Europe Road Trip: 5 Routes That Actually Work (+ Full Planning Guide)

I’ve been doing road trips across Europe for more than 15 years, including drives from Romania all the way to Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Finland.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Most Europe road trip itineraries online don’t actually work in real life.

They look good on a map, but once you factor in distances, fatigue, and logistics, they fall apart fast.

In this guide, I’ll show you real Europe road trip routes that I’ve personally tested (plus how to plan one without wasting time or money).

What Is the Best Europe Road Trip?

The best Europe road trip depends on your travel style, but these are the most popular routes:

• Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Finland) → best for nature
• Western Europe (France, Spain, Portugal) → best for culture + food
• Balkans → best for underrated destinations and lower costs
• Central Europe → best for short distances and historic cities

Each route offers a completely different experience, so choosing the right one is more important than trying to see everything.

Best Europe Road Trip Routes

Europe has so many really scenic routes that are worth the drive.

I’ll share some of my favourites, which will always stay in my mind and that I already recommend to anyone looking for outstanding nature spots.

Northern Europe Road Trip

Romania → Hungary → Austria → Germany → Denmark → Norway → Sweden → Finland

Northern Europe is my favourite part of Europe.

I’ve been all across these countries many times. Did month-long trips and then returned to stay a bit more. I visited Norway 3 times, stayed for over 2 months in total, visited Sweden twice and stayed for over 2 months, drove all across Finland and visited 2 times. You get the first of it.

If this route, or parts of it, are of interest, I strongly recommend checking out my 4-month Northern Europe road trip itinerary.

You can plan a trip using my route and tips from the itinerary, but you don’t have to stay as long. I did it to explore Northern France, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden on the way back home.

Western Europe Road Trip

France → Spain → Portugal

This is a very popular route. If the Latin culture and lifestyle are of interest to you, then this is the best for foodies and the good life of Europe.

I explore extensively northern France, the Algarve in Portugal, and different areas of Spain, especially around Madrid, Barcelona and the southern part like Seville and Gibraltar.

If you’re planning a coastal road trip through France, Brittany is one of the most underrated stops. Here’s what it’s actually like and whether it’s worth visiting.

Balkans Road Trip

Romania → Bulgaria → Serbia → North Macedonia → Albania → Montenegro → Bosnia and Herzegovina → Croatia → Slovenia

This is one of the few regions in Europe where you can still road trip without crowds (and it’s by far the most underrated route I’ve done).

The Balkans are considered the wild part of Europe, as many of these countries are not in the European Union and that in itself poses some extra issues and requires a bit more planning.

But I did this trip a few years ago, while pursuing my dream to visit all European countries.

The Balkan road trip was mind-opening, full of friendly people and amazing spots. I spent 2 weeks exploring, and I felt like it wasn’t enough,

Most travellers only visit Slovenia and Croatia (both in the EU), but I went all over the Balkans, and I recommend that you plan this trip if you want to discover more of the authentic Balkan lifestyle.

Scandinavia Road Trip

Denmark → Sweden → Norway → Finland or Iceland

I crossed all the ferries, the bridges and the borders around these countries, and I loved any kind of Scandi road trip.

Of all these road trips, I recommend this Norway 10-day itinerary, to which you can add the southern part of Sweden, and other parts of Finland or Denmark.

If the budget allows it, during the summer, you can plan a road trip in Iceland to discover the Ring Road and all the beauties of Iceland.

The important thing about Scandinavia that not many travellers might realise is that the distances are huge.

While most of the European countries sit close together and you can visit 3 capitals in a day, Scandinavia is vast, and distances are much greater than expected.

I don’t necessarily recommend visiting all the Scandinavian countries in one go, unless you have months for this trip and there is no rush. Otherwise, I’d recommend focusing on one country at a time.

During my Northern Europe road trip, I drove from Romania to Lofoten. But that’s only because I can travel for several months at a time.

To give you an idea of how long these trips are, see my road trip to North Cape in Norway, which took 2 weeks, made no stops in the fjords, as the main purpose of that road trip was to reach North Cape (because I had already seen the other parts before that).

