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Europe packs more history, landscape drama and cultural variety into its borders than almost anywhere else on earth. Few adventures showcase it all quite like a Europe road trip: one moment you’re sipping wine beside the Rhine, the next you’re paddling through Provence’s turquoise gorges.
This Schengen-friendly, 6-country, 6,300 km Europe itinerary carves through river valleys, over Alpine passes and along island-dotted coasts, pausing in medieval hill towns and vibrant cities alike.
Treat this Europe road trip route as a ready-made Grand Tour or cherry-pick your favourite slices; either way, keep your camera, swim gear and appetite close at hand—you’ll need them all!
Europe Road Trip Map
How to use this road trip Europe map – Use your fingers (or computer mouse) to zoom in and out. Click or touch the icons to get more info about a place, and click the arrow in the box top left to open the index. To add this Europe travel map to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the title of the map.
Europe Road Trip Route (in brief)
Over 87 days you’ll loop through six countries, weaving through the vineyards of France to Alpine passes, island-dotted Adriatic coastlines, Tuscan hills, Provençal gorges and back to Paris covering some of the best road trip routes in Europe. The pace is steady rather than frantic—enough time to taste, wander and dawdle—yet still fits comfortably within the 90-day Schengen limit.
France
Germany
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
Italy
France
Make sure you have travel insurance you can trust for trips in Europe. We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices, and excellent service.
Getting to Europe
Paris is a natural gateway for this pan European road trip route : the city is served by two major international airports—Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) and the smaller, closer Orly (ORY)—with direct flights from every continent and plentiful onward routes across Europe.
Clearing immigration is usually smooth; luggage halls feed straight onto the RER suburban rail network, whose Line B trains reach the centre in 35–40 minutes. A fixed-fare taxi (€55–65) or an airport shuttle app are good alternatives if you’re laden with baggage.
Plan to explore Paris first and collect your hire car afterwards; driving or parking in the inner arrondissements is stressful and expensive. Almost every major rental company has depots at the airports and downtown branches around Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse. We recommend Rentalcars.com because they really do offer the best prices backed by excellent customer service.
Pick-up near the périphérique ring-road makes it easy to escape the city. Be sure to request an automatic transmission early (they’re less common in France), add the green Crit’Air emissions sticker if your rental doesn’t already have one, and check that your sat-nav or phone is set to “avoid motorways” for the scenic routes as you voyage Europe.
How to Use this Europe Trip Itinerary
Europe Road Trip Itinerary (in detail)
Paris – 2 Days
From the Tuileries gardens to the café-strewn lanes of Le Marais, the French capital rolls out a greatest-hits pageant of culture and cuisine—spend dawn on the Seine watching the city blush pink, climb the Arc de Triomphe for perfect geometry of the grands boulevards, linger over Impressionists in the Musée d’Orsay and finish with a twilight cruise beneath a twinkling Eiffel Tower; Metro, Velib’ bikes and sheer walkability make exploring effortless.
Where to stay: Hôtel Le Relais Saint-Honoré – small but stylish, wedged between the Tuileries and Palais-Royal and an easy walk from RER-B Châtelet-Les Halles.
Nancy – 1 Day
A two-hour glide along the A4 delivers you to Nancy, whose rococo-gilded Place Stanislas shimmers like a champagne flute under Baroque lamplight; wander nearby Art-Nouveau façades on Rue Foch, browse bergamot-scented treats in the covered market, then toast with a glass of crisp Lorraine white at a terrace on leafy Place Carrière before a night stroll when the square’s fountains dance with light projections.
Where to stay: Grand Hôtel de la Reine – a chandeliered, Louis-XV palace right on Place Stanislas (secure parking 200 m away).
Colmar – 2 Days
Story-book Alsace unfolds in Colmar’s Petite Venise district where pastel timber houses lean over narrow canals fringed with geraniums; pedal vineyard lanes to Eguisheim or Riquewihr, sip a chilled gewürztraminer beneath vine-draped arcades, and let the Isenheim Altarpiece’s vibrant Gothic panels dazzle you in the Unterlinden Museum before a tarte flambée supper.
Where to stay: Hotel Le Colombier Suites – modern rooms inside a 16th-century building, private courtyard parking and a three-minute stroll to Petite Venise.
