Europe Road Trip

If you’re considering doing a road trip, I have 21 of the best trips you can do on the continent to choose from.

Europe is one of the best places for an epic road trip. There are so many great places to see such as the Alps, the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, and the beaches of southern Spain.

Whatever you want to do, you’ll be able to find a European road trip to suit your preferences. It doesn’t matter whether you have a week to do a Euro road trip for a month, you’ll find plenty of options below!

I’ve done some of the best road trips in Europe as well as travelling most of the continent by car, so I know how great travelling Europe by car is!

Keep scrolling to see the best European road trips you have to add to your bucket list!

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Europe Road Trip Planner

In 2019, two friends and I spent six months travelling around Europe by car. We did many of the road trips listed below and can testify to how amazing they are.

You can do any of the Europe road trips listed below in a car, campervan, or motorbike. They’re all amazing road trips that will take you to some of the best spots on the continent.

Isle of Skye Road Trip

The Isle of Skye is one of the nicest places in Scotland and to do it justice you need to do a road trip.

The good news is that Skye isn’t that big so you can see most of it in two or three days. The bad news is that it’s beautiful you’d prefer it was bigger so there was more to explore!

The main sights on Skye are the Old Man of Storr, which is an incredible rock formation. I visited during terrible weather and was unable to see it properly, unfortunately.

You can also visit the Fairy Pools, which are a series of creaks and pools that flow down from a nearby castle. A trip to Portree, the biggest town on the island is a must to experience the local culture.

One of my favourite parts of the Isle of Skye was Neist Point, which is where I am in the picture above. There’s a quaint lighthouse there and the views out into the Irish Sea are magnificent.

All of the above is what makes driving around Skye one of the best European road trips! I can’t recommend it enough.

Read More: Isle of Skye Road Trip

Sicily Road Trip

Sicily is one of the nicest parts of Italy with so many beautiful spots to visit.

That’s why doing a road trip on the island is a good idea, as it allows you to see all of them at your own leisure.

I recommend spending 3 days in Palermo before you start, as the city is one of the nicest in the whole of Italy. Then, head out in the car to see the rest of this amazing island.

Messina and Catania are two other cities you should check out, each with its own range of cultural and historical sights.

Some of the best places to visit in Sicily are the smaller historic towns such as Taormina and Agrigento. You will find Roman temples, ancient buildings and much more.

If you want to relax at the beach, there are plenty of them in Sicily and you’re spoilt for choice from Mondello Beach near Palermo to San Vito Lo Capo.

The wealth of places to see and things to do is what makes Sicily one of the best places for a road trip in Europe.

Read more: Sicily Road Trip

Northern Spain Road Trip

Northern Spain doesn’t get the credit it deserves most of the time.

I think it’s one of the most underrated parts of Spain and one that most travellers neglect. This is a shame because there’s a lot to see.

Starting in the Basque Country, you’ll visit two of the most interesting cities in Spain, Bilbao and San Sebastian. Bilbao has some fascinating cultural spots such as the Guggenheim Museum, while San Sebastian might be the most beautiful city in all of Spain.

From here, you head west along the coast through cities such as Santander, Gijon and Leon. You’ll also pass through the beautiful Picos de Europa National Park, which has some stunning scenery and some big mountains if you fancy a tough hike.

The road trip ends in Galicia, which is a fascinating part of the country. There’s a lot to see here in what I think is one of the most underrated parts of Spain.

You’ll find beautiful beaches, fascinating cities and some of the best food in the country in Galicia, in what is a great place to finish an underrated road trip!

Read More: Northern Spain Road Trip

Andalucia Road Trip

From the north of Spain to the south. This road takes you through the fascinating region of Andalucia which is arguably the best part of Spain.

The problem is that there are so many places to visit in Andalucia, it’s hard to know where to start and which ones to see. As there are that many, you can’t see them all unless you have at least two weeks.

I think the best place to start this road trip is in Malaga, as it’s in kind of a central location. This way you can loop around Andalucia and finish back where you started.

On the way, you’ll get to see the beautiful city of Sevilla, the stunning La Alhambra in Granada and the narrow streets of Cordoba.

Then, you can visit the beautiful town of Ronda with its towering bridges. The oldest inhabited city in Europe, Cadiz and the lesser-visited city of Huelva.

This is without mentioning many of the famous pueblos blancos (white villages) that are a feature of the Andalucian countryside.

You’ll need at least ten days for this amazing European road trip, so I’d advise booking two weeks off to ensure you can see as much as possible!