If you’re planning to include this region in your trip, I’ve written a full Lofoten travel guide based on spending over a month there, with everything you need to know before you go.

Europe Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

If you’re visiting Europe for the first time, then you might want a road trip route that focuses on more popular locations and cities.

If that’s the case, I love that for you, because you’re about to fall in love with Europe.

I feel that this kind of trip should be to discover the main attractions of Europe, somewhere between 2 weeks and up to 1 month.

I wouldn’t make it any longer, because it will become tiresome to keep moving, changing hotels and managing all the logistics if you add too many locations or make it any longer.

Also, these trips might also be done using public transport if you’re going to visit mainly cities. Parking in big European cities is a problem; it’s expensive, and it’s simply not necessary to have a car in the city.

And while I believe driving is great, it’s not always practical for short trips.
For a simpler plan, follow this 1-week Europe itinerary instead.

2-week Europe road trip

If you are visiting for the first time, then some of the popular spots to add to a 2-week Europe trip are the following:

• Paris
• Swiss Alps
• Northern Italy
• Rome or Florence
• Optional, if not driving and taking flights: Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), Prague (Czechia)

I have an entire guide dedicated to the perfect 2-week European trip, which can give you more insights and help you choose the best route and the best places to include in such a short time.

Remember not to try to include everything. 2 weeks is enough for a few cities and highlights, but don’t exhaust yourself (or you’ll end up hating the trip).

1-month Europe road trip

Spending 1 month in Europe gives you more time to explore parts that really interest you. Or you can combine some of the best cities in Europe with nature spots and actually do some hiking.

Also, the time of year is important when planning a longer road trip.

It’s really hard to choose, because there are so many great options and countries that deserve a visit.

If this is your first time in Europe and you want to do a road trip for 1 month, then the most stunning nature and easiest to do would be the Nordic countries:

• Germany
• Denmark
• Norway
• Sweden

I would only do this during the summer. It’s far less crowded than the south of Europe, and the weather is just right.

However, many would prefer southern Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Croatia).

This trip is also stunning, but it’s a different vibe. I wouldn’t go on any trip around here during summer (it’s high season, very crowded, not fun). For such a trip, plan to do it in spring or early autumn.

My Europe Road Trip Experience

I’ve been doing road trips all around Europe since 2007! I was 17 at the time (you can all do the math on my age now), and I am doing road trips in Europe (not just the EU), like nobody else I know. 

I have done crazy long drives around Europe, as if the world would end next month (or at least, that’s what it feels like in my head). 

Here are some of the most memorable road trips I did in Europe, just to give you an idea of what I’ve been up to lately:

• Romania (my home country) since I was little. If you’re not Romanian, you can’t possibly know more about my country than I do. 
• Bulgaria – North to South and West to East
• Bucharest – Helsinki (basically, all Eastern Europe, including the Baltic countries, all the way up to Finland)
• Bucharest – Berlin at least 6 times (I have designated stops for lunch on this route)
• Austria (I lived there for 10 months)
• Bucharest – Stockholm, Sweden (took me only 5 days; I was surprised as well that I drove so fast)
• Norway from South to North. I spent a month in total going through it all. 
• The Balkans, from Germany and all the way down to Albania. 
• Northern part of Italy
• South Spain
• Algarve in Portugal
• Romania to France, Germany, Denmark, and Lofoten in Norway and back to Romania via Sweden. This is my 4-month Northern Europe road trip.
• Romania to the UK
• Do I need to go on?

No matter where you are planning a road trip in Europe, the landscapes and cultural attractions are plentiful. The diversity of a road trip in Europe will strike you and, most likely, will leave you hooked. You’ll find yourself wanting more, driving more, and ultimately, seeing it all. 

I know Europe is smaller than other places, but that doesn’t mean that you can see it all in one go- far from it. Even for a spontaneous road tripper like myself, it’s important to have a plan for a road trip in Europe. 

Why Road Tripping in Europe is Unique

I truly believe that doing a road trip in Europe is the absolute best way to uncover the mysteries of the old continent. 

