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Top 5 Europe Road Trips with Babies and Toddlers

Kirsty 23 April, 2018 Travel 6 Comments

Since having kids we’ve been enjoying Europe road trips like they are going out of fashion. We ditched our backpacks for car hire as it’s a really convenient way to travel with young kids.  You can just strap them into their safety seats and off you go! We absolutely love a Europe road trip!!

H was really excited by taking a car on a boat – it blew his mind!

I’ve loved the adventurous places we’ve reached during our Europe road trips with babies and toddlers.  H and Zizi have too.  In fact, hiring a car allows you to get to some really off-the-beaten-track places! Having your own car also gives you the pick of the the very best AirBnB accommodation in Europe .

For us, visiting  ancient ruins with toddlers  have proved to be particularly successful days out.  If your toddlers are interested in running around incredible historical sites then a European road trip is a great way to reach archaeological ruins. And if you pack a sling then you can visit pretty much anywhere with a baby.  Babies make fantastic travel companions if you think about it…

Whether you’re interested in incredible geological formations, historic ruins or remote beaches , we highly recommend getting wheels and setting off on a Europe road trip.  So, in no particular order, here are our Top 5 Europe Road Trips with Babies and Toddlers .

1.  Europe Road Trip: 12 Days in Iceland with a Baby

Iceland’s rugged and unique landscape of volcanoes, geysers and glaciers provide world-beating scenery for a Europe road trip. Since it’s an island, there’s a natural route all of the way around the ring-road which we completed in 12 days in Iceland.

There’s no way we would have reached here without a hire car!

Iceland Road Trip Highlights: 

The Golden Circle containing the mighty Gullfoss waterfall , eerie Pingvellir views and the Geysir eruptions is a good start.  Nearby, we loved Seljalandfoss waterfall which you can walk behind.  Beyond these Iceland road trip highlights, the  glacier lake at Jokulsarlon is incredible plus there are some unexpected treats like  whale watching at some of the outposts around the county.

One of our favourite stops around the ring road was at Seljalandfoss waterfall

We did our Iceland road trip when H was 7 months old.  You can read why it was such a successful Iceland road trip here .

2.  Europe Road Trip: 10 days in Montenegro with a Baby

Montenegro is one of the forgotten gems of Europe and so a Europe road trip here is extremely worthwhile. Montenegro has centuries of history but is a relatively new country. These factors combine to make Montenegro a fascinating place. Beautiful walled cities  sit beside stunning beaches and further inland, you will find  majestic mountains and awe-inspiring national parks .

Budva’s old town and terracotta roofs were beautiful, as was this statue of a ballet dancer outside the city’s walls.

Montenegro Road Trip Highlights: 

The walled Old Towns of Kotor and Budva are enchanting places to walk around. A drive along the coast offer these treats, both sandy and rocky beaches, plus the picturesque view of Sveti Stefan , jutting over the sea. Further inland, monasteries abound and the one at Ostrog is a sight to behold – neatly carved into a cliff-face.

It was a bit of a drive, but Ostrog Monastery was stunning, carved into the rock.

H enjoyed his 1st birthday in Kotor, which was one of our favourite stops on this Europe road trip. Our Montenegro road trip itinerary and Montenegro highlights are here .

3.  Europe Road Trip: 9 days in Cyprus with a Toddler

The thing that made our Cyprus road trip so memorable was visiting both the contrasting North (Turkish) and South (Greek) sides of the island. The South has great beaches and Roman ruins , and North Cyprus really felt like an adventure .  This Europe road trip has a great mix of things to interest a toddler including ancient ruins, sandy coastlines and forts – oh and some good playgrounds too!

The view across the sea beyond the Tomb of the Kings added to the experience.

Cyprus Road Trip Highlights: 

The ancient sites need to be top of the list of things to do with a toddler . The ruins at the Tomb of the Kings , Kourion and Salamis were incredible! Nicosia and Kyrenia are two of the most compelling towns we’ve visited in Europe – particularly Nicosia, where a border runs through this capital city, divides the Turkish and Greek sides.  Apart from the sites, it’s worth mentioning that Cyprus is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Europe – the Cypriots adore children.  This makes each stop on a Europe road trip a lot easier with a toddler!

The fort dominates Kyrenia’s harbour and it also provided H with a playground to play ‘knights and castles’ in.

H was 17 months old when we visited Cyprus and in full toddler mode. Watching him run around ruins, play on beaches and interact with locals was an absolute pleasure.  To see how we encapsulated the best of the North and South on our Cyprus road trip, read here .

4.  Europe Road Trip: 8 days in Macedonia and Kosovo with a Toddler

This one really is off-the-beaten-track ! You will have some scenic and memorable places to yourself if you do this Europe road trip. We loved this road trip – it was so good, we wrote two blogs on it – one for each of  Macedonia and Kosovo . This Europe road trip with a toddler was relaxing, eye-opening and, at times, magical. So, if you fancy something different then this could be Europe road trip for you…

Even energetic H was completely captivated and spellbound at times on this Europe road trip

Kosovo Road Trip Highlights: 

All of Kosovo was a highlight because it was so interesting.  It’s still recovering from a horrendous war and there is not a big tourist industry in Kosovo. As a result, everything day-to-day for avid adventurers is a bit more intriguing and there’s a lot to discover from the people, culture and promising future.  As for sights, the capital city of Pristina , the cultural centre of Prizren , unique Vesoki Decani monastery and under-visited Gadime caves on the way to Macedonia are all worth exploring.

At 18 months, H was a keen footballer and enjoyed playing in Pristina’s parks.

H was an 18-month old toddler in Kosovo and I was also expecting Zizi.  Read here to find out why Kosovo made an awesome road trip .

Macedonia Road Trip Highlights:

First of all, Lake Ohrid is mesmerising .  The deep blue lake is magical and days can be idled away on its beautiful shores. But if you get bored, a mini road trip to Albania is doable in a day along the edge of Lake Ohrid. Also, Macedonia’s capital Skopje is absolutely fascinating … hard to explain in a few words…

This photo sums up Ohrid – history, the tranquil lake and the Macedonian flag.

Read here to find out more about Skopje and the rest of Macedonia .

5.  Europe Road Trip: 11 days in Crete a Toddler and a Preschooler

Crete is the perfect sized island for a Europe road trip.  We meandered across the island to visit different coastlines and the mountains, but no journey was too long.  Again there were unique ancient ruins to visit – this time Minoan – plus a number of open, sandy beaches .  Another thing that made this Europe road trip memorable was the food: the salads and other Cretian dishes were always mouthwatering !

H and Zizi chilling at the Palace of Knossos

Crete Road Trip Highlights: 

It’s been a bit of a theme with this list, but ancient ruins are an awesome day out with a toddler . H shot up the hill like a rabbit at Lato ruins , clambering over the rock ruins as he went. An enjoyable stop was at Elounda where the deep blue lagoon provided excellent views as the light changed through the day.  Looking across the lagoon you can see Spinalonga Island which is a fascinating former leper colony to stroll around. There are many great beaches around Crete for the kids to enjoy and we particularly liked the beaches at Frangokastello .  And I have to mention the food again – our meals in Crete were amazing .

Frangokastello fort is small, but still worth a trip around it with intrepid toddler explorers.

H turned 4 in Crete and Zizi had recently had her 2nd birthday.  Difficult ages to travel with kids… So it says something that our Europe road trip around Crete makes our Top 5.  Read about our Crete road trip here to find out why .

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Comments Welcome! Help other families have a great Europe road trip.

Welcome to the World for a Girl community. Please share your own ideas and thoughts about Europe road trips. Do you agree with our Top 5 Europe road trips or do you have others to add? Did you do similar Europe road trip itineraries or could you recommend alternative ones?

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Piccolo Explorer

London Days Out | Family Travel

Europe Road Trips with Kids

Planning a family road trip to Europe from the UK? Over the past eight years, we have crossed to the continent several times, driving from London for holidays in France, Switzerland and Italy. In this post, I will share tips for planning to travel to Europe by car and ideas for Europe road trips with kids.

Table of Contents

Crossing England to France

The main options to cross the English Channel to travel between England and France by car are to travel on a ferry boat or to take the Le Shuttle passenger shuttle.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

The easiest and fastest way to travel between England and France is to take the Le Shuttle (previously Eurotunnel Le Shuttle) from Folkestone to Calais. The car shuttle ride takes only takes 35 minutes.

We have travelled on Le Shuttle for each of our Europe family road trips, including several car trips with our dogs. Each time we found the process of travelling on Le Shuttle easy and seamless from start to finish.

It is easy to book with Le Shuttle and manage your booking online, including make any changes to your booking and add passenger details. There are three main types of ticket options for Le Shuttle: Standard (non-refundable), Standard Refundable and Flexiplus.

Le Shuttle also has special ticket offers for day trips, overnight stays and short stays. Standard Refundable one-way ticket prices with Le Shuttle start from £150 per vehicle, while Flexiplus one-way ticket prices start from £274 per vehicle. Check the latest Le Shuttle ticket prices

Since our family road trips to Europe are always during peak periods – bank holiday weekends, half term breaks and school holidays – we have found it worth the extra charge to book Flexiplus tickets. With Le Shuttle Flexiplus , you can turn up at anytime on your booked travel day and have priority for boarding once you are past border controls.

The Flexiplus Lounges at Le Shuttle Folkestone and Calais terminals are located after border control. The lounges offer complimentary food and refreshments, including wraps, sandwiches, soup, fresh fruit, snacks and desserts.

Ferries from Dover to Calais are usually the cheapest option to cross between England and France. Ferry crossings take around 1 hour 30 minutes to arrive at Calais.

There are several ferry boat options from Dover to Calais, such as P&O Ferries and Direct Ferries. Ferry boats typically offer facilities on board such as duty free shopping, restaurants and toilets. Trip costs on P&O Ferries for one car and up to 9 people start from £63 for one way and £126 for return.

Check the latest P&O Ferries ticket prices

Driving in the EU Requirements

When planning a UK to Europe road trip, make sure that you are up to date on the latest government advice. The best resources for UK drivers in Europe are: GOV.UK Driving in the EU , AA Driving in Europe and Green Flag Essential Checks Europe .

Compulsory equipment requirements for a driving holiday in Europe include an UK identifier (on your number plate or a UK sticker), headlamp beam converters, a first aid kit, a warning triangle and high-visibility jacket. We have the AA Euro Travel Kit which contains all of the essential items for driving in Europe.

If you are travelling on Le Shuttle, then you can also purchase an AA Euro Travel Kit, or any of the required items, at the AA Travel Shop at Folkestone Terminal  or at the Flexiplus Lounge.

With so many exciting destinations to explore, road trips are one of the best ways to travel Europe with children. In this section, I will share ideas for Europe road trips with kids from our family holidays driving to Europe from UK.

France Road Trips

Disneyland paris.

Disneyland Paris is a popular destination for day trips and road trips from UK to Europe. We have planned several road trips to Disney Paris through the years. Disneyland Paris is an easy 3 hour 30 minute drive from the Le Shuttle or ferry terminals of Calais, France.

There are plenty of accommodation options around Disneyland Paris, many a short shuttle bus away from the theme parks. The closest on-site Disney Paris hotel is Disneyland Hotel , which is located at the Disneyland Park entrance and re-opened on 25 January. Disney Hotel New York – the Art of Marvel and Disney Newport Bay Club on Lake Disney are a 10 to 15 walk to the theme park entrances.

Val d’Europe is a convenient area to stay in near Disneyland Paris, offering a wide array of hotels, aparthotels and Airbnb flats within steps of shops, restaurants and other facilities. Hotel L’Elysee and Staycity Aparthotels are highly rated accommodation options in Val d’Europe for visiting Disneyland Paris.

On our most recent road trip to Disneyland Paris, we stayed at a lovely pet-friendly house in Lésigny. The Airbnb was tucked away in the south-eastern Paris suburbs, about a 20 minute drive from Disneyland Paris. I share more about the Airbnb near Disneyland Paris in our 2022 Disneyland Paris Trip Report .

Read on for tips and inspiration for planning a trip to Disneyland Paris ;

Best Restaurants at Disneyland Paris

Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Review: Disney Hotel New York – Art of Marvel

Review: Disney Newport Bay Club

Disneyland Paris Trip Report 2022

Disneyland Paris Trip Report 2021

French Alps

The French Alps is a top Europe road trip destination for family summer holidays. If you are traveling to France from UK by car, the French Alps towns of Annecy, Chamonix are about a 8 to 9 hour drive from the port city of Calais, France.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (or simply Chamonix) is one of best destinations for a French Alps summer road trip, with a variety of places to stay, plenty of shops and facilities in the town centre and so much to do for the whole family.

While it’s best known as a winter sports destination, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (or simply Chamonix) also makes a fantastic base for enjoying mountain adventures in the summer. Families can enjoy hiking, lake swimming, mountain biking, road cycling and more in Chamonix and the surrounding area. Highlights for our family holidays in Chamonix in summer include enjoying family-friendly hikes and visits to Merlet Animal Park .

Find tips for visiting Chamonix, along with inspiration for things to do in Chamonix in summer in this post: Visiting Chamonix in the Summer

Morzine , located at the heart of the Portes du Soleil area is another popular destination for a family holiday in the French Alps. The charming alpine village and resort of Morzine offer top-notch facilities, great restaurants and a summer programme of family events and activities.

We keep coming back to Morzine in the summer for the wide range of outdoor activities the resort and surrounding area offers. Between the alpine walking and hiking trails, treetop adventure parks, an equestrian centre, an aquatic centre and much more, there is plenty to do for families in Morzine.

One of our favourite places to visit is the nearby Lake Montriond, a picturesque alpine lake that offers a wide range of activities, from recreational water sports to hiking excursions.

Annecy , one of the most picturesque towns in France, is a centrally located in the Rhone-Alps region. You can easily combine a visit to Annecy with Morzine or Chamonix on a French Alps road trip, since it is about 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes drive away. Known for its stunning lake surrounded by mountains and the picturesque canals that wind through its medieval centre, Annecy has been nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps”.

Swimming, sailing, water skiing are popular water activities at Lake Annecy, considered the purest lake in Europe thanks to conservation efforts. Summer mountain activities at Annecy include hiking, biking, canyoning and paragliding. The historic center of Annecy is also a pleasure to explore, with one of the top sights being the Palais de l’Ile, built on a natural rocky island in the 12th century.

Read on for tips and inspiration for planning a French Alps road trip with kids ;

Best Family Hikes in the French Alps

Guide to Visiting Morzine in Summer

Guide to Visiting Chamonix in Summer

La Bourgeoise Samoëns Hike, French Alps

Grand Balcon Sud Chamonix Hike

Parc de Merlet, Les Houches in the French Alps

Alsace Christmas Markets

One of the best European destinations with kids, the Christmas markets in the Alsace region of France are typically open from late November to late December. Alsace cities and towns to visit for their outstanding Christmas Markets are Strasbourg, Colmar, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.

On a Europe Christmas road trip, we stayed in the historic town centre of Colmar to visit the Alsace Christmas Markets. Situated in northeast France, Colmar is near the border with Germany and 45 minutes from Strasbourg, the Alsatian region capital.

Colmar makes a convenient base for exploring the Alsace Christmas Markets since the town is a short drive, between 20 to 30 minutes, from the picturesque villages and medieval towns of Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Eguisheim.

If you have time to, it is also a great experience to head into the surrounding vineyards of the Alsace region to visit the local wineries. On our Europe Christmas road trip, we visited one of the wineries,  Maison Gustave Lorentz , which is about 30 minutes drive from Colmar. Make sure to check the opening hours, since many wineries are only open during certain days of the week depending on the time of year.

Read on for more tips and inspiration for visiting the Alsase Christmas Markets;

Colmar France Christmas Markets Guide

Switzerland Road Trips

With its stunning natural beauty, Switzerland is an excellent destination for Europe road trips with kids. We planned a Switzerland road trip over October half term to Zermatt, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald in the Swiss Alps.

Note that to drive in Switzerland, your car must have a special toll sticker, or vignette (sticker or e-vignette). The vignette costs CHF 40 and can be purchased online or at customs upon entering the country. You can find more details or buy a vignette on the Swiss government website .

If you are planning an October road trip to the Alps, do keep in mind that there are limited mountain transport options and some restaurants close for a few weeks until the start of the winter season. In the Swiss Alps, for example, the gondola transport from Grindelwald to Männlichen is typically closed from the last week of October.

For our October half term road trip to Switzerland, the first place we stayed in was Zermatt , located in the Valais region. We then drove north to our Airbnb in Wilderswil, a small village on the outskirts of Interlaken to explore the Jungfrau Region .

Zermatt Valais

Zermatt is a car-free village. If you are travelling by car to Zermatt, you will need to park your car in the neighboring village of Täsch, which is 5km away. Options for parking in Täsch are at the train station, Matterhorn Terminal, or at private car parks.

We booked a parking space in advance at Taxi Christophe , a covered parking lot in Täsch. Taxi Cristophe also arranges the taxi transfers and e-taxis to and from Zermatt. The taxi transfer dropped us off at a taxi station at the entrance of Zermatt. An e-taxi then picked us up moments later and brought us as close as possible to our Airbnb flat.

The highlight of our short stay in Zermatt over October half term was taking the Gornergrat Railway for the 35 minute cogwheel train ride to the top of Gornergrat (3100m). Gornergrat Railway is open year round, with four stops along the way with various options for hiking or snowshoeing

From Gornergrat, we hiked to Riffelsee, which is an easy downhill walk that takes about 30 minutes. Riffelsee is an alpine lake at 2770m offering stunning reflection views of the Matterhorn peak. It is then a short walk up from the lake to Rotenboden station, the next stop on the Gornergrat Railway back to Zermatt.

Jungfrau Region

A popular destination for a Swiss Alps road trip, the Jungfrau region has so much to offer for outdoor activities, stunning natural beauty and tourist attractions. Located in the Bernese Oberland, the Jungfrau region includes the Jungfrau massif, the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald and Interlaken.

The highlights of the Jungfrau part of our Switzerland road trip were exploring Lauterbrunnen, taking the cable car to the mountain village of Mürren and hiking along the Jungfrau Eiger Walk to Kleine Scheidegg.

To visit Mürren (1650m), and enjoy the amazing views overlooking the Lauterbrunnen valley, there is a cable car from the Stechelberg station, which is a 5 to 10 minute drive from Lauterbrunnen village. The brilliant Allmendhubel “Flower Park” playground (1932m) is a short funicular ride away from Mürren. (Note that the Allmendhubel playground is only open from July through early October.)

The following day we drove to Grindelwald, where we took a cable car to Eigergletscher. From there, we walked down to Kleine Scheidegg, following the Jungfrau Eiger Walk, a 2km hike which offers stunning views of the Eiger.

We had lunch at Bergrestaurant at the Kleine Scheidegg station, which I can recommend, before returning to Eigergletscher to take the cable car back to Grindelwald. Another option to get between Eigergletscher and Kleine Scheidegg is to take the Jungfraubahn train that runs hourly. Usually there is also a train that operates between Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg, however, this was closed for maintenance when we visited.

For our stay in the Jungfrau region, we chose a pet-friendly Airbnb rental in Wilderswil that was a comfortable size for our family. The Airbnb had a grill, outdoor patio dining area and garden space with beautiful mountain views. Wilderswil was also conveniently located for exploring the nearby valleys of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.

Pet Travel to Europe

One of the reasons why we love planning road trips is that we can bring our dogs on our family holidays to Europe. Rex and Reya, our German Shepherds, have come with us on Europe road trips to the French Alps , Alsace, Switzerland and Fano Italy .

I have found most places we have visited in France, Switzerland and Italy to be very welcoming to dogs. We haven’t had issues finding pet-friendly Airbnbs, even if it does narrow down the selection. I always check that dogs are allowed before making a restaurant reservation and, generally, most restaurants are dog-friendly.

When planning to travel with a pet to Europe, it is important to speak to your vet about your specific travel requirements well ahead of your trip. Requirements vary by country and you may need to start preparing for your pet to travel weeks in advance. The best resource for up to date information on travelling with your pet is GOV.UK Taking Your Pet Abroad .

Europe Travel Inspiration

I hope you have found this post on planning a road trip in Europe with kids helpful! Find more tips, ideas and inspiration for travelling Europe with children in our travel guides;

Top Things to do in Fano Italy

Tips for Visiting Granada Spain with Kids

Hike to Lago d’Arpy, Aosta Valley, Italy with Kids

Morzine France in Summer Guide

Chamonix France in Summer Guide

Where to Eat in Disneyland Paris

Pin for Later – Best Europe Road Trips with Kids

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The best European road trips with kids.

By Sarah  –  December 12, 2018

The best European road trips with kids? Is there such a thing? Yes. I know hours in a car with bored bambino’s doesn’t scream holiday, but you might well be surprised.

After all we are so lucky living here in Europe in terms of travel. We have a plethora of countries on our doorstep just waiting to be explored and the road is a great way to see all they have to offer. What is more the current EU make up and Schengen countries allows for freedom of travel without border checks. Crossing form one country to the next is at its easiest by car, for now. Ahem  Brexit . Anyway here at Tammymum HQ our travel is very much with ‘kids in tow’. Where we go they go and having children hasn’t stopped us from travelling, by plane, ship and yes by car.  

So here are some of the best European road trips with kids and essential tips for your family to enjoy;

Tips.  It is a popular holiday route for tourists and is best explored during the spring, summer and autumn. Having spent time in Bavaria in the winter months I would avoid visiting at this time as the chances of snow is very high and driving conditions are certainly less favourable. German infrastructure is superb and it makes for perfect driving conditions, especially with kids in tow.

Tips.  It is a short trip which you could complete in about 90 minutes were you not to stop. Do however leave time for stops as you won’t want to drive past some of the views. There is a cafe at the top of the mountain and visitor centre. The route is closed from late autumn through the winter, Norway is so very cold and snowy during those months so those wanting to try this European road trip will have to head there over the spring and summer months.

4. South of France.  If like mine your children are beach kids then this is perfect for you. France not only hosts up some of the best driving roads, the route from Montpeiller to Nice hugs the coast the entire way, offering up some beautiful views. You will have plenty of opportunity to stop of at small seaside towns and run about on the beautiful beaches. You can also stop off at the historic the walled village of Aigues-Mortes or the wetlands of Camargues. You may even want to end your road trip in the glamorous St Tropez.

Tips.  A lot of the roads in France are toll roads so be sure to bring some extra money for the journey. Once again the summer months are probably best for this road trip to avoid the rain and to ensure perfect beach temperatures.

Nearest airport; Montpellier–Méditerranée

Essentials for any and the best European road trips with kids. 

Any road trip needs planning and consideration, those with kids are no different. If anything they might even require that bit more consideration. Here are some essential tips for your European road trip;

A safe car, obviously first and foremost. Tyre tread and pressure needs to be correct, fluid levels such as oil and water need to be topped up, bulbs and batteries all need to be in working order. Before commencing on any long road trip it is always worth getting your car the once over. For peace of mind it might be worth stopping by established motor companies such as Kwik Fit for a service of your vehicle.

Don’t forget the essentials ; here are list of items not to forget; – hands free phone set – in car charger – sat nav & a map. I live by my sat nav but signal can be tricky in places so don’t forget your paper map. – first aid kit – travel sickness remedies – wet wipes – your kids will eat in the car at some point. – entertainment for the kids. You can watch my ‘what to pack in a long haul travel bag’ here for some entertainment ideas that don’t take up a lot of space.

So there we have it some of the best European road trips with kids and some essentials for embarking on them. Hopefully you have found it helpful. Do you have a road trip(s) that you consider to be the best European road trips with kids?

This is a collaborative post. See disclosure for more details.

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About The Author

Sarah, family holiday enthusiast. Travelling the world with two children, filming it and writing about it. One family holiday at a time.

18 thoughts on “The best European road trips with kids.”

Road-tripping through Europe with the kids is such an amazing experience. We road-tripped through Scotland, and it was the most fun we ever had.

Oh I bet that was great fun and some really beautiful scenery!

Europe is amazing, never been to Iceland yet! Beautiful pics.

Chad http://www.mosaicslab.com

A road trip with the kids through Europe? How awesome is that? Your pics showed just how much fun you all had!

Thanks for sharing this! Nice blog. This will totally   be used for my future plans.

Taking a road trip through Europe sounds amazing! Great ideas for the long drive.

This does look like it would be an amazing time. I would love to be able to go to Europe one day.

I love Europe but I also have a baby and I have not returned since giving birth. Thank you for all the ideas. I am hoping once she is a year we can travel more with her.

Wow! What a wonderful European trip for kids. Every places are really beautiful and kids will definitely enjoy their time in visiting these places.

All of these places look like such great little road trips to take with kids. I will keep this list saved for our next family vacation!

a road trip through Europe sounds amazing! what a great way to make family memories

I get intimidated by the idea of taking kids on trips but this gives me hope! Looks like everyone had fun. 😊

Oh wow, such a fun and a great experience you had. So many place to love in Europe. Looks likr the kids really had fun.

Road trips can be tough especially with kids because of the compact space and duration of the drive. I like the fact that going somewhere with outdoor activities exist like the beach you mentioned. At least it will keep them busy and tired on the ride back.

Iceland and Norway are top of my bucketlist, hoping we get there next year

Wow! I really never thought these destinations were good for road tripping with kids! We are in Switzerland so any of these could work for us.

Some great suggestions! Norway is supposed to be amazing x

YAY! I’m so glad you mentioned the South of France, I was born there (Nîmes) it IS beautiful there and I can’t wait to go back and visit some of my family there!

Great advice and thanks for sharing ; )

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Family life

Travel and holidays

Traveling Without a Passport

The Best Places to Travel in Europe with a Baby

For new parents who love to travel, carrying an infant along may seem like quite a task. However, traveling with a baby can be easier than you expect, and finding the right destinations is the key to successful family travel. Here are our top 5 places to travel in Europe with a baby, plus some tips and tricks to make traveling with your baby easier than ever.

Travel to: Europe

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is a city of bright colors and fairytales, which babies (and parents) will love. When the weather is good, head to the Tivoli amusement park and enjoy the funfair booths and beautiful flower gardens.

You’ll also want to visit The Blue Planet, Copenhagen’s famous aquarium with over 20,000 living creatures to entertain your baby. Copenhagen is also a great city for walking tours, which means you can avoid taking public transportation or riding in the car too much.

2. Granada, Spain

With beautiful architecture based in the Moorish era of Spain, Granada has plenty to offer parents. To get a complete tour of the city and rest your legs, get on the hop-on, hop-off city train, an enclosed tram that takes you through the entire city. You can listen to interesting details of Spain’s history while your baby sleeps peacefully. Also, be sure to visit the beautiful Alhambra Palace, wander the gardens, and get a glimpse of Spain in another era.

