Europe is packed with majestic mountains where you can gaze out across broad valleys and vibrant cities, and you don't always have to take a strenuous hike to the top to make the most of the views. Relaxing lake and mountain holidays allow you to enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery without the tough climb.
Whether you're thinking of visiting the countryside or city in the likes of Austria, Switzerland and Scotland, there are plenty of hills and mountains where you can leave your walking boots in your hotel room and take in the romance of a destination at a leisurely pace.
To show you how you can take in the best mountain holidays Europe has to offer without getting seriously active, we’ve rounded up five magnificent peaks you can reach without the hike.
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Mount Rigi, Switzerland
Rising above glittering Lake Lucerne, Mount Rigi offers some of the best alpine views in Switzerland. While mountain walkers love it here, a more relaxed way of getting to the top is by using the traditional cogwheel railway, which will lift you gently up its steep sides.
At the summit, you can look out over the turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne surrounded by Alpine meadows and the medieval city of Lucerne, with its distinctive timber-clad buildings and fortifications. Like the sound of this? Visit Lake Lucerne and Mount Rigi with Good Housekeeping. FIND OUT MORE
Mount Snowdon, Wales
The summit of Mount Snowdon is more than 3,500 feet above sea level and offers panoramic vistas of the rugged beauty of Snowdonia National Park – recently voted the best view in Britain.
Since 1896, visitors have been taking the Snowdon Mountain Railway to get there, which sets off from the pretty village of Llanberis and chugs up the mountainside using a traditional diesel or heritage steam engine. There are also a number of gorgeous lakes in the area, including Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn. Reach the top of Mount Snowdon on a Welsh rail holiday with our sister site Prima. FIND OUT MORE
Cairn Gorm, Scotland
Britain’s sixth highest mountain, in the Scottish Highlands, is one of the few places in the UK where you can ski. Visitors to the resort take to its summit on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, a modern funicular which has the distinction of being the UK's highest railway.
Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of an ancient glacial landscape that’s a gorgeous green during the summer months and snow white in winter. The views here are simply breathtaking, with tranquil lochs nestled between craggy peaks. Experience Cairn Gorm from a holiday cottage with Sykes. Alternatively, take in the Scottish Highlands by steam on Country Living's dream railway holiday. FIND OUT MORE
Schlossberg, Austria
For something within a city, Schlossberg, in Graz, is a hill that used to have a castle at the top, but was later transformed into a picturesque park with a traditional clocktower.
Take the funicular railway up Schlossberg to enjoy views over the red-tiled roofs during a trip to Graz. Romantic Renaissance architecture and the medieval town square of Graz also await, and you can head to Lake Kumberg for a dip in the summer. Head to Graz with Lastminute.com for Austrian lakes and mountains holidays. Alternatively, Good Housekeeping's Austria rail tour takes in the most stunning mountain scenery. FIND OUT MORE
Mount Lycabettus, Greece
For sweeping views over Athens on a city break, you’ll want to get to the top of Mount Lycabettus in the centre. To do that without walking up hundreds of steps, just hop on board the Mount Lycabettus funicular.
Your short journey is through a tunnel so there isn’t much to see on the way up, but when you reach the top you’ll see the city stretched out at your feet. Enjoy amazing views of the Acropolis during your trip to Athens, with a stay at Divani Acropolis, from £153 per night. FIND OUT MORE
The clever travel essentials you never knew you wanted
LAY-N-GO Cosmo make-up bag
Selfridges
£29
Lay out all of your make-up in one place and quickly pack it up again with the ultimate cosmetic bag for travellers. There’s even a pocket to store your jewellery.
Take control of the sound in your holiday environment with this USB-charged machine that masks noise which can disturb sleep or concentration through its sound options, including bright white noise, deep white noise or gentle surf.
Ideal for sleeping in dry hotel rooms, this portable dehumidifier secures over a water bottle to add moisture to the air.
Not just trendy-looking cabin luggage, this smart case uses a lithium ion battery so you can charge your phone on the go. It's a great gift for the traveller in your life, too.
...And you can keep tabs on your bag with this intelligent little tile that you pop into the luggage tag and attach to you case before tracking it with your phone. It makes for a great travel gift, too.
Inflatable, foldable and lightweight, these blow-up hangers are ideal for packing in your suitcase, as you never know if there will be enough in your hotel wardrobe.
Comfortable to wear on the plane, in the car or in your hotel room when noise stops you from sleeping, these earplugs use sound reduction filters and feature personal volume control.
If you're not staying in a fancy hotel with a Nespresso coffee machine in your room or just want to enjoy your favourite brew whenever and wherever you are on holiday, this portable espresso machine will come in handy.
Washing your clothes on holiday is now quick and easy with this portable washing machine. Just add your clothes, water and a drop of washing liquid, seal tight and rub for a few minutes on the internal, flexible washboard before rinsing.
The ultimate baggage compressor, this little device sucks up all the extra space in your luggage within minutes by easily compressing your clothes in a vacuum bag so you can buy more and pack more.
Designed by a former flight attendant who watched endless passengers struggle to sleep on flights, this travel pillow with a three-way support system helps keep your head, neck and chin completely supported while you snooze.
Keep your valuables close with this silk pouch you simply snap over your bra strap. The small pocket is great for stashing your money and credit cards.
This easy-to-use steamer is a the perfect alternative to carrying a travel iron. It's harmless to even delicate fabrics and will remove creases and unfresh odours.
Just what you need for packing light on a beach holiday, this lightweight and water-resistant blanket can be used for picnics too and features weights at each corner to stop it being blown away.
For when the in-flight pillow just won’t do, this mulberry silk pillow with a matching sleep mask was created to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness and durability
Want to be a more organised packer? These nifty cubes help you pack your clothes neatly while providing compression so you can fit more into your case. Genius!
A great gift for the business traveller who has everything, this hard case will protect a shirt from creasing and is lightweight and compact enough to pack in a laptop bag or backpack.
