Best European Road Trips From the UK
If you’re looking for a flight free holiday abroad, this is the guide for you. The gift of ferry crossings and the Euro tunnel have opened up possibilities to go to a whole host of locations in Europe by car, and we’re going to list the top ones you should have on your list.
1) France
Saint Tropez-Cannes-Nice-Monaco
The closest one to home, you can jump on the Eurotunnel and have a beautiful two to three week road trip. Here are some of the places that should be on your itinerary to visit and why:
If you’re a lover of the ocean, while travelling along the French Riviera, you’ll have a stunning coastal view from the car and be able to take in the wedding cake tiered houses and vibrant greenery. You can start in Saint Tropez which is a famous place for the rich and famous, then you can make your way to Cannes which has many boutiques and a bright white sandy beach. Then move on to the second most popular city in France: Nice. There are multiple galleries, shops and quaint cafes on offer but some must see attractions are the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Promenade de Anglais (Walkway of the English). Finally, stop off in Monaco, especially if you want to catch the Monaco Grand Prix around the time you’re travelling.
2) Spain
Malaga-Antequera-Alhambra
It can take anywhere from a day and a half to three days to drive to Spain, depending on the route you take and if you’d like any breaks between driving. Malaga in the Costa Del Sol is often a popular end destination for people road tripping through spain.
Start by getting a ferry from Dover over to Calais,France and from Calais head down to Malaga. Stop here to enjoy the party lifestyle and sun soaked beaches, and try to attend the annual carnival known as Feria de Malaga, where there’s tapas, wine, and lots of dancing. From here you can move on to see the rocky formations at Antequera and go into the local town which is just like a Spanish fairytale, with cobbled streets, beautiful churches, and a soaring castle. Finally, get on the road to Alhambra, but take the ‘old road to Granada.’ This meandering road is loads of fun to drive on and winds around vineyards, country houses, and ominous mountains.
3) Germany
Wurzburg – Rothenburg – Ludwigsburg – Burg Hohenzollern – Oberammergau – Munich
This route is perfect for the winter/ Christmas time and will provide you with some incredible Christmas markets, snow covered landscapes and impressive castles. This road trip is a bit of a longer one, and we recommend taking about 14 days to really make the most and soak up all the scenery. You can get the ferry from Dover over to Calais, head for Brussels and then cross over the German border to Cologne. From here you can then head South down through Frankfurt, all the way to Wurzburg.
Wurzburg is known as one of the country's most important wine producing districts, has gorgeous architecture and is the start of the famous Romantic Road tourism route. One of the main attractions to see here is the Royal Residenz which is known as one of the finest royal palaces in Europe. Make sure to also take in the Hof Gardens which are situated behind the palace too, where you can find a bench and take in the peaceful scenery. Next up on the itinerary is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This Bavarian town is full of stunning fairytale architecture, cobbled streets and some lovely quaint shops. After that is another Palace; Ludwigsburg Residential Palace. The Palace hosts a variety of exhibits, including the Modemuseum (Fashion Museum) exhibits apparel from the 18th to the 20th centuries; Duke Carl Eugen's private chambers, with their original décor, offer rare and costly furniture and accessories; and the Barockgalerie (Baroque Gallery) exhibits historical paintings by a variety of painters.
Kinderreich is an interactive museum that encourages young visitors to touch exhibits and try things out for themselves. Children as young as four years old are invited to dress up and learn about life at the Duke's court.
From here you can head to Lichenstein Castle; a gothic revival overlooking the Echaz Valley. Then you have Hohenzollern Castle, a true fortress which is just breathtaking. Very Harry Potter-esque, this castle has to be a part of your road trip through Germany.
Situated in the Bavarain Alps, the next stop is Oberammergau. Known for their Passion Play theatre, the locals put on a play every year which is attended by over 500,000 people from across the world. The production features flawless costumes and makeup, evocative music, clever scripts, and stunning scenery. Visitors can also enjoy a tour of the Passion theatre at other times.
Finally, if you’re road tripping around Autumn, it’s definitely worth it to visit the Oktoberfest in Munich, their most famous beer festival. Munich is the perfect city for seeing the traditional side of Germany and their culture.
Here’s some extra driving advice for driving abroad when you come to do your European road trip. If you’re looking for more European road trip inspiration, check out this post.