Black Forest – 3 Days
Cross the mighty Rhine River and plunge into the Schwarzwald where spruce-dark ridges hide cuckoo-clock workshops, kirsch-laced Black Forest gateau and Germany’s highest waterfall at Triberg; drive the lofty B500 Hochstraße for widescreen valley views, crunch along forest walks scented with pine resin and end the day clinking steins in a rustic Gasthaus.
Where to stay: Hotel Schloss Hornberg – a hill-top castle with sweeping terraces and hearty Baden cuisine.
Lake Constance (Bodensee) – 2 Days
Fed by the Rhine and shared by three nations, Lake Constance is ideal for sailing or cycling the 260 km Bodensee-Radweg. Hop ferries between medieval Meersburg, island-garden Mainau and Bavarian-Baroque Lindau; rent e-bikes to sample lakeside wineries, dive from timber piers or simply picnic on the promenade as swans glide past.
Where to stay: Boutiquehotel zur Winzerstube, Hagnau – adults-only lake-view balconies five minutes from the ferry dock.
Füssen & Neuschwanstein – 2 Days
Cobbled Füssen’s pastel facades sit beneath limestone peaks, a perfect base for King Ludwig II’s castles—catch first light from Marienbrücke for the dream-shot of Neuschwanstein, tour lived-in Hohenschwangau and cap the day at lake-rimmed Alpsee where mountain reflections ripple emerald.
Where to stay: Hotel Sonne – art-themed rooms, lavish breakfast and an on-site garage.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen & Zugspitze – 2 Days
Board the creaking cog-wheel train to Zugspitze’s glacier terrace, ride the skiers gondola up to 2,962 m above sea level for a 360° sweep from Germany to Italy, then descend to jade-green Eibsee on the glass-floor cable car to paddle a kayak or circle its shore on pine-sweet trails dotted with hidden coves.
Where to stay: Hotel Rheinischer Hof – mountain-view rooms and a small spa.
Innsbruck – 3 Days
Golden-roofed architecture and pastel mansions nestle between river Inn and sheer Nordkette cliffs; sip schnapps in medieval Stiftkeller, then in minutes the futuristic Hungerburg funicular lifts you to alpine meadows where paragliders wheel above the city’s baroque spires.
Where to stay: Hotel Innsbruck – riverside base with pool, spa and garage parking.
Grossglockner High-Alpine Road – 1 Day
Austria’s ultimate drive ribbons through 36 hairpins, past marmot meadows and snow-edged glaciers to 2,504 m at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe lookout where the Pasterze Glacier unfurls beneath you; savour strudel at a summit hut while bikers rumble past and golden eagles ride the thermals overhead.
Where to stay: Berggasthof Wallackhaus – cosy inn perched on the pass.
Zell am See – 3 Days
Lakeside esplanades, a traffic-free medieval core and gondolas whisking you to Schmittenhöhe panoramas define this picture-perfect resort; hire an e-boat or SUP on cobalt Lake Zell, bike the circular path fringed with wildflowers, then ride the nearby Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts for year-round snow play.
Where to stay: Hotel Grüner Baum – family-run comfort in the pedestrian zone.
Vršič Pass & Soča Valley – 3 Days
Fifty cobbled hairpins carry you over Vršič to a valley where the Soča runs liquid emerald—raft frothing rapids, trout-fish gin-clear pools or follow WWI trails past shattered fortifications and hanging bridges draped in alpine flowers.
Where to stay: Hotel Hvala – riverside and renowned for trout specialities.
Triglav National Park & Lake Bohinj – 4 Days
Slovenia’s wild heart twinkles in Lake Bohinj’s mirror surface, hemmed by the Julian Alps; tackle the Savica waterfall steps, row across dawn-quiet water wreathed in mist, then hike the Seven Lakes Valley where stone-ribbed peaks meet alpine pastures ringing with cowbells.
Where to stay: Bohinj Eco Hotel – mountain-view pool, bowling lanes and EV charging.
Ljubljana – 2 Days
Car-free embankments lined with lime trees cradle café terraces beside the jade Ljubljanica, Art-Nouveau dragons guard river bridges and a funicular slides up to the hill-top castle for sunset views across terracotta roofs to the Alps; evening brings open-air concert vibes on Kongresni Trg.
Where to stay: B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park – eco-label property with rooftop beehives and on-site parking.
Zagreb – 2 Days
Croatia’s capital marries Habsburg elegance with a buzzing café culture—ride the funicular to upper-town Gradec for skyline views and gingerbread-roofed churches, roam arty Tkalčićeva Street for craft beer or coffee, then hunt colourful market stalls in Dolac and street-art murals along the Medika district; by night, summer festivals spill into leafy Zrinjevac Park while locals linger over štrukli pastries.
