Best Road Trips In Europe

In last week’s article, we spoke about some of the best road trips in Nevada for you to cut your driving teeth on. We’ve also spoken about the best road trips in America for when you feel a little more adventurous.

Since one of the best things about being able to drive a car is the freedom you get to go where you want, today we’ll be listing some of the best road trips in Europe for when you want to take your wheels overseas.

A Brief Guide To European Driving  

According to the AA, the most important thing to remember when driving in Europe is to switch to the other side of the road. Some things to bear in mind are:

• Negotiate roundabouts in an anti-clockwise direction.
• Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the left.
• Left-turning traffic crosses oncoming traffic.
• The far right-hand lane is the slow lane; the inner left-hand lane is the fast lane.
• Traffic signs are usually on the right-hand side of the road.
• Put headlight beam converters on your lights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic at night.

There are a few other tips about driving in major European countries that are worth remembering:

• There are around 40 toll roads in Spain and around 90 in France, and most require Euro coins as payment.
• It is illegal to use detecting devices when driving in France.
• In France, drivers and riders mustn’t use headphones and headsets.
•  In Portugal, it’s illegal to carry bicycles on the back of a car.
• Speed limits in France can be confusing, as they change according to the weather, your vehicle, and the type of road you’re on. You can find a guide to French speed limits here.
• In Spain, on some one-way streets, vehicles must be parked on the side of the road where houses bear odd numbers on odd days of the month and the side of even numbers on even days.
• In many historical centers and major towns in Europe, traffic is restricted from entering areas known as ‘Zona a Traffico Limitato’ or ZTLs. If you’re not a local, driving in these zones can land you with a fine.

Paris To Berlin

Driving from Paris to Berlin is a must for anyone interested in European culture. The roads between these two famous cities wind through the beautiful hills of Champagne and Reims. You can stop off in Luxembourg City or explore of the many beautiful castles that dot the diminutive country.

Once you’re in Germany, it’s always worth heading to Germany’s oldest city, Trier, to check out the amazingly preserved ancient Roman baths and basilicas. The roads then take you through German wine country, with plenty of opportunities for stops in Heidelberg, Leipzig, Nuremberg, and Dresden.

The trip ends in Berlin, the beating heart of Europe and widely regarded as one of the coolest and most creative cities on the Continent.   

Bergen To Trondheim

If you’re interested in some of the most amazing countryside Europe has to offer, then the road between the Norwegen cities of Bergen and Trondheim offers some spectacular views. This trip should be best tackled from late spring to early autumn to avoid Norway’s famously harsh winters.

Not only does the road pass through some amazing fjords around Voss and the colossal Tvindefossen waterfall, but it also includes the world’s longest road tunnel. 

You will need to get a couple of ferries to cross some of the larger rivers and negotiate the hairpins of Trollstigen Troll Path, but the road ends in the picturesque serenity of Trondheim. 

Athens To Delphi

Travel all the way back in time by driving through the cradle of European civilization in Greece. Start in the iconic city of Athens, the birthplace of democracy, and take the coastal roads south through the Athenian Riviera. 

You’ll be able to visit the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, see the ruins of old Kórinthos, and even visit Mycenae, one of the oldest cities in Europe and home to home to the heroes of the Iliad.

Spend time on the amazing sunkissed beaches of Náfplio before heading into the sporting ground of the gods themselves by visiting Olympia. You can end the trip by checking your fate at the mystic ruins of Delphi.