See Also: What to Pack for Two Weeks in Europe

3. Munich, Germany

While it may be known for Oktoberfest, the German city of Munich has much to offer families as well. An easily walkable city, Munich is home to plenty of family-friendly parks. This includes the 89-acre zoo, Tierpark Hellabrunn, complete with pony and camel rides for kids.

If you’re looking to buy a souvenir or two, head to Obletter, a multi-level toy store with over 16,000 toys.

4. Lisbon, Portugal

This seaside city in Portugal is nestled into a culture that adores children, and many restaurants offer kid-friendly play areas. If you’re looking to relax and soak up some sun with your infant, Lisbon is a great city.

Unfortunately, Lisbon isn’t very walkable since the city is built on steep hills leading up from the coast. However, there is a tram that will take you around, so you can rest your feet and still see the sights.

See Also: The Least-Visited Countries in Europe

5. Tuscany, Italy

Feeling welcome is important, and Italy is another European country that is in love with babies. Many come here for the scenic landscapes and countryside homestays, labeled Agriturismo as an amalgam of agriculture and tourism; here, you can wander the fields and gardens, and if you’ve got a toddler, there will be plenty for them to discover. Also, public nursing is allowed, which is a nice perk for new parents.

Whether you decide to head to Pisa to see the leaning tower, wander through the gothic-style Cathedral of Florence, or just drive through the iconic rolling fields of Tuscany, you and your baby will absolutely love this part of Italy.

Use these tips to travel better with a baby

To make your family travel a success, try these five tips.

Carry your baby using a wrap

Strollers are heavy, hard to bring on a plane, and just plain cumbersome. If you can, try to avoid bringing a stroller by carrying your baby with you.

Using a baby wrap will keep your infant close to you, where they feel most safe, but will also keep your arms free to carry luggage, open doors, eat, and snap photos to cement those memories forever!

Buy disposable baby gear at your destination

Don’t worry about packing tons of extra diapers: just bring enough for the trip. You can always buy basic baby supplies once you get to your destination. Any local supermarket or pharmacy will carry what you need.

Use trains to get around

If you’re using public transportation on your trip, a train is absolutely the safest method. Thankfully, Europe is full of trains, which makes your travel even easier. You can carry your baby with you, and in many cases, they can travel for free!

Plan for one travel hub rather than moving around

While it’s tempting to plan a few nights in Italy, a few in Spain, a couple in Denmark, and so forth, be careful not to overbook your trip.

Instead of planning fewer nights in more places, plan more nights in fewer places. Ideally, find cities that you can call your ‘home base’ and spend the entirety of your trip using one hotel room or apartment. This will make the trip easier for your baby while still allowing you to take day trips to nearby destinations.

See Also: Tips for Travelling with a Baby Under 1 Year Old on a Plane

Avoid the summer months in southern Europe

Southern Europe gets very hot in the summer: it’s not unusual to see temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) for multiple days in a row.

So, when traveling with your baby, it may be best to avoid July and August. But don’t worry: you can catch good weather and avoid the crowds by traveling in May-June or September-October.

While traveling with your new baby may be a bit more challenging than it was before, it’s absolutely worthwhile. For a couple who fell in love with travel before they expanded their family, introducing your baby to new experiences and cultures will leave an impression that will last a lifetime. Best of all, you’ll be strengthening your family ties and developing cherished memories together.

Have you traveled with a baby or small child? Tell us your stories below!

Amy Copadis

Amy Copadis is a freelance writer and blogger currently living in Spain. She writes to fund her addiction to travel and coffee.

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The 10 Best Places to Travel with a Baby in Europe

Traveling with a baby can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. However, with the right preparation and choosing the right destinations, exploring Europe with your little one can be a memorable experience. In this article, we will take a closer look at the 10 best places to travel with a baby in Europe.

Understanding the Needs of Traveling with a Baby

Before we dive into the top destinations, it’s important to understand the unique needs of traveling with a baby . Babies require extra attention and care, so planning your trip accordingly is crucial. From packing essentials to considering baby-friendly destinations, let’s explore further.

Traveling with a baby can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most important things to consider is the comfort and safety of your little one . Ensuring that you have all the necessary items and knowledge to meet their needs will make the journey more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Importance of Baby-Friendly Destinations

When traveling with a baby, it’s important to choose destinations that are baby-friendly. These places offer amenities and facilities that cater to the needs of families with young children. From easy accessibility to stroller-friendly streets and attractions, these destinations make it easier for parents to explore without any hassle.

Imagine strolling through the streets of a picturesque city, with your little one comfortably seated in their stroller. You can easily navigate through the bustling crowds, thanks to the wide sidewalks and ramps designed specifically for families with young children. The local attractions are also designed with families in mind, offering interactive exhibits and play areas for your baby to enjoy.

Furthermore, baby-friendly destinations often have a wide range of accommodation options that cater to families. From hotels with cribs and high chairs to vacation rentals with baby-proofed spaces, you can find the perfect place to stay that meets the needs of your little one.

Essential Items to Pack for Baby’s Comfort

When packing for your trip, make sure to include essential items that will keep your baby comfortable throughout the journey. These may include diapers, wipes, changing pads, baby food, bottles, formula, and extra sets of clothes. It’s always better to be prepared for any situation.

Diapers are a must-have item when traveling with a baby. Make sure to pack enough for the duration of your trip, as well as some extras, just in case. Wipes are also essential for keeping your baby clean and fresh, especially during diaper changes or after meal times.

When it comes to feeding your baby, having the necessary supplies is crucial. Pack enough bottles and formula for the duration of your trip, or if you are breastfeeding, make sure to bring along any necessary accessories. Baby food is also important, especially if your little one has started solids. Consider packing a variety of flavors and textures to keep them satisfied during your travels.

Lastly, don’t forget to pack extra sets of clothes for your baby. Accidents and spills are bound to happen, so having clean clothes on hand will save you from any unnecessary stress. It’s always a good idea to pack a few extra outfits, just in case.

Exploring the Charm of Europe with Your Baby

Europe is known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and diverse cultures . It’s a continent that offers something for everyone, even for families with babies. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best baby-friendly destinations in Europe that you can explore.

The Allure of European Destinations for Families

Europe is home to numerous destinations that provide fantastic experiences for families with babies. From vibrant cities to picturesque towns, there’s something for everyone. The cultural experiences, delicious cuisine, and unique attractions make Europe an ideal destination for families.

One of the most popular baby-friendly destinations in Europe is Amsterdam, Netherlands. This vibrant city offers a range of activities for families, including stroller-friendly parks, interactive museums, and charming canals. Take a leisurely boat ride along the canals and let your baby enjoy the gentle sway of the water while taking in the beautiful architecture that lines the waterways.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed and scenic destination, head to the breathtaking Swiss Alps. The fresh mountain air and stunning landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for a family getaway. Take your baby on a cable car ride up the mountains and enjoy the panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. You can also explore the charming alpine villages and indulge in delicious Swiss chocolates.

For history enthusiasts, Rome, Italy is a must-visit destination. Explore the ancient ruins of the Colosseum and let your baby marvel at the grandeur of the Roman Empire. Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens of Villa Borghese and enjoy a picnic with your little one. Don’t forget to try authentic Italian gelato, a treat that both you and your baby will love.

If you’re looking for a beach getaway, the sunny coast of Costa del Sol in Spain is a great choice. The warm Mediterranean climate and golden sandy beaches make it an ideal destination for families with babies. Take a leisurely walk along the promenade with your little one and enjoy the stunning views of the sea. You can also visit the nearby water parks and let your baby splash around in the shallow pools.

Another baby-friendly destination in Europe is Copenhagen, Denmark. This charming city offers a range of family-friendly attractions, including the famous Tivoli Gardens. Take your baby on a carousel ride and let them experience the joy of the fairground. Explore the colorful Nyhavn waterfront and indulge in delicious Danish pastries.

Europe truly has something for everyone, including families with babies. Whether you’re looking for cultural experiences, scenic landscapes, or beach getaways, Europe offers a wide range of destinations that cater to the needs of families. So pack your bags, grab your baby’s essentials, and embark on a memorable adventure exploring the charm of Europe.

Destination 1: Paris, France

Known as the “City of Love,” Paris has a lot to offer for families traveling with a baby. This enchanting city is filled with baby-friendly attractions that both you and your little one will enjoy.

When visiting Paris with your baby, you’ll find that there are numerous attractions tailored to accommodate families. One of the most iconic landmarks in the city is the Eiffel Tower. Not only will you be captivated by its stunning architecture, but you can also take an elevator ride to the top for a breathtaking view of the entire city. Imagine the joy on your baby’s face as they gaze at the panoramic scenery from the top of this magnificent structure.

In addition to the Eiffel Tower, Paris boasts several beautiful parks that are perfect for families with babies. Jardin du Luxembourg, located in the heart of the city, offers a serene environment where you can take leisurely walks with your little one. The park features lush greenery, picturesque fountains, and even a playground specifically designed for children. Parc des Buttes Chaumont is another fantastic option, with its rolling hills, stunning lake, and charming bridges. Your baby will love exploring the park’s open spaces and enjoying some fresh air.

Baby-Friendly Attractions in Paris

Paris is a treasure trove of attractions for families. The Eiffel Tower, with its breathtaking view, is a must-visit. There are also beautiful parks like Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc des Buttes Chaumont, where your baby can enjoy some fresh air and playtime.

Aside from the iconic landmarks and parks, Paris offers a variety of other baby-friendly attractions. The City of Science and Industry is a fascinating museum where your little one can engage in interactive exhibits and learn about science in a fun and engaging way. The Paris Aquarium is another great option, where your baby can marvel at the colorful marine life and even touch some of the sea creatures under the guidance of trained staff.

For a unique experience, consider taking a boat ride along the Seine River. Not only will you get to see famous landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum from a different perspective, but your baby will also enjoy the gentle sway of the boat and the soothing sounds of the water.

Accommodation Options in Paris for Families

Paris offers a range of accommodation options suitable for families. Look for hotels or apartments that provide baby amenities, such as cribs and baby chairs. Choose a central location that allows easy access to attractions and public transportation.

When it comes to finding the perfect accommodation for your family, Paris has plenty of options to suit your needs. Many hotels in the city offer family rooms or suites, equipped with amenities specifically designed for babies and young children. These amenities may include cribs, high chairs, and even baby-proofed rooms to ensure a safe and comfortable stay.

If you prefer a more spacious and home-like environment, renting an apartment can be a great choice. There are numerous vacation rental websites that offer family-friendly apartments in various neighborhoods throughout Paris. Opting for an apartment allows you to have more space for your baby to play and provides the convenience of a kitchen where you can prepare meals and snacks.

When selecting your accommodation, it’s also important to consider the location. Choosing a central area, such as the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés, will allow you to easily access popular attractions and public transportation. This way, you can spend less time commuting and more time enjoying the wonders of Paris with your little one.

Destination 2: Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a vibrant and colorful city that welcomes families with open arms. With its sunny weather and fantastic attractions, it’s a great place to explore with your baby.

Baby-Friendly Attractions in Barcelona

Barcelona has a variety of attractions suitable for families. Visit Park Güell, a renowned park with stunning architecture and beautiful views. The Barcelona Zoo and the beachfront walk, La Barceloneta, are also great options for family-friendly activities.

Accommodation Options in Barcelona for Families

When it comes to accommodation, Barcelona offers plenty of options. Look for hotels or apartments with family rooms, equipped with cribs and play areas. The city has excellent public transportation, making it easier to explore with your baby.

Destination 3: Vienna, Austria

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city known for its artistic heritage, cultural events, and beautiful architecture. It’s also a fantastic destination to explore with your baby.

Baby-Friendly Attractions in Vienna

Vienna offers several baby-friendly attractions. Visit the Schönbrunn Palace and its extensive gardens, perfect for a leisurely stroll with your little one. The Prater amusement park, with its famous Ferris wheel, provides a fun-filled day for the whole family.

Accommodation Options in Vienna for Families

Vienna has numerous family-friendly accommodation options. Look for hotels or apartments that provide baby equipment and services. The city’s efficient public transportation system makes it easy to navigate with your baby.

Destination 4: Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a city known for its charming canals, colorful buildings, and bicycle-friendly streets. It’s a wonderful destination to explore with your baby.

Baby-Friendly Attractions in Copenhagen

Copenhagen offers a range of baby-friendly attractions. Visit the Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park that offers rides and entertainment for all ages. The Copenhagen Zoo is another great option, allowing your little one to discover various animals from around the world.

Accommodation Options in Copenhagen for Families

Copenhagen provides plenty of family-friendly accommodation options. Look for hotels or apartments that offer cribs and high chairs. The city’s efficient public transportation system makes it easy to get around with your baby.

In conclusion, Europe offers a plethora of wonderful destinations that are perfect for traveling with your baby. From the enchanting streets of Paris to the vibrant city of Barcelona, the cultural hub of Vienna to the charming canals of Copenhagen, each destination has its own unique charm. Consider the needs of your baby, choose baby-friendly attractions, and select suitable accommodation to ensure a memorable trip for the whole family. Happy travels!

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The blog is written and edited by Mum of two, Nicola who lives in the North West of England with husband Neil and their two sons Dexter and Felix.

Join us as we explore days out in the UK, weekend trips away and holidays further afield in Europe and beyond.

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The Ultimate 1-Month Europe Itinerary for Families (2024)

Looking for a 1 month Europe itinerary ? Europe is one of the most beautiful, unique and memorable continents to visit. You are guaranteed to experience the rich history, art and culture, fabulous food, great people and iconic European landmarks on a month-long trip to Europe.

Planning a 1 month itinerary in Europe can be a challenge, as there are many great cities to experience. If you are travelling with family in Europe, you also need to make sure you have an amazing Europe with kids’ itinerary!

The good news is that we have a perfect itinerary for your family trip across Europe in 30 days, offering amazing cities, family-friendly accommodation and straightforward travel solutions. 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my   full disclosure  for further information.

Table of Contents

1 Month in Europe Itinerary Map

Don’t forget to plan ahead when visiting Europe:

🛫 Book cheap flights with WayAway

Get up to 10% cashback on flights with WayAway Plus ! Use the code EuropeanCitieswithKids2023 for 10% off a plus membership.

🛏️ Find the perfect place to stay with Booking.com , or discover your perfect holiday home 🏨 with VRBO

🚗 Find the best car rental deals with Discover Cars

🎫 Book amazing tours and tickets with Get Your Guide

How to Travel Around Europe

There are lots of transport options for travelling around Europe. Here’s what you need to know, so you can choose the right mode of transport for your family:

Travelling Around Europe By Car

Travelling around Europe via car is an excellent option if you are travelling with kids and luggage on a 1-month Europe trip.

The sample Europe itinerary provided offers great 1 month travelling ideas, but with a car, you can easily visit additional places as you are not relying on public transport.

Check out the road rules before you visit/left or right side of the road driving. You can get Eurotrip route ideas from Via Michelin .

View hire car prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Travelling Around Europe by Train

Trains are a great way to travel on your 1 month trip to Europe.

There are many high-speed trains, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery once on board, making this one of the best ways to travel in Europe with family.

Booking online in advance is recommended as you will secure cheaper rates / travel passes.

View tickets and passes here >>>

Flying in Europe

Europe has many options in terms of airlines, with major carriers connecting large European cities as well as budget airlines (EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air) offering great flight prices (additional charges for luggage, seat selection etc.)

You also need to consider travel to and from the airport, but a short flight can allow you to fit more into your 30- day Europe trip itinerary.

View flight prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Europe By Bus

 If you are looking at more of a backpacking trip through Europe with kids than taking bus or coach options offers (if you can travel light), this offers a really cost-effective Europe trip. J

ourneys will inevitably be a bit longer, but it is a great option if the kids have some activities to keep them entertained or can sleep.

Accommodation in Europe for Families:

There is plenty of choice in terms of accommodation for your 1-month tour of Europe. Whether you are looking for budget, mid-range or luxury hotels or a mixture of all three, booking as early as possible is the best option.

Apart from saving money, you can ensure that you are in an area suitable for families.

Another option is to stay in guesthouses, B&B’s, apartments, apart-hotels or pensions. Some of the latter options have more space as well as offering self-catering facilities – perfect for a family trip. Check Booking.com for the latest deals.

Best Time to Visit Europe

Choosing when best to visit Europe can be tricky as you need to factor in the different climates and events that you want to fit in as you travel across Europe for a month.

It is best to consider the positives and negatives of each season, then work out what is the best fit for your family.

In warmer weather, summer is great, so sightseeing and travelling on your 1 month Europe itinerary will be more enjoyable.

The temperature can be high in the Southern part of Europe , but you can counter this with early or later excursions. Many attractions are a lot busier during the school/summer holidays, so booking in advance is a good idea.

Winter is a magical time to visit Europe, particularly over Christmas. If your family loves winter sports such as skiing or snowboarding, there are many great locations in Europe to enjoy these activities.

However, travel in the colder weather may be trickier as there is a strong possibility of rain and snow.

The shoulder months blend these issues in terms of the changeable weather and number of tourists. If you can travel in early Spring or early Autumn, better weather and fewer tourists are more likely.

You may also want to consider visiting at the time you find the cheapest flights and accommodation options .

1 Month Europe Itinerary for Families: A Complete Family Trip to Europe Itinerary

If you’re planning a Europe itinerary of up to 1 month, why not use this this 1 month Europe itinerary:

Days 1 to 3: London, UK

Start your 1 month Europe trip in London. The art, culture and history is amazing, and the city has a real vibrancy.

Highlights include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye and St James’ Park. Enjoy shopping on Oxford Street and Harrods, then head to Covent Garden for lunch, craft markets and street artists.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see a West End show or a Shakespearean play at the Globe Theatre. Two to three days in London is a perfect way to begin your Europe travel itinerary.

Where to Stay in London with Kids

Novotel London Tower Bridge is a Great-value hotel with stylish and spacious family rooms – two children (under 16) can stay free, with breakfast when sharing a room with adults. Families have access to video games, baby equipment, a healthy children’s menu and late check-out on Sundays.

View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London is a Great mid-range hotel on the South Bank of the Thames, opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

You can walk to the London Eye, aquarium, restaurants and theatres in less than 5 minutes. The hotel has a swimming pool, cafes and restaurants (including kids’ menus). View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Hilton London Bankside is a Stunning hotel with an indoor pool, restaurant, gym, cocktail bar and luxury beds. The hotel is close to the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, with great links via Waterloo Station.

The interconnecting rooms are perfect for families, and added touches, like the sweet stall on arrival, set this hotel apart.

View More Places to Stay for Your Dates:

More on The UK – View our UK Homepage

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Days 4 to 7: Paris, France

Paris is a magical and memorable city, so it is well worth spending four days of your 1 month Europe itinerary here.

Must-see activities include the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Art Gallery and Notre Dame cathedral, as well as a boat trip on the River Seine. Centre Pompidou is an amazing museum to visit with kids (buy a ticket for the escalator, which takes you through the colourful tubes on the outside of the building to the rooftop).

Montmartre is beautiful: a traditional Parisian neighbourhood just north of Paris, home to Sacre Couer Cathedral as well as cobbled streets, quaint shops, cafes and street artists.

Disneyland Paris is about an hour from the city centre and well worth a day trip with the kids.

How to Get to Paris from London:

Eurostar: Take the train from St Pancras Station to Gare du Nord, Paris, in just over two hours. There is also the option to take your car on Eurostar.

Flight: Flights from London airports take just over one hour, and you can secure budget prices. View London to Paris flights for your dates ><<<

Ferry: You can travel from Dover to Calais, then take a high-speed train from Calais to Paris (another option is to take your car on the ferry) the entire journey takes 6 to 8 hours.

Bus: Direct coach from London Victoria Green Line Coach Station take 11 hours to Paris (Place du Pantheon).

Where to Stay in Paris with Kids

Le 12 Hotel 41 : This hotel offers a great value junior suite with balcony and a fabulous city view, as well as a family-friendly location in the 8th district. The rooms are modern, well-equipped, and comfortable, with continental breakfast and bike rental available.

Dream Hotel Opera 45 Stylish hotel in the 9 th district, close to Tuileries Gardens and Opera Garnier, with the Louvre museum 15 minutes away.

There are two- or three-bedroom apartments with private hammam access, cots are also available. The hotel is close to Galeries Lafayette, shops, cafes and restaurants. View prices and availability for your dates here >> >

Hotel Regina Louvre 53 Luxurious hotel in the heart of the city, overlooking the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, with views of the Eiffel Tower.

The décor in the hotel is stunning, and the spacious family rooms are exceptional too. There is an inviting breakfast room, bar and restaurant with lovely outside seating areas and a kids’ menu available.

Days 8 to 10: Bern, Switzerland

The third destination for your 1 month in Europe trip is the Swiss capital of Bern .

The charming Old Town is surrounded by the Aare River and has stunning architecture, including the still-working Zytglogge (astronomical clock dating back to 1530), gothic Munster Cathedral and many fountains statues and shops to explore.

Bern is named after the German word for bear, and the BarenPark (Bear Park) is on the banks of the river and home to several bears. The Gurten is the local mountain overlooking Bern and a short tram and funicular ride from the Old Town, so a perfect day trip.

The kids will love the many playgrounds, miniature trains, riding cars, observation tower and plenty of green space.

How to Get to Bern from Paris:

Train: Paris Bercy has a direct train to Bern once a day and additional services to Basel SBB (the stop before Bern where you can transfer). The journey takes 4.5 hours via direct train.

> (opens in a new tab)” href=”https://tp.media/r?marker=298899.1%20month%20europe&trs=424&p=4692&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.co.uk%2Fcar-hire” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored” class=”ek-link”>Compare hire car deals here >>

Flight: Flights from Paris CDG to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiberg (BSL) Basel take just over one hour and you can secure budget prices. There is a 20-minute transfer bus from the airport to Basel train station, then take one of the regular trains to Bern in one hour.

View Paris to Bern flights here >>>

Where to Stay in Bern with Kids

Alpenblick Bern Family-friendly, good value hotel located close to the Old Town with great rooms (bunk beds for the kids!) as well as a café and restaurant on site. Breakfast can be delivered to your room, and cots/extra beds are available too.

Hotel Savoy : Modern, elegant and mid-priced hotel situated in the old town of Bern. Many of the main sights in Bern are within walking distance, as are the quaint shopping streets and restaurants. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable.

Hotel Bellevue Palace Bern : Splash out with a stay at this 5-star palace hotel in the centre of Bern, located in an Art Nouveau building dating back to 1913. The hotel has luxurious family rooms with stunning views of the Alps or the River Aare.

More on Switzerland :

Facts About Switzerland

Basel City Break Guide

Days 11 to 14: Munich, Germany

Munich is a great city to visit as part of your 30-day Europe trip. The city is home to unique museums, huge parks, fairytale castles, and many family-friendly cafes and restaurants.

Munich’s Old Town is beautiful, including Marienplatz (central square) where the impressive Rathaus (Town Hall) and the 100-year-old Glockenspiel with daily shows is located.

The English Garden is in the centre of Munich and is one of the most extensive urban gardens in the world, with lots of family-friendly activities.

Olympia Park is also a great place to visit for the kids to let off steam. The fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle is arguably one of Europe’s best family day trips.

How to Get to Munich from Bern

Train: Take the train from Bern Bhf to Munich Hbf in 5 hours, with one change at Zurich. This is the best combination in terms of price and speed. > (opens in a new tab)” href=”https://tp.media/r?marker=298899.1%20month%20europe&trs=424&p=4692&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.co.uk%2Fcar-hire” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored” class=”ek-link”>Compare hire car deals here >>

Flight: Direct flights from EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiberg (BSL) to Munich Airport take one hour but can be quite expensive (c. €400 per person). See if you can find a good deal for your dates here >>>

Where to Stay in Munich with Kids

H2 Hotel München Olympiapark : Great location in central Munich, family-oriented and good value.

The beds are comfortable, the rooms are stylish, and there is a sun terrace, café and restaurant on site. Olympia Park and the BMW Welt/Museum are close by, and the UBahn (Metro) provides quick transfer across the city.

Citadines Arnulfpark Munich : Apartments only 2km from the old town. This aparthotel is a great option as there are separate living and sleeping areas and a modern kitchen. You can get a continental breakfast on-site or visit the many cafes/restaurants nearby. Cots available/small charge for extra beds. >> (opens in a new tab)” href=”https://tp.media/r?marker=298899.1 month europe&trs=154055&p=2076&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fde%2Fcitadines-munich-arnulfpark.en-gb.html%3F” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored” class=”ek-link”> View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor Luxury 5-star hotel between the English Garden and Olympia Park, with spa, gym, swimming pool and a rooftop bar with fantastic views over Munich and the Alps. There are three restaurants and a café that serves stunning food. Cots and extra beds are available.

More Places to Stay in Munich:

More on Germany:

Germany Facts

Berlin with Kids

Days 15 to 17: Vienna Austria

Vienna is a not-to-be-missed stop on your 30-day Europe itinerary. The City of Music is famous for its majestic castles, palaces, churches and gardens, which the kids will love exploring (Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral are breathtaking).

Vienna State Opera is considered one of the best opera houses globally, so booking tickets in advance is worth booking.

The kids will enjoy a visit to the Prater amusement park, including a ride on the iconic Ferris Wheel, Madame Tussauds, parks, a planetarium and the Schweizerhaus for traditional Austrian food.

Café culture is extremely popular in Vienna, too, don’t miss trying the delicious cakes and desserts!

Read More About Visiting Austria with Kids here >>>

If you’re visiting near Christmas, make sure you visit the Austria christmas markets .

How to Get to Vienna from Munich

Train: Take the direct train from Munich Hbf to Vienna Central Station in just over 4 hours. > (opens in a new tab)” href=”https://tp.media/r?marker=298899.1%20month%20europe&trs=424&p=4692&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expedia.co.uk%2Fcar-hire” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored” class=”ek-link”>Compare hire car deals here >>

Flight: Direct flights from Munich Airport to Vienna International Airport (VIE) take just over one hour (c. €100 per person). You can then take a taxi, train or airport bus to central Vienna, only 18km. 

Where to Stay in Vienna with Kids

Hilton Vienna Danube : Beautiful location on the banks of the River Danube, a short metro ride to the city centre, and very close to Prater amusement park. An open-air riverside pool and bicycle paths along the Danube are outside the hotel.

HeyMi Apartments The apartments are in the centre of Vienna in a fantastic building, with each apartment having a kitchen area and plenty of space.

There is a park with a playground opposite the apartments and an ice cream cafe around the corner, so its perfect for the kids.