Read More: Andalucia Road Trip

North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is a Euro road trip in Scotland that will take your breath away.

It’s a 516-mile drive around the north of Scotland, which takes you to some of the most amazing places in the country.

The route starts and ends at Inverness Castle and sees you visit places such as Ullapool, the northernmost point of the UK, John O’Groats and Wick.

This part of Scotland is known as the Highlands and has some of the best scenery in the country. Think the Isle of Skye but in a much bigger area!

This is a road trip you’ll want to last forever, as it’s a beautiful drive. You can visit Sandwood Bay Beach to see some amazing rock formations, Bealach na Ba, one of the most beautiful and dangerous roads in the UK, as well as the beautiful Smoo Cave.

The North Coast 500 is one of the best road trips in the United Kingdom and one I can’t recommend enough!

Northern Italy Road Trip

There are so many places to visit in Northern Italy, a road trip is the best way to see everything.

It’s one of the most interesting parts of the country and has a wide range of things to do and some epic scenery such as the Dolomites.

You can also visit fascinating cities such as Bologna, Milan and Turin along the way. The best way to do this trip is to start in Turin and make your way across Northern Italy towards the end point near Venice or Rimini.

The problem with this road trip through Europe is that there are so many places to see, you won’t be able to see them all unless you have a lot of time.

Lake Como and Bergamo are must-visit near Milan, while you could also stop at Modena, Parma or Brescia before arriving in Bologna.

One thing to consider is that you can’t drive into Venice if you want to finish there. A good alternative is to finish in Rimini by the coast and maybe drive a bit further to San Marino!

The numerous routes and places to see on this trip make it one of the best you can do in Europe!

Romantic Road

The Romantic Road is one of the most underrated road trips in Europe.

It takes you through Southern Germany to many places you might not have heard of before and plenty of incredible castles and scenery.

The majority of this road trip is in Bavaria, which is one of the most beautiful parts of Germany. The great thing about this road trip is that you can do it in summer and winter.

You’ll get clear skies during the summer allowing you to hike up the highest point in Germany, Zugspitze if you wish. But if you. doit during winter you can visit the numerous Christmas markets in the region, which is an amazing experience.

Hohenzollern Castle, Schloss Lichtenstein and Neuschwanstein Castle are just a few of the beautiful castles on this route. While there’s also the Nymphenburg Palace the closer to Munich you get.

You can spend 3 days in Munich, or one if you’re in a rush to check out one. of the most interesting cities in Germany. There’s a lot to do here, and if you’re lucky enough to do the trip in autumn, you could check out the famous Oktoberfest beer festival.

The endpoint of the trip is Herrenchiemsee Palace, which is known as the ‘Bavarian Versaille’, which will become clear when you see it for the first time!

Mainland Greece Road Trip

Greece is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe and this road trip in Mainland Greece will allow you to see some of the best sights in the country.

I’d advise spending 3 days in Athens, which is where the trip starts before you embark. The city is incredible and has many fascinating places to see such as the Acropolis. Just spending a day there doesn’t do justice to one of the best cities in Europe.

After Athens, you drive north to Delphi, which is where the famous oracle of Greek mythology is said to have resided.

There are many more such sights, many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites, temples and monuments as you make your way up to Thessaloniki in the north.

One such place you have to visit along the way is Meteora, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the incredible rock formations, some of which have monasteries atop them!

Golden Circle Road Trip

The Golden Circle road trip is one of the best ways to see Iceland and the amazing sights that are in the land of ice and fire.

This is probably the easiest road trip on the list to follow as you jump onto Route 1, which is the ring road around Iceland and follow it.

Starting in Reykjavik, you’ll go past the waterfront and onto Thingvellir National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk along an area where two tectonic plates are moving apart, which is an amazing experience!

The next stop is the geysers at Haukadalur, which if you haven’t seen a geyser before is a must. The geysers erupt are regular intervals so you can wait in the knowledge that you won’t be there for hours waiting for them to erupt.

Other places you can visit on the Golden Circle include Gullfoss Waterfall, which is the most beautiful of the over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland, Blue Lagoon or the Reykjadalur Hit Spring Thermal River if you want to warm yourself in a hot thermal pool.

This is one of the most scenic European road trips, as you get to see one of the most fascinating and beautiful countries in Europe!

Wild Atlantic Way Road Trip

The Wild Atlantic Way is a huge road trip that takes you all the way down Ireland’s west coast from Donegal to Cork.

