway. If you’re a keen wildlife photographer then this might be the best national park in Europe for you. The island the park sits on is a hotspot for walruses.

Timanfaya National Park, Spain

Timanfaya National Park
Credit: Blinking Idiot

Timanfaya is found in the southwestern part of the Spanish island of Lanzarote. The rocky red martian-like landscape makes you feel as though you have set foot on another planet.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre
Credit: Marc Zimmer

And finally we get to number one… Yes, believe it or not, this is a national park. It became Italy’s first official national park in 1999. Cinque Terre is made up of five coastal towns perched atop cliffs in the northwestern part of Italy and is also listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.