Boutique Hotel Stephansplatz: Fabulous hotel in the heart of Vienna, opposite Saint Stephen’s Cathedral and close to many museums, palaces, shops and restaurants.

The hotel is exceptionally family-friendly, with welcome gift bags for the kids, thoughtful touches for the adults, lovely rooms, décor and great food. A great place to recharge half way through your month-long Europe trip itinerary.

  View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

More on Austria:

Innsbruck with Kids

Days 17 to 20: Venice, Italy

The Floating City is an unbelievable place and one of the top places to visit on your 1 month European itinerary. Built on 118 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, separated by canals and linked by 400 bridges, the kids will enjoy exploring the meandering streets and taking an infamous Gondola ride.

St Mark’s Basilica, Doge Palace (one of the best museums of Europe ), and St Mark’s Square are not to be missed.

The kids will love visiting one of the many carnival mask-makers shops (San Polo area) or the glass-blowing island of Murano. Carnival is held during February/early March: an enchanting festival with parades, concerts, markets, ornate Venetian masks and fabulous costumes!

How to Get to Venice from Vienna

Train: Take the direct train from Vienna Central Station to Venice Santa Lucia in approximately 7.5 hours. The station is located on the Grand Canal in the Cannaregio district. Get your tickets here >>>

Car: Driving from Vienna to Venice takes approximately 5.5 hours. View flight prices for your dates here >>>

If you are looking for a 20-day itinerary, you can easily secure a great value flight back home. The dock is a 10-minute walk from arrivals, and you can get tickets at the public transportation desk. Taxi is another option, more expensive but only a 15-minute journey.

Bus: You can take a direct bus from Vienna, Central Station Wiedner to Venixe, and Viale Stazione in just over 7.5 hours.

Where to Stay in Venice with Kids

Locanda Ai Santi Apostoli : Great value hotel, located in a 14th-century building overlooking the Grand Canal and a short walk to the Rialto Bridge and St. Marks’ Square. There are many vibrant fruits, vegetables, and flower markets close by to explore. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Ca’ San Trovaso – 6 Rooms: Quaint hotel with canal views in the quiet district of Dorsoduro. Rooms are decorated in a typical Venetian style, and there is a great roof terrace. You can easily walk to the main attractions, and the Guggenheim Museum is just around the corner. Cots and extra beds are available. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Palazzo Veneziano – Venice Collection : Elegant, centrally located, luxurious hotel close to the Great Canal. with comfortable beds, spacious rooms, great breakfast and welcoming staff. Cots and extra beds are available. Try and book the suite with an outdoor jacuzzi for an extra charge. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

More on Italy:

Amazing Facts About Italy

Lucca with Kids

Florence with Kids

Palermo with Kids

Days 21 to 23: Milan, Italy

Milan is widely known as the capital of fashion, but it is actually a really family-friendly city too. At the heart of Milan is the impressive Duomo (the 5 th largest cathedral in the world), and the kids will enjoy the exciting climb to the rooftop, followed by a visit to Piazza du Duomo nearby for gelato.

Another key landmark in Milan is Castle Sforzesco: an impressive castle surrounded by Sempione Park. Milan Aquarium is located on the edge of the park, so this is a fun activity for the kids to enjoy too.

The National Museum of Science and Technology is the largest in Italy and is dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci with many interactive activities for younger and older kids.

How to Get to Milan from Venice

Train: Take the direct train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale in just over 2 hours.

43 Station Hotel : Budget-friendly hotel, close to central station and with great transport links to explore Milan and further afield. Family rooms are clean, modern and spacious (cots available).

Brera’s lovely cafes and restaurants are 1.2 miles away, while Milan Cathedral is only five metro stops. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Montenapoleone Suites  : Superb Aparthotel, offering beautifully decorated suites with one or two bedrooms, a living area and bathroom (some also have a jacuzzi).

NH Collection Milano President Situated in the historic centre, this superb 5-star hotel is 500 yards from the Cathedral and Milan’s famous shopping street. The family rooms are well equipped and spacious. There is a great Italian restaurant on-site and babysitting service available (extra charge). View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Turin with Kids

Verona with Kids

Days 24 to 26: Nice, France

Nice is one of the most beautiful French cities to visit, located in the heart of the French Riviera and the penultimate city in your 4 week Europe itinerary. Visit the beach and Promenade des Anglais, where you can hire scooters, bikes, and skateboards to explore the 7km promenade.

The Old Town has beautiful winding streets, with many markets, shops, restaurants and cafes to explore. Don’t miss the impressive Castle Hill of Nice, with amazing views, waterfall, playground and café. The kids will love Parc Phoenix, too, with tropical plants, many animals, a lake and a tropical dome!

How to Get to Nice from Milan

Train: Take the train from Milano Centrale to Nice, with one change at Ventimiglia, in 5 hours. Get your tickets here >>

Car: Driving from Milan to Nice takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. View flight deals for your dates here>>>

Bus: You can take a direct bus from Milano Autostazione Lampugnano to Nice Airport in 6.5 hours.

Where to Stay in Nice with Kids

Hotel Aria : Located near Mozart Square in the city centre of Nice, the hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais and the beach. Rooms and suites are bright, beautiful, comfortable and of great value. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Le Windsor, Jungle Art Hotel This unique, quirky hotel will be a hit with the kids, as each room is uniquely designed and decorated by an artist. The hotel is only five minutes from the beach and close to the Old Town, with a tropical garden, swimming pool, fitness and wellness centre. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Goldstar Apartments & Suites : Apartments and studios situated only 5 minutes’ walk from the beach, with most units comprising bedroom, living room, and kitchen (including household essentials, bed linen and towels).

The location is perfect in terms of proximity to the city centre and beach, with great transport links to the adjacent old town. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Days 27 to 30: Barcelona, Spain

The final stop on your 1 month Europe itinerary is Barcelona , one of the best European city breaks and spending four days here is a must.

The city is beautiful, with great weather and ticks many boxes in terms of a perfect city break with kids. Don’t miss Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Casa Battlo, and explore the Gothic Quarter and vibrant Las Ramblas area.

Get Your Park Guell Tickets Here Before They Sell Out!

In the following days, you can take a trip to one of Barcelona’s beautiful beaches, enjoy a football match at the Nou Stadium or visit the historic Montjuic area. If you have the option of a 2-month Europe trip itinerary, then exploring Spain and Portugal would be amazing too.

If you want to see more of Spain on your Europe trip, make sure you read our one week in Spain itinerary for families .

Read More – The Best Family Hotels in Barcelona

How to Get to Barcelona from Nice

Flight: EasyJet flights from Nice Cote D’Azur Airport (NCE) to Barcelona El Prat airport take just over 1 hour and are extremely cheap (from around €35 per person).

You can then take the Aerobus express shuttle to Barcelona, which stops at various locations across the city.

Car: The journey from Nice to Barcelona via car takes just over 6 hours. It may be worth considering a night in Provence to break up the trip if you have time at the end of your 4-week tour of Europe (Nimes is a great option).

Where to Stay in Barcelona with Kids

Aparthotel Bcn Montjuic Located at the foot of Montjuic Hill, this aparthotel offers serviced apartments with a living area, kitchen and bathroom, and an outdoor pool rooftop terrace with solarium.

There are many shops, cafes and restaurants close by and the city centre can be accessed by bus or Metro in 15 minutes. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Sallés Hotel Pere IV : Great hotel, close to the beach and marina area in the Poble Nou district, with deluxe family rooms and great facilities. The indoor pool and spa access are included in the room price, and there is also a great restaurant on-site with a kids’ menu. View prices and availability for your dates here >>>

Gran Hotel Havana : Luxury hotel in the impressive Casa Fradera building (built-in 1882) with rooms decorated in a classic style and exceptional facilities. The rooftop pool and terrace are stunning, and the location in the Eixample area is perfect for exploring the city. View prices and availability for your dates here >> >

Visiting Europe Tips

• Plan ahead and book accommodation, activities, and transportation in advance to save time and money.
• Pack light and bring comfortable walking shoes for exploring cities on foot.
• Remember to bring a Europe travel adapter . There is more than one plug type in Europe.
• Keep passports and important documents in a safe place, such as a hotel safe or a hidden travel wallet.
• Use public transportation, such as trains or buses, to get around and save money on rental cars and parking fees.
• Take advantage of free activities and attractions, such as parks, museums with free admission days, and walking tours.
• Be aware of scams and pickpocketing in busy tourist areas and keep an eye on belongings at all times.
• Consider purchasing an eSIM for your phone to have internet access and stay connected while travelling without incurring expensive roaming charges.
• Bring a first-aid kit and any necessary medications to ensure health and safety during the trip.
• Allow for some flexibility in the itinerary to account for unexpected delays or changes in plans.

Discover More of The Best of Europe

Best Citybreaks for Families

Best Theme Parks for Kids

What is an Airport Transfer?

Copenhagen with Kids

Major Landmarks

Turin with kids

Prague with kids

Return to Homepage >>>

Sylvie Simpson

Sylvie Simpson is the founder of European Cities with Kids. For the past 6 years, she has been travelling all over Europe whenever she has the chance, both solo, for work and with her daughter. Sylvie is on a mission to help people make the most of city breaks in Europe with kids and helps over 50,000 readers per month plan and make the most of their trips in Europe with kids.

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Travel Stories: An Eastern European Road Trip with Kids

I still have not been across the pond with my kids, but this wonderful guest post about an Eastern European road trip with kids from Keryn at Walking on Travels has inspired me to make sure it happens sooner rather than later. I love her laid-back attitude towards road trips – one that I am now adopting as well!

In Trieste | Image courtesy Keryn Means

EUROPE: 3 days, 4 kids, 3 adults & one crazy road trip to Eastern Europe

I’ll admit it. I’m not your typical mom. Oh sure, I look like the mom next door, who runs errands, hauls kids to play dates and lessons, and can never seem to get out of my yoga pants, but I have a dark side. I like to look the status quo in the face, laugh a little, and then shake hands with chaos. This darkness shows up the most when we travel.

In October 2012, I was in Europe for five weeks with my then three-year-old and five-month-old sons. We were visiting friends who had moved over the years for love, work, or who had simply been born there. When a childhood friend moved to Italy, I was the first to raise my hand when he opened his house to visitors.

My friend’s wife was an insatiable traveler; it was travel mom love at first sight. She suggested we pop over to Croatia and Slovenia while I was in town. These countries were two of Italy’s neighbors on the eastern side. I like to equate driving around Europe to driving around the Northeastern part of the USA; two hours and you have already crossed the border.

Boats In Rovinj, Croatia | Image courtesy Keryn Means

Thus began our crazy adventure through three countries in three days. Did I mention there would be three adults with four kids under age 5 in one car? Our plan was fairly simple and looked something like this:

Our Eastern European Road Trip with Kids:

Beautiful Lake Bled | Image courtesy Keryn Means

Day 1: 

Drove from Ferrara, Italy to Lake Bled, Slovenia. We dumped our bags, hopped in a boat over to the church in the middle of the lake to do some sight seeing, grabbed dinner on our way back to the hotel, and went to bed.

Day 2: 

Drove from Lake Bled to Rovinj, Croatia. We had a late lunch when we arrived in Rovinj, explored the town, even found a playground near an open-air market, gelato for dinner, and then off to bed.

Day 3: 

Drove from Rovinj back to Ferrera with a lunch break in Trieste, Italy to break up the 4-hour drive.

This itinerary sounds insane. And it was.

Just as we had stretched our legs and started to settle in we would pack back up, strap the kids in their car seats and hit the road. There were meltdowns and laughter, naps, movies, and endless snacks to see us though.

A few key elements were necessary for our Eastern European Road Trip with Kids:

• Entertainment: Get your A game on, parents. Fill those goodie bags with coloring books, crayons, special toys, and a tablet or portable DVD player when everyone is at the end of their ropes.
• Snacks:  With 3-4 hours between each stop for the night you need to have a variety of snacks and water available for hungry, bored tummies to indulge.
• Restroom breaks:  Breaks of any kind are a must, but those for the restroom are obvious for potty-trained kids, and diaper changing breaks for younger ones.
• Patience:  This trip is not for the faint of heart. Having a companion is key. Know your limits, and when your patience is at an end pull over and catch your breath. You will arrive soon, I promise.
• Lunch stops:  On our way to Lake Bled and on the way home from Rovinj we scheduled lunch breaks about half way through our drive. This was a lifesaver as it let the kids (and parents) stretch their legs, fill their bellies, and get ready for nap time the rest of the drive.

Rovinj, Croatia | Image courtesy Keryn Means

Honestly if I had to do it all over again I would add an extra day in Slovenia and Croatia. A few hours is not enough time to see anything, even a passing glance. Do I regret that we did it? Of course not! I saw two gorgeous sites that have given me a reason to go back to these countries to explore even more.

*************************************************************************

Keryn In Trieste

Keryn Means is the founder of  Walking on Travels , a site that gives hope to today’s modern parent who doesn’t want to stop their lives; they simply bring their kids along for the ride. You can find Keryn dragging her 2 boys around Seattle most days and across the globe several times a year.

Follow along with their adventures on Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Pinterest .

• Toddler Road Trip Tips
• Here’s Why You Should Travel When Your Kids Are Little
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• Tips for International Travel with Toddlers

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7 Responses to Travel Stories: An Eastern European Road Trip with Kids

Great tips – I always, always have food breaks planned, and snacks packed. It seems to be our biggest problem – being hungry at inopportune times!

Looks lovely! I have always wanted to visit Croatia. Patience! The best tip of all 🙂

Thanks for letting me share our wild road trip adventure. I can’t wait to get back over there this fall and see a little more. I’ll definitely be planning a few more days in each stop though.

Eastern Europe is a popular destination for travelers from all around the world. They say that backpacking is the best way to experience everything that makes Eastern Europe such an amazing destination.

I agree with you with the advice of patience! 😀 What makes Eastern Europe convenient is that you can just drive cross countries to enjoy every place there and with patience present, it’ll all be worth it 🙂

Thanks for sharing these tips and useful information.

Croatia is great, but there is much more in eastern Europe than that!! 🙂

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Italy Family Vacations

Spain family vacations, japan family vacations, australia family vacations, tips from a new mom: traveling through europe with a baby.

• By Tanvi Chheda
• June 19, 2018

CB! Family Vacation Advisor and new mom Mandy Cecchetto has wasted no time turning her baby girl into a seasoned traveler! She and her husband have already taken their daughter on several overseas trips, most recently for a monthlong stay in Italy and Germany. We caught up with her to get her road-tested tips for a successful visit to Europe with a tiny one in tow. Thanks for sharing, Mandy — this kind of firsthand insight is priceless!

Best Advice for Vacationing in Europe with a Baby

You recently traveled internationally with your little one for the third time. Tell us where you were headed and what the travel entailed.

We traveled internationally with our baby daughter, Alaria, at 3 months, 6 months and most recently at 9 months. Our recent trip was overseas to Italy and Germany . During our monthlong European adventure, we started with the Italian Lakes Region , the Tuscan countryside and coast and the Eternal City of Rome . During our stay in Italy, we rented a vehicle for Tuscany and used transfers in the busy cities like Rome. Afterward, we flew from Italy to Germany and moved around by trains and transfers.

Want help planning an amazing baby-friendly vacation?

We've traveled the world with infants of every age! Our expert Family Vacation Advisors can help you choose the right destination, book vetted accommodations, create a custom itinerary and more. Click to get started! >

How did your baby do? What were some of the successes and some of the challenges?

Our baby was a great traveler — she absolutely loved being in a new environment! She was fascinated by the sounds, sights and new faces, and she was constantly stimulated from all the beautiful wonders that Italy has to offer. She was easily amused by the birds in the main piazzas, the street performers and the charming waiters who would make her giggle while we enjoyed our delicious meals.

I was, of course, a bit nervous to take her for a monthlong vacation in Europe, but in all honesty, it was amazing, and also easier with a baby since she doesn’t walk yet. While she took cat naps in the stroller, my husband and I relaxed with a glass of wine and some amazing Italian food overlooking Lake Como and the stunning views of the Alps in the background. One of the best parts of traveling with a baby is the royal treatment: priority lines at the airport, jumping the queue at the car rental office and people’s willingness to help you.

One of the challenges we encountered with her was jet lag and her schedule being off. But don’t stress about routine, as babies are very resilient! Moving around with a little one also has its challenges because you have so much stuff for the baby. One way to help with this is to have a single home base so you can truly unpack and unwind. In addition, we adjusted the pace of the trip to accommodate having our little one in tow. Changing the pace of our trip actually made for a more relaxing vacation as we truly enjoyed la dolce vita! Our pace was much slower than what we usually do; at most, we would have one activity or sight scheduled per day. We certainly didn’t try to tackle sights like the Vatican and did not commit ourselves to jam-packed touring days. Instead, we soaked up the atmosphere, sat in the piazzas and visited local markets.

What, if anything, surprised you?

All the attention our baby received from the locals was a pleasant surprise. Italians absolutely love children and even strangers were very eager to help us!

The hospitality at the hotels was amazing; the Ciao Bambino properties we stayed at were so accommodating with kids. The waiters would literally entertain Alaria so that we could enjoy our meal. The baby crib was always set up upon arrival; the high chair was ready for us during breakfast; pureed baby food options were available; and our rooms were always conveniently located near the main building (and oftentimes on the ground floor). The staff really went above and beyond to help us and make our stay as enjoyable as possible.

We were also surprised at how kid-friendly and inclusive the environment was at our accommodations, for children of all ages. It was great to see and meet so many other families while at our hotels and traveling around.

What are your top tips for parents traveling with a little one?

• A good stroller that is easily collapsible is key. You can toss all your baby stuff and diaper bag under the stroller and take it with you everywhere! Make sure to keep it with you at the airport right until you get to the gate; this will come in handy as you walk through the airport.

• Book the right accommodations and a room suitable for a baby. A suite with a terrace is ideal for the extra space and to have a spot to hang out while the baby sleeps. Having a baby-friendly hotel will make your life so much easier. Contact the properties in advance to ask for a crib and high chair. If you aren’t bringing your own car seat, make sure you rent one.

• Pack wisely! When you have a little one, it’s necessary to plan in advance for what you’ll need on the flight, day trips, etc. Bring a small medical kit, and always have extra sleepers, food, diapers/wipes and a charged cell phone.

• You need to be well-prepared and have a plan, but don’t have too much structure. I recommend planning a domestic mini vacation before going on a long-haul overseas trip. Use the first few days of any trip with a baby to relax, and have the same home base for at least four nights. Don’t worry about a strict schedule — roll with the punches.

What was the best day/moment of the trip and why?

This is a tough one because every day was so unique and special. The one day that stands out the most for me was in the Tuscan countryside. It was a relaxing day with our baby in the beautiful rolling hills, where our views looked like they were from a postcard. There were so many other children and babies around.

Even though our baby won’t remember these trips, we certainly will remember and will share all of these incredible stories with her. It’s been said that travel changes you. It has changed us in a good way, making us better people, better global citizens and definitely better parents. Our baby is more resilient and able to adapt to changes due to our travels, and we have created a lifetime of memories with her that we will cherish forever. I’m so happy that we traveled with Alaria and we will continue to travel the world with her, as it is so rewarding.

Relevant Links:

Get all tips and ideas for traveling with a baby on Ciao Bambino

In-flight entertainment, baby and toddler style

Essential tips for traveling long distances with a baby

Essential tips for traveling in Europe with a toddler

The secret to a toddler-friendly Tuscan holiday? Ciao Bambino!

Case in point: Why we love traveling in Italy with children

Editor’s Note: Photos courtesy of Mandy Cecchetto.

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Can’t wait to go back to Italy!! 🇮🇹❤️🍷🍝

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27 Best Places to Travel with a Baby (Safe + Baby-Friendly)!

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Home » 27 Best Places to Travel with a Baby (Safe + Baby-Friendly)!

Are you wondering where to travel with a baby?

Our youngest daughter, Avalee, was just 2.5 months old when we embarked on our very first trip with her. Our first trip with her took us to Bali, Lombok, and the Gili Islands.

After Indonesia, we ventured further afield to Australia and explored Perth and Sydney.

We then set off to Asia visiting Japan and Europe for a big extended road trip that included France, Switzerland, and Italy – all before Avalee had reached her first birthday! As seasoned family travelers (we have 3 children) we’ve learned a lot about what works best when traveling with babies in tow.

With input from other parents who have traveled with their babies too, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to travel with a baby along with practical tips based on our experiences on how to choose the perfect baby-friendly holiday destinations. 

Just because you have a new baby doesn’t mean you have to be stuck at home. Now is a great time to make memories with your little one and travel the world!

It might not always be easy to travel with a baby, but in my opinion, it is always worth any challenges.

Here is a list of the best baby-friendly countries to visit to ensure your trip will run as smoothly as possible.

27 Best Places to Travel with a Baby in the World

Wondering where to travel with your baby?

We love traveling with our baby as we scout out the best places to visit with an infant.

In our opinion, the best countries to visit with a baby in USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Italy, and the UK, but you can find more ideas on our list down below.

But first! Sign up for our ‘Wanderlust Storytellers Family Tribe’ newsletter to get loads of helpful information about how to travel with a baby! 

1. Tuscany, Italy

For one of the best holiday destinations with a baby or even older kids, head to beautiful Italy!

Children are adored in this country, and you will find that Italians will often go out of their way to help parents. And expect them, to come to say hello to your little ones too.

Italy is one of the best places to go on holiday with a baby. It is easy to find some beautiful family-friendly accommodation options.

We chose Tuscany for our list because it has plenty of stroller-friendly destinations.

I recommend you choose either Florence or Lucca for a home base. Both cities are great for strollers, although we recommend a stroller with large cushioned wheels to handle bumpy or cobble-stone roads.

Florence has plenty of playgrounds for older babies and toddlers, and the restaurants typically can prepare a small plate for younger kids or a simple pasta dish (when Avie was a toddler, she often had simple pasta and butter).

If you decide on Florence, be sure to have a look at the best neighborhood to stay in Florence .

You can also find many beautiful small towns scattered through Tuscany that will allow you to explore this region of Italy without the masses of tourists.

Recommended attractions in Tuscany that you should see with your baby include the Leaning Tower of Pisa and The Boboli Gardens.

If time permits, you should also visit Capo Sant’Andrea on Elba Island (make sure to take baby beach shoes if you are planning to spend some time on the beach).

Personally speaking, Italy is arguably the best place to travel with baby options for us so far, as well as one of the best baby-friendly travel destinations and baby-friendly countries.

• Bring your baby carrier along, as you will often find stairs at the main attractions in Italy.
• Always have a baby change mat on hand, as change tables in public restrooms are rare.
• You can rent a stroller in Italy, and check out sites such as TravelBaby.It and BabyGuest.com.
• Pre-book your taxi online , that way, you can request a baby car seat for the transfer as well.

Where to Stay in Tuscany with a Baby:

We recommend basing yourselves in either Florence or Lucca (cheaper) and then planning your day trips from there.

Best Place to Stay in Florence with a Baby:

• Best Hotel: For a fantastic stay I would choose  MyFlorenceHoliday Gold Bridge . Their family room includes a cot and high chair and has a kitchen area where you can prepare bottles etc. The hotel is located 100 meters from Ponte Vecchio.
• Best VRBO: I love The Time Machine apartment which is located next to Palazzo Vecchio. It has 2 bedrooms and includes a travel crib, high chair, and dishes & utensils for kids- it also has a lift to the apartment which is on the second level.

Best Place to Stay in Lucca with a Baby:

• Best Hotel: The 4-Star Hotel Ilaria has a triple room that includes a cot. This popular hotel is located in the historic centre of Lucca.

Further Reading:

• Visit Tuscany with Kids (Tips and Information)
• See our full blog post with helpful information about traveling to Italy with a baby
• Watch our Video on YouTube: Italy with a Baby or Toddler .
• Florence with Kids

Wondering where to travel with a baby in Asia?  Japan is one of the best places to travel with an infant in Asia.

This destination is very baby-friendly. You can easily choose from some of these great destinations in Japan perfect for first-timers .

“ Baby Cafes ” located throughout Tokyo have childproof areas and food for mom and dad to purchase.

There are also family rooms throughout (mainly in the larger supermarkets) around, the larger cities where moms can nurse or change their babies.

Baby supplies are available from pharmacies, and let’s not forget how clean the country is (you won’t see rubbish anywhere!).

• Bring your baby carrier along and leave your stroller at home.
• You will typically find beautiful baby rooms in the larger supermarkets.
• Public restrooms should have change tables and a parent-friendly toilet with a baby highchair, so you have somewhere to pop baby while you do your business.
• Choose Airbnb over small hotel rooms.
• For toddlers, we can highly recommend some popular theme parks such as Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan.

READ MORE: See our helpful post on how to visit Japan with a baby

3. London, England

London is one of the best places to travel in Europe with a baby.

This city has parent rooms and changing facilities readily available, making it a great place to visit with a baby.

Many sights can easily be accessed by public transportation or on foot. We love how easy the city is to navigate with a stroller; simply use the   step-free Tube map to navigate the underground with your stroller.

Breastfeeding in public is accepted and considered perfectly normal. Children under five can travel for free on public transport, and there are plenty of family-friend restaurants.

If your bubs is a bit older, he/she might also really enjoy outings to a  baby disco, one of the children ‘s  theatres, the city farms, zoos, or a day out at one of the many parks.

• Top 10 Things to do in London with Kids
• Make sure you download NCT’s Babychange app, which will show you all the baby-changing facilities in your vicinity, and the Wowmum app, which lists baby change areas, as well as child-friendly activities, parks, and more.
• Book your taxi online. Book Taxi London is a reliable website that you can use to quickly and easily book your taxi (you can even select to have a car seat for your little one)!

After one of the most affordable places to visit with your baby?

With rice paddies, waterfalls, beaches, and great people, Bali certainly has it all.

This dreamy vacation is very baby-friendly, and nannies or babysitters are super affordable.  You can also very easily rent baby gear and equipment for super low prices if you need them.

Hotels and resorts will be equipped with baby cots and high chairs, and with a bit of effort, you can also pre-book transfers with baby car seats.

Avoid Kuta and head to more family-friendly areas such as Canggu, Ubud, Legian, Jimbaran, or Nusa Lembongan.

We love to combine some time in Ubud to soak up the peaceful rice paddy atmosphere with some luxury and relaxation at one of the beachside areas such as Canggu or Jimbaran.

Bali might be the best place to travel with a baby for those living in Australia.

• Bring your baby carrier along and leave your stroller behind
• Always have a baby change mat on hand
• Book a cheap nanny to tag along with you on your outings
• Pre-book your transfers if you wish to have a baby car seat
• Don’t forget to bring along your  sun tent for baby , as well as some handy and essential  beach items for baby

5. Tulum, Mexico

One of the best travel destinations with a baby if you are after some beautiful beaches and warm weather. This city can make for a very relaxing vacation.