Where to stay: Canopy by Hilton Zagreb City Centre – stylish mid-range rooms inside a converted 19-th-century railway warehouse, five-minute walk to the main station, bike rental on site, secure parking underneath.
Plitvice Lakes National Park – 2 Days
Sixteen terraced lakes linked by tinkling cascades and misty waterfalls form an other-worldly UNESCO reserve where wooden boardwalks skim jade-green water alive with trout; arrive at opening time to beat tour buses, loop the lower lakes for postcard shots of Veliki Slap, then take the panoramic boat across glassy Kozjak and climb the Šupljara cave trail for aerial views of turquoise pools backed by beech forest.
Where to stay: Hotel Jezero – the park’s own mid-range hotel beside Lake Kozjak pier, offering free guest parking, spacious rooms with forest balconies and a welcome head-start on the morning crowds.
Zadar – 3 Days
Roman columns, Venetian ramparts and a wave-powered sea organ soundtrack sundowners on Zadar’s marble promenade; island-hop to Kornati’s moon-rock archipelago, chase waterfalls in Krka National Park or laze on Nin’s rare sandy beach.
Where to stay: Bastion Heritage Hotel – boutique rooms in a 13th-century fortress with spa.
Split – 3 Days
Lose yourself in Split’s Diocletian’s Palace where cafés hide among 1,700-year-old colonnades, hike the glass-bottom Skywalk on Mt Biokovo or beach-hop Makarska’s pine-backed coves between ferry day-trips to Brač and Hvar.
Where to stay: Hotel Milenij in Makarska – sea-view balconies opposite a pine-shaded beach.
Dubrovnik – 4 Days
Marble-paved streets gleam beneath soaring bastions, the cable car sweeps you to Mount Srđ for Adriatic panoramas, and a kayak circumnavigation of the walls at sunset reveals hidden grottoes; dodge cruise-days for quieter strolls along the ramparts.
Where to stay: Hotel Lero – modern rooms, pool and free parking.
Bari – 1 Day
The overnight Jadrolinija ferry lands you in Puglia’s capital of Bari. White-washed lanes echo with dialect chatter as nonnas hand-roll orecchiette on wooden tables; walk the seafront lungomare at dusk, sample sgagliozze fried polenta and explore St Nicholas Basilica before sailing connections or inland adventures.
Where to stay: Hotel Boston – central Murat district with hearty breakfast.
Pompeii & Vesuvius – 3 Days
Wander Pompeii’s vast forum and frescoed villas frozen in AD 79 ash, compare the better-preserved mosaics of compact Herculaneum, then climb Vesuvius’ crater path early for sulphur-scented steam vents and Bay of Naples views.
Where to stay: Hotel Forum in Pompeii – opposite the entrance with a citrus-shaded garden bar.
Rome – 3 Days
From dawn light on the Colosseum to midnight gelato at the Trevi Fountain, the Eternal City layers imperial forums, Renaissance masterpieces and vino-fuelled trattoria chatter; a Vespa whirrs past as dome-studded skylines glow amber from Gianicolo Hill.
Where to stay: Hotel Artemide – Via Nazionale address, rooftop spa and complimentary mini-bar.
Tuscany – 5 Days
Base yourself in Siena to explore cypress-lined ridges, golden wheat fields and vine-draped hill towns along the SP146 through the picture perfect Val d’Orcia. Climb Siena’s Mangia Tower, marvel at the Piazza del Campo, taste brunello in Montalcino and chase the sunset over Pienza’s rolling patchwork hills.
Where to stay: Hotel Athena in Siena – terrace views and free parking inside the walls.
Florence – 2 Days
Brunelleschi’s dome crowns a skyline of Renaissance bell towers, Uffizi corridors brim with Botticelli blooms, and sunset on Ponte Vecchio bathes the Arno in liquid gold; refuel with crostini and Chianti in Oltrarno wine bars–and make sure to find all three Davids!
Where to stay: Hotel L’Orologio – stylish, watch-themed hotel on Piazza Santa Maria Novella.
Bologna – 1 Day
Under 38 km of porticoes in Italy’s gastronomic capital you’ll find aged balsamic, Parmigiano, stuffed tortellini and Europe’s oldest university; climb the leaning Asinelli Tower for red-roof vistas before aperitivo on hip Via del Pratello.
