10 European Road Trip Ideas For This Year

Last Updated on: 21st May 2026, 07:50 pm

10 European Road Trips We Should All Do at Least Once

Europe is full of the most amazing road trips that we should all do. You can start a day driving through Alpine passes, but finish the day with turquoise lakes and beautiful scenery. Or you can start in a medieval town but finish by sitting on a Mediterranean beach. Whether you are looking for dramatic scenery, food-focused adventures and unforgettable driving roads, there are the best European road trip ideas that belong on everyone’s travel list.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy

The drive along the Amalfi Coast is one of the most iconic road trips in the world. The roads cling dramatically to cliffs above the Mediterranean, winding through colourful villages like Positano and Amalfi. There are certain rules to follow when you do this road trip because of the amount of traffic on the road. The Amalfi Coast is definitely not to be missed, and the road trip can be extended by staying in one of the quaint towns along the Amalfi Coast.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

There are many lemon groves and cliffside restaurants along the Amalfi coastline. You get the best views over the Tyrrhenian Sea from the cliffside restaurants. You can take a boat trip to Capri from the town of Amalfi or watch the sunset views over Ravello. And you can eat some incredible seafood and pasta when you take a lunch or dinner break.

Best Time To Go

The best times to go are May, June, or September to avoid peak summer traffic. You also miss most of the summer tourism. Avoid going in colder months, as it is a different experience.

The North Coast 500, Scotland

The North Coast 500 is Scotland’s answer to the American Route 66 — a 500-mile loop through castles, beaches, mountains, and whisky country. Start in Inverness and travel through the north through Black Isle, Easter Ross, Caithness, then along the northern coast and down through Sutherland and Wester Ross. Before cutting back across country and heading back to Inverness. Book some accommodation along the way or take a campervan and stay in that to save costs.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

Stop and visit the white sand beaches near Durness and enjoy the mountain passes on your trip. It is legal in Scotland to do wild camping, so you can find some free and fantastic, unique places to stay. You can visit remote villages in the North of Scotland. You can make so many memories from the Lochs, castles, and coastal roads as you travel.

Best Time To Go

The best time to do this road trip is late spring through early autumn.

Iceland’s Ring Road

Driving the Route 1 Ring Road feels like travelling across another planet. Volcanoes, glaciers, black beaches, waterfalls, and geothermal landscapes appear around every corner. There is something different to see all the time, and whatever time of the year you visit, you will experience all 4 seasons in one day! Book some places to stay on the ring road, or you can hire a campervan in Reykjavik.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

There are so many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, like Skógafoss, so make sure you add these to the road trip. There are also plenty of Glacier Lagoons and black sand beaches. Diamond Beach is the best place to go and cannot be missed. The Northern Lights in winter are a must-do, but they are only visible from late September to early April. And they are not visible on cloudy nights. But they are magical if you do see them.

Best Time To Go

You can visit June to August for easier driving conditions; they have some long days in the summer too. In the winter, although you will see the Northern lights, the roads are more dangerous, and unless you are a skilled driver, it can be difficult to do the ring road.

The Romantic Road, Germany

Germany’s Romantic Road connects fairy-tale castles, medieval towns, and Bavarian countryside. If you love the old traditional German towns and cities, this is the best road trip for you. If you visit cities, make sure you go to the old towns for the architecture and scenery.

Highlights For This European Road Trip

Neuschwanstein Castle is a beautiful fairy tale castle, a couple of hours outside of Munich. You can easily do this as a day trip side quest on your European road trip. Love the Half-timbered villages along the way and stop at some traditional beer gardens, especially during Oktoberfest. You also have some lovely Alpine scenery to enjoy, too.

The Best Time To Go

Take this trip in the Spring and Autumn for fewer crowds of people and less traffic on the road.

Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road

The Atlantic Ocean Road is short but unforgettable; it is a winding route across tiny islands connected by dramatic bridges over the sea. The road trip is just over 5 kilometres long and connects the towns of Karvag and Vevang. The Storseisundet Bridge is the most famous of the bridges on the road trip. It has a curve on the bridge, and the locals nickname it ‘The Road To Nowhere’. It only takes 20 minutes to do this road trip, but there are many places to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Highlights Of The European Road Trip

You will enjoy the most spectacular coastal views on this road trip. There are many fjords and fishing villages to stop at and take a break. There are whale watching opportunities, and during the stormy season, you can get some epic storm photos.