Many family-friendly beaches and hotels accommodate those traveling with babies, as they often provide cribs and strollers.

If you are wondering if it is safe to travel to Mexico with a baby, you will be glad to know that it is.

What you will need to consider is taking enough baby formula if you are not breastfeeding your little one as the variety of formula available is limited.

If you do use baby formula, make sure to use bottled water when making your baby’s milk.

If you do take a baby stroller, take one that can fold up and will fit easily into any taxi that you may take whilst on holiday.

If you are planning on venturing out and about, a baby carrier is a great choice as you will be hands-free, and is perfect for any hikes are strolls on the beach.

Top places to visit include Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Playa Paraiso.  Mexico offers some of the best baby-friendly travel destinations for those in the USA.

6. Chicago, Illinois

One of the best places to travel to with a baby in the United States is Chicago. This city is so baby friendly making it hands down one of the best cities to travel with a baby and one of the best travel destinations with baby options.

The great thing about Chicago is that it has a ton of baby sights, attractions, and tours to enjoy.

Taking your baby out and about during the day is great for you and the baby and in Chicago, they celebrate that.

The town of Chicago has free stroller tours at some of the area’s major museums, including The Field Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, and The Museum of Contemporary Art.

Besides the museums, you can also visit the Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier.

If you are explicitly wondering where to travel with a newborn, this would be one of our top picks.

7. Montreal, Canada

After stroller-friendly places to visit with a baby? One of the nice things about Montreal is that it’s very stroller-friendly.

Numerous kid-friendly festivals occur throughout the year. Popular attractions include Jean-Talon Farmer’s Market, Clock Tower Beach, and The Botanical Gardens.

If you visit Montreal outside of these festivals do not worry because there is still lots to do. Experience much of the cultural scene in Montreal by visiting many of the galleries and museums. Kids under 12 can go free to many of these local Montreal attractions.

In summer there are many parks and open green spaces that you can enjoy as a family. Enjoy a picnic and the many playgrounds that can be found in the parks.

Montreal boasts a large variety of baby-friendly and welcoming cafes and restaurants, so when it comes to enjoying a bite to eat, you and your baby can relax.

8. Tasmania, Australia

Definitely, one of the most baby-friendly countries to visit.

Australia is another brilliant country to visit with a baby. While there are many baby-friendly places to travel to in Australia, we love Tasmania.

This Australian state is an excellent destination for children of all ages. You can easily find high chairs in restaurants, which typically have special kids’ menus to keep toddlers happy.

You can easily find all baby supplies in small or large grocery stores. Hotels have cots available (typically free of charge), and destinations are all stroller-friendly.

One of the nice things about Tasmania is that you don’t have to haul a stroller with you on your flight if you don’t want to because plenty of stroller rentals are available.

Many activities here are nature-based, including a visit to the Bay of Fires and Russell Falls. A great activity during the summer months is to head to one of the beautiful sandy beaches for some much-needed relaxation.

9. Wales, United Kingdom

Wales is another one of the best places to travel with a baby in Europe!  People love babies in Wales and will bend backward to ensure you enjoy your time here as much as possible.

Hotels will provide everything from cribs to baby gates and can even recommend babysitting services if you need some alone time. Good places to visit with your baby include Cardiff Castle, Tenby Harbour, and Bodnant Garden.

When you are out and about enjoying the lush Welsh countryside, be sure to take a baby carrier with you.

If you plan to spend more time exploring the Welsh villages and towns, a baby stroller will definitely come in handy. If you can, a stroller that folds up compactly is best as you are guaranteed it will be able to travel in your taxi.

10. San Diego, California

This is one of the most baby-friendly destinations on the list. There are a lot of boardwalks, walking trails, and plenty of beaches.

If you take a stroller with you when you travel to San Diego with a baby, you will be able to move around with ease.

If you are looking for some great baby-friendly activities then a visit to the Birch Aquarium, Mission Beach & Boardwalk, or the San Diego Botanic Garden are all great choices.

Be sure to also make your way to the San Diego Zoo. This huge zoo has so much to see and do and is a huge amount of fun for everyone.

If you visit during warmer months, be sure to pack sunblock and a swimming costume so you can take a dip at the many beaches.

Pack some kids’ beach toys or grab a set from one of the local shops on the boardwalk as all kids love to play in water and sand and most of all build sandcastles.

For kids big and small, head to Legoland which is under an hour’s drive from San Diego. The best part about the rides at Legoland resorts is that they do not have height restrictions so even the shortest of visitors can enjoy the rides when visiting.

Is it any surprise that Hawaii happens to be one of the best places to vacation with a baby? This island is a dream vacation for many due to the many resorts that cater to families.

So it is probably no surprise that Hawaii happens to be one of the best places to vacation with a baby!

If you do not want to explore the island and just need to relax and take it easy, then staying at your beach resort is great as you can lunge around the pool or on the beach.

Head to the beach for some sand and fun and when baby is tired and ready for a nap, the room is only a short walk away. If you want to do an activity that is a bit more strenuous, many of the resorts do offer activities at the resort that you can enjoy.

The best way to get around this island is with a rental car. You will be able to see plenty of amazing sights that will allow you to take unforgettable pictures of yourself and your baby.

Exploring Hawaii by car also means that your baby can take a nap when traveling and not be tired to enjoy the sights.

Baby-friendly places include Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail and Valley of the Temples.

12. Cape Town, South Africa

Not many people associate good places to travel with a baby, including South Africa. However, those who’ve been to Cape Town know it’s one of the best places to visit with a baby or even older kids.

Cape Town is also one of the best cities to visit with a baby because baby facilities are readily available everywhere.

There are plenty of picturesque views and things to do, visiting the penguins, heading out on a boat to see the seals, or having a picnic in a vineyard.

If you want to travel around Cape Town then make sure to rent a car. Many places that you will visit may be an hour or so drive out of the City center.

You do not need to take a car seat with you as many of the car rental companies will be able to offer you car seat rental.

Cape Town is known for its many wine farms. If you think that visiting is not great for kids, you will be pleased to know that many of the wine farms cater to all ages, with most offering children their own version of a “wine-tasting menu “with treats and kids’ drinks.

Nearly everywhere you visit a baby chair will be available to use. Most wine farms have play parks for kids to enjoy with swings, slides, and jungle gyms. If you are traveling with older kids.

Head to one of the many beaches, the most renowned being Camps Bay and enjoy a sunset picnic.

You can find our full guide on how to travel South Africa with a baby here. We visited South Africa with our youngest and two older kids and spent 5 weeks exploring various parts of the country and we loved it!

Further Reading

• Grab some ideas of what to do in Cape Town with kids here.

13. Taipei, Taiwan

Another popular destination for family travelers in Taiwan. This destination is very safe and the people of Taiwan are very welcoming of babies and children.

Many places in Taiwan have mothers’ rooms, similar to those found in Japan, but this city is a great place to travel with a baby because of its many attractions.

Unlike other places, you can easily strap a baby into a stroller and walk around, as the terrain isn’t tough to maneuver making it super easy to get around and explore.

This allows families to see a lot of exciting sights like Longshan Temple or Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

The city of Taipei is exciting and colorful and at night looks a lot like Times Square in New York.

Head to the 101 Building which cannot be missed when you arrive in the city. You can go up this building and it is strongly recommended to buy tickets in advance rather than queuing.

Head out of the city and you will find the Silver Stream Cave which is a temple carved into the rock face behind a stunning waterfall. The nerve-wracking walk-up is definitely worth the trek and be sure to pack a baby carrier for this to make the walk easy.

Belize is one of the most baby and kid-friendly places to visit. It has so many different attractions and activities that everyone can enjoy.

One of the other biggest perks for families visiting here is its affordability.

The country is also English-speaking, so you don’t have to worry about the need to whip out your language translator while trying to balance a baby on your hip.

There are a lot of great places to take your little one in this country, including the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm and the Mayan Ruins.

If your trip to Belize is to have some downtime and not be out and about too much, be sure to stay at one of the many resorts that offer guests all they need from horseback riding to pools and a health spa.

You can easily find what you need in the stores in Belize however if your baby is drinking formula, it is best to take your own with you as you may not be able to find the same make in Belize.

15. Ecuador

Ecuador may not be the first place you think of when traveling a with baby however you will find that this country is very welcoming of children and is affordable for a family vacation.

Ecuador is one of the best places to visit in South America, so you can’t go wrong with this destination!

The safest way to get around Ecuador is by renting a vehicle. Although there is a lot of public transport like taxis and buses, seatbelts are not always readily available and the maneuvers that the drivers take along the winding roads are quite hair-raising!

When it comes to mealtimes and feeding, you will be pleased to know that breastfeeding is very acceptable and normal. If you need baby formula, this is readily available however you may not find your usual brand.

The terrain is challenging to get around with a stroller, so you will need to use a baby carrier instead. You can even take a backpack carrier as this will be the easiest way to get around and carry your baby.

It’s worth exploring the city as much as possible with your baby as there’s a lot to see. This includes The Otavalo Indigenous Market and the Manabi Coast.

It can get pretty noisy at night too so you may want to bring along something to create white noise. Top tip – book hotels and places to stay that is away from main roads to help reduce the noise at night.

Wondering where to travel with your baby in Greece?

Those who visit Greece can tell pretty quickly that the culture is family-oriented. Often children can eat free at restaurants, stay free at hotels and ride public transportation for free.

While we recommend you leave the cliff-top towns such as Santorini for another year, you could visit many other beautiful destinations in Greece with your baby in tow. 

There are many islands that you can visit in Greece offering you and your baby warm beaches to enjoy like the infamous Mykonos.

Another great place to visit in Greece is Crete and the great thing is that this is not the first place most people think of visiting in Greece.

This makes it a great destination as it is not crowded and Crete also has a range of activities to do with kids.

Greece is also a very safe place to visit so it is a definite for any family vacation. If you want to explore by walking, a stroller may be difficult to use so a baby carrier may be best. Or a stroller with larger wheels will be ok.

Make sure you and your baby visit the Plaka District of Athens and The Castles Of Rhodes.

How To Get Around

Of course, the best way to get around Rhodes is with the locals. Get your local Rhodes taxi here.

And if you are staying in Athens (check out our list of the best hotels with rooftop pools in Athens here ), the best way to get around town is by taxi! Book your taxi here !

• The Best Places to Visit on a Family Holiday To Crete
• Where to visit in Greece for first-timers

17. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is full of incredible sights to explore; it would be a shame not to discover the elegant harbors because you have a baby. Instead, Stockholm is one of the best places to travel with a baby.

One of the best things about Stockholm is that you can walk almost everywhere. It is an incredibly safe city and is the perfect size for a family to explore.

Sweden is one of the best places in Europe to visit with kids , because there are plenty of age-appropriate entertainment spots, such as;

• Old Town – the quaint part of town with fantastic toy stores
• Vasparken – a massive park with a lovely playground
• Skansen – a giant ocean-air museum and zoo

It is a legal requirement for all city buses to ensure space for wheelchairs for disabled people and prams for children. This makes it easy to get around if you push a stroller.

A trip to Stockholm is one of the best baby-friendly vacations you can plan.

Tip: One of the best ways to check out Stockholm is from the water. Take a look at our list of best Stockholm boat tours here.

The USA is one of the best baby-friendly vacation spots in the world. There are so many different places in the USA that it is a hard choice of where to go when visiting the USA with a baby and young children.

Washington, DC, is such a vibrant, beautiful city, and it promises to be a memorable and enjoyable experience for the whole family. It is an icon of democracy, full of history and progressive happenings.

There is so much to see and do – a lot of which is free. The best time to visit Washington, DC, with your baby is during spring (March to May), as the temperature is pleasant, with the pink cherry blossoms blooming around early April.

Avoid July and August, which can get uncomfortably hot and cause your baby to fuss.

The city has an excellent public transport system, making getting around easy. While the law doesn’t require car seats for cabs, you can pre-request one for a taxi or Uber.

Florida is another great place to visit and has so many family-friendly resorts to choose from. Florida is well known for all the amusement parks for toddlers such as Disney World, Magic Kingdom Park, etc.

Your young children and even baby will love the splash pads inside Magic Kingdom

Take a trip to Utah to see Zion National Park. There are short hikes inside the park which will be enjoyable for the whole family.

If you do decide to hike in Zion National Park, make sure to take a baby hiking carrier. Find more tips for visiting Zion National Park with kids here.

The same applies if you visit Colorado and the Rocky Mountain National Park.

North Carolina has many fun activities for the family. There is the North Carolina Zoo which is bound to make your little one smile.

Spend a night or two under the stars in the Uwharrie National Forest. There are many activities that you can do from swimming to fishing and boating. Make sure that you put safety first and use life vests for water sports and activities.

If you happen to travel to New York, make sure to take a stroll around central park. It is perfect for walking with a baby stroller or baby carrier.

19. Reykjavik, Iceland

Due to the chilly temperatures, Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland are often overlooked when deciding where to travel with a baby.

However, the city is breathtakingly beautiful, and if you bundle up your baby, you can enjoy the Northern Lights, geothermal hot springs, and fascinating history without the fuss!

Boasting surreal landscapes and fascinating natural phenomena, your little one may be lucky enough to capture a memory.

Reykjavik is fast becoming a trendy tourist destination, so there have been increased tour options. Many of these tours are family-friendly and remove all the fuss when planning your trip.

Make sure you pack in a few extra warm goodies, and you and your baby are good to go.

20. Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Jamaica is known as a paradise getaway, and no reason having a baby should change this experience. Runaway Island in Jamaica prioritizes an atmosphere of relaxation and is one of the top places to travel with a baby.

As a fabulous family vacation destination, Runaway Bay boasts many villas, resorts, and accommodation options focused on the family. Many of these resorts offer family-sized rooms that can comfortably sleep up to three children.

Many of these resorts also help arrange the services of a nanny or babysitter to help you better relax on the beach. Some resorts even have a baby club where trusted employees mind your child during nap time.

If we can give you one little piece of advice, it’s to pack a lot of sunblock (keeping in mind that babies under six months can’t use sunblock). Chances are, your little one will enjoy the sun, sand, and clear waters as much as you.

21. Cascais, Portugal

Cascais is a quaint village in Portugal full of culture, history, and, most importantly, families. The laid-back destination promises one of the best vacations with infants possible.

There is a tangible warmth in the air reflected in the locals’ cheery expressions, and it is sure to be a holiday you will never forget.

If you don’t choose to push your stroller on the wide, open streets, you can be comforted that child seats in taxis are not mandatory, making taxi cabs easily accessible.

There is a wide selection of parks, calm beaches, and historical sites to explore. One thing to remember is that the rich traditions in the seaside village mean that local restaurants don’t necessarily serve chicken nuggets and the like.

However, if your baby wants to venture from their formula, you can rest assured that the local food isn’t particularly spicy and generally quite soft.

22. Vail, Colorado

Vail, Colorado, is one of the best places to travel with a baby.

The breathtaking images of gorgeous mountains, vast open spaces, and reflecting lakes may make you think Vail is better suited to adults; however, that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

There is an entire baby brand named ‘Travel Vail Baby’, which serves as proof of how excellent the destination is for infant-friendly vacations.

The baby and toddler equipment rental company provides cribs, strollers, high chairs, hiking backpacks, and bouncy seats (among many other items) to help parents enjoy Vail’s jagged peaks and slopes.

When ascending to higher altitudes, your baby should be fine, as babies older than three months old adjust to altitude much better than adults.

Handy Tip: The Vail Public Library has incredibly fun baby storytime!

23. Barcelona, Spain

A trip to Barcelona with your baby is a sure way to begin stimulating their creativity from a young age.

From the eccentric design of the Gaudi buildings to the intricate stained glass windows of the cathedrals, your baby will be so busy absorbing the environment that they’ll have little time to cry.

If you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona, travel in the summer when you can enjoy the multiple parks and outdoors. Babies are often happier and more relaxed when moving about.

With so many sights and attractions, you can be sure your little one will be happy as a clam.

Top tip: Make sure to pack a sling or baby carrier. The streets in Barcelona are cobbled, and the bumps could make your baby uncomfortable.

24. Nice, France

Nice is a romantic and magical destination filled with bustling alleyways, quaint little shops, and outdoor restaurants.

One of the best parts about traveling to Nice, France, with a baby is the excellent promenade which offers surreal views while pushing a buggy.

As Nice is such a popular tourist destination, you’ll find that the hospitality industry accommodates babies.

From heating bottles to providing changing facilities, you can visit Nice quickly without any baby hassles.

The French Riviera offers sun, sea, and delectable food; it would be a shame to miss out on this. The charming city is easy to travel to with a baby, especially if you follow our tips on how to travel through France with a baby .

25. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is one of the most accessible places to visit with a baby. The cosmopolitan city has a lot to offer the entire family and caters to its attractions.

In addition to fantastic shopping, music, and food experiences, there are a lot of free and budget attractions to enjoy.

Seoul has plenty of indoor playgrounds, known as Kids’ cafes that are great for toddlers under two years old. These are a great option during the extreme seasons when the weather can be icy or uncomfortably hot.

The city’s very efficient public transportation system and a wide variety of family-friendly accommodation options make day-to-day living in Seoul very easy.

If you prefer to walk, you’ll be pleased to know that Seoul is also fairly stroller friendly.

One piece of advice is to not breastfeed in public. The Koreans don’t make a habit of the practice, so choosing to do so will attract unwanted attention.

Although there are baby nursing stations in larger subway stations, department stores, and restaurants.

26. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin City and the rolling green hills surrounding the area are on the top of many people’s bucket lists – for a good reason.

There is a stunning culture of friendliness in the city, and the beautiful design of the city mimics the breathtaking landscapes on the outskirts.

Dublin is well-supplied with formula, food, nappies, and clothing for your little one. Most restaurants will go as far as to prepare a bowl for your child and offer high chairs and baby-changing facilities.

Getting around Dublin is very easy. In addition to speaking English, the city is also easy to navigate, and baby car seats are available for a small additional cost. There is even a child-friendly taxi service .

There are many baby-friendly activities to discover in the city, including live Irish music performances.

Be aware that Dublin has quite a vibrant pub culture, and while children are allowed in the pubs and bars during the day, they are not legally allowed entry after 9 pm.

27. Thailand

Thailand is such a great destination to travel with a baby as it is so baby friendly. We love traveling to Thailand and have done it many times with our daughter when she was a baby and a toddler.

The Thai people and culture are so welcoming it makes this country a perfect destination for families who want to travel to a beach destination with a baby.

Another perk is that there are quite a few 4+ star hotels that are more than willing to accommodate your baby’s needs.

Many of them include indoor pools and even water parks. If you are after great cultural travel destinations with a baby, you can’t look further than Thailand. Here is a list of the best resorts on Koh Samui for families .

Some of the best places and great destinations to travel with a baby in Thailand are Khao Lak, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui .

How to Choose Infant-Friendly Holiday Destinations

Wondering how to choose the best place to travel with an infant? Find below some of our requirements when we decide where to travel next.

1. Is the Transportation Safe?

An important consideration when we choose holiday destinations with our baby is whether transportation will be safe for our little one.

For example, you might consider whether taxis and private transfers offer infant travel car seats. 

If they don’t, it might be best if you rent a car and add a child car seat onto the rental costs, or you might prefer to bring your own – find a post on the best infant travel car seats to travel with here.

(However, it is essential to check if your car seat can be adequately secured in a different country as they all have different systems to install car seats).

How safe are these to use if you plan to take public transport? Some countries are crazy when it comes to driving.

Think about what you are comfortable with and choose the best vacation that ticks your boxes.

2. Is the Climate Baby-Friendly?

Look at the average temperatures and how much rain the destination will get at the time of year you plan to visit.

We made the mistake of traveling to Asia during their hot season, and our baby developed a heat rash from the constant heat; it made life more challenging than it needed to be as she was unhappy and pretty grumpy.

We also went to Japan when it was freezing, and it was tricky to keep our little baby warm and snug in the temperature.

3. Keep Travel Time Short

Keep flight time as short as you can. It is much easier to fly with a newborn who sleeps a lot, in comparison to a baby who has just become mobile.

It might be a good idea to pick infant-friendly travel destinations closer to home.

An 8-hour flight overseas might be okay, but a 15-hour long-haul flight will be much more challenging (If you are traveling long-haul, you might appreciate our long-haul flight checking list for babies ).

So while we list baby-friendly holidays from around the world in our list below, it will be essential to consider the ones closer to your home.

Also, think about how long your transfers are once you land, and keep your travel days nice and short so that there is plenty of downtime for your baby.

4. Which Countries Are Safe?

The best countries to travel to with a baby are the ones that are safe for little kids. Have a look to see if there is any unrest in the destination you will be visiting.

Look at which vaccines you might have to get (and whether your baby can even get them).

It might be best to avoid rural and remote areas of a country until your baby is a bit older.

We visited Bali when our daughter was only six weeks old, but we stayed clear of the monkey forests and spent a lot more time on hotel grounds than we would typically have done to keep the trip safe for her.

5. Consider Health Care

Think about the amenities and healthcare facilities you would typically be comfortable with at home.

Are there good hospitals, and will the medical staff be able to understand you?

6. Baby Facilities

Another thing that will make traveling with a baby easier is choosing a destination with baby facilities readily available.

Can you find hotels that have baby cots available? You might prefer to travel with a crib; you can find our top recommendations for a lightweight travel crib here.

Are high chairs available in restaurants, and are there baby change rooms?

If not, you can always travel with your own high chair – find a post on the best high chair for travel here.

You can also find a list of all our recommendations for baby travel gear to make your life easier while on holiday here.

Consider how easy it will be to purchase baby diapers, formulae, baby food, or baby medication.

If you have to travel with baby food, you can find a post about TSA baby food and formulae rules here.

Also, think about your baby’s age; the best places to travel with a newborn will not be the same as the best places to travel with a 1-year-old, because a 1-year-old is mobile.

If your baby is at the age where they are eating and drinking water, it is also essential to consider how safe the water and food are to eat in the country you are visiting.

Hopefully, all the tips above are helpful and will guide you to choose one of the best baby-friendly holiday destinations from our guide below.

Jolene’s Pro Tips for Traveling with an Infant

• Do it your way: People seem to think that if you go somewhere and you stay in your resort you are doing it wrong! But there is nothing wrong with a holiday with your baby where you do nothing but stay on the resort grounds.
• Have plenty of time to rest: Everything needs to happen slower when you travel with a baby. Plan to have only half days of exploring and half a day to relax, plan to have relax days after big travel days.
• Stay longer in one hotel: Our baby took a few days to adjust to a new hotel/crib. Which meant we had a few rough nights before she settled back into sleeping better. So we learned to stay in one spot for at least 5+ nights.
• Beach vs City trips: We personally found it much easier to go on a beach vacation in comparison to exploring towns and cities in a country. Life moves slower on islands and so that is where we prefer to be with our baby.
• What works for someone else might not work for you: Babies are all different, just because someone else had an incredible road trip holiday with their baby, does not mean your road trip will go smoothly. Our baby hated the car and the stroller, so road trips or days exploring all day long in a stroller were not fun for anyone!

Final Thoughts On The Best Places To Vacation With A Baby

So hopefully, if you have been wondering where to travel with an infant, you have made a list of the best holiday destinations with a baby you would love to visit.

The best destination with a baby will be different for each of us as it depends on your current location, as well as what sort of current baby ‘comforts’ you might be used to.

Most parents feel most comfortable when they choose destinations that offer the same level of baby care as the country where they live.

Ultimately you can travel anywhere in the world with a baby; after all, babies are born in each country worldwide.

But the most comfortable holiday where you will be less stressed out will be the country that matches your current baby’s facilities, amenities, and healthcare standards.

And as a last resort, go with your gut instinct. If the destination doesn’t feel right, it might be best to leave it until your child is older.

• Wondering what to take along on your trip? Here is our guide to handy travel accessories for baby that you should take on your holiday.
• First time flying with your baby? Grab our top tips on how to survive your flight with an infant .
• Wondering whether you should take a car seat on your flight? Here is a handy guide to help you decide .

Leave us a Comment:

• Which of these destinations on our best countries to travel with a baby list do you want to see the most?
• Can you add other best places to holiday with a baby?

Jolene Ejmont

20 thoughts on “27 best places to travel with a baby (safe + baby-friendly)”.

Hi, totally understand where you are coming from, but we visited Bali, Lombok and Gili Islands with our 2-month-old baby and her normal vaccines that she needs to get anyways was sufficient to keep her safe. And that was on doctor’s advice. We have also just visited Vietnam (she is 2 now) and again her normal routine vaccines was enough for her to go. Always best to choose a destination that you are comfortable visiting though and make sure you pop into your travel doctor for advice as well.

I would add Reykjavik

Oh Great tip Ana! Can you tell me why you found it baby friendly? 🙂

I love this! You guys have had some pretty awesome places – all the pictures are simply beautiful. That has to be one of the most memorable, not many people get to say that they have accomplished that! Great Job! and one more question How difficult is it to travel with a 2 month old baby?

A 2-month-old is EASY 🙂 They sleep a lot, they fall asleep anywhere and when they cry you can breastfeed. The hard months arrive once a baby is mobile.

Very interesting article about traveling of the baby. The traveling helps a baby to grow their physical and mental health. Baby strollers and prams are essential things during travel. Thank you for your well-written article.

Thanks for your comment Donna. Do you have a favorite destination that you love visiting with your baby?

I love to travel with my baby. Very interesting & informative post. Just lovely. Thanks a lot for sharing.

We traveled with our 7 month old to Florence and Tuscany and had an amazing time. People are incredibly friendly and helpful. If you get an Airbnb be careful for stairs!

Hi Matt, we love Italy because Italians love our kids! 🙂 We are actually heading to Italy for a 13 week trip early in 2019 – so excited!! Great tip with the stairs, I think it is important to ask that question in all European countries.

Great article. Thanks for sharing this post about best places to travel with baby. It’s very informative and helpful.

Korea is also really great for young children. Lots of kids’ cafes, people love children, most people in the big cities speak at least some English, safe, clean and quite cheap (compared to Japan).

Autumn (September/October) is the best time to come, summer is too hot, winter is too cold and there is often dirty air in spring. The autumn leaves are beautiful and sky is usually blue. The best area to visit is Gangwondo, to the north east.

Thanks for all those wonderful tips 🙂

I would suggest Portugal as well. People there love babies. If you’re pregnant or have a baby you have priority anywhere, from the queue at the supermarket to being seated at a restaurant. The country is beautiful, especially if you don’t just stay in the hyper touristy places like Algarve. Alentejo has great beaches and skies that go on forever and the further up North you go the cheaper it is, with some great hidden gems for both culture and nature.

