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Europe is teeming with year-round road trip opportunities, from quiet stretches of coastline in the south of Greece, to the charming English countryside and Germany’s infamous ‘no speed limit’ (spoiler: there is one) Autobahn. Discover the very best European destinations, some only accessible by car, turn on your GPS and buckle up – you’re in for the trip of a lifetime.
Discover our new car hire service: Car hire is now available through Luxury Escapes. Book your European road trip vehicle one of our trusted partners here.
Discover Europe
Ancient history: The Peloponnese, Greece
The Peloponnese Peninsula is a mind-bogglingly beautiful region, with roads that slice through dramatic mountain ranges, hug the coastline of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea and weave between ancient historic sites.
Take up to a week to explore this largely tourist-free section of Europe, with the convenience of freestyle driving in your hire car. Stop to explore the medieval city of Nafplio, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Epidaurus Theatre and go swimming in the pristine waters that surround Monemvasia Island.
Old-world charm: London to Edinburgh, United Kingdom
If bygone country charm is your cup of tea, a road trip from London to Edinburgh is sure to tickle your tyres. The key to this three-day escape is the perfect hire car to suit the occasion – ideally, an Aston Martin or a MINI Cooper to pay homage to the United Kingdom.
Start your adventure in the regal town of Windsor for a tour of the oldest occupied castle in the world, then take it easy as you cruise towards Scotland. Be sure to stop by as many cosy villages as you can, namely Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. Here, you can catch a live Shakespearean play, tour his historic home, and visit Anne Hathaway’s sleepy cottage.
Enjoy a short hike or leisurely stroll in England’s enchanting Lake District before crossing the border, where the scenery transforms into the rolling hills and historic towns of the Scottish Borders. Your journey ends in Edinburgh – a city where every cobbled street and hidden close feels like something out of a Harry Potter novel.
Timeless glamour: French Riviera
France is the perfect place to hire a convertible, tie back your hair in a vintage Chanel scarf and embrace the tried-and-tested European style of Audrey Hepburn – flying along sunbathed roads (without the speeding, of course). But there’s more cinematic magic at play here than just classic fashion.
From Nice to Saint-Tropez, a road trip through this region of France will have you winding past star-studded beaches, pastel villages and cliffside vistas straight from the movies. Admire the lemon-scented gardens of Menton, pause in Èze to wander its cobbled lanes high above azure waters, lounge on the champagne-shores of Cannes and end your journey with true Riviera glamour in Saint-Tropez.
Sun-kissed beaches: Algarve Coast, Portugal
Seven days in heaven along Portugal’s golden Algarve Coast will leave you speechless. From the moment you hire your car, to the first sun-kissed beach you visit and the second your mouth meets the first (of many) Portuguese pastry tarts, you will come to realise that this is the road trip of your dreams.
Ponta da Piedade in Lagos is a sight to behold – take in spectacular views from the cliffs overlooking the bay, then head down the stairs to the beach or board a local boat to explore from the sea. Check into Algarve Marriott Salgados before uncovering the beauty of Praia Nova beach. Perched on yellow cliffs above the water sits a white chapel that gazes into the turquoise abyss – it’s certainly worth pulling over to experience.
The famous Autobahn: Berlin to Munich, Germany
If speed is the name of the game, then Berlin to Munich is a must-do European road trip. The freedom of hiring a car gives you complete control while travelling the iconic Autobahn motorway – although the myth has been busted: there actually are speed limits and speed suggestions along the drive.
Spend a day travelling at your leisure, stopping by Leipzig to explore world-class art galleries, before taking a scenic detour to visit the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where the higgledy-piggledy houses and cobblestoned lanes create a feeling of fairy tale wonder. Once you arrive in the historic city of Munich, check in to the lavish Mandarin Oriental for a few days of high-end relaxation.
Gourmand’s highway: Costa Brava, Spain
Road tripping is no easy feat and with the winding roads and spectacular vistas along the Costa Brava coastline, one is bound to work up an appetite – queue the ‘Gourmand’s Highway’. Stretching between the French border and Barcelona, the journey can be as short or as long as you choose, but a true foodie will take up to five days to feast their way through the region – a luxury granted by hiring a car.
Between the rocky coves, rugged cliffs and pristine beaches, you’ll find various Michelin-starred restaurants, including Al Marge in Badalona – a laid-back venue that aims to showcase the sophistication of the region in simplicity – and the acclaimed Restaurant Miramar, serving up Mediterranean flavours inspired by the sea and mountains. If you’re looking for a true fine dining experience, Mataró’s Sangiovese restaurant is one to look out for. Fall into a food coma once you arrive in the comfort of the ultra-luxurious Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona.
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Wine lovers’ heaven: Tuscany, Italy
Possibly one of the most romantic road trips you could opt for, a drive through Italy’s Tuscany region will have you weaving through endless vineyards, olive groves, hilltop villages and UNESCO-listed valleys.
Begin in Florence, where art breathes from every alley and piazza, then make your way down the famed Chianti Wine Road toward Siena. Along the way, pause for a glass of Chianti Classico in the charming village of Greve, and admire walled towns like San Gimignano, where striking historic towers still frame every view. Drift south into the Val d’Orcia: a dreamscape of cypress-lined lanes and Renaissance towns like Pienza and Montepulciano, where pecorino cheese and Brunello red await beside golden fields. End your journey in Pisa below its iconic Leaning Tower or loop back to Florence.
Discover our new car hire service: Car hire is now available through Luxury Escapes. Book your European road trip vehicle one of our trusted partners here.
