Each offers a unique way to connect with the surrounding landscape – from cosy forest cabins to modern eco‑lodges.

Here, you can escape city life and rediscover the beauty of untouched wilderness, where every season reveals its own charm.

In the Mountains

1. Rifugio Val di Togno, Italy — from €349

A remote hideaway at 1,317 metres, reached by a mountain road or a two-hour hike. Vegetarian meals, breakfast and snacks are included.

2. Lermooser, Austria — from €124

A former 1910 railway station beneath the Zugspitze, transformed into an eight-room design B&B. Hiking routes start almost at the door.

3. Røisheim, Norway — from €285

A historic mountain hotel near Jotunheimen National Park, operating since 1858. Lakes, glaciers and hiking routes towards Galdhøpiggen are nearby.

4. Karls Mittenwald, Germany — from €170

Eleven stylish apartments in a former bakery. Lautersee and Karwendel Nature Park make this a convenient base for hiking, cycling and swimming.

5. Gerhardhof, Austria — from €45

An environmentally focused campsite on the Mieming Plateau with solar energy, water recycling and a naturally filtered swimming pond.

6. 1477 Reichhalter, Italy — from €199

A 500-year-old building in Lana converted into an intimate eight-room hotel, combining historic architecture with contemporary interiors.

7. Briol, Italy — from €299

A peaceful Bauhaus-style mountain retreat above the Eisack Valley. There are few digital distractions, while trails begin directly outside.

By the Lake

8. Stugbaat, Sweden — from €273

Five floating cabins on Lake Lelång, each with a small motorboat and paddleboard. Guests can move their cabin to quieter parts of the lake.

9. Naturbyn, Sweden — from €187

Seven off-grid cabins beside Lake Eldan with wood-burning stoves, no Wi-Fi and no electricity. Canoes and a lakeside sauna are available.

10. Ny Hattenæs, Denmark — from €240

A restored hotel on Brassø Lake near Silkeborg, with 14 rooms and easy access to swimming, paddleboarding and canoeing.

11. Blyb, Germany — from €131

A modern retreat close to Tegernsee, combining a historic villa with contemporary interiors, cultural events and easy access to the lake.

12. Lodge am See, Germany — from €148

Seventeen compact cabins inside the Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve, surrounded by wetlands, cycling routes and wildlife.

13. Sahanlahti Resort, Finland — from €109

Traditional and modern cabins beside Lake Saimaa. Some include private saunas and terraces overlooking the water.

14. Seebichl, Austria — from €199

An Alpine hotel above Schwarzsee near Kitzbühel, well placed for lake swimming, hiking and summer mountain trips.

In the Forest

15. Forest Camping Mozirje, Slovenia — pitches from €18

A relaxed campsite beside the Savinja River. Wooden Forest Beds start from around €98, with rafting and hiking nearby.

16. Artbau Designhotel, Germany — from €135

A striking modern hotel in the Black Forest, combining concrete and steel interiors with balconies overlooking the trees.

17. Ziedlejas, Latvia — from €129

Glass cabins in pine woodland near Gauja National Park, centred around traditional sauna experiences and a natural swimming pond.

18. Huttopia Bozel en Vanoise, France — pitches from €23

A family-friendly campsite beside the Doron de Bozel river near Vanoise National Park. Equipped wood-and-canvas accommodation starts at around €171.

19. Inforest, Sweden — from €182

Four solar-powered tiny houses hidden among pine, spruce and birch trees. Lake Vättern and the wooden town of Hjo are nearby.

20. Trakt Forest Hotel, Sweden — from €216

Modern suites raised among the trees of a family farm in Småland, with local food, hiking routes and a woodland sauna.

A Different Kind of European Escape

These stays are less about ticking off attractions and more about slowing down. Some put you beside a lake, others high in the mountains or deep among the trees, but all offer the same thing: space, quiet and a stronger connection with the landscape.