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing and for giving some info on why you found it to be perfect for babies! We have actually had a few recommendations of Portugal, so might have to add it to the list 🙂

Jolene thank you for your list, we waiting for our baby and looking forward to starting travel with our boy.

Glad you like the info. Hope you have a great time once you can travel again 🙂 All best.

Thank you for the comment. Much appreciated it!

Thank you for the comment

Hi! Great post! Where would you recommend to travel with a 6 month old in December (internationally)? We would like the weather to be around 70F if possible as we are traveling from Minnesota and crave warmer weather in the winter months. Thanks!

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I write about travel, books, and beauty (and everything else, kind of). I live in San Diego with my husband Tyler and our two little girls, Charlotte and Emmie. 

Prepare yourself for a long, detailed post about our experience traveling with a baby.

Tyler and I knew that we wanted to take Charlotte to Europe before she turned two. We had enough United points to cover both of our flights and wanted to avoid paying for her ticket while she is still considered a “lap infant.” (that term became all too real lol). The trip ended up being one of the best trips we’ve ever been on (maybe even our favorite after our honeymoon). Charlotte was such a trooper, and it was so special. 

We hadn’t traveled with her outside of visiting family, so this was our first “vacation” with her. Being able to get away for an extended period of time and just bond as a family of three is something I’ll treasure forever. It was so good for mine and Tyler’s relationship too. 

Throughout the whole trip, I kept a note on my phone to keep track of things we discovered along the way about traveling with an infant. I was shocked at how much we’d learned after just a couple of days. I have done my best to sum everything up here in this blog post. 

How To Travel Internationally With A Baby

Managing expectations + a little encouragement about traveling with a baby

When we were pregnant with Charlotte, we weren’t that surprised when people would ask if we were done traveling now. It seems like a common theme in our culture is that kids and babies can ruin travel and that you should get your bucket list squared away before “settling down.” 

I mean, of course, traveling with a baby is different and more complicated. BUT. You CAN do it. 

And you can do it without a nanny or an unlimited budget, and it’s still really, really fun. 

In the months leading up to the trip, I oscillated between feeling SO excited and then really nervous about how Charlotte would do. I kept hearing horror stories of catastrophic plane flights, embarrassing dinners, and stubborn jet lag.

I think the best thing we did for ourselves was keep our expectations realistic while maintaining a positive mindset. We knew that there was a good chance of the aforementioned horror stories happening to us (they did). But we also knew that even if those things happened that we would still have fun (we did). 

So, yes, traveling with a baby is hard. But it’s so worth it. 

She won’t remember it, but I think the trip did so much for her brain and social development. I heard someone say once that traveling with a baby is similar to reading with a baby–they don’t really know what’s going on and they won’t remember it, but it’s all a part of their development and setting the stage. 

I could go on and on, but this trip was one of my favorite parts of the year and hopefully this will help inspire someone to take the leap. 

How to plan a Europe trip with a baby:

Age of Baby

When it comes to traveling with a baby, there are a few factors to consider while deciding exactly when to go. The biggest one, in my opinion, is the “lap infant” rule: children under two years old can fly for free. We definitely wanted to take advantage of that. 

We went when Charlotte was almost 11 months old. In my opinion, anywhere between 6 months and a year old is ideal, if you have that flexibility. 

Charlotte was sleep trained, eating almost everything, and in the happiest stage. 

It was also right before she started walking. (I had dreams of her taking her first steps in Europe but of course she decided to wait until the day after we got home to do that, lol). 

I’m not saying we won’t ever do this, but I can already tell that it would be much harder to travel with a toddler. Now that she’s walking, she isn’t quite as content in the stroller. I also would hate to deal with terrible two-induced tantrums on the go. 

One note: Charlotte is really tall, so she was a bit long for the bassinet (more on this later). She would have slept much better in it a few months earlier when she was smaller. 

 Choosing your itinerary

This is probably the thing you’ll have to be most strategic about. Everyone is different, but Tyler and I really wanted this trip to be as relaxing as possible. 

We knew that having Charlotte with us would make things more complicated, so we decided to avoid any busy cities or really touristy areas. The last thing we wanted was to spend our days dealing with metro schedules, crowded streets, and a mile-long to-do list. 

I definitely did have moments on the trip where I was wishing that we could’ve shown Charlotte Paris, Rome, or even London, but I know that it just would’ve been so much more hectic. For our first trip traveling with her, it worked out perfectly to keep it low key. 

We decided on five nights in the South of France, using Antibes as our base, and four nights in Lake Como , using Torno as our base. 

**If you’re interested in this trip’s specific itinerary (South of France and Lake Como), you can click here to check out all of the guides I wrote.***

We purposefully chose only two destinations for this trip. Also, we only had about ten days to work with, and we really didn’t want to have to pack up and move more than once. 

Limiting travel days

One of our new things is doing our best to limit “travel days.”

Over the years we’ve learned that no matter how “easy” that short flight, drive, or train ride might seem, between packing up, checking out, getting to your next spot, checking in, unpacking, freshening up… it kills the whole day. And obviously we’d have to multiply this tenfold when we factored in having a baby with us. So we chose two spots, requiring just one “travel day” in the middle of the trip. 

If we had closer to two full weeks, we might have considered tacking on another spot. If that were the case, however, I’d still want to make sure we stayed for at least four nights in each location. This would limit the demands of constant packing and unpacking that would undoubtedly squash any feelings of rest and rejuvenation gleaned from the vacation in the first place. 

In terms of the exact locations we chose: Antibes and the South of France couldn’t have been more baby friendly. It was easy to bring the stroller everywhere we went, and we found the area relaxing, charming and so, so much fun. More on this in blog posts to come. 

Lake Como was hands down one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. However, the towns are full of stairs and aren’t very stroller friendly, so it’s not exactly the very best place to bring a baby. We rocked the Ergo carrier a ton, though, and Charlotte did great in that. I’m so glad we went there, but just a note for those trying to choose their own destinations. 

My own two cents on where else I think it would be fun to bring a baby in Europe: the Bernese Overland in Switzerland , the Black Forest in Germany , Salzburg or anywhere in Austria , the English countryside , or even Amsterdam and the surrounding area. 

 Consider renting a car

Again, this is a matter of personal preference, but we love renting cars in Europe. While taking the train is very fun and something everyone should do at least once, and flying horrible budget airlines is sometimes unavoidable and certainly a rite of passage every study abroad student should experience, renting a car allows the most freedom and flexibility when you are on a longer trip. 

This holds true for traveling with a baby, too. Not only did having the car give us wiggle room in our itinerary and the ability to manage our days and day trips how we wanted to, we also didn’t feel like we had to stay airtight packed up all day every day, if that makes sense. We could use the car as our “home base” for all of Charlotte’s stuff, and it made the days more relaxed. 

We were also able to make the 5 hour drive to Lake Como very early in the morning. Also, we just shoved all our stuff in the car, and Charlotte slept almost the entire drive. This was much easier, we thought, than dealing with what would have been 3 different trains and transport to and from the train stations, etc.

On this trip, we decided to bring our own car seat, but I would rent it next time to make the trip over easier.

Rent baby gear and equipment with Babonbo

One of the hardest parts of traveling with a baby is schlepping all of the gear through airports and cities as you go. When planning an international trip with a baby or a toddler, you might consider renting equipment through  Babonbo , a baby rental marketplace that connects travelers with a network of trusted local families and businesses. Babonbo carries strollers, car seats, high chairs, baby bathtubs for travelers to rent during their stay. Babonbo even offers perishable items for purchase such as baby food, and, best of all, flexible and convenient delivery and pickup options to make your rental experience as seamless as possible. This is an easy way to take some of the stress out of travel days  because you can simply arrange to have all of your gear dropped off at your hotel or Airbnb through Babonbo.

 Book an extra day or two at the beginning of the trip

You know when you land in a new place and you just feel horrible? And even the adrenaline of arriving somewhere you’ve been dreaming of for months isn’t enough to overcome your puffy face, greasy hair, and overall sense of dehydrated and jet-lagged disorientation? 

Add to that a violently delirious baby, and you have a low-grade hurricane of a day in store. 

Fortunately, Tyler and I were somehow smart enough to predict this and factored it into our booking five nights in Antibes. We knew that the first couple of days would be a wash. 

Because we had the extra days at the front end of the trip to get Charlotte acclimated to the timezone and area, we didn’t feel pressured to do anything too ambitious. 

We spent our first two days simply walking around in the fresh air, taking in our little city (as well as plenty of espresso and croissants). Once we got settled, we had three full days to really explore the surrounding towns and tackle our to-do list. 

 Choosing flight times

Our flight to Europe went as smooth as possible, but our flight home was a disaster. I think a lot of this had to do with the flight times. 

On the way there, our flight left at 3pm. She’s still doing two naps a day, so we napped her in the carrier at the airport after we got through security to avoid her being cranky going into the flight. 

We then had to just keep her awake and get her nice and tired for a few hours. She went to sleep for the “night” at 7pm our time and then slept (on me) for most of the flight after that (around 6-7 hours). We had to change plans in Frankfurt (always a migraine of an airport) and then finally landed in Nice the following afternoon. She catnapped on that second flight and then briefly again in the car, but we kept her awake after that until 7pm that night (Europe time). 

On the way home, the flight left at 7am. We had to drive from Lake Como to the airport in Milan, so we had to get her out of bed at 4am. She napped here and there on the flight, but it was her “daytime,” so she wasn’t tired enough to sleep for more than an hour at a time. She was SO cranky because she hadn’t had a full night’s sleep the night before and basically had to have the longest travel day of all time. 

The big takeaway was that we need to try to book both flights during her “night time.”

A 12 hour flight just isn’t possible without a good long stretch of sleep in there. She literally went nuts being trapped on the plane for so long. 

However, since a lot of the flights coming back our direction across the Atlantic leave in the morning (Europe time), that can be hard to manage. I think next time if we aren’t able to find an overnight flight, I would honestly have preferred to break up the long flight and switch planes on the east coast, rather than having one short flight to Frankfurt and then one long one to San Diego. 

Request a bassinet on the plane

If your baby is still relatively small, you may want to plan ahead and book the seat at the very front of economy. On a lot of airlines, this seat is reserved for families with babies who might need to sleep in the bassinet. The bassinet attaches on to the wall in front of the seats. 

As I mentioned before, Charlotte was just a bit too long to get really comfortable in the bassinet. She only lasted about an hour before she stirred and woke up from the strap being too tight (her toes were kind of jammed against the end of it too). 

BUT–just our luck–both babies we sat next to slept for several hours in their bassinets. So I can vouch that it seems like a great option. 

Call your airline way ahead of time to make sure you get the bassinet! We had to call a couple of times to confirm ours. 

If you do request the bassinet, you might consider bringing this little tent from Cozigo which helps block out the light and noise from the plane.

 Book a two-bedroom or bring a SlumberPod

We booked two bedroom apartments for both of our stays on this trip. 

Charlotte has always been a light sleeper. As much as this trip was about Charlotte and bonding as a family, Tyler and I wanted to enjoy our time to ourselves too. Mom and Dad gotta party, right? 

We weren’t able to do many dinners out, but having a two bedrooms made it so we could put Charlotte down for the night in her own room around 7pm and then still have the whole night to eat take out pizza, drink wine, and watch Netflix. And then we could still get good sleep without worrying about her waking up. 

In Lake Como , we were fortunate enough to work with a beautiful property that put us in a two bedroom apartment. But in Antibes, we paid for our own Airbnb and just went with a cheaper option that had two bedrooms, rather than a nicer one bedroom. I’m not even going to link it here because it was not a great situation, but it was worth it to have our own space and area to hang out after Charlotte went to bed.  

If you don’t want to splurge for a two-bedroom apartment, consider bringing a Slumberpod along! This product accomplishes the same thing–it’s a little tent that you put over a crib/packnplay. This gives your baby a little dark cocoon. Honestly such a game changer for us!

We have a full review of it here , but if you’re looking to buy one, use our code ruthznuss for 5% off your purchase at this link . (These always sell out, so if you see them in stock go ahead and jump on it!). This is WELL worth the investment–and it fits inside of a carry-on suitcase!

One other nice thing about staying in apartments as opposed to a hotel room was having the kitchen. This allowed us to be able to make and store our own food when we needed to. Tyler made eggs every morning, and we’d have that with fruit before we set off for the day. 

(This is a lesson we’ve learned the hard way too many times: never leave the house starving because then the entire morning–or worse, day–becomes about finding food. No one likes a hangry traveler. Or a hangry baby for that matter). 

It gave us peace of mind that Charlotte had a full tummy before we started our big day of exploring, so having the kitchen at our disposal was vital. 

International Travel Packing Checklist:

Packing cubes

I’ve discussed my love of packing cubes before and know they can be polarizing, but they really came in handy on this trip. 

I packed both mine and Charlotte’s stuff in a large, hard-shelled suitcase and organized all of it into packing cubes. This made everything so much easier. I could just pull her cubes out and put them in her room and then put my own cubes in the drawers in our room. It also made packing up both times a breeze.

(Lately I have been LOVING this packing cube set from CALPAK. So cute and functional. Use my code RUTH10 for a discount at checkout!).

Manual breast pump

I’m embarrassed to say that I actually read this advice on a blog and just blatantly chose to ignore it. So please listen. (skip this if you’re not breastfeeding, of course). 

My pump blew a fuse two seconds after I plugged it in right after we got there, and I immediately burst into tears. I was engorged and Charlotte was asleep and on the weirdest nursing schedule anyway. I was in so much pain, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it (well, ok, I tried to hand express but does that even actually work for anyone??). It was horrible. 

The next day we drove 30 minutes out of our way to the French equivalent of BuyBuyBaby and purchased a manual hand pump. I have NEVER been so happy to pump than the second we got in the car that day after buying it, lol. 

I strongly recommend bringing a manual pump if you’re breastfeeding or pumping. Mine blew a fuse even with the converter plugged into it. Also, because your body (and baby, for that matter) still thinks it’s in a different time zone, you can’t really count on your normal nursing schedule. 

Even if you’re savvy enough to bring a more competent converter to handle an electric pump, I would still bring the manual pump to bring out with you on long days just in case. 

Maybe this is obvious. But I didn’t think I needed one and I really, really did, so I just wanted to make sure I mention it here too. 

Baby Hydroflask

This might not work for every nursing baby, but it worked really well for Charlotte. Normally, Charlotte doesn’t nurse when we are out and about. We’ve had a long and sometimes trying journey with breastfeeding, and to this day she can really only focus on it when we are in a quiet place and she’s just waking up. 

Up until this last month, I was pumping quite a bit still. And when we were out and about, I’d give her breast milk in a tiny Hydroflask . I know, it’s probably not pediatrician approved or very conventional, but it worked for us. 

On the trip, I’d pump in the morning before we’d head out for the day and then give her the Hydroflask throughout the day. This way, I wouldn’t be engorged OR stressed about her getting her nutrients. 

Even if your baby isn’t nursing, you’ll want to bring a reusable water bottle to fill with water to make sure your baby stays hydrated throughout the day.

Portable sound machine

We love our mini sound machine and always keep it in the diaper bag in case Charlotte naps anywhere besides her nursery.

This little guy was especially helpful in Europe, as both of our apartments had thin walls. 

FYI: This one is battery operated, but it won’t last an entire night. Bring a converter specifically for the sound machine so you can keep it plugged in where your baby is sleeping all night. 

Extra converters/adapters

This brings me to my next point. We almost always wish we had brought an extra converter or two. And between our two phones, sound machine, blow dryer, camera battery charger, and our computer, we needed even more than usual on this trip. 

These are very inexpensive, so make sure to bring a bunch. 

Travel stroller

Everyone said to bring a lightweight umbrella stroller, so we bought this fairly affordable and highly reviewed one on Amazon. 

Before the trip, however, I kept thinking that we could probably just bring our normal, bigger stroller. I remember wondering, “how bad could it be to bring the big one??” 

It only took a day of easily maneuvering this one through the cobblestone streets of Antibes to know we made the right choice. Tyler kept rolling his eyes at me, usually when we were squeezing through the farmers market or a tiny restaurant, and saying “Aren’t you glad we didn’t bring the Uppa stroller??” 

And yes, okay, I was. 

Also, a lot of times we’d use the stroller as Charlotte’s seat in cafes or while we were eating. Very handy. 

Ergo carrier

I loved both the Solly wrap and Wild One sling when Char was smaller, but now that she’s bigger and so much more wiggly, we pretty much exclusively use the Ergo carrier . 

Charlotte refuses to nap in the stroller, but she will fall asleep in less than 3 minutes if we put her in the Ergo facing toward us with the sun shade up. It’s SO nice. We were able to nap her every day in the carrier throughout the day. 

Even if your baby does nap in the stroller like a champ (please tell me your ways), definitely bring a carrier. You’ll want the flexibility to use it if you’re in an area that’s not stroller friendly or if you do a hike, etc. We’d also put her in it getting on and off planes and ferries to make things easier. 

We’d also use it if Char was too fussy to sit happily in the stroller, towards the end of the day or if she was hungry. 

Baby food and snacks

I brought tons of little snacks for her, but I wish I had brought even more! 

There would be so many times when Charlotte would get hungry before we had a chance to find a bite to eat. And Char is kind of like me but in a more extreme way: when she’s hungry, she’s starving and needs to eat right that second. 

She mostly eats “real” foods at home–and still did eat whatever we ate at restaurants, but we brought a few of those squeeze pouches with different meals in them. She tore through them within the first couple of days, and I was wishing so badly we had brought way more. Our little market in Torno didn’t carry them, and we had barely any food for her on the flight home. 

My advice would be to bring way more than you think you need. Furthermore, make sure to have a stockpile of snacks and pouches reserved exclusively for the flight back. I had to humiliatingly ask the flight attendants to spare any baby friendly food they had a couple of different times. The mom sitting next to me even felt bad for us and graciously donated a jar of German baby food to the cause. Not my best moment. 

Here’s the link to our favorite pouches and puffs .

Jammies and sleep sack on the flight

I don’t know when I will learn, but those huge planes are always absolutely frigid. 

We remembered at the last minute to pack Charlotte’s pajamas and her sleep sack in our carryon bag, and I’m so glad we did! Tyler and I were still freezing, but she was warm and toasty. I also think this helped get her in the “zone” to go to sleep.

Infant Tylonel/Motrin

Everyone has a different opinion about this. IF, however, you are comfortable giving your baby a little infant Motrin when the going gets tough, make sure to pack it in your carryon to give to them if the air pressure changes bother them. 

I’d love to pretend I’m one of those trendy minimalist moms whose babies have exactly three toys, all wooden, no color, and full of promise that their kids will turn out as calm and collected as their household. 

Sure, no one likes a spoiled kid, but at the same time you have to provide some stimulation, am I right? 

So, yes, I did purchase this $30 baby airplane kit from Etsy and have no regrets. 

Upon receiving it in the mail, I realized that I likely could have made a few trips to The Dollar Store myself and slapped something similar together. But DIY in any form has never been a strength of mine. 

The point is Charlotte was obsessed. And even if you don’t get this kit, I still suggest having a stash of brand new small toys and activities saved up for the trip and the plane ride in particular. 

Hand sanitizer and extra wipes for the plane

I like to wipe down the seats and trays whenever we travel, so I made sure to pack enough wipes for diaper changes, messes on flights, and mealtimes in my carry on. I also put a hand sanitizer in both of our bags.

Diapers + wipes

I packed enough diapers to get us through the first few days and then bought them at a market after that. If it’s a shorter trip, I find it’s easier to just pack enough for the whole trip to avoid a trip to the store. But for a longer, international trip, I recommend saving the packing space and buying them once you get settled.

Clothing/shoes/jackets

I felt like I needed to add this one only because Tyler and I had to buy not one but two new pairs of shoes for Charlotte on this trip.

If you’re going to a less popular city where you might not have access to an HM on every corner, you might want to pack a few of those items that you know you would definitely miss should you need them for your baby. What I mean is…sun hats, extra shoes, a good jacket, a swimsuit. These baby things are harder to find in more remote locations. 

Tips for traveling in Europe with a baby: While you’re there

How to help baby with jet lag.

In both my research and personal experience, there isn’t an exact formula to beating jet lag. There are just way too many factors at play. 

For this trip, we basically followed the same rough guidelines with Charlotte as we do with ourselves: stay awake until 7pm the first night, stay hydrated, and make sure to get a healthy, nutrient-rich meal ASAP. 

It took Charlotte three nights to get her body clock to adjust to the new time zone, both in Europe AND back home in California. I do think returning home was just a tiny bit harder, looking back.

We did sort of a modified “cry it out” in the middle of the night to get her used to the new schedule. I think I nursed her 4 times the first night, then 3, then 1, and then she was back to sleeping 12 hours. Obviously it was not pleasant those first couple of nights, but I was pretty proud of her for getting her act together in such a short amount of time. 

One tip I do have is to stick to your normal bedtime routine. For us, that meant: bath, story, nurse, then down in her pack-n-play. Babies are creatures of habit, and I think the routine helped remind her that it was time to go to sleep.

Planning your days

When it comes to planning out your itinerary, less is more.

Obviously, you want to see and do as much as possible when you have spent the money and time to go on a big trip. But, as all parents know, babies like to call the shots. When a baby is done for the day, the day is done. 

How we managed this was we would over plan each day. We did extensive research for each place we went and had everything starred on our Google maps that we might want to see and do. 

Then when it came to that day, we would go in with a very flexible “we’ll see what we see” attitude. And if Charlotte was doing well, we’d keep going and do a little more, etc. 

Again I’ll say: low expectations, positive mindset. (Is this the key to life?). 

Bench seating

Maybe every other parent knows about this already, but bench seating can really save your life at a coffee shop or restaurant. We realized that a lot of places in Europe don’t have high chairs available, so your best bet is to lobby for a table with some kind of bench. (Also, as mentioned, your compact travel stroller can be a life saver too). 

Char was at the age where she was totally happy with a tiny bit of space to crawl around and a couple of toys. One of us would sit on the bench with her and sort of put one leg up as a guard rail. This was a great way to let her get some wiggles out in a contained area. 

Eating in restaurants

We mostly stuck to smaller cafes and takeout on this trip, but we did eat a handful of meals in nicer restaurants. We recommend always getting a reservation–at a time a bit earlier than you think your baby will be hungry AND a bit earlier than a normal busy time for a meal. For example, we made dinner reservations usually for right when the restaurant would open for the evening. This way, it wasn’t as crowded, and we’d arrive not hangry. 

Our secret weapon during meals: we’d usually start Charlotte off with a couple of toys, but a lot of times we would give her a baguette to gnaw on. It sounds weird, but she was obsessed with teething on them! She would sit happily for thirty minutes just chomping on her baguette and looking at us. It was so cute. 

Nap at home once in a while

While we did most of her naps out, Tyler and I made sure to give her a nice long nap back at “home” every other day. She slept really good at night once she beat the jet lag, but we knew she’d burn out from just taking a couple of cat naps in the carrier every day. 

Having a couple of hours to rest and read at home was exactly what Tyler and I needed too. 

Thanks for making it to the end, and I hope someone finds this helpful!! 

More family travel posts:

Tips for flying with babies and toddlers 

Tips for roadtrips with kids

International travel checklist

30 tips for traveling internationally with small kids

You can find more family travel posts here , or head to my travel hub for city guides and itinerary inspiration.

Baby travel essentials:

 baby girl packing list:, baby boy packing list:, pin this post:.

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15 of the best road trips in Europe

May 13, 2024 • 13 min read

Hit the road in Europe with these top driving routes © Miemo Penttinen - miemo.net / Getty Images

Be inspired to explore Europe by car this summer on one, or more, of these themed driving routes.

This summer, dodge airport disruption and enjoy the unique freedom a road trip allows while exploring Europe's wondrous landscapes, delicious regional food and drink and fascinating local culture and history.

These driving routes, grouped by theme – ancient sites, lakes, Mediterranean islands, vineyards, and breweries – were gathered from Lonely Planet contributors around the world as part of the Epic Road Trips of Europe   book.

So strap in and prepare to hit the road. Here are some of the top driving experiences across Europe.

Europe's best road trips through ancient history

Explore the archaeological sites of the peloponnese, greece.

Start: Ancient Corinth End: Nemea Distance: 395 miles (635km)

History and legend collide on this mountainous peninsula where you’ll find classical temples, Mycenaean palaces, Byzantine cities and Venetian fortresses. Combined with dramatic peaks and deep gorges that give way to turquoise seas and deserted beaches, it makes a glorious spot for a road trip.

In the northeast corner of the peninsula sits Ancient Corinth , a mostly Roman city, home to Jason of the Argonauts, stealer of the Golden Fleece. From here, you can take a route that combines historic, fortified cities with beaches and some of Greece’s most interesting wineries. Head for the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea , hilltop Mycenae or coastal Epidavros with its 4th-century-BCE theater, one of the best preserved ancient Greek structures in the country. Then loop by the mountaintop Byzantine city of Mystras , Ancient Olympia , home to the original games, and the Lousios Gorge where you’ll find the cliffside Prodromou Monastery .

First time visiting Greece? Plan your trip with these top tips

See northeast Spain on this loop through the Costa Brava

Start: Girona End: Girona Distance: 118 miles (190km)

Mixing Greek and Roman ruins with medieval towns, the eccentricities of Salvador Dalí and a wild and rugged coast, Spain’s Costa Brava makes a fascinating, eclectic destination for a road trip.

Begin   by exploring Girona’s hilly medieval core with its web of alleys and Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque churches. From here it’s an easy trip to Besalú, its strikingly well-preserved medieval streets fanning out around the handsome 11th-century Pont Fortificat (Fortified Bridge). Heading east to Figueres things get decidedly more bizarre at the Teatre-Museu Dalí , a fittingly trippy tribute to the local hero and Surrealist artist. Dalí spent his later life nearby in Port Lligat near Cadaqués , a whitewashed village with a pretty harbor and bohemian vibe. South along the coast are the extensive ruins of the Greek city Empúries and its later Roman neighbor, while inland is Castell de Púbol, a 14th-century castle that was Dalí’s gift to his wife and muse, Gala.

Looking for more driving routes in Spain? Give these a try

Drive backcountry roads on the Croatian island of Hvar

Start: Hvar Town End: Jelsa Distance: 22 miles (35km)

Fought over by the Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Venetians, Hvar has long been a sought-after destination. Medieval walls topped by an imposing Spanish fortress enclose the Old Town, whose marble streets are lined with elaborate Gothic and Renaissance palaces. In high summer, Hvar attracts a party-hard international jet set, but outside the peak it’s a magical place that acts as the perfect gateway to crystalline waters and quiet villages.

