There’s nothing like a driving holiday for a spontaneous adventure. Start where you want, stop when you see something interesting. Detour wherever takes your fancy. When it comes to great roads and amazing scenery, Europe has plenty to offer. From lakes, to mountains to coastal views and idyllic countryside, a driving holiday in Europe will never be mundane. Pack your bags, book your car hire with Europcar and sketch out a rough route. Need some help planning your trip? Take a look at our pick of the top 6 best driving roads in Europe for some ideas.
1. Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria. Like most roads in Austria this one is well known for a perfect drive. Who wouldn’t want to experience that? This is the highest tarmac mountain pass in Austria. It’s open from May to November and is most popular in the summer. If you want to avoid the crowds, drive this route earlier in the season or early in the morning (breakfast in the mountains anyone?). There is a toll to pay, but the incredible views more than make up for it.
2. Route Napoleon, France. Running from Grenoble to Cannes, Route Napoleon marks Napoleon’s return from the Island of Elba to Grenoble and covers 325 km. It is marked along the way by the French Imperial Eagle. When it comes to driving roads in Europe, you’ll love the blend of twists and turns and less challenging sections for coasting that Route Napoleon has to offer. The scenery boasts incredible views of the alps, winding through the French Riviera, passing the Gorge de Verdon canyon, and then onto higher ground, finishing with the stunning waters of the Cote d’Azur – arrive at sunset for a dip!
3. Stelvio pass in Northern Italy definitely deserves its spot in our top 6 best driving roads in Europe. If you like a challenging drive with breath-taking views, this is the one for you. It has 75 hairpin bends, 48 of them with numbered stones so you can count them off as you drive (probably best if the passenger does this!). It’s well worth setting your alarm clock for sunrise as the road is truly magical at this time of day. No matter the season, the Stelvio pass has something to offer with beautiful mountain peaks sprinkled with snow in the winter and lush greenery in the summer.
4. Heading over to Romania now to the road named on Top Gear as the ‘World’s Best Road’ – The Transfagarasan Highway. It’s one of Romania’s biggest tourist attractions and ideal for a driving holiday in Europe. It stretches over 150 km reaching a top height of 2034 metres, passing by stunning Lake Balec and through tunnels surrounded by waterfalls. Amazing views guaranteed. Drive-wise, the road is not always in the best condition, so take it easy and make sure you drive a car that can cope with the odd pothole or two.
5. The North Coast 500, Scotland. Although it’s not actually a single road, we still feel that this route deserves a place in our Top 6 best driving roads in Europe. It covers over 500 miles of incredible coastal scenery and there’s plenty to do whatever you’re into, from white water rafting, to coastal walks, castle viewing and art. Take your time and meander inland or stick to the coast and see how far you can go. The most popular times to visit are May to September, but the autumn and winter months still offer magnificent views.
6. The Black Forest High Road, Germany. Germany is well known for the high-quality of its road surfaces and this one is no exception. 65 km of smooth asphalt and spectacular views. Possibly one of the best forest drives in the world, the road follows the ridges of the low mountains to the southwest of Baden Wurttemberg passing through evergreen-lined roads, small villages, vineyards, hillsides, lakes and peaks. It can get pretty busy as it’s a major road, so try to avoid peak traffic times. The road is open all year round and the nature reserves on either side have plenty to offer in all seasons, from walking and mountain biking to skiing.
The best time for a driving holiday in Europe is probably from May to September as some of the most impressive mountain roads are closed during the winter months. But if you want to beat the crowds then there are plenty you can enjoy all year round. Coastal routes with wild beaches are always fun!
Looking for more adventure in one country? There are plenty of other awesome roads in each of the six countries mentioned in our list, trust us, you won’t be short on ideas. If you need to hire a car for your European driving holiday then Europcar has plenty of options, from SUVs for families or groups of friends to smaller rides for couples – just make sure the car you pick is suitable for the terrain you’re planning to visit. Happy Driving!
