Via Alpina

Via Alpina is a network of long-distance hiking trails across the Alps, spanning eight Alpine countries: France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia.

The network is organized into five color-coded trails. The red route is the best-known option and serves as the main backbone of the system.

The red route runs 161 stages across all eight countries, linking Trieste, Italy, to Monaco, and it crosses national borders 44 times.

Your route planning should account for major seasonal differences across high passes: the core hiking season runs from June to September, when paths are typically clear of heavy snow.

The overall trail network climbs and descends from sea level up to high-altitude passes, with a maximum elevation reported at 3,019 m on the Niederjoch pass on the Italo-Austrian border.

On the ground, hikers use a mix of huts, mountain shelters, and village accommodation; the intent is to make it feasible to cover long distances without carrying full camping gear.

Because Via Alpina is a multi-country system designed for long-distance trekking, the practical approach is to select the specific color route and then break it into stages you can complete at your pace.

More information: Official website, Booking, Wikipedia