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May
Exploring Europe by car provides a unique travel experience, giving you the freedom to explore at your leisure, and find hidden gems and stunning landscapes at your own pace. From coastal roads to mountain passes, Europe has a diverse array of stunning driving holiday destination. In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the best European road trips, so you can start planning your next getaway.
Rome to the Amalfi Coast, Italy
If you want to experience the best of Italy, setting a few days aside to drive from Rome to the Amalfi Coast is a must. Driving the entire journey in one go will take 3.5 hours, but we recommend taking things slow and scheduling some stop-offs, namely at Naples and Pompeii. Rome to Naples will take around 2 hours 45 minutes, Naples to Pompeii takes just 25 minutes, and then the Amalfi Coast will be another hour from there.
This drive isn’t for the faint-hearted – roads can be steep and winding, especially around the Amalfi Coast itself and the Lattari Mountains. It’s recommended to opt for a smaller car to make driving these roads a breeze.
The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
The opening of the Pelješac Bridge in Dubrovnik-Neretva County has made the Dalmatian Coast an instant hit for roadtrippers, providing an easy route from Split to Dubrovnik without having to navigate the Bosnian border.
The beauty of this driving holiday destination is that you can make it as long or as short as you want. Driving without stopping will take just 3 hours, but 7 days seems to be a popular option, with the option to take a few days to stop along the route as well as factoring a few days in the cities at either end. Along the way, you can take in the beautiful Croatian architecture of the historic towns, enjoy the gorgeous rural scenery, golden beaches, and local vineyards and other hidden gems.
Iceland Ring Road
At 825 miles, the Iceland Ring Road encircles the entire island, offering a great opportunity for roadtrippers to take in a good portion of the country. Driving holidays on the Iceland Ring Road range from three days to 19 days, so you can really take some time to experience everything you want to. Again, taking seven days seems to be the sweet spot for this driving destination.
Along most of the road, the speed limit is 55 mph, or 90 kmph, so it’s worth bearing this in mind. But driving slowly just means you get to take in all the stunning scenery, from rugged mountain ranges, waterfalls, lava fields, and rocky beaches. For stop-offs, you can take excursions for whale watching, snow sports, and relaxing in geothermal pools.
Les Corniches, France
Les Corniches, or the Cliff Roads, are a trio of roads in the South of France. They’re a fantastic way of exploring the French Riviera, with one road hugging the coast and two roads further inland.
The roads run parallel to each other, all starting in Nice, travelling past Monaco and Monte Carlo before all three merge into one route and end in Menton. They’re around 16 miles, or 36 km, long, offering opportunities to take in elegant architecture, historic Roman ruins, and beautiful exotic gardens.
Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
The Wild Atlantic Way is the only long-distance driving route in Ireland. The road runs for 1,600 miles (2,600 km) along the west coast of Ireland from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north to Kinsale in the south. Driving the route in one go would take 32 hours, but it’s recommended to take between 3 to 5 days to really get the full experience.
Along the route, you’ll pass through Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway Limerick, Cork, Kerry and more, with quaint villages, charming towns, and vibrant cities all available for your itinerary. There’s plenty of opportunity to take in the lush greenery of the Irish countryside, learn about the rich history, as well as take some excursions and activities. Visiting the uninhabited Skellig islands is a popular choice, as is whale and dolphin watching.
Furka Pass, Switzerland
The Furka Pass is a 2,429 m (7,969 ft) high mountain pass in the southern Swiss Alps. It’s a winding, exhilarating drive, featuring hairpin turns as it snakes up the mountainside. The pass runs from Andermatt in the Canton of Uri to Gletsch in the Canton of Valais and takes around an hour to drive.
Some might recognise the road from James Bond’s Goldfinger where it was used as a location – the curve itself is marked as “James Bond Strasse”. The pass offers unbeatable views of the mountains and glaciers, but is only open from late May to Early November.
Atlantic Road, Norway
The Atlantic Road in Norway runs between Kårvåg on Averøya to Vevang at the mainland. Whilst not a long drive – driving non-stop will take just 10 minutes – it’s known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, thanks to the road snaking across the ocean over inlets and small islands. It has a total of eight bridges and stretches over 8,274 metres.
There are designated stopping places along the route, giving you a chance to stop the car and get out to take in the beautiful Norwegian scenery and learn about the local culture and history. There are also opportunities to spot local wildlife, such as seabirds and seals.
Get car finance from GetCarFinanceHere
If you’re inspired to take a road trip but need a car that lives up to the driving holiday dream, get your car finance with GetCarFinanceHere. Let us do the hard work for you – our expert team will search through our network of lenders to find the best car finance deals available to you. You can apply online for car finance or contact us for more information.