Best European Road Trip Routes by Region

Europe is made for road trips. With diverse cultures, landscapes, and historic towns packed closely together, it’s easy to hop in a car and experience something new every few hours. Whether you’re drawn to coastal drives, mountain passes, or castle-dotted countryside, the continent offers endless possibilities.

This guide highlights the best European road trip routes by region, giving you a blueprint for exploring the continent at your own pace.

Why Take a Road Trip in Europe?

Flexibility: Go where you want, when you want.
Variety: Drive from bustling cities to quiet villages in hours.
Scenery: Coastlines, mountains, vineyards, and forests all in one trip.
Culture: Explore local food, history, and traditions along the way.

Western Europe Road Trips

1. The Romantic Road (Germany)

This fairy-tale route stretches from Würzburg to Füssen, passing medieval towns, vineyards, and castles.

💡 Highlights: Neuschwanstein Castle, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavarian countryside.

2. Alsace Wine Route (France)

Running through northeastern France, this scenic drive winds past vineyards, half-timbered houses, and cozy wine villages.

💡 Highlights: Colmar, Strasbourg, Eguisheim, endless Riesling tastings.

3. The Ring Road of Iceland

While technically not continental Europe, Iceland’s Ring Road is legendary. Circumnavigate the island for glaciers, waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanic landscapes.

💡 Highlights: Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, black sand beaches.

Southern Europe Road Trips

4. Amalfi Coast (Italy)

A winding coastal drive with cliffs, colorful villages, and views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

💡 Highlights: Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, lemon groves, coastal dining.

5. Portuguese Coastal Route (Lisbon to Porto)

Follow the Atlantic coast for beaches, fishing towns, and historic cities.

💡 Highlights: Nazaré’s waves, Coimbra’s old town, Porto’s riverfront.

6. Peloponnesian Peninsula (Greece)

Drive through ancient ruins, olive groves, and seaside villages.

💡 Highlights: Olympia, Nafplio, Mycenae, stunning coastal views.

Northern Europe Road Trips

7. North Coast 500 (Scotland)

Scotland’s answer to Route 66 — a loop through rugged highlands, lochs, and castles.

💡 Highlights: Inverness, Applecross Pass, Dunrobin Castle, wild coastal scenery.

8. The Baltic Coastal Drive (Estonia to Lithuania)

Explore the Baltic states by car for charming towns and seaside landscapes.

💡 Highlights: Tallinn, Riga, Curonian Spit, Trakai Castle.

9. The Fjord Route (Norway)

Wind through Norway’s dramatic fjords with waterfalls, mountains, and tunnels that feel like another world.

💡 Highlights: Geirangerfjord, Trollstigen, Sognefjord.

Eastern Europe Road Trips

10. Transfăgărășan Highway (Romania)

Often called one of the world’s most beautiful roads, this mountain pass zigzags through the Carpathians.

💡 Highlights: Balea Lake, Poenari Castle, winding alpine roads.

11. Adriatic Coast Road (Croatia & Montenegro)

Follow the Adriatic Sea for dramatic cliffs, historic towns, and turquoise waters.

💡 Highlights: Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, scenic coastal drives.

12. Polish Countryside Route

From Krakow through Zakopane and into the Tatra Mountains, this drive mixes culture with natural beauty.

💡 Highlights: Krakow’s Old Town, Tatra National Park, mountain chalets.

Central Europe Road Trips

13. The Alpine Route (Austria & Switzerland)

Drive through some of Europe’s most stunning alpine scenery, dotted with lakes and villages.

💡 Highlights: Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lake Lucerne, Swiss mountain passes.

14. The Danube Road (Germany to Hungary)

Follow the Danube River through Central Europe, with castles, vineyards, and historic cities along the way.

💡 Highlights: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Wachau Valley.

15. The Black Forest Scenic Route (Germany)

This famous drive winds through dense forests, spa towns, and picturesque villages.

💡 Highlights: Baden-Baden, Triberg Waterfalls, cuckoo clocks.

Tips for Road Tripping in Europe

Check driving laws: Each country has different rules (speed limits, tolls, vignettes).
Rent the right car: Smaller cars handle narrow streets better.
Book accommodations ahead in peak season.
Bring a GPS and offline maps.
Enjoy local stops: Half the fun is in unexpected discoveries.

💡 Related read: See our guide on Top Road Trip Routes for Families (opens in a new tab).

20 Inspirational Quotes About Road Trips

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.” – Confucius
“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” – Angela N. Blount
“A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles.” – Tim Cahill
“Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.” – Tom Stoppard
“Happiness is a road trip with good friends.” – Unknown
“Life is too short to not go on that spontaneous road trip.” – Unknown
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart
“The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.” – William Least Heat-Moon
“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman
“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
“Road trips aren’t measured by mile markers, but by moments.” – Unknown
“All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.” – Jack Kerouac
“The road must eventually lead to the whole world.” – Jack Kerouac
“You may not find a path, but you will find a way.” – Tom Wolfe
“Oh, the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell
“Road trips are the equivalent of human wings.” – Victoria Erickson
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
“Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.” – Unknown

Picture This

You’re cruising down Italy’s Amalfi Coast with the windows down, the scent of lemon groves in the air, and the Mediterranean sparkling below. Or maybe you’re winding through the Scottish Highlands, mist rolling over rugged cliffs. Each curve in the road brings something new — castles, vineyards, fjords, or sleepy villages. The journey becomes as unforgettable as the destination itself.

Which European road trip will you take first?

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Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only. Driving laws, road conditions, and travel requirements vary by country and season. Always confirm local regulations before setting out. We disclaim all responsibility for outcomes based on this information.