The route officially starts at Malin Head, which is the northernmost part of Ireland and ends at the Old Head of Kinsale at the bottom of Cork.

It’s a big drive and the good and bad thing is that there are plenty of places to see along the way. Good because it’s one of the nicest Europe road trips you can do. Bad because there’s just so much to see you’ll need a long time to see it all.

If I had to narrow down what you should see, the Cliffs of Moher would be near the top. This is one of the nicest places to visit in Ireland and the views are spectacular.

The Skelligs Viewpoint and the Dingle Peninsula are places you have to visit too, as they are both incredible and offer some amazing scenery.

Ideally, you’d want two weeks for this trip so you can see as much as possible. But if you have a week that will allow you to see a lot of Ireland’s West Coast without skipping too much.

Puglia Road Trip

Puglia isn’t the first part of Italy that most people think of, but it’s a beautiful part of the country that’s perfect for exploring by car.

You can do the trip in a loop, starting from Bari and driving towards the heel of Italy, and back around to Bari. You can start in Brindisi if you fly there instead and do the same loop.

There’s a lot to see and do here and you need a car to be able to see all of Puglia. One of the most interesting places to visit is Gallipoli, which was the site of a major battle in World War I.

You also have the UNESCO World Heritage Trulli Houses in Alberobello, which have to be seen to be believed.

While strictly not in Puglia, you should also visit Matera, which is a beautiful little city, with some of the amazing architecture and scenery in Italy.

Driving around Puglia is one of the best European road trips for the sheer number of places you can visit, the beautiful beaches and the amazing food you’ll discover along the way!

Western Fjords Road Trip

The Western Fjords road trip is perfect if you love being adventurous and outdoors.

On this trip, you’ll get to see three of the most famous hikes in Norway; Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten and Trolltunga. You’ll also get to visit some interesting cities too.

The trip starts in the city of Stavanger, which is worth exploring before you set off. It’s small but interesting with a lovely old town area.

After that, you’ll head off towards the Preikestolen hike, which is an incredible walk that takes you to the top of ‘Pulpit Rock’ and some of the most incredible views you’ll see anywhere.

I couldn’t believe how amazing it was until I got up there!

The next hike is Krejagbolten, where you’ll find a huge boulder wedged in between a crevasse at 1084 m above Lysefjorden. It’s a longer hike, but worth it for the views and the great photo opportunity!

The scenery in this part of Norway is spectacular and is what makes it one of the best Euro road trips. You can do the drive without doing the hikes, but by doing them you get to appreciate just how beautiful Norway is.

The final hike on the route is the 20km slog to Trolltunga. It’s a tough hike and you’ll need at least a day to complete it, but it’s one of the best places to visit in Norway, so I recommend doing it if you can!

Again, the views are stunning and will more than makes up for the length of the hike, even if it is mostly flat terrain.

This trip takes in part of Route 13 from its start in Stavanger to Odda, and is one of the eighteen official touring routes in the country. You’ll understand why after this trip!

The next stop is the small village of Flam, which is a picturesque place in Aurlandsfjord. You can go hiking, mountain biking and kayaking here if you want, so it’s an excellent place to stop for a day or two.

After that, you’ll drive on to the endpoint in Bergen, which is another beautiful city with much to do such as the fish market and hiking the hills behind the city.

Porto to Lisbon Road Trip

Driving between the two biggest cities in Portugal is an intriguing road trip that takes you to some of the nicest places in the country.

You can do this trip in just over three hours but that would be a waste. It’s better to take your time so that you can see all the amazing places along the way properly.

Spend 3 days in Porto to see this beautiful city before a visit to Portugal’s old capital, Coimbra is a must. It’s a beautiful city and the Moorish really adds to the feel of the city.

From here, Nazare is the next stop. It’s infamous as the home of some of the biggest waves in the world. While I didn’t see any big waves while I was there, there was a lot of surf. If you like surfing, it’s the perfect place to stop.

You can also relax at the tourist beach in the town, where conditions are a bit more sedate. Sintra is one of the well-known stops on this route with its royal palaces and pastel-coloured villas.

It makes for an interesting stop before you reach Lisbon. There’s so much to do in the city, such as visiting the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, checking out the monstrous bridge that spans the Douro River and much more.

You’ll need to spend at least 3 days in Lisbon to see everything!

If you have time, you can extend the trip further south into the Algarve and catch some sun at its world-famous beaches!

Swiss Alps Road Trip

This is a circular road trip that starts in Zurich and takes you west towards Bern, western Switzerland and back towards Zurich passing through the Alps on the way.

