European long-distance path
E1 European long-distance path
E1
The north–south European long-distance path, from Nordkapp in Norway through Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland to Capo Passero in Sicily.
At a glance
- Starts in
- Nordkapp
- Ends in
- Capo Passero
- Length
- 7,114 km
- On foot
- ≈ 285–356 days
- Countries
- Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy
- Best months
- June–September
About the trail
The E1 strings together national and regional trails under one waymark, so in practice the walker follows Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, German, Swiss and Italian paths in turn, each with its own signs and guidebooks. Its southern end was extended through Italy to Sicily in the 2010s, and parts of the Italian section are still being signed.
The route starts on the open tundra of the North Cape, runs through the forests and lakes of Scandinavia and the farmland of Denmark, then crosses Germany from the Baltic to Lake Constance. South of the Alps it follows the Apennines down the length of Italy.
At over 7,000 km almost nobody walks it in one go. It is a project done in sections over years, and the right season changes from the short Arctic summer in the north to spring and autumn in the Mediterranean south.
No source gives the days on foot, so they are worked out from the length at 20–25 km a day.