The best European road trips are in areas with poor train connections: Amalfi Coast, Scottish Highlands, rural France, Portugal's Algarve, and Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. Rent a small car (parking in European cities requires it), book automatic transmission, and budget €50-100/day for the car plus €20-40/day for fuel and tolls.
You don't need a car for Paris, London, or Amsterdam — public transport is better. Road trips shine in:
Naples → Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi → Ravello. Stunning coastal scenery, but the roads are narrow and terrifying in peak summer. Drive early morning to avoid traffic. Parking in Positano costs €5-8/hour.
Inverness → John o'Groats → Durness → Ullapool → Inverness. 516 miles of dramatic coastline, castles, and whisky distilleries. Drive on the left. Many single-track roads with passing places.
Lisbon → Sintra → Alentejo Coast → Algarve → Faro. Mix of wild beaches, historic villages, and excellent food. One of Europe's most affordable road trips. Tolls on Portuguese motorways via EasyToll electronic system.
Zagreb → Plitvice Lakes → Split → Hvar (ferry) → Dubrovnik. A stunning route but note: you'll briefly pass through Bosnia-Herzegovina (Neum corridor), which requires your rental car to be authorized for border crossing.
Nice → Gorges du Verdon → Lavender fields (June-August) → Luberon villages → Avignon → Camargue. French motorway tolls add up: Nice to Avignon costs ~€25 in tolls.
Book smaller than you think you need. European cities have narrow streets, tight parking garages, and ancient roads never designed for SUVs.
Book automatic specifically. Manual is the default, and if you can't drive stick in hilly Italian towns, you'll have a terrible time.
Diesel cars are more fuel-efficient but being phased out. Petrol (gasoline) is fine for most trips. Always verify the fuel type before driving — wrong fuel = €2,000-5,000 in damage.
European toll systems vary by country:
Many European old towns are pedestrianized or have restricted access (ZTL in Italy, LEZ in Germany/Netherlands/Belgium). Don't drive into historic centers — park on the outskirts and walk or take public transport.
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car rental | €25-40/day | €40-65/day | €65-100/day |
| Fuel | €15-25/day | €20-35/day | €25-40/day |
| Tolls & parking | €5-10/day | €10-20/day | €15-30/day |
| Accommodation | €50-80/day | €80-150/day | €150-300/day |
| Food | €30-50/day | €50-80/day | €80-150/day |
| Total per day (2 people) | €125-205 | €200-350 | €335-620 |
Find the best deal across 500+ companies.
Portugal's coast (Lisbon to Algarve) is ideal for first-timers: affordable, well-maintained roads, easy navigation, and stunning scenery. The Scottish NC500 and Croatian Dalmatian Coast are also excellent choices with manageable driving.
For two people sharing costs: budget €125-205/day, mid-range €200-350/day, comfortable €335-620/day. This includes car rental, fuel, tolls, parking, accommodation, and food. Southern and Eastern Europe are significantly cheaper.
Smaller than you think. A compact car (VW Golf size) is ideal for 2-3 people. European streets and parking spaces are much narrower than North American ones. SUVs are rarely necessary and expensive to fuel and park.
Some countries use vignettes (stickers) — buy electronically before entering Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, or Hungary. France and Italy use per-distance tolls payable at booths. Portugal requires electronic registration (EasyToll). Research toll requirements for each country on your route.
Usually not advisable. Most historic centers are pedestrianized or have restricted zones (ZTL in Italy, LEZ in Netherlands/Belgium). Use Park and Ride facilities on the outskirts (€5-15/day) and take public transport or walk into the center.
Country-by-country driving requirements, packing list, and emergency contacts — all in one PDF.
Free download. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.