Where to stay: Hotel Metropolitan – contemporary rooms and rooftop cocktail bar.
Venice – 2 Days
Dawn mist on silent canals gives way to midday gondola songs and evening cicchetti crawls; vaporetto to glass-blowing Murano, rainbow-bright Burano and Torcello’s Byzantine mosaics, then lose the crowds in Dorsoduro’s art-rich alleys.
Where to stay: Hotel Antiche Figure – traditional rooms on the Grand Canal opposite Santa Lucia station.
Lake Garda – 3 Days
Gorgeous sparkling lakes lure surfers and hikers and offer offers olive groves, citrus scents and medieval castles—ferry between Bardolino vineyards, Sirmione’s thermal spas and cliff-hugged Riva del Garda.
Where to stay: Hotel Du Lac et Bellevue in Bardolino – lakeside pools and free bike hire.
Genoa – 2 Days
Genoa, once a mighty maritime republic, offers an enticing blend of gritty character and grand history. Its maze of medieval caruggi (alleys) forms one of Europe’s largest old towns, where centuries-old churches, hidden piazzas, and trattorias serve the city’s famous pesto and warm focaccia.
Where to stay: NH Collection Genova Marina – A modern waterfront hotel in the old port of Genoa offering on-site parking and a prime location.
Gorges du Verdon – 3 Days
The turquoise Verdon River carves Europe’s deepest gorge—paddle beneath 700-m cliffs, hike the Blanc-Martel trail past vertigo platforms, admire Moustiers’ star-strung chapel and Provençal pottery ateliers and photograph lavender on the Valensole plateau.
Where to stay: Hôtel Le Colombier in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie – pool, hot-tub and bike storage.
Cassis – 3 Days
Limestone fjords slice into cobalt Mediterranean seas in the Calanques National Park. Kayak to Calanque d’En-Vau, drive Cap Canaille for France’s highest sea cliffs and linger over bouillabaisse on Cassis’ pastel harbour.
Where to stay: Hôtel Les Volets Rouges – peaceful rooms on the Route des Calanques.
Aix-en-Provence – 3 Days
Plane-shaded Cours Mirabeau hums with market stalls of olives and lavender, Cézanne’s studio reveals paint-splattered palettes and chic cafés serve citron pressé while fountains burble in sun-lit squares.
Where to stay: Hôtel Cézanne – chic boutique two blocks from La Rotonde.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse – 3 Days
A 230-m cliff disgorges France’s largest spring into a jade River Sorgue—kayak emerald currents, poke into the paper-mill museum then climb up to Petrarch’s 14th-century retreat for valley views.
Where to stay: Hotel du Poète – converted water-mill with pool and hot-tub in riverside gardens.
La Roque-Sur-Cèze – 3 Days
Honey-stone alleys twist to a Romanesque church atop cliffs above the churning Cascades du Sautadet; nearby Gorges de l’Ardèche and medieval Montclus offer more swim spots and stone villages.
Where to stay: Camping-Hôtel Les Cascades – modern bungalows and waterfall access.
Cèvennes & Saint-Jean-du-Gard – 3 Days
Ride the vintage steam train of the Cèvennes through chestnut forests to La Bambouseraie botanical gardens, hike the GR 70 and stargaze in Europe’s first International Dark-Sky Reserve; sample picholine olives and sheep cheeses in market towns.
Where to stay: La Maisonnée Verte near Anduze – rustic rooms and pool.
Millau – 3 Days
Norman Foster’s cable-stayed masterpiece floats 343 m above the Tarn where kayakers, climbers and para-gliders play; cycle trails run along the Tarn and Dourbie Rivers, taste Roquefort in limestone caves, then watch the viaduct glow gold at dusk.
From Millau, the swift A75 and A71 motorways carry you north to Paris in a relaxed day’s drive.
Where to stay: Cévenol Hôtel – modern rooms, pool and secure parking with viaduct views.
With the loop complete, return your car on the edge of Paris, hop on the RER to the airport and board your flight home—87 unforgettable days after you arrived. Bon voyage!
Driving in Europe
Thankfully, there are some common laws and regulations across most European countries for visitors from abroad. Make sure to carry the correct documentation and understand the driving rules for each country before you set off on your pan-European road trip; our comprehensive driving in Europe guide is a great starting point!
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