Most people make the pilgrimage to Europe for its old-world charm, and elegant cities stuffed with ancient artifacts. But the continent is a haven for adrenaline junkies too, with wild and rugged landscapes ripe for extreme sports, and a hiker’s dream of postcard perfect mountains, hidden islands, forests and lakes.

Want to keep things wild day and night? Europe is home to some of the best gay scenes on the planet, with party capitals like Madrid, Milan and Zurich a haven for gay and lesbian travelers.

Traveling on a budget? Then don’t let a poor exchange rate and a strong euro ruin your holiday – there are hundreds of Gay hostels in the most active holiday destinations in Europe. Forget your college memories of grubby dorms shared with spaced-out backpackers, the humble hostel has had a slick makeover in recent years.

Many of the Gay hostels in major cities are right in the heart of gay nightlife, with super-chic interiors and great facilities to match. If you want to meet other gay travelers, the social aspect of a hostel is also a big draw, and a great way to find the best gay hotspots in a new destination.

So if you’re looking for an action-packed adventure, here’s a guide to the best Gay Destinations in Europe:

Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken is a chocolate-box town nestled at the bottom of the Swiss Alps. The breathtaking mountain and lakeside scenery, cute villages and spectacular winter and water sports have made Interlaken a popular destination for over 300 years.

A low-lying resort, Interlaken is cheaper than other Swiss destinations with dozens of Interlaken hostels available, and this has led to a young and lively scene by night, with backpackers and party animals packing out the bars and clubs.

Go skiing in the winter, and try hiking, cycling and watersports on the lakes of Thun and Brienz in the summer. Thrill-seekers can really test their nerves with bungee-jumping and skydiving. When you tire of Interlaken’s quaint charms, Zurich’s wild gay scene is the perfect antidote.

Mykonos, Greece

Forget Lesbos, Mykonos is renowned as the gayest island in Greece, with dozens of nudist beaches, hip hotels and chic bars and clubs. But the island is also blessed with the perfect climate for watersports – choppy seas guarantee great windsurfing, sailing, jet-skiing and water-skiing. Mykonos is also one of the few Greek islands where scuba diving is allowed, and the clear waters are great for snorkeling. For something a little offbeat, tee off on the sand with a round of beach golf.

Madrid, Spain

The Spanish capital has a great gay scene in the lively Chueca neighborhood. Once you’ve partied in the bars and clubs and dosed up on culture in the world-class museums and art galleries, Madrid is perfect base for exploring the great outdoors. The city’s popularity with stag and hen weekends has had one benefit – there are plenty of places to get stuck into some serious adventure sports.

North of Madrid, try downhill ski-ing down the Sierra de Guadarrama, or white-water rafting on the Lozoya and Jarana Rivers. The rugged landscape of Sierras in central Spain makes the region ideal for Quad-Biking, Pony trekking and Canyoning, and several championship golf course lie outside the city center.

The Tulip Trail in Holland

When spring is in full bloom (early April-late May), get on your bike and head to the Netherlands for the most scenic ride of your life. Holland’s flat-as-a-pancake landscape means the country is a cyclist’s dream, and with so many locals on bikes (85%), cycle lanes can be found on most major roads.

The ‘Tulip Trail’ is a picturesque drive south of Amsterdam, cycling through fields of blooms and windmills to the Flower Park Keukenhof, the quaint town of Leiden, and the world’s biggest flower auction in Aalsmeer, before heading back again. This rewarding cycle trail should be rounded off with a hedonistic few days in Amsterdam, regarded by many as the gay capital of Europe.

Not so bike friendly? Try hiking along the scenic trails earmarked along the 300km coast (known as LAWS), walk across mud flats to the Wadden Islands at low tide, or go canoeing in the marshlands of Hollandse Biesbosch National Park, south of Rotterdam.