Head for Stari Grad  on the north coast, a quieter town set on a horseshoe bay, to visit Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO Cultural Landscape whose stone walls and terraces of olives and grapes were laid out by the ancient Greeks. Drive backcountry roads through a patchwork of lavender and rosemary to discover isolated beaches and hidden coves, colorful former fishing villages such as Vrboska or Jelsa, and some of Croatia’s best wineries.

Traveling in Croatia as a family?   Here's what you need to know about visiting with kids

The best lakeside driving routes in Europe 

Follow switchbacks between lakes ohrid and prespa, north macedonia.

Start: Ohrid End: Oteshevo Distance: 34 miles (55km)

Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, straddling the border between North Macedonia and Albania . Despite its UNESCO status and being home to a multitude of endemic species, it remains remarkably unvisited.

Begin in the ancient, picturesque city of Ohrid, continuously occupied since Neolithic times. Its Grecian theater, rediscovered in the 1980s and restored, hosts an arts festival each summer. As you drive south you pass fortresses and monasteries, teetering dramatically above the water. Leave Lake Ohrid on a series of switchbacks climbing up through Galičica National Park, where at the road’s highest point a trail leading farther up offers a view across both lakes. Descend to the tranquil Lake Prespa in time for dinner, stopping at one of the many small restaurants in Oteshevo that serve fish landed straight from the lake.

Travel around Lake Annecy, France

Start: Annecy End: Annecy Distance: 25 miles (40km)

Lake Annecy found fame in Paul Cézanne’s Le Lac d’Annecy painting, a post-Impressionist masterpiece that captures all the beauty, grandeur and violence of the landscape here. But nothing beats seeking out that drama yourself.

It takes just a lazy day’s driving to travel its circumference, along glimmering blue water with snowcapped Alps behind. Base yourself   in Annecy and explore the gorgeous Old Town and lively markets before setting off. Impressive Château Menthon is well worth visiting and has guided tours throughout the summer months. Stop at Talloires for lunch – it has a fine selection of restaurants and good swimming beaches – and then,   if you’ve still got the energy, hike one of the many trails that wind up to the peaks that surround the lake. Finish back in Annecy for a sunset drink with panoramic views across the water at the Hotel Belvédère.

Don't want to drive? Ride a bike around Lake Annecy instead

Take a dip into Finnish Lakeland

Start: Varkaus End: Anttola Distance: 86 miles (138km)

A quarter of the Finnish Lakeland region is water – there are at least 55,000 lakes here, making it the largest lake district in Europe. To drive in this area is to lose all distinction between the water and the road. From Varkaus, it’s less than an hour’s drive to the Järvisydän spa , offering every type of soaking and sweating you can imagine. It’s not all about relaxing though – as you drive across this watery landscape there is ample opportunity for swimming and canoeing, fishing and boat trips, or, in winter, skating and snowshoeing. Finland’s  "Right to Roam" means that camping is permitted just about anywhere, but the hotels might still tempt you. The Ollinmäki Wine Farm , just outside Anttola, has villas, fabulous food, homemade wine and nearby lakes for a final road trip dip.

Experience the best of Finland with this guide to the country's top experiences

The best drives around Mediterranean islands

Marvel at the incredible scenery of gozo's north coast.

Start: Ramla Bay End: Dwejra Distance: 10 miles (16km)

Gozo is the second-billed island in the Maltese archipelago, but for scenic appeal it easily rivals Malta proper. A drive along Gozo’s north coast reveals one of the country’s least built-up corners. Begin with a dip at Ramla Bay , a wide and largely wild beach not to be confused with the resort of the same name on the main island. Once you’ve brushed off its characteristic orange sand, take a coastal drive through the small harbor of Marsalforn, beyond which the route passes a surreal landscape of seaside salt pans. The road gets gravelly after it ducks round the inlet of Wied il-Għasri , but stick with it if you can along the clifftops to reach Wied il-Mielaħ, a natural sea arch to replace the famous Azure Window that collapsed in 2017. The location of the latter still makes a fitting trip finale, with sunset views beside the Dwejra Inland Sea.

Want to see more beaches? Here are Malta and Gozo's best

Summit Mount Pantokrator in Corfu, Greece

Start: Pyrgi End: Pyrgi Distance: 41 miles (66km)

Mt Pantokrator is the highest point in Corfu (2972 ft/906m), and a lap of its flanks brings generous mountain and coastal views as you round the northeast corner of the island. Start in Pyrgi village and proceed north and clockwise if you want to get the climbing done early. From Pyrgi the road zigzags up past olive groves through the villages of Spartylas and Strinylas. Here you can drive east on a road up to the summit of Pantokrator itself (a car with a nimble turning circle is an advantage) where there’s a small but richly decorated monastery under a rather unfortunate communications mast. Return to the coast at the resort town of Acharavi, and head east as the road snakes round lushly wooded bays and charming villages such as Kalami, with views towards Albania just two miles across   the water.

Plan your time on the Greek islands with this guide to how long you need there

Loop around the Italian island of Lipari 

Start: Lipari Town End: San Salvatore Distance: 17 miles (28km)

Lipari is the middlemost of the Aeolian Islands , and as you drive the encircling main road, each of the other volcanic islands puts in an appearance on the horizon. Lipari Town is reached by car ferries and faster hydrofoils from Sicily , and heading out north the route is a palm-lined corniche running along a yacht-filled bay. From the road skirting the shingle beach at Canneto, you’ll have views towards the islands of Panarea and – half-concealed behind it – the ever-smoking cone of Stromboli.

Past the pumice quarries at Lipari’s northeast corner, twin-peaked Salina lumbers into view, and after that, more distant Filicudi and Alicudi, if summer haze doesn’t obscure them. Last to appear as you turn the southwest corner is Vulcano. It’s visible from the main road, but for a close-up, end your drive at the viewpoint beside the Geophysical Observatory in San Salvatore, at Lipari’s southern tip.

First time in Italy? Here's what you need to know

The top driving routes through European wine regions

Linger for a drink in portugal's douro valley.

Start: Porto End: Miranda do Douro Distance: 222 miles (358km)

Portugal kept this one up its sleeve for a long time, but oenophiles have finally clocked on to the romance – and increasingly outstanding wines – of the Douro Valley . The world’s oldest demarcated wine region (in 1756, for the record) is a real beauty, with mile after mile of twisting, terraced vineyards that rise sharply from the Douro River.

Its true heart is the Alto Douro (Upper Douro), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive kicks off in the grand port lodges of Porto , gradually inching east to the Spanish border. En route expect to find an abundance of historic wine estates – Quinta Nova and Quinta do Crasto are names to remember. And you’ll want to linger at the Casal de Loivos lookout, where the gasp-eliciting view over the vines is the Douro reduced to postcard format. Allow five days to a week to do the drive justice.

Don't miss Portugal's other great food and drink experiences

Pause for wine tasting in the vineyards of the Lavaux, Switzerland

Start: Lausanne End: Château de Chillon Distance: 25 miles (40km)

Easily doable in a day trip from Geneva , this short but sublime drive takes in the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Lavaux vineyards , which stagger up from the northern shores of Lake Geneva in a series of sheer, stone-walled terraces that beggar belief. The road trip along Rte 9 begins in the higgledy-piggledy French-speaking city of Lausanne and takes in pretty lakeside towns like Vevey before swinging southeast to Montreux (of summer jazz festival fame) and Château   de Chillon , an extraordinary 13th-century fortress, brought to world attention in 1816 in Lord Byron’s poem "The Prisoner of Chillon". Painters William Turner and Gustave Courbet subsequently immortalized the castle on canvas. In the vineyards, pause at a cave to taste beautiful Chasselas white wines that are crisp, minerally and usually only produced on a small, artisanal scale. Lavaux Vinorama in lakeside Rivaz whisks you through the region’s 300 wines and offers insightful tastings.

Want to see more of Switzerland?  Follow these other spectacular road trips

Cruise this classic route through Chianti country, Italy

Start: Florence End: Siena Distance: 44 miles (71km)

Toscana simply doesn’t get more bella than this classic drive on the SR222 through Chianti country. Linking two great medieval cities, the road meanders languorously through gently rolling countryside striped with cypress trees, olive groves and vines. After an art and architectural feast in Florence , it’s time to head south to Siena , crowned by its magnificent cathedral   and 12th-century Piazza del Campo . In between are honey-colored hill towns, where life revolves around the town square, and is punctuated by the chiming of the campanile. Stop by enotecas (wine shops), open for tastings of the region’s revered red wines, including Chianti Classico, a sangiovese-dominated drop. The road   is technically drivable year-round but is perhaps at its most photogenic during the late springtime eruption of poppies and other wildflowers.

Here's how to experience the best of Tuscany

Europe's best driving routes for beer lovers

Drive the german beer loop.

Start: Cologne End: Düsseldorf Distance: 1130 miles (1818km)

Beer has been brewed in Germany for three millennia. It’s a major part of the country’s culture, with many regional styles. Begin with a delicate straw-colored kölsch in the shadow of Cologne Cathedral before heading southeast to Bamberg , home of interesting rauchbiers made with smoked malt. South, near the border with Austria , Munich is famous for its golden Helles lagers and the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, while to the north, in former East Germany, the traditional beer style of Leipzig is gose , a tart beer flavored with salt and coriander. Nearby, Berlin is famous for Berliner Weisse beers, refreshingly low in alcohol, and often spiked with berry syrup. To the southwest, via Hanover and Saxony , Düsseldorf is the heartland of copper-colored altbiers – the name translates to "old beer", as this is one of Germany’s most historic brews.

Not ready to stop exploring?   Here are some other great driving routes in Germany

Visit breweries serving Trappist beers in Belgium 

Start: Westmalle End: Vleteren Distance: 347 miles (558km)

Explore Belgium while tasting beers from Trappist breweries, where monks have been creating flavorful beers for centuries before the contemporary focus on craft beer. Begin northeast of Antwerp at Café Trappisten , where Westmalle beers are matched with cheeses also made by monks from the adjacent Westmalle Abbey . Heading south through Brussels , beers from the Rochefort Brewery are partnered at local cafes with venison from the nearby Ardennes region. It’s then a 50 mile (80km) drive further south to Orval for their bottle-conditioned beer, a favorite of many craft brewers around the world.

To the northwest, a quick spin of the wheels through France brings you to Scourmont Abbey , the base for Chimay. At the Poteaupré Inn at the Espace Chimay visitor center, try the Chimay 150, originally brewed in 2012 to celebrate the brewery’s 150-year anniversary. From here, it’s then a two-hour drive north to Vleteren, to end the trip with some excellent beers from Westvleteren.

Spending more time in Belgium?   Here are the best places to visit

Taste the suds of southeast Ireland

Start: Dublin End: Cork Distance: 236 miles (380km)

Guinness in Dublin and Murphy’s in Cork are two of Ireland’s most renowned breweries, and linking these heavyweights is this itinerary visiting up-and-coming craft breweries in between. After touring Guinness’ historic St James’s Gate brewery, continue south for a hoppy Wildfire red ale from Wicklow Wolf Brewery , before making the 20-minute drive along the Irish Sea to the Wicklow Brewery. Sunday roast for lunch is always a good time to visit the brewery’s Mickey Finn’s pub. Continue through a patchwork of farmland to YellowBelly Beer in County Wexford . YellowBelly’s seasonal brews include unusual sours and farmhouse ales, while the Gallow’s Hill barley wine, found west at the Dungarvan Brewing Company , is ideal in cooler months. Complete a hop-fuelled Irish journey with a pint of Murphy’s stout at the Shandon Arms in Cork.

Here's how to find traditional pubs loved by locals in Dublin

This article was first published Sep 13, 2022 and updated May 13, 2024.

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55 Epic Road Trips in Europe (Itinerary Ideas + Tips!)

Whether you’re looking for coastal views, mountain villages, castles, wine country, or all of the above, one thing is for sure: there is absolutely no shortage of epic road trips in Europe.

Over the past several years, we have absolutely fallen in love with sampling the best road trips in Europe, and have explored parts of more than a dozen European countries by car, including driving from Portugal to Italy and back a few times!

Driving in Europe provides the freedom to find uncrowded corners and offbeat delights, while also ensuring you have a chance to hit up some of the biggest bucket list destinations on the continent.

In the beginning stages of planning a European road trip and not sure where you want to go?

With the help of many other travel bloggers, we have you covered–more than 50 times over!–in this giant guide to the best road trips in Europe.

Table of Contents

Once You Pick Your Perfect European Road Trip…

Tips for for planning to take a road trip in europe, best northern europe road trips, best southern europe road trips, best road trips in the balkans, best western european road trips, best central and eastern european road trips.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

… We’d love to help you plan your trip in more detail!

Here on Our Escape Clause, we’ve written detailed, step-by-step road trip guides for many of the destinations covered in this giant bucket list, based on our personal travels around the continent.

We’ll link them where relevant below, but to see them in one place, you can scroll through all of our road trip guides here .

We also have hundreds of travel guides on specific European destinations on our website.

To peruse by country, you can use our  destinations page  or the search bar on the top right of the page (on desktop) or at the top of the pop-out menu (on mobile) to find what we’ve written about the places you’re most interested in!

This travel guide to the best European road trips is already giant, so I’ll keep these brief, but here are a few essential tips for planning a European road trip!

Shop around for your rental car.

The best company to rent a car for your road trip in Europe from will likely vary dramatically depending on where and when you’re traveling.

Sometimes large international carriers offer the best prices, sometimes local outfits. Sometimes one company has an excellent base price, but terrible rental requirements.

The best way to find your rental car is to search through Discover Cars , which will sift through dozens of companies to find the best combination of low prices and reasonable rental terms for your European road trip.

Browse rental cars for your European road trip today!

Read the rental requirements carefully.

Especially make sure you know how many kilometers you’ve been allotted (or ideally, if they’re unlimited)!

You’ll also want to note whether you need to return the car empty or full of fuel, what to do if the car breaks down, and what damages you’re liable for in the event of an accident.

Manuals are cheaper and easier to rent than automatics.

Ideally, you’ll want to know how to drive a manual before taking any road trips in Europe.

While most companies carry a few automatic cars for non-European visitors, manuals are standard on the continent and are both far cheaper and much less likely to sell out.

Don’t focus on big cities.

Generally speaking, Europe’s legendary trains , plus plentiful bus and flight routes, can get you between major cities easier than a rental car.

Plan your European road trips around small towns, natural highlights, and countryside beauty instead.

Plan ahead if you want to rent a car in a competitive area.

Want to road trip Iceland in the height of summer?

If so, be sure to plan ahead: rental cars have been known to sell out!

Booking your rental car in advance is most important in places at a crossroads of extreme popularity and limited availability–like islands, for example.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

From Michele of The Intrepid Guide

Located in Northern Northern, the Lofoten Islands are a quiet and almost untouched corner of Norway.

Connected to mainland Norway in the north by road, this beautiful archipelago extends out into the Norwegian Sea.

The long highway connects most of the islands by bridges or ferries, making it super easy to get around.

There are countless things to do in Lofoten which range from easy roadside stops to hiking the mountain tops for stunning panoramic views.

Lofoten highlights include seeing the brave arctic surfers ride the waves at Unstad Beach, seeing the bright yellow Fisherman cabins at Nusfjord, watching the Northern Lights reflect in the wet sand at Skagsanden Beach, and seeing the iconic red cabins and cod drying racks on Hamnøy Island. 

If you only do one hike, make the Reinebringen Trail.

This popular hike leads you to some of the best views you’ll ever see and the elevation will make you feel like you’re on top of the world.

Start your trip in Svolvær, the region’s capital, and work your way down to Å – the most southerly town connected by road.

For the ultimate Lofoten experience, be sure to stay in a traditional fishermen’s cabin ( rorbuer ) and get hygge (Norwegian for ‘cozy’).

Recommended Road Trip Length

Allow at least 5 days to gently explore Lofoten and take it all in. This is not a place you want to rush!

From Svolvær to Å, it’s just 80 miles (129km), so you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground during your road trip.

Westfjords, Iceland

From James of Where You’re Between

Home to some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes, Iceland, in general, is one of the best countries for road trips in Europe.

Iceland’s second city of Akureyri is a fairly easy drive from Reykjavik, though one way to stretch out the journey is to take a multi-day detour through the Westfjords . 

Being one of the most remote areas in Iceland means that the Westfjords is also one of the least visited.

Despite this, the Westfjords is one of the most dramatic and spectacular corners of Iceland.

As an added bonus, a detour via the Westfjords also passes through the equally beautiful regions of Western Iceland and Northern Iceland.  

Before reaching the Westfjords take a further detour to Snæfellsjökull National Park, wherein true Icelandic style a glacier sits on top of a volcano.

There are countless waterfalls all along the route, including Kirkjufellsfoss, underneath the jagged shard of Kirkjufell Mountain.

Just inside the Westfjords region is Dynjandi, the largest in the whole region at over 100 meters tall. 

Much of the Westfjords is made up of mile after mile of sensational landscapes.

The roads often cling to the craggy mountainsides as they peak and trough around the jutting fjords.

Dotted throughout the Westfjord’s dramatic landscape are a number of beautiful idyllic towns, such as Flateyri and Ísafjörður.

Sat beneath the sloping mountains and facing the fjords these picturesque towns feel as though they’re a million miles away from anywhere.

Iceland’s second city of Akureyri also sits on the rim of a huge fjord in the far north of the country.

The nearby town of Husavik is one of the best places in Iceland to go whale-watching, and don’t miss the other-worldly landscapes of Dimmuborgir lava fields before you make your way back to Reykjavik.

3-5 days will give you a great introduction to the Westfjords.

From there, you can either explore the region more deeply or combine it with time in the rest of Iceland!

Algarve, Portugal

From Nina of Where in the World is Nina

We’re not sure what the best part of road-tripping Portugal’s Algarve is… the beauty, the cheap car rentals, or the ease of getting everywhere.

Perhaps it’s all three that make it one of the best European road trips!

If you fly into Lisbon or Faro, get your rental car booked ahead of time.

If you visit in the off-season, you can get a steal of a price for your car rental and lodging.

On your Algarve road trip, you can work from east to west or vice versa.

An ideal route would start in Lisbon, drive south, and then end in Faro.

You may pay just a bit more to drop the car off in another city but it’s well worth not having to backtrack.

The Algarve is known for its incredible beaches, cliffs, coves, and surf.

Some highlights you must check out include the sleepy surf town of Sagres featuring three nearby beaches (Amado is the furthest but best for beginner surfers).

Just thirty minutes east is Lagos , known for its headland views, watchtowers, and perhaps the prettiest view you’ll lay your eyes on at Ponta da Piedade.

Take a boat tour to Benagil Cave, or anywhere along the coast, exploring its sandy rock towers that sprinkle the shores.

There are also numerous coastal hikes that are really easy and provide great views. A favorite coastal hike is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.

One of the best parts of this Europe road trip is that you don’t have to pack up every day!

There’s no reason why you can’t choose where to stay in the Algarve once, and then not worry about it again since everything is pretty close and you’ll have a car.

Suggested Road Trip Length

Your trip should be nothing under three days, otherwise, it would be too rushed!

Five days is a good number and a week would be extremely ideal and you’d probably get to see everything you want and more without being too busy.

Andalucia, Spain

From Tom of The Travelling Tom

A road trip around Andalucia is the best way to see this beautiful part of Spain.

There is no shortage of beautiful places to stop, such as popular Seville , Granada, and Malaga, and lesser-known spots such as Cadiz and Ronda .

Andalucia is full of history and interesting sights. From the towering Puente Nuevo in Ronda to the Moorish palace La Alhambra, the region is arguably the most interesting part of Spain to visit.

History is everywhere you look. Buildings from the Moorish rule of Spain, to Roman baths and amphitheaters. Andalucia is the place to visit if you’re a culture vulture!

You will also find loads of activities along the way. One of these is the Caminito del Rey outside of Malaga. It once had the reputation of being the world’s most dangerous hike.

However, the hike on boardwalks overlooking a gorge is a lot safer than it used to be.

Now, you can admire the views instead of worrying whether you’ll fall off or not!

Starting from Malaga and passing through Seville, Granada, Cordoba , and Huelva is one of the best routes to take. A detour to Gibraltar is possible as well.

This road trip in Spain can be done in 7 to 10 days depending on how fast you want to go.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

From Chrysoula of Travel Passionate

Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast is a memorable destination for a road trip as the colorful coastal towns are linked together with wonderful winding roads that meander along the hillside with spectacular sea views along the way.

Not only this, but the beaches, restaurants, markets, and museums en route make the Amalfi Coast ideal for travelers of any age.

Keep in mind, though, that driving on the Amalfi Coast in summer is not for the faint of heart: only undertake this road trip if you’re a confident driver!

The whole of the Amalfi Coast has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site which just goes to show what an incredible destination it is.

Start your  Amalfi Coast road trip from Sorrento or Salerno, and work your way down the coast to towns like Ravello, Positano, and Praiano.

The panoramic views you witness as you drive along these coastal roads are absolutely breathtaking so make sure you pull over to take in the views on regular occasions throughout the drive!

While the joy of taking a road trip along the Amalfi Coast is that each journey can be totally unique as you have complete flexibility, there are certain stops that you’ll probably want to add to the list to ensure you see some of the highlights.

These include Positano (the official starting point of the Amalfi Coast), Furore (the only fjord in Italy), the quaint village of Atrani, and, of course, the port of Amalfi itself.

The Amalfi Coast runs as far as Vietri sul Mare and you can take in as many or as few towns and villages as you wish.

The larger, more northern towns are the busiest and therefore most expensive, so if you’d prefer something a little more relaxing head to one of the smaller villages further down the coast.

You could spend absolutely anywhere from a few days to a few months exploring the Amalfi Coast, but the sweet spot is probably somewhere between one and two weeks.

If you have longer to spend in southern Italy, consider visiting Sorrento, Pompeii , and Capri too as these all have tons of character, culture, and history to explore.

From Rai of A Rai of Light

There are plenty of places to visit in Malta and a road trip sure is one of the best ways of doing so.

The island is perfectly made to get into your car and head for the open roads (as long as you’re confident–the driving on Malta is intense).

However, Malta is small enough to ensure getting lost is not a regular occurrence, while large enough to hold many distinguished features and scenic routes.

From the start point in Sliema don’t miss a stop at the Birgu Waterfront for great views of Valletta, before moving on to the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk.

This laid-back village will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.

Most of the scenic drives in Malta will have the sea featuring in one way or another.

After a stop in Golden Bay, the drive down from Mellieħa to Għadira comes with many good stops along the way, including Għadira Bay and The Red Tower.

On the way back to Valetta, a stop in St. Julian’s is recommended.

Malta is just so compact that you really can fit in most of the island on a day-long road trip.

However, it is recommended to increase this to two to four days if you’re really keen to take your time and see all that this island has got to offer.

Costa Brava, Spain

From Justine Ancheta of Latitude 41

Translated as “the rugged coast”, the Costa Brava blesses northeastern Spain with sandy beaches, medieval villages, and the eccentricities of artist Salvador Dalí.

From Barcelona , head north to Tossa de Mar, a small town where you can get a view of towering medieval walls while basking on Platja Gran, the main beach.

Then spend a day or two exploring the best thin gs to do in Girona, including the 12th-century Arab baths, the well-preserved Jewish Quarter, and the imposing Girona Cathedral.

From there, visit the charming former fishing village of Cadaqués.

A warning to the driver: the last few kilometers of the road leading up there are narrow and winding, but not dangerous.

However, the journey is worth the scenic beach coves, whitewashed residences, and cobbled streets wrapped up in a sophisticated ambiance.

It’s also where artist Salvador Dalí spent his summers and home to the famous Casa-Museo de Salvador Dali.

Next up is Figueres, the birth town of Dalí and home to the quirky Dali Theatre-Museum.

Some of his avant-garde works lie here like his holographic art, stereographs, and the Mae West installation. Also, the artist himself is buried in the crypt.

This European road trip is ideal if you’re seeking the warm Mediterranean sun while discovering local Catalan and Spanish art and culture.

Carve in at least seven days to see the magnificent Costa Brava!

Sardinia, Italy

From Hayley Lewis of A Lovely Planet

The stunning Italian island of Sardinia is a fantastic road trip destination, with stunning beaches, incredible scenery, and delicious Italian food.

Start your Sardinia road trip in Cagliari, the island’s largest city, and head southwest to Isola di Sant’Antioco, accessed by a mile-long causeway.

This is one of the oldest parts of Sardinia, and is not as frequented by tourists.

Next, drive to Bosa on the east coast. The coastline is incredibly scenic along the way, with rugged hills and sandy beaches.

Bosa is a hillside town filled with quaint colorful houses, and a castle at the center – a must-visit – especially for great views of the town.

Continue north to Alghero, a town with a strong Spanish influence and striking coastal walls.

North of the town you’ll find some of Sardinia’s most beautiful beaches – perfect for a few days of relaxing.

Make your way across the island to the west coast, and the town of Cala Gonone, the gateway to Golfo di Orosei – a stretch of incredible coastline accessed by boat or by hiking.

The water here is clear and a striking aquamarine color and the coast is dotted with great little beaches including the famed Cala Goloritze – one of Sardinia’s most prized beaches.

There is also an extensive cave network, which you can visit part of, via boat at Bue Marino Grotto, which is filled with striking stalactites and stalagmites.

Before you make your way back to Cagliari for your flight home, be sure to stop at Cala Sinzias, a white sand beach reminiscent of the Caribbean or French Polynesia.

Ideally, it’s best to have at least a week to explore all that a Sardinia road trip has to offer.

Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal

From Megan of MeganStarr.com

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean where the European plates meet the American ones sits the Azorean Archipelago, a group of volcanic islands that are an autonomous region of Portugal. 

The largest of the islands is Sao Miguel and you’ll find the main airport there, as well as a copious number of things to do.

Sao Miguel is the perfect place to start your Azores itinerary as there is a network of well-taken care of roads that wind around the island allowing visitors to see all of the viewpoints.

This Azorean island is the perfect place for a road trip, and exploring Sao Miguel in-depth by car should take around 3-4 days.

The best place to embark on this road trip is in the capital city of Ponta Delgada.

After visiting the colonial city brimming with architecture constructed with a touch of black, volcanic stones, you should head west where you will have the opportunity to look down into craters of old volcanoes and lakes that now fill them.

Sete Cidades is the most famous and the landscape will blow one’s mind.

As you cruise around Sao Miguel by car, you’ll have the chance to drive by some attractive black sand beaches and small villages, such as Capelas along the north coast.

There are several natural pools along this route that you’ll want to be sure to tote along a bathing suit and beach towel.

The next place worth tackling on Sao Miguel is the eastern part of the island, where you’ll find many hot springs, botanical gardens, and relaxing parks such as Terra Nostra where you can spend time rejuvenating yourself in natural pools heated by geothermal energy.

