Driving between fjords and waterfalls along the Troll Road in Norway, driving up the Atlantic coast of Portugal between lighthouses and cliffs or slowing the pace between renowned seaside villages on the Côte d'Azur.
Road trips to discover the wonders of Europe are life experiences that remain etched in the mind and heart. Here are 10 ideas for a road trip by car (or camper van) in Europe. All you have to do is choose your departure date and company. We've taken care of the itinerary.
10 road trips to do in Europe
Amalfi Coast
Autobahn
Ring of Kerry
Les Corniches
The Troll Road
From the Algarve to Porto
Transfagarasan Road
Grand Tour of Switzerland
From Barcelona to Cadaqués
Road trip in Slovenia
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is an enchantment of nature, art and beauty recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Suspended like a terrace between the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the blue sky, the coast has inspired quite a few painters who have tried to capture the great beauty of this landscape. Nicknamed the Divine Coast, it has become a favourite destination for the world's jet set especially since the Second World War. The coast is also the land of orange blossoms and lemons, where the Mediterranean scrub slopes down to the sea among picturesque villages and ancient villas. The Amalfi Coast is traversed by State Road 163, considered one of the most beautiful scenic roads in Italy. It is about 40 km long and winds along the Gulf of Salerno, passing through 14 villages, one more beautiful than the other: Amalfi, Atrani, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Scala, Tramonti, Vietri sul Mare and Agerola. Driving along the legendary 163 you will see golden domes, colourful majolica tiles, pastel-coloured houses, villas with lush gardens and lemon trees.
The Amalfi Coast is the perfect destination for an on-the-road trip, ideally to be taken in spring to avoid the crowds of tourists in summer, but it is an enchantment in any season.
In Germany along the Autobahn
Germany boasts beautiful scenic roads such as TheFairytale Road, The Romantic Road and the German Alpine Road, but if you have time and want to get around all of Germany, simply get behind the wheel along the Autobahn. The Autobahn is Germany's 1,000-kilometre motorway system linking Cologne to Berlin, with stops in Düsseldorf, Muenster, Bremen, Hamburg and other beautiful German cities. The German motorway is a motorist's dream: the roads are in excellent condition, there are no speed limits in non-urban regions (although it is recommended not to exceed 130 km/h) and there are no toll stations (although it is necessary to buy a vignette, valid for one year or a shorter period). You could, therefore, arrive in Germany by plane, rent a car at the airport and thus set off to discover the wonders of Germany.
Ring of Kerry, Ireland
The Ring of Kerry is a 200-kilometre loop through the typical Irish landscape: green moors, white sandy bays and endless ocean views. There are no famous tourist destinations to visit, it is the Irish atmosphere and natural scenery that make this route, which winds its way around the Iveragh Peninsula in the south-west of Ireland, so wonderful. It starts in the town of Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair. Continue on to Glenbeigh, an authentic bog town, and then on to Rossbehy Strand, a 5km long dune from which you can see the Dingle Peninsula.
You reach the village of Cahersiveen and Leacanabuile, the Bronze Age fortress. Back on the main road, take the diversions to Portmagee, from where there are two possibilities: to reach Valentia Island for views of Beginish Island, Cahersiveen and the tip of Duulus Head, or to reach the Skellig Islands, a nature paradise and home to monks. Continue along the Skellig Ring, and once past the seaside town of Waterville, if you have time, climb up to Coomakista Pass to take in the grasslands and moors of Kerry. Continue on to Sneem along the main road that runs up or away from the coast. Finally, head down to Derrynane House, nestled in a walker's paradise.
Les Corniches, France
From Nice to Menton via winding and breathtaking roads. Les Corniches are a set of three scenic routes that wind along the Côte d'Azur, ideal for a road trip between sea, wilderness and the renowned villages of the French Riviera. The Cornice Inférieure is a road created around 1860 that runs along the coast of Provence between villas and villages overlooking the sea. It is worth stopping at Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Villa Grecque Kérylos and Cap d'Ail. The Moyenne Corniche, on the other hand, is a scenic road carved into the rock of the mountain that offers wonderful views of the sea. Don't miss a stop at Èze. The Grande Corniche, finally, is the most scenic of the three roads, which Alfred Hitchcock chose as the location for the film Catch a Thief, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, who later lost her life in a car accident between these curves. Treat yourself to a stop in La Turbie and Roquebrune. If, on the other hand, you head in the opposite direction, i.e. west from Nice, you will reach Antibes and the legendary Cannes.