There’s so much more to Europe than Paris, Rome and London. I mean, if this is your first trip to Europe, by all means, put all the popular things first in your itinerary.

Here’s a helpful 3-week Europe itinerary. I also have a much tighter 2-week itinerary if you’re short on time. But if you’ve been to Europe before, then it’s time to get deeper. 

For me, the biggest attractions in Europe are found in small villages and on roads that not many people cross during their trips in Europe. For instance, I got over the fear of driving in the UK (because they drive on the left side of the road) and discovered a beautiful land which, without a car, wouldn’t have been possible.

It’s about exploring unique lifestyles and, ultimately, discovering a new world, one that you have never seen before.

Now, travelling in Europe by car is the ultimate travel mode that will guarantee the freedom and flexibility you need to discover it. Generally speaking, Europe has great roads, and you can easily find your route using Google Maps wherever you go. 

Choosing the best route to travel Europe

Choosing the best route to travel in Europe comes down to your personal preferences and your origin and final stops. Since we are all travelling from different starting points, it’s simply impossible for me to create the best route that we can all use. 

But I’ll help you create your Europe road trip routes. 

There are some things that I keep in mind and research when I plan a European road trip:

• Hidden gems – what lesser-known places are in this region?
• Scenic routes – Is this road providing the absolute best scenery for my drive?
• Landmarks – Are there any landmarks close to this road that I want to explore?
• Cities – Are there any new cities on the route that I want to explore?
• Accommodation options – Does this route provide suitable accommodation options? If it takes more than one day to cross through a section of the route and there’s no hotel in sight, then we might have an issue. 

Of course, you also need to decide what the theme of your Europe road trip route is.

Maybe you’re interested in medieval castles. Then you can research castles along the way, and then create your Europe itinerary according to their locations.

I fell in love during this first northern France trip, when I visited my first truly medieval castle, and it looked just like in the movies.

If you’re into wine, then saving the wineries on the route is the way to go, and then follow those. For wine lovers, I recommend Italy or France, although you should rent a car to get to the really good wineries. And then you need to know a bit about driving in France.

Basically, you can choose anything that is of interest to you, from historical paths to architecture, and then chase those locations. 

But regardless of the theme you choose, don’t try to do it all. Driving from Portugal to Norway is either an endless highway pursuit or a 1-year-long road trip that not many can undertake. 

Cost: Budgeting your road trip in Europe

A Europe road trip budget can vary from budget camping trips to expensive summer hotel-based itineraries, but fuel, tolls, parking, and accommodation are usually the main costs.

Here are the costs associated with a road trip in Europe:

• Car rental (if you’re not from Europe or don’t own a car). Make sure that the car rental company allows you to drive to the countries on your itinerary. There’s no border between most EU countries, but there are borders between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. I use DiscoverCars to hire a car in Europe. 
• Country vignettes. Some countries have a vignette (road toll system) in place, which you need to purchase before driving in that country (online or when you arrive).
• Road tolls. Some specific roads have tolls; this happens mostly in countries where there are no vignettes, but there are expectations. You just need to read the signs carefully. Also, Google Maps does a pretty good job of warning you about upcoming tolls on the road. 
• Parking fees (very expensive in cities)
• Fuel (more expensive on the highways)
• Accommodation. If you’re planning a summer road trip in Europe, you should consider camping if you want to keep your road trip expenses low. There are so many good campsites all across Europe. 

How to save money on a European road trip

Here are my top tips on how to save money during a road trip in Europe:

Legal and documentation requirements

Check out that you have everything sorted out for your road trip. 

Here’s what you need for a road trip in Europe:

• Passport. If you’re from the EU and travelling only in the EU, you can use your national ID. 
• Driver’s licence. If you’re not from the EU, you need an international driver’s licence. 
• Make sure you have all the visas, and you’re legally allowed to travel to all the countries on your European road trip itinerary.
• Car insurance. You already have this if you’re from Europe, but do check if it covers all the countries you’re planning to drive to in Europe. Some countries, such as North Macedonia, are not covered by your normal car insurance in Europe. 
• Check with your car rental company the countries you’re allowed to drive in before renting the car. You can always see the conditions on DiscoverCars before booking a car. 
• Travel insurance for each individual. In Europe, EU citizens have international insurance, but if you’re not an EU citizen, then you should purchase extra travel insurance. Nobody asks for it, but in case you need it, it’s better to have it to avoid extra costs.  