Another can’t-miss thing to do in Sao Miguel is to find a restaurant near Furnas that specializes in ‘Cozido das Furnas’, a famous Azorean dish that has been slowly stewed by the Earth’s underground heat.

There is plenty to do in the Azores and Sao Miguel is an ideal starting point. 

Whether you stay there for three or four days, which is the minimum number I recommend, or more, you will definitely be glad you got to experience one of the best road trips in Europe.

Eastern Sicily, Italy

From Annabel of Smudged Postcard

Sicily is a big island so to do it justice it’s worth concentrating on just part of it. Eastern Sicily lends itself particularly well to a road trip.

Fly into Catania and start your Eastern Sicily road trip, starting with a few days spent exploring the beautiful coastal city of Syracuse with its stunning cathedral and fascinating ancient history.

Next up is the Val di Noto where a huge earthquake resulted in many of the cities being rebuilt in an elaborate Baroque style in the 17th century.

Noto and Ragusa are particularly impressive although fans of chocolate might prefer Modica and its interesting chocolate history.

Drive into Sicily’s interior for a morning exploring Caltagirone with its incredible ceramic staircase before heading on to Enna.

In the center of Sicily, Enna is a hilltop city like none other with awe-inspiring views across the wheat plains.

Also not to be missed near Enna are the Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina, which are said to be some of the best-preserved in the world.

From Enna, you’ll pass smoldering Mt. Etna before ending the trip in pretty Taormina with its Greek amphitheater and the lovely beaches at Isola Bella below.

This trip will take around 10 to 14 days if you’d like to explore Sicily at a leisurely pace.

The road trip is best undertaken outside of the scorching summer months: the ancient sites are best visited during the milder weather of spring or autumn.

Southern Italy From Puglia to Rome

From Marta Correale of Learning Escapes

The south of Italy is one of the most beautiful areas of the Italian peninsula and a wonderful destination for a European road trip.

Blessed with beautiful weather almost all year round, this is a land of many wonders and rewards the adventurous visitor with stunning coastlines, charming whitewashed villages, and important cultural sites.

This southern Italy itinerary travels from Puglia to Rome, via the little-known region of Basilicata.

Start your trip from the small city of Trani, marvel at its stunning waterside cathedral, and make your first overnight stop in Alberobello.

Famous for its hobbit-like dwellings of UNESCO fame, this is a pretty town with flower-filled alleys and fairy-tale architecture, perfect for slow travelers and photography lovers.

Make unique Matera your second stop and spend a few days taking in the incredible sight that is this city, entirely carved out of rock ( sassi ).

Explore its rupestrian churches and get pleasantly lost among its labyrinthine city center, beautiful views, and restaurants!

If you book in advance, you may also be able to find accommodation in one of the  sassi : these have now been restored and are a unique and romantic place to call home for a few days!

From Matera, drive towards Rome but before diving into the dream that is the Eternal City, make sure you visit the archaeological site of Paestum along the way.

Famous for beautiful Greek temples abandoned among vast green fields, it is one of the most scenic Unesco sites in Italy and one not many visitors know about yet! 

This road trip is ideally spread over a week to 10 days and it is particularly suited to those travelers who enjoy cultural sites and getting off the beaten track.

Tenerife, Spain

From Paulina of Paulina on the Road

Some may think of Tenerife as a plain beach and sun destination, but it’s much more than that.

There are plenty of things to see and do on this Spanish gem once you get away from the shore.

The best to explore Tenerife is by going on a road trip, which will help you understand how diverse this island is: rocky volcano mountains in the north and golden, sandy beaches in the south.

I recommend starting in Adeje, one of the best places to stay in Tenerife , from here you can make your way up north to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, famous for its Auditorium and carnival.

From here, continue to La Laguna, a gem of historic architecture.

This is already the highest point you can get in Tenerife.

From here, drive all the way southwards passing along La Orotava and Los Gigantes. 

The island may seem small in size, however, you should at least calculate 2-3 days if you want to explore all its attractions with a road trip.

Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal

From Sylvia of Wapiti Travel

Terceira Island is probably the most spectacular island in the Azores archipelago. 

It can be visited as part of a broader Azores itinerary . This European road trip is a versatile vacation that is sure to please hikers and nature lovers.

Since none of the islands is really large, most tourists visit multiple islands in one trip. Island hopping, either by boat or by plane, is part of the charm of a trip to the Azores.

The island was the third to be discovered, hence its name, and it is also the third-largest island of the group. 

A few hours is all you need to drive the entire loop, but by just driving around the island you would miss the majority of the impressive sights that are located in the center of the island.

The island is home to two impressive caves. You can visit both in one afternoon leaving ample space to hike the Mistérios Negros trail that starts at the entrance of Gruto do Natal. 

The next day you can visit the Furnas do Enxofre, a fairytale-like landscape at the heart of the island.

The island has numerous impressive viewpoints and if you plan your visit in summer you can dive into the countless natural swimming pools to cool off.

Three days is all you need to see all of the highlights of Terceira, which will allow you time to leisurely road trip the island and enjoy all the beauty it has to offer.

From Linn of Brainy Backpackers

A  road trip across the Tramuntana mountain range in Mallorca is a must if you visit the small Spanish island.

Starting in Palma de Mallorca, drive straight to Cap de Formentor for breathtaking cliff views.

You should not miss Cap de Formentor’s viewpoint, but even more spectacular are the views from an old abandoned building and watchtower up the hill next to the viewpoint.

You can either walk for 30 minutes or you can drive up the narrow road.

The reward is the most mesmerizing view of the entirety of Cap Formentor and Menorca in the distance.

Continue through the picturesque villages of Pollensa, Fortnalutx, Soller, Deia, Valldemossa, and Port Valdemossa.

In Soller, you should leave the car and take the old-fashioned tram down to Port de Soller. This town is a great place to stay the night during your Mallorca road trip.

 Recommended Road Trip Route

The route can be done in a day, but it is recommended to spend at least 2-3 days to get the most out of it.

With more time, you can add additional island destinations to sightsee, enjoy the beaches, and go snorkeling in Mallorca !

Lisbon to Porto, Portugal

From Or of My Path in the World

Full of incredible stops along the way,   a road trip from Lisbon to Porto   is a great and easy way to explore multiple regions in Portugal.

This wonderful route includes quite a few unique landmarks, so it should be on any Europe lover’s bucket list.

The first one that shouldn’t be missed is Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point.

It provides the most scenic views of the Atlantic coast, and it’s the starting point of several hikes alongside it.

There’s also a nice bonus of getting a personalized certificate confirming the visit to this unique place.

Another must-see on this road trip is Sintra. It’s home to the iconic, colorful, and Insta-famous Pena Palace, but there’s a lot more to this town.

Other historical landmarks to visit here include the Castle of the Moors, the Palace of Sintra, and the palace of Quinta da Regaleira.

The fairytale town of Obidos is also worth a visit: be sure to walk the town walls!

And, Portugal’s incredible UNESCO-recognized monasteries of Alcobaça, Batalha, and Tomar lie between Lisbon and Porto.

Your road trip isn’t complete without a stop at at least one of them!

Not including a few days in Lisbon and Porto, this route can take about 3-4 days.

Northern Spain Road Trip (Bilboa to Santiago de Compostela)

From Jessica of My Feet Will Lead Me

One of the most underrated areas of Europe may just be Northern Spain.

The diverse landscape from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela makes for multiple mini destinations in one road trip.

From tiny surf towns to mountain villages, to medieval cities, this region of Spain is an absolute gem.

And because it typically gets overshadowed by Barcelona, Madrid , and Andalucia , there won’t be swarms of tourists and prices are very reasonable.

Starting with the autonomous community of Basque Country, this culturally distinct region of Spain is known for its amazing cuisine and especially seafood.

Here, you’ll want to get your fix of “pintxos” or bar finger food.

For a lesser-known but incredible sight, visit the little surf town of Bakio and see the Game of Thrones filming location for the Dragonstone castle, known as Gaztelugatxe.

Continuing west to the Principality of Asturias, the Picos de Europa National Park is a dramatic and stunning area of snowcapped peaks, turquoise rivers, tiny traditional villages, and cliffside roads with views that will make your jaw drop.

Head back to the ocean in the Asturias region where seaside villages cling to the dramatic coastline.

There are sandy beaches, rocky and rugged beaches, and jade-colored water.

Visit the capital of Oviedo for architecture and history and if small seaside villages intrigue you more, wind your way down the coast stopping for tapas and drinks in towns like Ribadasella, Lastres, and Cudillero.

Finally come to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia.

It also is the culmination of the iconic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, so you’ll see many backpackers with trekking gear.

This is a fairly small city with a stunning medieval old town and cathedral. It’s a perfect place to spend a couple of days sampling tapas and sightseeing.

Northern Spain is perfect for mountain and beach-loving adventurers alike.

You’ll need at least a week to adequately cover the small towns, and longer if you want to spend time in the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, or Santiago de Compostela.

Barcelona to Andorra

From Mar of Once in a Lifetime Journey

Most people drive from Barcelona to  Andorra  without any stops, arriving at Andorra la Vella in about 2.5 hours.

However, you can also make it a day trip and visit a few of the interesting villages along the way.

Start with a morning stop at Montserrat Mountain. This famous landmark outside of Barcelona is a holy mountain for Catalans and contains the black Virgin of Montserrat.

There is a museum that holds paintings from famous artists such as Caravaggio and Picasso as well as the church which can be visited. 

After Montserrat, the next stop should be Manresa. This modern city has a Medieval core that contains a beautiful church, bridges over the River Cardoner and other places worth a visit.

Visit La Seu, the 14th-century basilica that took almost two centuries to build and is a gem of the Catalan Gothic style. 

Have lunch in Manresa, the more local a place looks, the better. Most restaurants will have lunch menus for less than 15 Euro, including coffee and usually a glass of wine.

With a full stomach, continue towards Berga, famous for La Patum, a fire festival that takes place every year during mid-June and which sees an explosion of fire, dancing, and drums.

If La Patum is not on, you can learn more at its small museum, and explore this small Medieval village with its entry gate called Portal de la Magdalena. 

After Berga, continue to La Seu d’Urgell, the capital of the county of La Cerdanya and the last territory before reaching Andorra.

In la Seu, as the name indicates, you can see a fabulous Romanesque Catedral de Santa Maria, which is one of the most important in Catalonia and has been well preserved.

There is an adjacent museum with Romanesque art pieces and a cloister.

You can comfortably complete this short European road trip in a day.

From Stephanie of Sofia Adventures

Slovenia is a stunning country, and some of the   best places to visit in Slovenia  are best reached by car.

While many tourists know to see Ljubljana and Lake Bled, gems like the UNESCO World Heritage site of Idrija, Lake Jansa, and Triglav National Park are can’t-miss spots that are slightly more remote. 

Start with a day or two in Ljubljana before you pick up a rental since Ljubljana is famously walkable and compact. When you’re ready to hit the road, you truly can go in any direction!

Head southwest to Predjama Castle, Skogjan Caves, and the seaside town of Piran , or you can head west to Idrija and the Julian Alps. 

Or go northwest to the waterfall-laden paradise of Triglav National Park.

If you’re itching to go east, set your GPS to Maribor and enjoy this gorgeous and quiet Slovenian city that too many tourists skip over. 

If you’re going to be in the country in the wintertime and intend to drive through the mountains or do any skiing, make sure you pick a rental car that can handle the driving terrain!

The mountain roads in the west can be a bit tricky.

You can cover a lot of the country in one week, but give yourself two weeks to enjoy a lazy circuit around this tiny but packed country. 

Bay of Kotor

From Emily of Wander-Lush

Petite, affordable, and with only one toll road to its name, Montenegro is a terrific place for a European road trip.

While you can reasonably cover the entire country from mountains to sea in 7 to 10 days, for a slower-paced  road trip around Montenegro , I highly recommend honing in on the Bay of Kotor.

Montenegro’s crowning jewel, the Boka winds its way along the northern part of the country’s Adriatic coast, carving deep coves into its stony mountains.

Eighty kilometers of well-maintained highway hug the shoreline, meaning it takes just over 2 hours to drive around the entire bay.

Along the way, there are plenty of small towns and national parks to stop off at.

Highlights include the town of Kotor , with its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Herceg Novi, and Perast, a tiny Venetian town sandwiched between a pretty blue-water bay and towering hills. 

One of the best things about this road trip is that because of the short distance, you’ll never have to do more than an hour or so worth of driving in a single day.

You can easily break up the journey with longer stays in the more laid-back towns (Perast is perfect for this – mainly because it’s free from cruise ships).

If you want a change of scenery, it’s only a quick detour up the steep hills above the bay to reach Lovcen National Park.

If you’re feeling brave, take the Kotor Serpentine, a notorious road that involves 16 hairpin bends.

The views get more and more spectacular with every turn, and there are plenty of places to pull over for a photo once you reach the top.

I recommend setting aside at least 5 full days to do this route, and the towns along the way, justice.

Hvar, Croatia

From Martina of The Global Curious

The island of Hvar, in Croatia, is known for being a stunning, party island lying on the crystal clear depths of the Adriatic Sea.

Some head there to spend a few wild days, and others would visit for a couple of hours as a day trip from Split .

But travelers keen to unwind and truly enjoy Hvar could easily spend from 4 to 7 days road-tripping and discovering some of the island’s gems. 

Hvar’s most famous spots can be found in the Old Town and its surroundings, from the cathedral to the Spanish Fortress and a Franciscan Monastery.

If visiting over the summer, the lavender fields up on the hills around Velo Grablje and Brusje are a must, even if you are just passing by!

Camping and off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts can stay in Milna, a tiny villa by the sea with beautiful sunsets and great seafood.

If planning a visit to Croatia’s most famous beach, Zlatni Rat on the island of Brac, Jelsa is also a cute little town with a campsite where you can park and set camp. 

The best of road-tripping is the chance to get to more ‘secret’ places.

Pitve is definitely one of those! It’s a tiny ghost town up in the hills with a population of 69 people.

Getting there is quite fun as you must cross an old narrow tunnel before reaching a settlement full of abandoned stone houses left to nature’s will.

Dubovica is also another very scenic beach in Hvar. 

Another great idea is not just touring the island but visiting the Paklinski Islands, especially Marinkovac and Jerolim. 

To kick start your road trip, catch the ferry in Split, arrive in Stari Grad, and tour the western half of the island. It’s also possible to rent a car once you arrive there! 

To complete the experience, drive across the island to the East and catch the ferry from Sucuraj to Drvenik.

Once in Croatia’s mainland, if you still have time on your hands, drive south for 2 hours and reach Dubrovnik !

Ideally, travelers would spend 5 or 6 nights in Hvar to really explore the island and its surroundings.

The roads are well maintained and although it can get crowded, as soon as you leave the main town, you’ll find peace and quiet.

Southern Albania

From Rick of The Road is Life

Albania isn’t the first country that comes to mind when planning a European road trip, but if you give it a chance it will prove to be an amazing adventure.

This is a country with both great natural beauty and interesting history.

Towering mountains plummet precipitously into the crystal clear and stunning Mediterranean waters that span the entire west coast and further inland there is no shortage of beautiful UNESCO-listed sites and old towns to explore.

This southern Albania road trip will start you off in the port city of Saranda before visiting the stunning coastal town of Ksamil, with striking azure waters and nearby UNESCO-listed Roman ruins.

Then, head inland, passing by the beautiful “blue eye” lake before heading to the ancient town of Gjirokaster, with its traditional stone-roofed buildings and market.

Hike up to the ancient hilltop fortress for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys .

Continuing north you can spend the night in a 13th-century citadel situated high above the UNESCO world heritage town of Berat , eating in beautiful local restaurants as you take in sweeping views of mountains and sunset.

Explore the unique town and architecture before getting back on the road for one of the most stunning drives in the world.

After leaving Berat you’ll head back to the coast via a winding and amazing mountain road, offering jaw-dropping views out across the Albanian riviera; keeping your eyes on the road is no easy task!

You can have lunch at a mountain-top restaurant overlooking the ocean before heading back down to have your choice of beaches to stay on. 

Spend as many days on the Albania Riviera as you please, feasting on fresh seafood (at amazing prices) and enjoying the pleasant lack of crowds compared to mainstream European beachside destinations.

There are multiple ferry trips between Corfu, Greece, and Saranda per day so fly into Corfu to save money.

Cars can be rented at Saranda port, consider paying a little extra for a well-known company to avoid scams.

This road trip in Europe can be done comfortably in a week but can be extended for as long as you can handle the sun-drenched beaches, cheap beer, and delicious seafood. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina

From Arzo of Arzo Travels

One of the best road trips to take in Europe is through Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This beautiful but definitely underrated country surprises its visitors who venture to enjoy a Bosnia road trip .

Many travelers drive over from Croatia: if so and you come from Dubrovnik or Split , start from Kravica Waterfalls, Pocitelj, and Blagaj.

You can visit all three beautiful places in one day before driving to Mostar which is just a few kilometers from Blagaj.

After spending a day in Mostar it is time to drive to Sarajevo , which makes for a scenic ride .

Pass the Neretva River, Lake Jablanica, and Konjic and spend a full day on the road with many breaks.

Sarajevo is a wonderful city where you can spend a day or two before ending your day trip.

For this European road trip itinerary, I would plan in about 5 days.

If you have more time (6 or 7 days), consider driving the M 18 toward Montenegro.

You will get to Bosnia´s longest and deepest canyon – Rakitnica Canyon – where you can do some water sports. 

Eastern Crete

From Una of Wandernity

Crete is the largest island in Greece, and it takes several days to visit all of the must-see places on the island.

Renting a car and going on a road trip will make it possible to reach as many points of interest as possible, making Crete a fantastic option when planning a road trip in Europe.

Malia is a great choice for the apartment on the Eastern Crete. It’s known as a party location and has a lot of hotels, beaches, and attractions.

A perfect day-trip from Malia is going to   Spinalonga Island, Agios Nikolas town, and Richtis Gorge .

Spinalonga island is uninhabited, and tourists can reach the Venetian fortress and ruins of a former leper colony by boat.

You have to be there early to secure a place on a boat, as during the high season there might be queues.

Agios Nikolas is a coastal town with beautiful houses and streets leading from a hill to the seaside.

There is an old harbor surrounded by charming cafes and very photogenic architecture.

Richtis Gorge is a green and lush hiking path ending at the seaside. The hike is around 4 kilometers long one-way.

It has a waterfall in the middle for a refreshing swim before going back up the gorge.

Another day-trip you can make from Malia is to the cave of Zeus, Knossos, and Heraklion.

Knossos is a place famous due to the well-known myth of the Minotaur. Half-man and half-bull, the Minotaur is said to have lived there in a labyrinth, and the ruins which exist today actually look like the labyrinth.

Knossos is a ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture, which might be the oldest city in Europe.

Finally, Heraklion has an impressive Koules Fortress built by Venetians. It’s a perfect place to go for a walk and see the city from a long breakwater. 

Try to spend at least a few days dedicated to Eastern Crete if possible!

As the island is quite big, one way to save time on road trips is to rent an apartment on one side of the island for a few days, and then change the base to the other side.

Transylvania, Romania

From Rachelle of Adventure is Never Far Away

With fortress-dotted hills strewn across valleys, quaint medieval towns, and narrow highways slicing through dense forest, road tripping through the countryside of Transylvania is like something out of a fairytale, not a feature that many other corners of the world can boast. 

Starting in Brasov, head north towards the vibrantly colorful town of Sighișoara and wander through the maze of cobblestoned streets.

Get lost in the old town city center, which also happens to double as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Continue northwest to Cluj-Napoca, the unofficial capital of Transylvania, and immerse yourself in the hopping local college nightlife scene.

Travel southwest to the charming town of Hunedoara and visit Corvin Castle, which resembles a real-life version of Hogwarts.

Wander through one of the largest castles in Europe and one of the Seven Wonders of Romania.

Then, start heading east to the city of Sibiu, home to some of the most dramatic houses in all of Europe: the old city center houses have eyes!

Catch a side-eye stare from the homes as you try your luck walking across the Bridge of Lies.

Finish your road trip through Transylvania by heading east back to Brasov, nestled snugly amongst the mighty Carpathian Mountains. 

Transylvania is one of those places that you should visit now before it explodes with tourism.

Prices are cheap, the countryside is beautiful (as you will discover on your road trip through Transylvania!), and it’s fairly easy to navigate! 

Road trippers should allow themselves about 5 days to make the journey, as many of Romania’s country roads have slower speed limits and cut through endless villages along the way. 

From Julie & Zach of Ruhls of the Road

A road trip through Croatia is basically a gauntlet of adventure and absolutely stunning sites!

Start in bustling Zagreb and head through Plitvice Lakes National Park to Split, and finish in the walled city of Dubrovnik.

This adventure is full of unique sites and experiences that you can’t find in any other country on Earth!

Start your road trip in Zagreb and get your fill of Croatian city life. Head to a local restaurant and pub to get some fuel and prepare yourself for a once-in-a-lifetime Croatian adventure.

The first stop on the road is Plitvice Lakes National Park, which is about as close to the Garden of Eden as you can get.

Explore this paradise for a few days until you are ready to move on. Once you tear yourself away from Plitvice, head to the Croatian coast to Split. 

Split is a wonderful coastal town that gives you a truly Croatian experience.

Don’t miss wandering through Diocletian’s Palace, sampling the fresh seafood, or admiring the views from the promenade.

Relax and recharge in Split before making your drive down the coast to Dubrovnik, Croatia’s premier tourist destination.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town, used in Game of Thrones as King’s Landing, is an ancient walled city that makes for a unique adventure.

You can walk the entire wall, experiencing a city that has been home to so much of Europe’s history, and has still never been conquered!

Dubrovnik will be the perfect end to the perfect Croatian road trip.

Plan your trip for one week at least, with a few days in each place, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

Korçë to Përmet, Albania

From Anita of Travelling Balkans

One of the lesser-known drives within Albania and the Balkans is the road trip from Korçë to Përmet. 

Korçë is a lively city with the biggest cathedral in Albania as well as the best beer and Qofte (a sort of meatball).  There are many great things to do in Korce , so it makes a great starting point!

The road starting here and leading to Përmet, which is a small town known for its slow food movement and being close to the incredible nature spot Bënjë, is one not to be missed.

It winds through forests, small villages, and natural hot pools, and the road sits parallel to the border of Greece. 

There are also many old bridges along the way which are perfect photo opportunities too. Just beware that you cannot cross safely due to half of the boards missing!

Make sure you stop off at Bënjë which is around 20 minutes from Përmet.

Here you can relax in many hot pools as well as marvel at the Old Ottoman bridge which is a true feature of this area. There is also a canyon and waterfall if you walk directly up the river.  

This road trip takes about 4 hours but do allow a couple of hours at Bënjë to relax in the hot pools as well as the various other stops along the way!

Transfăgărășan Road, Romania

From Dominika of Sunday in Wonderland

If you aim to check all the best European road trips from your bucket list, you should definitely visit Transfăgărășan road in Romania.

This picturesque path among the Transylvanian mountains is one of the two most famous roads in the country (just next to Transalpina).

It was called the absolute best road trip in Europe by the Top Gear team, but even without this honor, it has a lot of stories to tell on its own.

The road was built by the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Although there were many easiest ways to travel through the Făgăraș Mountains peaks, he decided to build the Transfăgărășan road to show the power of Romanian technology.

The must-visit place during the Transylvania road trip is the Poenari Citadel.

The ruins of the ancient fortress are situated on a high peak which you can reach by climbing ~1500 steps. The castle was the citadel of Vlad The Impaler.

He was the archetype of the famous character of a vampire from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”.

There are many more  interesting facts about the Transfăgărășan road  that you should know like Bâlea Lake or Vidraru Dam. But this trip is something you simply must try on your own.

You can drive the Transfăgărășan road in a day, but be prepared! You’ll need to pay extremely good attention when driving, as this is far from the easiest driving in Europe.

Eastern Scotland

From Gemma of Two Scots Abroad

There’s no denying that Scotland’s most popular road trip is the North Coast 500 but there are other routes which are lesser-known, and have historic castles, cute villages, and fewer midges!

Starting in Scotland’s capital, collect your car from Edinburgh Airport to avoid the stress of city driving or brave the roads and catch the highlights of the city.

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, Dean Village, Calton Hill, and of course all the Harry Potter attractions should make your list.

Leaving Edinburgh drive over the Queensferry Crossing to the Kingdom of Fife. Park up at North Queensferry for views of the Forth Bridge which is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Drive to Culross and walk back in time. Outlander fans might recognize Culross Palace.

Next, head to the ancient capital of Scotland, Dunfermline, and spend the afternoon at the Heritage Quarter and the Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. 

The following morning, enjoy breakfast in Aberdour. Take a stroll along the beach then drive to the East Neuk stopping at Ellie and Anstruther for fishing village feels.

If you like to hike, consider staying in this area of Fife to do part of the Fife Coastal Path or head to St. Andrew’s for the night before moving on to Dundee.

From Dundee, head north to the city of Aberdeen stopping at Braemar and Ballater in the Cairngorms National Park.

At Stonehaven, visit Dunnottar Castle, you can’t miss it, literally! Arrive in Aberdeen and wander the streets discovering the Nuart street art mural trail all over the city. 

On the final day, head up to Slains Castle and on to Bullers of Buchan.

From here, you can turn back to Aberdeen for the night or drive to the gateway of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness.

It’s best to set aside a minimum of a week and a half for this road trip, but two weeks is even better.

French Riviera

From Victoria of Bridges and Balloons

Experience the glitz and charm of the world-renowned French Riviera on this road trip along one of Europe’s most exciting coastlines.

Though not technically part of France, kick off your French Riviera road trip in Monaco, the fanciest of all the Riviera destinations where you’ll be among mega yachts, Lamborghinis, and diamonds aplenty.

For something more quaint, head to the hills and the village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a picturesque enclave famous for its art and the great artists who stayed there in the past.

Cannes is your next stop on this France road trip for some time by the beach and, if you time it right, the famous film festival.

St. Tropez is another popular spot for yachts and as such has the glitz that goes with that, but somehow also retains its charm with pretty streets and a laid-back vibe.

Before your final stop in Marseille, stop at the breathtaking Calanques National Park, one of France’s most stunning sights with turquoise water and hidden coves.

And finally, in Marseille, enjoy the vibrant, multicultural port city with all its gastronomic and cultural delights.

Seven days is ideal for this road trip and I recommend going in the springtime before the crowds hit in the summer.

If you want to extend this road trip into more of the best places to visit in the south of France , consider turning inland to the Luberon Valley after visiting Marseille.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

From Allan of It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor

Probably one of the most iconic road trips in Europe is the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,553-mile coastal road trip following the west coast along the Atlantic Sea.