This Swiss Alps road trip is one of the most scenic in Europe and will take you around two weeks to complete.

Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, is the first stop. It’s a charming city that has medieval architecture and some spectacular views as it’s not far from the Alps, with the beautiful Lake Brienz nearby.

The route heads south after this towards Lausanne, and Geneva afterwards which is a fascinating city as you make your way into the French-speaking part of the country.

After this, you head towards Zermatt, where the views of the Alps become even more striking. Once you get to Zermatt, you’ll be able to see the iconic Matterhorn, one of the most recognisable mountains in the world!

It’s on towards Grindelwald and Lucerne after you’ve left Zermatt, and this is home to some of the most scenic parts of the trip, especially the Furka Pass.

Coastal Causeway Route

The Coastal Causeway Route is a drive that takes you around the top of Northern Ireland to some of the most interesting sights in the country.

The route goes from Carrickfergus in the east all the way around to Derry in the west. It’s a beautiful road trip with so many places to see that despite the short distance, you’ll probably need around two to three days to see everything.

The most famous part of the route is the Giant’s Causeway, which is slap bang in the middle. I’d always wanted to see the causeway so it was amazing to see it up close.

While it was busy, it was still a great experience, and if there’s one place you have to stop on the trip, it’s here.

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, there are multiple sites used in the series on this route such as The Dark Hedges. There’s also Cushendall Caves and Ballintoy Harbour among other places to see as well.

Once you get closer to Derry, you’ll find a few beaches you can stop at. Although, given the time of year you visit and the notorious weather in summer in this part of the world, going for a swim or relaxing at the beach, might not be an option.

One of the best things about the Coastal Causeway Route is that once the drive is finished, you have the chance to explore Derry, which is one of the most interesting cities in Northern Ireland.

The city has a wealth of history and has a troubled past, but it’s a fascinating destination and one you should explore for a few days after you’ve finished the trip.

Baltic States Road Trip

This is a fantastic Euro road trip that flies under the radar.

The Baltic states are an interesting part of Europe and travelling between the three is easy. You can either start the trip in Lithuania or Estonia and make your way up or down through the Baltic states.

Wherever you start the trip, you’ll find plenty to do. Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital is a beautiful city with amazing architecture and is a great place to explore.

You can then head up through the Lithuanian countryside, stopping off at some Soviet monuments along the way before reaching Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Riga is probably the most lively of the big cities in the Baltics and is worth staying at for a day or two to soak up the atmosphere. There’s a good vice here at night and the old town is beautiful to explore during the day.

After that, you’ll find many places to visit in Estonia once you cross the border. One place you have to check out is the Museum of Soviet Vehicles, which is in Järva-Jaani in central Estonia.

You’ll find a variety of rusting cars from the Soviet era in a field. It’s an interesting and surreal place to visit, especially when you’re in a modern car!

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is a beautiful medieval city with castles, museums detailing the time under Soviet rule and much more to see.

It’s only a short trip, but it packs a lot in and lets you see an underexplored part of Europe!

Dalmatian Coast

Croatia isn’t the first country that comes to mind when you think of European road trips but the country is home to some incredible scenery.

You can spend 3 days in Dubrovnik before you start the trip to explore this amazing city and all the sights. If you’ve watched Game of Thrones, you’ll be familiar with the city as it’s heavily featured in the series.

From here you head north toward the border with Bosnia. When I did this drive in 2019, you had to stop at the border crossing, to pass through the tiny strip of Bosnia that separates Dubrovnik from the rest of Croatia.

Thankfully, the Pelješac Bridge now means you can bypass the border altogether! Once you’ve crossed the bridge, it’s onward to Split, the second biggest city in Croatia.

One place you have to stop is at Baćina Lakes, which is a beauty spot, where you can go paddleboarding on the lakes.

Once you’re in Split, you can explore the city, which is fascinating and full of history. It’s home to Diocletian’s Palace and the views on the waterfront are spectacular.

You can spend a few days here if you want and get a ferry to the nearby Hvar, to explore it if you wish.

After that, you head up to the beachside city of Zadar, which is another beauty spot. Then, I recommend you head inland to Plitvice Lakes. This is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever visited and it’s well with the detour to get there.

The final two stops are the cities of Rijeka and Pula. You’ll find one of the most complete Roman Colosseums in the latter, which you have to visit, as well as many fascinating historical sights!

Loire Valley Road Trip

A trip around the Lore Valley is one of the most underrated road trips in Europe.