Best Time To Go

Go during the summer for calmer weather and long daylight hours; you might even experience the midnight sun.

The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Stretching along Ireland’s west coast, the Wild Atlantic Way is packed with cliffs, beaches, colourful towns, and dramatic Atlantic scenery. Starting at Dromberg, and heading along the west coast, through Mizen Head, Catherdaniel, Dingle, Cliffs of Moher and continuing north until you reach Muff. Or start at Muff and head down the west of Ireland.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

Along the way, you will get magnificent views of the Atlantic and enjoy many of Ireland’s traditional towns and villages. Along the coast, you will find beaches where you can surf or rugged coastal landscapes where you can hike. Stop for lunch or dinner in a traditional Irish pub.

Best Time To Go

The best time to take this road trip is from May to September.

The French Alps Route des Grandes Alpes

The Route des Grandes Alpes crosses some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain roads. It runs from Thonon-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean coastal city of Menton (near Nice). There are about 17 mountain passes to go through, and it is 720 kms long. So you travel from the mountains right down to sunny beaches in the south of France.

Highlights Of This European Trip

You can travel through hairpin alpine passes and experience the cycling culture in the area. Enjoy the mountain villages and stop for some authentic French food. And if you break your journey, you can find some amazing hiking opportunities on this road trip.

Best Time To Go

Make the most of the summer months of June to September, and finish with a few days relaxing on the beaches of the south of France.

Andalusia Road Trip, Spain

Southern Spain combines beaches, mountains, flamenco culture, and historic cities in one unforgettable drive. Everyone is so friendly in the south of Spain, and this route will take you through Seville, Cordoba and Granada. It is often called the Golden Triangle. Enjoy the clifftop towns of Ronda and sun-soaked beaches along the coastline.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

You get to visit the old traditional towns and cities in Spain, like Cordoba and Seville. Look out for the white hilltop villages and enjoy eating Tapas in the outside seating of restaurants, whilst listening to street entertainers. Enjoy the Moorish architecture in the area too. In Grenada, you need to visit the Alhambra.

Best Time To Go

Visit in the spring or autumn to avoid the intense summer heat, as temperatures can reach very high levels in southern Spain during the summer.

The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Croatia’s Adriatic coastline offers crystal-clear waters, stunning island views, and picturesque historic towns.

Highlights Of This European Road Trip

This trip should be taken slowly, and it would make a good week or two to do. Starting in Zadar and ending in Dubrovnik, you wind around the coastline and stop in places like Split, Šibenik, and Makarska Riviera. Make sure you stop and spend some time in each place to soak up the history, coastal sites and beauty. You can go Island hopping and eat fresh seafood whilst watching the sunset. Croatia is also famous for filming Game of Thrones, so you might get to see some things you recognise.

Best Time To Go

Go in the late spring or early autumn, so it is out of the height of tourist season, but it will still be warm.

The Black Forest Route, Germany

A road trip where you can visit towns like Baden-Baden, Triberg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Gengenbach and Schiltach.

Highlights

The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Germany is filled with storybook medieval villages, thermal spa resorts, and dramatic timber-framed towns. It is picturesque and quaint and winds through dense forests and lakes. The area is famous for cuckoo clocks and forest hiking. And don’t forget you need to try some traditional Black Forest cake on your trip.

Best time to go

If you go in the Autumn for incredible forest colours, it will still be warm too.

Enjoy Your European Road Trip

The best European road trips are about more than driving. They’re about discovering tiny villages you never planned to stop in, finding incredible local food, and watching landscapes completely change over a few hours behind the wheel. Whether you want dramatic coastlines, alpine adventures, or Mediterranean sunshine, Europe has a road trip that feels unforgettable from the very first mile.

For More travel ideas, pop over to www.tillystravellingtelegram.co.uk