Europe is full of surprises — including deserts! From dry valleys to sandy plains, this list covers 8 real deserts in Europe that are perfect for curious travellers. Whether you’re into nature, photography, or peaceful escapes, these spots are worth adding to your Europe tour packages. Discover where they are and why they’re so special.
When you think of Europe, what usually comes to mind? Beautiful cities, snowy mountains, green countryside, and cosy villages, right? But here is something most travellers don’t expect—deserts in Europe. Yes, real deserts with dry lands, dunes, and wide, open spaces. While Europe isn’t known for extreme heat like Africa or the Middle East, it still has a few unique deserts that surprise visitors with their strange beauty. If you plan your next adventure, some of these places might be worth adding to your Europe tour packages for a truly offbeat experience.
These deserts aren’t always sandy like the Sahara. Some are rocky, some are dry grasslands, and others feel more like dry moonscapes. But each one offers a completely different travel experience. Whether you love photography, quiet walks, or exploring rare landscapes, visiting these deserts in Europe could be something different for your travel bucket list.
Here are 8 fascinating deserts in Europe you can visit, along with their location and best visiting time.
The Tabernas Desert in southern Spain is Europe’s largest desert in Europe. It receives less than 250 mm of rainfall per year, which makes it the only true semi-arid desert in continental Europe. What makes Tabernas truly special is its resemblance to the landscapes of the American Southwest.
Many classic Spaghetti Westerns were filmed here in the 1960s and 70s, including famous titles like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Today, you can even visit old film sets that have been turned into mini theme parks with cowboy shows and saloons. The rock formations, dry riverbeds, and open plains make it perfect for walking trails, nature tours, or simply soaking in the wild silence.
The Błędów Desert might be one of the most unexpected places in Poland. Located in the Silesian region, this desert covers about 32 square kilometres and is often called “Poland’s Sahara.” It was created during the Ice Age, and human activities like deforestation later caused more sand to spread, giving it a desert-like appearance.
In the past, it was used for military exercises and even by the German army during World War II. Today, it’s a peaceful area where tourists can take walking trails through dunes, enjoy guided tours, and learn about its unique history. It’s a reminder that not all deserts in Europe are natural—some come with stories.
The Oltenian Desert, also called the Romanian Sahara, is one of Europe’s strangest deserts. It wasn’t always a desert—it formed over time because of overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change. What remains now is an 80-square-kilometre patch of sandy land in Dolj County.
It has very little vegetation and strong winds that blow the sand across nearby villages. Some locals have even built fences to stop the sand from covering roads. This desert is growing slowly every year, which raises concerns about desertification in Europe. For travellers, it offers a surreal, dry landscape and a glimpse of how nature can change when not cared for.
You won’t find dunes in Iceland, but the Highlands of Iceland are considered a kind of cold desert. These volcanic deserts are made up of black sand, ash, lava rocks, and almost no plant life. The weather is unpredictable, and strong winds blow across the barren land, giving it a very harsh, otherworldly look.
Because most of the highland roads are only open in summer, you can only visit during a short window each year. Driving through this area feels like being on another planet, with landscapes shaped by volcanoes and glaciers. It’s a must-see for adventurous travellers looking for something far from the usual stops in Europe.
The Deliblato Sands is one of the largest sandy areas in Europe, often nicknamed the “European Sahara.” Unlike other deserts in Europe, this one is made up of dunes, steppe-like grasslands, and even forests. The area is also a special nature reserve, home to many rare species of birds, butterflies, and plants.
It stretches across about 300 square kilometers and offers excellent opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and nature photography. While it doesn’t feel as dry as the Tabernas or Błędów deserts, it still counts due to its sandy soil and semi-arid environment.
Tuscany is usually known for rolling green hills and vineyards, but the Accona Desert shows a completely different side of the region. This desert is also called the “Crete Senesi,” known for its white clay soil, deep gullies, and barren hills. It looks dry and cracked, especially in summer, giving it a desert-like vibe.
Even though there’s no sand, the dryness, erosion, and sparse vegetation make it feel like a true desert. The area is quiet, peaceful, and great for walking tours. You can also explore nearby monasteries, historic villages, and scenic roads that make the visit even more interesting.
The Las Bardenas Reales is a stunning semi-desert natural region located in Navarra, northern Spain. Covering over 42,000 hectares, this desert features clay, chalk, and sandstone landscapes shaped by centuries of wind and rain. You’ll see dramatic plateaus, dry canyons, and oddly shaped hills that look straight out of a sci-fi movie.
It’s not a desert by temperature, but by its dry, eroded look. Many parts of this desert were used as filming locations for shows like Game of Thrones. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive through it (by designated routes), and it’s also a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
If you’re looking to explore unique deserts in Europe, Las Bardenas Reales offers both raw beauty and easy accessibility, making it a great addition to any adventure.
The Monegros Desert is located between Zaragoza and Huesca in northeastern Spain. It’s a semi-arid region with dry plains, strange rock formations, and a warm climate. This desert gets around 350 mm of rainfall annually and is one of the hottest and driest places in Spain after Tabernas. It’s also considered one of the biggest deserts in Europe in terms of area and landscape variety.
It’s popular for hiking and photography due to its quiet beauty and dramatic landscapes. Every summer, it also hosts the Monegros Desert Festival, a huge electronic music event that brings people from around the world. So you can enjoy both nature and culture in one place.
A. Yes, there are! While Europe isn’t known for huge sand deserts like Africa or the Middle East, it does have several semi-arid and desert-like regions. Places like the Tabernas Desert in Spain, Błędów Desert in Poland, and Deliblato Sands in Serbia are all great examples. These are some of the biggest deserts in Europe, shaped by climate, soil, and wind over time.
A. Yes! Italy has a small desert-like area called the Accona Desert in the region of Tuscany. It’s not a traditional desert with dunes, but it has dry, chalky land and very little vegetation. It’s one of the more unique deserts in Europe, especially because it’s surrounded by scenic farmland and rolling hills.
A. The Tabernas Desert in Spain is widely known as the largest true desert in Europe. It’s located in the Almería province and is famous for its dry climate, rocky canyons, and even for being the filming location of many Hollywood westerns. It’s also one of the most visited deserts in Europe by travellers.
A. Yes, most of them are open to visitors and are great for hiking, photography, or even music festivals! Some deserts, like Las Bardenas Reales in Spain or Monegros, have marked trails and are protected areas. If you’re booking Europe tour packages, you can even include stops to explore these amazing dry landscapes.
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