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The Troll Road, Norway
The Troll Road is a beautiful 106-kilometre route through western Norway, offering breathtaking views of vertiginous waterfalls, steep mountains, deep fjords and fertile valleys. Since its opening in 1936, the Trollstigen has attracted tourists from all over the world.
With hairpin bends and spectacular views, the Trollstigen Road connects Langevatnet to Åndalsnes, passing through the Geirangerfjord, the world's most famous fjord and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can admire the view from Flydalsjuvet and from Ørnesvingen, or Eagle Road, make a stop at Gudbrandsjuvet, a bridge over a rocky gorge. The undoubtedly most exciting section is the 11 narrow hairpin bends that wind through the high mountains of Kongen (the King), Dronningen (the Queen) and Bispen (the Bishop), the names foretelling their majesty. The route ends at the village Åndalsnes, nestled in one of Norway's most fascinating settings, along the shores of Romsdalsfjorden and a short distance from Isfjorden. The village is one of the docking ports for Norwegian fjord cruises. The Troll Road is open from May to October.
From the Algarve to Porto, Portugal
From theAlgarve to Porto along Portugal's Atlantic coast to discover surfers' paradises, medieval villages and towns with decadent charm. Start in Tavira, a town on the eastern side of the Algarve, on the banks of the Gilão River, close to the Spanish border. Continue on to Faro and then Albufeira, once a fishing village, now a seaside resort with a lively nightlife, then on to Lagos. Both are renowned surfing haunts. Continuing on, you arrive at charming Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente, where majestic cliffs lashed by winds and waves create a spectacular landscape. The lighthouse at the south-western tip of Portugal towers over cliffs of incredible colours inhabited only by seabirds. You then enter the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano, passing through the village of Carrapateira, the beautiful beach of Bordeira and the small village of Arab origin, Aljezur, to the beach of Arrifana, a stretch of sand in a beautiful inlet ideal for surfing.
Continuing up the coast you arrive at Odeceixe, with its white-painted houses, Zambujeira Do Mar, a small fishing village with wonderful beaches, and Vila Nova de Milfontes. So drive to Lisbon and take your time to discover the Atlantic light of this melancholic, poignant and decadent city amidst miradors, yellow vintage trams and uphill streets. You can continue your journey to Cascais, a pretty seaside resort just thirty minutes from the capital, and then on to Sintra where the Palacio Nacional with its fairy-tale atmosphere is worth seeing. Then it's back on the road to enchanting Porto, where you can taste the famous liqueur wine as you've never had it before.
Transfagarasan Road, Romania
Considered one of the most beautiful roads in Europe, the Transfagarasan is a road with breathtaking views that crosses the Fagarasan mountain range in Transylvania. Built between 1970 and 1974 at the behest of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu to allow Romanian troops to cross the Carpathians quickly in the event of a Soviet invasion, the road connects the regions of Transylvania and Muntenia and is still called Ceauşescu's folly. The 152-kilometre-long road starts in the town of Bascov, near Pitesti, passes through Curtea de Arges and winds its way through Romania's highest mountains, offering breathtaking views. To the north, the landscape is arid, while to the south, green valleys follow one another. It passes through nature reserves until it reaches the glacial lake Balea and ends near the town of Cartisoara. There are many tunnels and viaducts on this winding road. The Transfagarasan is only open four months of the year, the summer months, due to weather conditions.
An epic driving experience that takes about two to three days to complete.
