You’re cruising along the open road, with tunes playing from the stereo and the sun is shining overhead: road trips can be a true tonic for the soul. Of course the UK has some fantastic road trip destinations - from the Scottish Highlands to the valleys of South Wales. But if you fancy taking your road-trip game up a gear, there’s nowhere like Europe.
With an incredible array of scenery – from coast to mountains to forest to toybox villages – you really can craft your perfect road trip on the continent. It’s home to a seemingly infinite number of beautiful road trip routes, so to help you pick, we’ve highlighted the very best of them below.
Here's the Flexicover team's pick of Europe’s most spectacular road trips – so have a read and get compiling that road trip playlist.
Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
If your heart is set on a road trip and you only have a couple of weeks to spare, motoring up Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is a simple option with jaw-dropping views. Fly into Dubrovnik and spend a few days exploring the gleaming marble Old Town before hiring a car to head north. It only takes seven hours to drive from Dubrovnik to Zagreb via Split, with its charming old town. The journey begins on the country’s coast road, with sweeping views of the sparkling sea as you drive around idyllic coves sprinkled with whitewashed, terracotta-topped homes. The route also takes you through Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina for around 20 minutes - so be prepared for land border crossings.
The Gorges du Verdon Circuit, France Dubbed ‘the Grand Canyon of Europe’, France’s epic Gorges du Verdon is located in Upper Provence. The stunning limestone gorge has, over millions of years, been carved by rivers flowing down from snowy Alpine peaks. The circular route around its rim is easily doable in a couple of hours - but trust us, you don’t want to experience it that way. Stop off at the lower end of the gorge for a swim in the crystal clear water, or the brave can try their hand at bungee jumping at Pont de l’Artuby. After starting the route at the hilltop village of Trigance, you’ll wind your way through numerous picturesque country villages. Ensure you stop at one of these for breakfast, brunch or lunch - or all three.
Route 1, Iceland Heading to the Land of Ice and Fire? Route 1, or ‘Ring Road’, is one of the best ways to enjoy Iceland’s ethereal scenery. It runs around the island for a total 1,332 km (827.5 miles), connecting points of interest including the jaw-dropping national parks of Skaftafell and Vatnajökull, as well as Kristínartindar Mountain, a stunning hiking spot. The route can be completed in 24 hours in theory, but seven days is more realistic, as you’ll constantly be inspired to stop and snap pictures of the breathtaking glaciers, sparkling waterfalls, bubbling volcanoes, vibrant rainbows, and geothermal springs. Start at the Golden Circle - a popular one-day road trip from Reykjavik - and then motor onwards to the less crowded parts of the country until you find yourself back in the capital.
Romantische Strasse, Germany
Ahh, Bavaria. This is the region of fairytale castles, winding medieval streets, and beer, and the Romantische Strasse (which translates, unsurprisingly, as ‘Romantic Street’) is without a doubt the region’s most romantic road trip. Totalling 355km (220.5 miles), it winds through the southern German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Start at the gorgeous Würzburg’s Residenz palace, where you’ll find a ceiling fresco by Tiepolo, before heading to the quaint medieval wine village of Tauberbischofsheim and the spa town of Bad Mergentheim. You’ll find the scenic walled city of Dinkelsbühl and the 15.5-mile meteorite crater of Nordlinger Ries later on the itinerary, before winding through the foothills of the Alps to the Bavarian town of Füssen.
Amalfi Coast, Italy The swanky Amalfi Coast has rocketed in popularity among travellers over the past decade thanks to its super Instagrammable pastel-hued settlements. Enjoy this scenery in style with a one-day road trip of the area’s most impressive views. Start at Salerno, the southern gateway to the glittering coast, and head west to Vietri sul Mare, renowned for its ceramics. From here it’s around 20km (12.4 miles) to Amalfi, with attractions like the emblematic Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea. Ravello, nestled in the hills above, should be your next port of call, before motoring onwards. The tourist hotspot of Sorrento is the grand finale on your road trip. Remember to be careful when driving this idyllic route - at times the roads are narrow and the cliffside views incredibly distracting.
Wherever you plan on heading to over the coming months it’s good to know that Flexicover Travel Insurance is committed to providing you with the highest level of protection to ensure you are safe and secure 24 hours a day when away.
Comments