The Lore region is southwest of Paris, and the route follows the River Loire, which makes for a scenic drive.

The road trip starts in Orleans, the capital of the region and ends in Nantes. Along the way, you’ll see many medieval towns, Renaissance architecture and some of the most amazing chateaux in France.

Some of the chateaux on the trip include Chateau de Chambord and Chateau de Villandry, both of which are stunning and must-stops along the way.

You can also learn about the history of Joan of Arc in Orleans and much more as you embark on this magical French road trip.

North West of England Road Trip

I’m biased with this road trip in Europe as this is the part of the world where I’m from.

However, there’s a lot to see and do here, so it’s certainly worth doing. My advice is to start in my hometown of Chester and head north.

There are plenty of things to do in Chester, such as see the Roman Amphitheatre, the largest in the UK, walk the Roman Walls and relax down by the river with some amazing views.

After that, you head towards Liverpool, which needs no introduction. You can visit the Beatles Museum, the Albert Docks and the world-famous home of Liverpool F.C., Anfield.

Manchester is the next stop, and there’s lots to do here as well. Visit the football stadiums, the numerous museums in the city and much more.

The trip north will end in the Lake District, which is one of the best places to visit in Northern England. But you should stop at Lancaster before you get there.

It’s a small city that has some interesting museums, the beautiful Williamson Park and you can walk along the promenade and take in some beautiful sights at nearby Morecambe too.

Once you get to the Lake District, you’ll be blown away by the scenery. There are lots of different things to do here from river cruises, hikes such as the highest point in England, Scafell Pike and seeing ancient sights such as the Castlerigg Stone Circle.

Driving up the North West of England is an underrated road trip, and although I’m biased, one I can’t recommend enough!

Translyvania Road Trip

Romania isn’t the first place that many people think of when it comes to a Europe road trip. However, the country is more scenic than people realise.

This is especially true in Transylvania, where this road trip takes place. You start in Sibiu, which is a fascinating city in the middle of Romania.

One thing you have to do there is to walk across the Bridge of Lies, named so because if you walk across and tell a lie, the bridge will collapse!

After Sibiiu, you head north towards Cluj. You can stop at the thermal pools in Ocna Sibiului to break up the drive a little too.

St Michael’s Church and the historic centre are the places to check out while you’re in Cluj.

It’s a beautiful city that you should take time to explore. The city also has a vibrant nightlife, which is worth checking out too!

The next stop is Sighișoara, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a beautiful town. The cobblestone streets and colourful houses are an incredible sight.

Next, you head south towards Brasov and the Carpathian Mountains. If you like hiking, this is the perfect place to climb a mountain or two, with Tâmpa Mountain one of the tallest.

The final road trip destination sees you return to Sibiu, via one of the most epic roads and iconic attractions on any European road trip.

The Transfăgărășan Road is a mountain road that’s notable for its scenic views. It’s a longer trip back to Sibiu, but it’s an epic drive and well worth it for the scenery.

The iconic landmark you have to check is Bran Castle, which is the castle that served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

While the links between the castle and the Vlad the Impaler, whom Dracula is based on are tenuous, the castle itself is spectacular and a must-see on this epic European road trip.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is one of the shorter road trips on this list but it’s also one of the most spectacular.

The SS163 road clings to the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is why the coastal route is one of the most popular in Europe.

Due to its popularity, it’s best to do this drive outside of summer, when the numbers on the road are crazy. April to May and October to November are good times

You can do the trip in a few hours, but that defeats the purpose. I recommend doing it over three days so you can stop along the way and explore some of the towns en route.

Start in Sorrento and drive south towards San Pietro and then at Positano, which is one of the most stunning spots on this epic road trip.

Heading south towards Amalfi, which is the largest town on this trip. It’s worth spending a night here to enjoy all the beauty of the area. You can take a detour to Ravello, a stunning village above the Amalfi Coast before the endpoint at Salerno, which is another stunning location.

This may be a short trip, but there’s so much to see and so much beauty along the way, it’s one you have to do if you get the chance.

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Looking For More Road Trips?

Basque Country Road Trip – One of the most interesting parts of Spain that has fantastic scenery and some great cities!

Galicia Road Trip – Galicia might just be the most underrated part of Spain. There’s so much to see and do here, this is a road trip you should do if you want to go to a lesser-visited part of Europe!

Road Trip Food Ideas – Check out all the food you’ll need on your road trip as well as some useful tips to help you save money!