Do check each country’s entry conditions for your specific citizenship. Also, check out the driving regulations for each country on your itinerary. 

Vehicle preparation

Before starting a new Europe road trip, I assess the length of my road trip and then decide how thorough the preparation for the car should be. 

For instance, if I plan a month-long Europe road trip, I always do a complete checkup on my car. 

That’s what most people call the annual vehicle maintenance checkup, which includes oil and filter changes, as well as tyres, brakes and other mechanical checks. 

If I’m planning a week-long road trip, I don’t proceed to do oil changes, but I still check on my tyres and engine stuff. 

In the end, it’s a matter of the total kilometres I’m planning on driving on this new European road trip.

Keep in mind that a regular car needs a complete checkup once a year or after a certain number of kilometres (different from car to car).

In most cases, nothing bad will happen to your car if you drive past this milestone without the checkup, but it’s not recommended.

During my Scandinavian road trip in 2022, I drove over 20,000 km, and luckily, nothing bad happened to the engine, apart from running out of AdBlue (for diesel engines), which you can find at almost any hardware store or even at many gas stations (on pump) in Europe. 

In 2025, on my 4-month road trip in Central and Northern Europe, I drove 17,000 km, and it was all good. But I had good, reliable cars each time.

One other minor issue I’ve had during longer road trips in Europe is having to change headlight bulbs and tyre pressure.

For any kind of light issues, I try to find a nearby service to change it for me (the difficulty depends on each car model, but car mechanics can do it easily, quickly and without any issues).

For tyres, you need to know how to check your tyre pressure and adjust it when necessary. You’ll find air stations in almost all gas stations in Europe, and you can do it yourself for free. 

If you’re the owner of the car, you’ll need some basic knowledge of how the car works to try to keep it in the best condition. Remember that it’s also a matter of your driving style that will determine any future issues. So drive carefully. Remember that you’re doing a road trip, not a speed race. 

If you’re renting a car for your Europe road trip, you’ll need to call your car rental company in case anything bad happens, such as car accidents or car failures.

That’s why you should always rent your car from a reputable company with great reviews, such as DiscoverCars.

Packing essentials for a Europe road trip

You should know that different countries in Europe have different regulations regarding the safety kits in your car. 

To be completely covered, your car should have a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, 2 emergency triangles, and a safety vest. 

Luckily, I never needed this, except for when my boyfriend was attacked by a seagull in Croatia and needed his finger bandaged. The bleeding stopped shortly after. But it’s cases like this one when you need to have the right stuff on hand fast and travel insurance. 

Here are other essential things you need: 

• GPS. We are blessed to be living in the era of technology, and we all have Google Maps on our smartphones. Because you’ll be driving, you’ll need one of those phone holders that stick to your windscreen to hold your phone while displaying the map. It’s about 20 EUR in any electronics store. Most modern cars (even rentals) have CarPlay these days.

• Car phone charger. For longer road trips, you need to be able to charge your phone from the car. You can use your regular charger if the phone has a USB cable, and connect it directly to your car if the car has that option. If it’s an older car, you’ll need a car USB charger to plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. 

• Snacks. Always stock up on snacks, especially when driving in more remote areas in Europe. 

• Clothing. Check the weather for the areas you’re travelling to and pack accordingly. Even if you’re doing a road trip during summer, that doesn’t mean you won’t have rainy days or even colder days in Europe. 

On the matter of what to pack for a Europe road trip, a lot can be said. But here, you have to think about it from the perspective of you’re planning on this road trip. If you’re focusing on hiking, then all your hiking equipment should be part of your packing essentials. 

If you’re planning to make some stops in cities, pack clothing suitable for cities so you don’t walk around in your boots. 

I think this is pretty clear. 

