Top 10 Highest Mountains in Europe

The undisputed king. Technically, Elbrus isn't a mountain but a volcano with two summits (the western one is slightly higher than the eastern one). National Geographic calls it one of the “Seven Summits”, the highest peaks on each continent.

What's special is that a cable car takes you up to 3,800 meters, making the summit reachable for relative beginners. But make no mistake: the weather here can turn deadly fast.

The name means “Jagged Mountain” in the local dialect, and when you see it, you understand why. It is a terrifying pyramid of steep rock and ice. Where Elbrus is a friendly giant, Dykh-Tau is a killer. It is rarely climbed because of its extreme technical difficulty and constant avalanches.

This is the highest mountain in Georgia. Shkhara is the highest point of the so-called “Bezengi Wall”, a 12-kilometer wall of ice and rock. Climbers regard scaling this wall as one of the toughest challenges in Europe, comparable to the Himalayas.

Close to Dykh-Tau lies this “Tent Mountain”. From a distance it looks like a perfect white tent. Climbers on SummitPost warn that it is one of the most treacherous mountains in the Caucasus. There are no easy routes to the top; you need to be an experienced ice climber to even stand a chance.

Also called Jangi-Tau. This mountain is important to the local population; the name means “New Mountain”. Like Shkhara, it is part of the huge massive wall that forms the border between Russia and Georgia. Its flanks hold glaciers that shift kilometers in some years.

After Elbrus, this is the most famous mountain in the region. Kazbek is an extinct volcano and is known in Georgia as the place where – according to legend – Prometheus was chained to the rocks for stealing fire from the gods. It is a beautiful freestanding mountain with an iconic old monastery (Gergeti) at its foot, which often graces the covers of travel guides.

Named after the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. This peak was ignored for a long time because it is 'hidden' between Dykh-Tau and Mizhirgi. Only in recent years has its exact height been established, putting it just above the 5,000-meter mark and earning it a spot in the top 10.

The name sounds ominous (“Women's Mountain”), and the legends about it vary. The mountain lies in the heart of the Bezengi area. Its upper part consists almost entirely of glacier ice, making it look like a perfect white sheet draped over the earth.

This mountain is named after Georgia's greatest poet (from the 12th century). It shows how important culture is in this region; mountains here are named not after generals but after writers. It is often mentioned in the same breath as Janga, as they are neighbors on the same ridge.

We close the list – and we're still above the height of Mont Blanc (4,808 m)! Tetnuldi is called the “Bride of Svaneti” because its summit is always white and spotless, like a veil. Georgia's tourist board now promotes this mountain as a new ski area, where you can ski at heights you can only dream of in the Alps.