Grand Tour of Switzerland
Alpine passes, mountain lakes and majestic hairpin bends, but also luxury hotels and starred restaurants. Switzerland offers beautiful scenic roads for an on-the-road journey through the wonders of the country. The most complete itinerary has 1,600 kilometres, 22 lakes, five Alpine passes above 2,000 metres and 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Grand Tour of Switzerland brings together the best of the country on three routes of varying lengths. If you have about ten days, we recommend the most comprehensive tour. Leave Zurich in the direction of the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest, and the picturesque town of Stein am Rhein to St. Gallen. Set off in the direction of Davos, home of the World Economic Forum in the canton of Graubünden. Drive through the Engadin to Lugano, the Swiss city of palm trees on the lake of the same name. Continue on to Ascona, along the shores of Lake Maggiore, and then set off for the Furka Pass, a spectacular route that takes you through breathtaking hairpin bends to marvels such as the Matterhorn and Rhone glacier. So treat yourself to a well-deserved stop in Zermatt. Through Täsch on the Rhone and Canton Valais, you will then arrive in Montreux, then through the Lavaux vineyards and Lausanne to Geneva. Fribourg, the city of bridges and the Gruyère district can then be visited on the way to Gstaad. Don't miss the picturesque town of Neuchâtel, Lake Biel, St Peter's Island, the Maison Cailler chocolate factory, the vantage point Le Moléson and Lake Lauenen. Through Interlaken, Bern, the Emmental and Entlebuch, the route takes you to Lake Lucerne and Lucerne, and finally back to Zurich.
From Barcelona to Cadaqués, Spain
If you have already touredAndalusia and are looking for new places to see in Spain, the Costa Bravacan be a great alternative. Starting from Barcelona, point the car northwards.
If you land at Girona airport, don't miss a tour of the historical centre of the last Catalan province before the French border. So drive past Lloret de Mar and that part of the Costa Brava taken over by mass tourism and on to interesting villages such as Palafrugell, Pals and Begur, perfect for a stop-off. Then reach Púbol to see the Gala Dali Castle, built in the 11th century and purchased in 1968 by Salvador Dali as a gift for his wife Gala. Continue on to Figueres, Dali's hometown where you can visit the Dali Theatre-Museum that will immerse you in the surrealist world of the Catalan genius. Return to the coast to take a swim in the beautiful bay of Roses and then reach Cadaqués, a charming fishing village with whitewashed houses and a magical atmosphere that captivated Dali, but also many other artists such as Picasso, Garcia Lorca, Miró and Paul Eluard. Reach nearby Port Lligat, a small village in the municipality of Cadaqués, where Dali built a wonderful house on the beach where he lived for 50 years, until 1982, the year of his death. Dali's house museum will remain in your heart.
Road trip to Slovenia, the Green Country
Slovenia is the Green Country of forests, nature reserves, silent valleys, mountain peaks, crystal-clear lakes and unspoilt coastline to explore on an unusual road trip. If you want to discover the best of this country straddling Western and Eastern Europe, set off from Ljubljana for Lake Bled, where you can wander the paths around the lake. Head south if you want to see the Postojna caves and the mysterious Predjama Castle, set in a 123-metre high rock face.
It is one of the most fascinating castles in the world, seemingly straight out of a Gothic fairy tale. Or from Lake Bled head to Lake Bohinj, where you can kayak through its cold waters. A few kilometres from the lakes you will find the Triglav National Park where you will see one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slovenia, Slap Savica. It is a 60-metre high waterfall in the middle of the forest. In the Triglav National Park, don't miss the Tolmin gorges, very deep gorges crossed by the clear waters of the Tolminka river, or the Vintgar gorge where you can walk on a system of wooden footbridges that follow the path of the Radovna river between high vertical rock walls to the Sum waterfall. Trekking enthusiasts can then head to the source of the Soča river (Soca in Slovenian): a rather challenging route will lead you to the spring cave, a sort of small natural pool with turquoise-coloured water. Finally, if you want to gain altitude, head north to Kranjska Gora, a town located between the Julian Alps and the Karawanken, a well-known ski resort where you can go trekking in summer. Kranjska Gora is also the starting point for a closer look at the Martuljek mountains and for reaching the summit of the Vrsic Pass, which is about 1,600 metres high.
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