Accommodation

There are four main types of accommodation you can consider for your European road trip: 

• Hotels – I always use Booking.com
• Airbnb – I use this for longer stays or to find better-priced alternatives to Booking.com
• Campsites – in more expensive countries, camping is a cheap and enjoyable alternative (unless it’s rainy, but I’m more picky than your average travel enthusiast). The entire western and northern Europe loves camping and offers plenty of campsites, most dedicated to campers (spots should be pre-booked during summer)
• Couchsurfing – I used this when I was younger and broke, but it’s still an option. I’m not just referring to the actual Couchsurfing platform, but think about friends or people you can reach out to online who live in different cities and might offer you a place for a night or two. 

Remember that wild camping is mostly prohibited in Europe, except for Scandinavia. For safety purposes, I wouldn’t recommend wild camping either way. If you don’t have a tent, then use a campsite wherever you go, including in Norway.

Navigating European roads

Driving in Europe is easy. All signs are visible, drivers are mostly responsible, and road conditions are good. 

Again, you’ll need a GPS to navigate accurately. As I mentioned before, you can use your smartphone. Just make sure you have an active internet connection.

If your roaming plan isn’t working in Europe or it’s too expensive, I recommend using an eSIM.

Losing signal mid-drive is the real risk on trips like these. I put Holafly, Airalo and Revolut eSIM through 3 months of testing on exactly this kind of route to see which held up: full comparison here.

I do recommend always checking specific driving regulations for each country in Europe. Don’t speed or break any driving rules because there are a lot of traffic cameras on all roads, and police are everywhere. 

Don’t try to bribe the policemen, because it’s illegal.

There might still be some stories online about bribing police, especially in Eastern Europe.

However, I advise against it, because you can even end up at the police station in handcuffs. Just follow the rules. 

The further north you go, the more expensive the fines are.

For instance, you could be fined 200 EUR in Denmark for using your smartphone while driving. That’s why I suggested the phone holder in the essential packing list. 

Dealing with emergencies

In case of an emergency, you can use 112, which is the emergency number valid throughout the European Union (EU). For other states, they might have a different number, which is usually stated when crossing the border. 

If you’re using a rental car for car emergencies, you should also contact the rental car company. 

If you have a health emergency, your travel insurance will be able to guide and help you. Don’t leave without it. 

Europe Road Trip: Conclusion 

As you can see, there’s a lot of planning involved in any Europe road trip. 

You need to keep in mind a lot of things, and it can be overwhelming on your first road trip. 

To make things easier for you, I’ll give you a more concise checklist to remind you of all the things you need before you go:

• Passport (possibly visa)
• Driver’s licence
• Road trip itinerary
• Car condition
• Car insurance
• Car vignettes
• Road tolls
• Car emergency kit
• Clothing 
• Budget for your road trip
• Emergency procedure (car or health) 

I hope this comprehensive guide helps and serves as your roadmap, setting you on the path to crafting the best European road trips imaginable.

Planning a European road trip is an adventure in itself—one that’s worth every second of preparation. 

A well-planned journey can make all the difference between a good and a great experience. 

By having a solid road trip itinerary in Europe, you can navigate your way through the continent’s most stunning landscapes, hidden gems, and bustling cities. 

So buckle up and embark on one of the best trips Europe has to offer (you won’t regret it!).

If you’re not ready for a full road trip, start with this Europe itinerary for 1 week and keep things simple.

Additional Resources

If you need more help, read my other guides about planning a trip to Europe:

• Planning A Europe Trip: An Insider’s Guide To European Travel
• Europe in 3 Weeks: Your Essential Guide to Must-see Cities and Hidden Gems
• Europe in 2 weeks: The ultimate European itinerary
• Europe in 1 week: A perfect route for first-time visitors
• Top 15 Cheapest Places To Travel in Europe
• All You Need to Know for Your First Time Travel to Europe
• The Ultimate Guide to Europe Solo Travel
• Cheapest Countries in Europe: 9 Countries To Make Your Travel Budget Last Longer
• How To Plan Your Europe Trip on a Budget
• How I Planned a 1 Month Trip in Europe – On a Budget