It is also a route that connects many of Ireland’s more famous tourist attractions which include the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher , Connemara, and of course the cobbled streets of Galway.

The route itself can start in either the north in County Donegal or the very south in County Cork which will likely depend on the vantage point of arrival.

For example, from Dublin (2h 50mins) or Shannon Airport (1h 45mins), it may be best to start in the south at Cork, although a more convenient start would be from  Belfast in Northern Ireland  which is just over an hour from the borders of Donegal.

The overall time it then takes really depends on interests along the way!

With enough time, detours to places like the Slieve League Cliffs and Slea Head Drive are well worth your time.

While it is only an 8-9 hour drive direct from the most Northern Point at Malin Head, Donegal to the most Southern point of Mizen Head in Cork, this time would be at least triple when following the scenic coastal routes.

I would give at least 3 full days for any Wild Atlantic Way road trip, and, for a more leisurely drive visiting the various attractions along the way, I would give a week or so.  

Alsace, France

From Elisa of World in Paris

Alsace is one of the best regions in France and there’s no better way to explore Alsace than on a road trip.

Alsace is best known for Strasbourg, the capital, and its picturesque villages.

It is also one of the most important  French wine regions and there are also beautiful natural sites and impressive châteaux to visit.

Start your trip in Strasbourg , Alsace’s capital, to visit Strasbourg’s amazing Gothic cathedral and the streets of La Petite France, in the Old Town, with beautiful architecture surrounded by canals.

Head to the south to visit Colmar , the most famous town in Alsace.

Colmar is a great place to taste some of Alsace’s typical dishes in one of its traditional restaurants (winstubs).

Spend the third day exploring a couple of picturesque towns like Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, or Eguisheim. This may sound like too much but they are really small towns.

Don’t leave Alsace without tasting its wines, especially the whites.

If you don’t know what to choose, let yourself be guided by the winegrowers and you will be fine.

If you want to hit the road to explore Alsace, a minimum of 3 days is recommended.

This will give you time to visit Strasbourg well (we recommend one full day) plus explore some of the region’s picturesque villages and do a couple of wine tastings.

If you are interested in hiking in the Vosges, then a minimum of 4 days will be necessary.

From Ben Holbrook of Driftwood Journals

The open road, cozy country pubs, and wild horses galore… Wales really is made for those who love road trips in Europe.

Many a visitor to the UK makes the mistake of only visiting Cardiff in their bid to “tick Wales off” their bucket list. Needless to say, they’re missing out in a big way. 

Instead, what they should really do is hop in a rental car and head straight to the glorious Brecon Beacons National Park.

Located less than an hour away from the English border (via the newly free-to-cross Prince of Wales Bridge), this is a land of endless rolling hills and unspoiled natural beauty. 

If you have time then be sure to make a pitstop in the charming town of Abergavenny on your way, aka the Gateway to Wales, followed by a quick stomp up Sugar Loaf Mountain. 

Once in the Brecon Beacons National Park itself, simply let the winding, pine-fringed backroads guide you and stop for photos and picnics at secluded spots along the way, such as the Talybont Reservoir and Usk Reservoir.

Then it’s time to wind the windows down, shift into top gear and cruise the inspiring Black Mountain Pass, named one of the greatest driving roads in the UK (made famous by none other than motoring icon Jeremy Clarkson). 

From the Brecon Beacons, you can continue west to the rugged Gower Peninsula and/or Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for some of the best surfing and camping in the UK.

And all of this beauty can be reached within just 2 or 3 hours from the English border! 

Ideally, set aside at least a few days to explore all that Brecon Beacons National Park and Wales as a whole have to offer.

Brittany, France

From Shelley of Lifejourney4two

A Brittany road trip will introduce you to an amazing collection of destinations.

Brittany, located in the northwest corner of France, has a rich Breton culture and a mix of landscapes that makes a road trip here exciting and varied.   

Starting in the historic town of Kerhinet, you can wander through romantic thatched cottages, before moving along to the pretty seaside town of Sarzeau and its moated castle, Chateau de Suscinio, built in the middle ages.

The fabulous Bretagne coastline provides ample opportunity for beautiful coastal walks. Make sure to take time to explore the Quiberon Peninsula with its White Port Arch.

Further along, is the Pink Granite Coast and the seaside town of Perros-Guirec. In Plougrescant, you’ll come across an incredible house nestled impossibly between two rocks.

As well as coastal and seaside experiences, this Brittany road trip will have you stepping back in time in the charming medieval town of Dinan.

Set within its old city walls, it is known for its quaint half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and its array of historical monuments. 

Don’t forget to sample the local Brittany delicacies such as sweet crepes, savory galettes, and the butter-rich Bretagne Gateau. 

Four days will have you traveling about 500km through Brittany and will give you enough time to experience the variety of flavors Bretagne has to offer. 

Northern Ireland

From Amanda of Toddling Traveler

Northern Ireland is by far one of the best road trips in Europe.

Between the beautiful scenery and the unique outdoor activities, it’s something that needs to be experienced at least once.

The best area for a 1 week road trip in Northern Ireland is the Causeway Coast and Glens, after spending a couple of days in Belfast. 

With towns like Cushendall, Ballycastle, Ballintoy, and Bushmills, there are so many great places to stop along the way. 

From Belfast, you can make a stop at Carrickfergus for the castle and seaside restaurants.

Between the views of the ocean on one side and the sheep nestled among the cliffs on the other side, there’s so much to take in.

Cushendall is a quaint little seaside town with the friendliest people, and it’s a great location for sightseeing in Northern Ireland. 

From Cushendall, you can drive through the beautiful Glens of Antrim and make a stop at the Dark Hedges for any Game of Thrones fans.

Another famous stop on the Causeway Coastal Route is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which takes you a few hundred feet above sea level. 

Ballintoy Harbour and Fullerton Arms are two additional stops that are popular with Game of Thrones fans. 

From Cushendall, you can change your home base to Bushmills for a change of scenery. 

Bushmills Distillery and the Giants Causeway are two sites that shouldn’t be missed in that area. For golf fans, Portrush is a popular seaside town that also boasts a world-famous golf course.

If your Northern Ireland road trip allows for more time, spending more time in Portrush or Portstewart is definitely recommended as well. 

7-10 days is ideal for a road trip through Northern Ireland, but you can easily spend more time if you’re exploring beyond Antrim County.

Loire Valley + Normandy, France

From Brianna of Curious Travel Bug

The  Loire Valley and Normandy are two of France’s most beautiful areas and combined, they make for a fantastic road trip from Paris.

This European road trip is perfect for those who enjoy the countryside, castles, and adorable villages. 

Start your trip by driving to Amboise from Paris.

Amboise is small enough to be walkable and has a scenic chateau that overlooks the town, and a great base for visiting the Loire Valley.

From Amboise, you can visit famous chateaux like Chateau Chenonceau, Chambord, Villandry, and Usse.

After exploring the Loire Valley head towards Normandy and the coast.

A great halfway point to break up the driving is Chateau d’Angers, a massive castle with huge towers.

Stay in the village of Pontorson to visit nearby Brittany, towns like Dinan and Saint-Malo are both worth a visit.

From Pontorson you will be only 20 minutes from the incredible Mont Saint Michel.

Mont Saint Michel is what brings most people to Normandy and it is certainly impressive.

If you can, try to visit both at high and low tides as the contrast between the two is interesting to witness.

Drive further into Normandy and stay in the town of Bayeux. Bayeux is a cute medieval town made famous by both the Bayeux Tapestry and its proximity to the D-Day Beaches.

The D-Day sites are worth spending at least a day exploring.

Finish up your road trip by stopping in the port town of Honfleur to see its cute harbor.

Head back to Paris, stopping en route in Giverny to see Monet’s gardens.

Other places to include on your itinerary if you have more time are the city of Rouen and the cliffs at Etretat.

This route requires at least 6 days but you can easily spend much longer exploring both the Loire Valley and Normandy as these areas are rich with history, charming villages, and castles to explore.  

Cotswolds Road Trip

From Laura of Travelers Universe

If you have more than 3 days in London and are ready for a quick European road trip, then a visit to the Cotswolds is a must. No other area in the UK compares to the old-fashioned charm and heritage of the Cotswolds.

When planning your road trip route I recommend you start with the 4 must-see villages in the Cotswolds: Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter, and Bibury.

Bourton-on-the-Water has a unique appeal to everyone. It is regularly voted as one of the prettiest villages in England and is famous for its honey-colored stone architecture and idyllic scenes.

The village is known as the Venice of the Cotswolds and it’s the perfect place for you to enjoy some relaxing time by the River Windrush.

Upper and Lower Slaughter share an interesting name that could be translated as a ‘miry place’.

Lower Slaughter has been very well conserved and walking alongside the stream seems like a trip into the past. 

There is no wonder the village has been used for filming productions on several occasions. 

Upper Slaughter is equally as charming. Interesting fact – it lost nobody in the First World War and that’s why these days it is considered to be a sainted village. 

If you are by car, I recommend parking in Bourton-on-the-Water and walking from there, as there is limited parking in the Slaughters. 

When it comes to Bibury, everybody will quote William Morris as he famously said that Bibury is ‘the most beautiful village in England’. 

Well, this should be convincing enough to check it out for yourself. 

Don’t miss the picturesque Arlington Row cottages, dating back to 1380. Arlington Row is one of the most photographed places in Cotswold.

Recommended Road Trip Route

Try to set aside at least a couple of days to enjoy road-tripping the main villages of the Cotswolds.

Route des Grand Alpes, France

From Kat of Wandering Bird Adventures

One of the best road trips in Europe is the Route des Grandes Alpes, in the southeast corner of France. 

It’s possible to drive this route by car and stop along the way at one of the many beautiful towns, but a better option is to   travel the Alps by motorhome  and stop up a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

Technically, the Route des Grande Alpes starts in Lake Geneva and goes south over the highest mountain passes until you reach the French Riviera, but you can easily drive it in reverse if you wish.

Highlights include breathtaking mountain views; the Milky Way at night; going up Mont Blanc in a cable car; exploring picturesque Lake Annecy and the awe-inspiring Gorge du Fier.

Of all the places to enjoy a road trip in Europe, the French Alps are definitely one of the most awe-inspiring! 

This road trip can take anywhere from 3-5 days and the best time to go is late spring or early autumn, (May/ June or September/ October.) 

The reason for this is the weather (winter snow means road closures in the mountains) and also cyclists- you will not believe the number of cyclists who ride up and down these crazy roads! 

And that’s not including the Tour de France which regularly passes through this route- another reason to avoid July!

Dublin to Dingle (Cross-Country Ireland Road Trip)

By Jennifer P. (aka Dr. J) of Sidewalk Safari

A road trip from Dublin to Dingle is one of the longest you can undertake in Ireland.

Dingle is one of the most picturesque places in Ireland and is well-worthy of a road trip in itself. However, sometimes getting there is more than half the fun.

Take a road trip to Dingle and use the 5-hour drive to explore lesser-known parts of Ireland on the way.

Start at Birr Castle, a 19th-century house and gardens that was home to the world’s largest telescope for nearly 75 years.

Next up, drive to Adare, which is best known for quaint thatched cottages and for being one of the most beautiful small towns in Ireland .

Adare is an ideal road trip pitstop; there are cool things to see and do but not so many things that one is tempted to linger (budget 30-60 minutes).

Listowel is known as the literary capital of Ireland because writers like Bryan MacMahon and John B. Keane once lived there.

Grab a coffee on the colorful square and follow in the footsteps of some of Ireland’s best-known writers.

Do not miss Foynes and the Flying Boat Museum! Fun fact: Irish coffee is believed to have been invented in Foynes.

Finally, stop at Belvedere House in Mullingar for its follies.

Follies are large-scale structures that look ancient but are actually modern.

Belvedere House also has a Jealous Wall erected in a feud between two brothers centered around alleged adultery. 

Recommended length: 2 days. Take one day en route to Dingle and a second day on the way back to Dublin to cover all the stops referenced.

Montpellier to Toulouse, France

From Maura of Travel Kiwis

The region of Occitanie in southern France has spectacular scenery and diverse history.   

Start in the pedestrian-friendly and vibrant city of   Montpellier for shopping and French cuisine.

From Montpellier, allow an hour to travel the coastline dotted with pink flamingos to the fishing village of Sete, a perfect place for lunch and fabulous seafood.  

One-hour inland is Beziers, one of the oldest cities in France where high above the river Orb sits the Bezier Cathedral.

Bezier is famous for the Orb Aqueduct, which carries the Canal du Midi over the river, and the Fonserannes Locks, a staircase of nine water levels, which traverses the canal.   

Half an hour from Beziers is the old Roman town of Narbonne.

You can explore the Hordeum, a labyrinth of underground warehouses when Narbonne was a Roman port, and view part of the first Roman road in France, Via Domitia. 

An hour from Narbonne, overlooking the Aude river, is Carcassonne.

The spectacular UNESCO heritage site Chateau Comtal de Carcassonne is perfect for a short stay. Make sure to try the local dish Cassoulet.

The final stop is Toulouse, the capital city of Occitanie, referred to as the La Ville Rose with its pink terracotta brick buildings.

Visit the Aeroscopia museum to learn more about the Airbus A380, built-in Toulouse; it is the largest airliner in the world.

This route is 276kms taking four hours with no stops. So, take your time and plan a night or two along the way.

Scottish Highlands & Islands

From Jessica of One Girl, Whole World

Exploring deep into the Scottish Highlands and islands with one of the most stunning European road trips you can take.

A  10-day road trip itinerary  has gorgeous landscapes, interesting history, hiking options, boat trips and ferries, and few crowds.

There are infinite route combinations, but here is one that’s a great combination of landscapes, history, and activity, and avoids long stretches of driving. You can start from anywhere, but Edinburgh or Glasgow is the most common.  

Head toward the upper Highlands, covering Glen Torridon, Applecross, and (weather-permitting) driving the famous and slightly nerve-wracking Bealach na Ba pass. 

Then spend a few days on the Isle of Skye, possibly hiking the stunning Quiraing and taking a boat trip from Elgol to the misty Black Cuillin mountains.

Then get further out to islands that most tourists rarely visit. 

You can take a 90-minute ferry north to the Isle of Harris & Lewis and spend a day or two driving the island and experiencing the turquoise beaches and ancient standing stones. 

Once you’re back on the mainland, consider hitting beautiful Glen Coe and the Glenfinnan Viaduct (the Hogwarts Express!) in the Highlands on your way west to the tiny Isle of Iona. 

Iona has both beauty and some of the earliest Christian history in Scotland, and also a perfect base to take a boat trip to the almost-mythical Isle of Staffa. 

Finally, spend a day or two exploring charming Edinburgh at either the beginning or end of your trip. 

The length of your visit is flexible, but to cover everything above you should plan for at least 10 days–if you can set aside two weeks, that would be even better!

Northumberland Coastal Route, England

From Stuart Forster of Go Eat Do

The Northumberland Coastal Route is a scenic driving route that runs for 48 miles between Blyth and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The marked route meanders past broad beaches and castles built when this region saw regular raids by cattle rustlers, known as border reivers, and Scottish armies.

If you choose to drive on the most direct route, the A1, the journey between Berwick and Newcastle takes just 75 minutes.

Plan at least a couple of days to pause along the way and take walks to view the castles at Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh.

It’s also worth taking a reflective stroll on the golden sand of Alnmouth Beach after popping into nearby Alnwick to shop at Barter Books, England’s biggest second-hand bookstore, and see the castle where Harry Potter movies were filmed.  

Following the Northumberland coastal route offers opportunities to pause for locally landed seafood at the Fish Shack in Amble or The Jolly Fisherman pub in Craster.

The fishing village of Craster gives its name to traditionally smoked kippers, a local delicacy. Craster kippers pair well with Earl Grey tea, which was first mixed for consumption at Howick Hall, the 19th-century British prime minister’s estate in  England’s most northerly county .

Check the tidal table before driving to or from Lindisfarne, otherwise known as Holy Island.

Many a driver has had to abandon their vehicle in the face of rapidly advancing waters.

We suggest completing this trip in about two days.

Ring of Kerry, Ireland

From Cath of Travel Around Ireland

One of the best road trips to take in Europe is one in which you visit the Ring of Kerry in Ireland .

Encompassing the Killarney National Park and part of the epic Wild Atlantic Way, this part of Southern Ireland is filled with beauty that will leave you awe-inspired.

This is a popular tourist area of the region and it is best explored by car or motorbike.

Points of interest to stop and explore include the Gap of Dunloe, a beautiful valley snaking through the MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountains.

You cannot drive a car through it, but motorbikes, cyclists, hikers, and joggers can traverse it. There are tourist horses and carts which can take those in cars into the Gap to enjoy its beauty.

At the top of the Gap lies Kate’s Cottage, a historic coaching house, now with a restaurant, bar, and craft shop.

Not far from this is Lady’s View, affording magnificent views across the Killarney National Park.

You should also take a day to visit Ross Castle and Muckross House, Gardens, and Farms, both of which are steeped in history.

Got a Star Wars fan on your hands? Then a boat trip from the Ring of Kerry to Skellig Michael is a must. It featured in Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens.

Skellig Michel is famous for its 6th to 8th-century Christian monastery and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Another site to visit during your road trip around the Ring of Kerry is Torc Waterfall.

This lies only 7km from Killarney Town and is a beautiful waterfall with a height of 20 meters and a cascade of 110 meters long. 

Many of the towns that you pass through are worth stopping in for a cuppa or a meal including Kenmare, Sneem, and Killorglin.

The town with the most choice when it comes to accommodation and eating options is Killarney and should be your starting point when traveling around this stunning part of Ireland.

Killarney, the town at which you should start your visit to the Ring of Kerry, lies 300km southwest of Dublin and it will take you approximately four hours by car to reach this quaint little town.

Although you could drive the outer circuit of the Ring of Kerry in one day, you will need more than a day to visit the many places to stop around this 179km-long circular route in County Kerry.

Germany’s Romantic Road

From Hannah & Adam Lukaszewicz of Getting Stamped

Southern Germany is home to the Romantic Road, a journey from Wurzberg to Fussen that captures both the scenic beauty and beautiful, fairytale castles Germany has to offer. 

Start out by stopping at the Wurzburg Residence, a stunning palace with extensive gardens.

Next up is the Neuschwanstein Castle which has many great viewpoints, like Mary’s Bridge. Another castle in the vicinity that’s worth a stop is the Hohenschwangau Castle.

Those are the most popular stops on this European road trip, but also make sure to stop at some of the charming Bavarian villages along the way, such as Rothenburg ob de Tauber and Würzburg. 

For the average tourist, it is suggested to have a three-day itinerary for the Romantic Road .

It’s just enough time to see all the highlights on the route.

However, it is up to you to extend the trip by a few extra days if you’d like to explore more villages on the way. 

Austrian Alps

From Kati Walzl of Moon & Honey Travel

Austria is synonymous with the Alps. While Austria’s cities are easily accessible by transit, its mountains are best explored on a road trip.

If you love hiking and scenic alpine roads, follow this Vienna to Innsbruck road trip anytime between June and October.  

Start in Vienna, the capital city of Austria before driving directly to Filzmoos, a small alpine town in the Dachstein mountains.

Here, you can hike to scenic alp huts and explore the Gosaukamm, a subrange of the Dachstein.

After hiking in the Northern Limestone Alps of Salzburg, your road trip continues to the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park, which encompasses Austria’s highest mountains.

Drive the celebrated Grossglockner High Alpine Road to East Tyrol. If you want to experience the glaciers of the Vendiger Group, explore the lesser-known Virgental and Gschlösstal valleys.

Next, head west to Mayrhofen, which is the perfect base for exploring the Zillertal mountains.

If there’s one range that epitomizes “the Alps” this is it.

After a few days in Zillertal, continue your drive to Innsbruck.

If you have more time, drive to Vorarlberg to explore the Rätikon Alps for a few days.

Tip: If you rent a car in another country, don’t forget to purchase a “Vignette” before driving on the Austrian “Autobahn” (highway). 

You’ll need 10 – 16 days to complete this route.

Czech Republic

From Celine of Family Can Travel

While Prague is certainly worth the visit, there’s so much more to see in the Czech Republic, and the best way to see it is by planning a Central European road trip.

Plan to make four major stops along the way: Cesky Krumlov , Karlovy Vary, Bohemian Switzerland National Park, and Bohemian Paradise.

The real charm of having a car is not only getting to each of these places but visiting some incredible sights near each of them.

Near Cesky Krumlov, explore the ruins of Hrad Divi.

After visiting the multitude of colonnades around Karlovy Vary, stretch your legs with a hike from Karlovy Vary to the charming town of Loket.

Next, leave the cities behind to enjoy the more natural side of the Czech Republic. 

Hiking in Bohemian Switzerla nd National Park to see the Pravcicka Brana (the largest natural stone bridge in Europe) and then continuing on to the Wild Gorge Loop will give you a real sense of the varying landscapes you can find in the Czech Republic.

If you find yourself with some extra time in Bohemian Switzerland, the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland National Park (Germany) is only a short drive away.

The Tisa Walls are also worth a stop.

Before returning to Prague, make one final stop in Bohemian Paradise to see Trotsky Castle and the incredible rock formations on the hike from Hruba Skala to Valdstejn Castle.

This Czech Republic road trip could be done in one week, but 10 days would be better to add in a few extra places to visit along the way and truly enjoy all that the area has to offer.

East Germany Castle & Nature Road Trip

From Annemarie Strehl of Germany on the Brain

For an East Germany road trip heavy on castles and natural beauty, start in the gorgeous state capital of Mecklemburg-Vorpommern.

It‘s one hour away from Hamburg by train (90 minutes with a car) and there are plenty of things to see in Schwerin .

Its center is simply gorgeous, with typical Baltic houses and historic buildings, and from here, it’s a short walk to the fairy tale castle of Schwerin.

It was modeled after French chateaus and has even been featured in Hollywood productions.

From Schwerin, you can easily reach Berlin, where you can stroll around Charlottenburg Palace or Friedrichsfelde Palace.

Those beautiful baroque buildings can make you almost forget you are in a big and busy metropolis.

Complete your visit in the North with a trip down to Potsdam’s extensive Sanssouci Castle estate.

For Dresden alone, you can easily fill a week exploring castles inside and around the city.

Your starting point should be at the Zwinger and move on to the famous Frauenkirche, to name just two iconic attractions. For more castles, check out Pillnitz or Moritzburg.

Complete your journey in the neighboring state of Thuringia and visit charming Jena, Weimar, and Erfurt.

Weimar especially looks straight out of a history book in the best of ways.

In total, such a trip should be no shorter than seven days so you don’t have to rush through your destinations.

Driving times are between one to three hours from one place to the next, so it’s definitely doable to do one city per day.

However, for places like Berlin or Dresden you can easily schedule in multiple days.

The Italian Dolomites

From Kristen & Jeff Miller of Our Passion for Travel

Fans of jagged mountains, windy roads, and stunning landscapes will rejoice in a   Dolomites road trip .

Picking up a car in Verona and heading north, make your first stop in the hillside town of Trento. This stunning town is perfectly wedged in a valley with dramatic cliffs surrounding you.

Choose to spend a night here or head further north to the cute town of Ortisei.

Here, you can excite yourself with some of the winding passes that will take you from blazing sunshine in the middle of summer, up to near-freezing temperatures.

Admire the snow falling off the mountains in the Gardena and Sella Pass.

Later, mix it up with the majestic Lago di Carezza, one of the greenest alpine lakes you’ll ever lay your eyes on.

Ortisei is also home to the highest alpine meadow, Alpe di Siusi. Spend a day up top wandering in awe as the lush green grass meets the jagged peaks and rich blue skies.

Leaving Ortisei behind, consider Cortina d’Ampezzo as your next overnight destination.

Not only is Cortina d’Ampezzo home to the future 2026 winter Olympics, but it’s well located to explore the surrounding areas.

Lago di Braies is the insta-famous lake, complete with rowboats to fill your feed with.

A short drive from Cortina, you’ll find Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

The entry of €30 to the national park may seem steep, but it’s about as picturesque as you’ll find in this region.

Those jagged peaks you’ve been admiring are so much closer here, and rip into the sky like daggers.

This road trip through the Dolomites can be done comfortably in as little as 4 days.

It is easily stretched to 2 weeks depending on your pace and how much hiking you’re contemplating. Also, be sure to allow time for good weather (it can be temperamental like all alpine regions). 

Vienna to Budapest Road Trip

From Pashmina of The Gone Goat

Imagine traversing through stunning countryside covering charming and beautiful towns and some very obscure ones, while crossing the capitals of these three countries Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest .

Whether you want to start your road trip in Vienna and end it with a weekend in Budapest , or vice versa, a road trip in these places is often brimming with exciting stories, culture, and unique landscapes.

Although the entire trip is approximately 243km and may only take you 3 hours to drive, this trip is best done with a detour spending time in Lake Neusield, Austria, followed by Sopron, Gyor, and Esztergom in Hungary. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the other route and pass through Slovakia and see firsthand what it is like to see a new generation of Slovakians who are eager to bring modern elements and street culture to their lives.

You can also stop in Bratislava and casually stroll through the old town while taking in the picturesque views of the architecture.

Compared to its neighboring cities, Bratislava is unhurried and feels small and quiet, and deserves that extra time to slow down, people watch and take in what you can.

The recommended time to spend on this Central European road trip is about 4 to 5 days. 

From Kate of I Live 4 Travel

The small country of Luxembourg is a great place for a European road trip. 

It is a country dominated by castles and old towns that you can walk around and some beautiful countryside to hike in. 

If you fly into Luxembourg then it is very easy to rent a car .

A trip to Luxembourg would not be complete without a visit to Luxembourg City and here you need to spend a day exploring the old town and visiting the Bock Casemates, walk the Chemin de la Corniche and visit Fort Thungen. 

After visiting Luxembourg City head north to visit the beautiful castle of Vianden, the town is worth a walk around and you can always get the chairlift slightly higher up the mountain to get a view of the town and the castle before walking down to visit the impressive castle.

It is worth stopping here for lunch in one of the many cafes in the town.

Next drive to Bourscheid Castle, which is only partially restored but has amazing views down the valley.

After visiting Bourscheid head across to the little town of Esch-Sur-Sure, it is in a horseshoe shape and surrounded by a river running along the outside, it is a beautiful town and it’s worth a walk up to the ruins of the castle located on the top of the hill in the middle of the town.

If you have a third day then head across to Echternach and hike part of the Mullerthal Trail.

If you do not want a long hike, you can just drive the route and explore the highlights.

The drive through the countryside to these places is stunning and it’s recommended you take 2 or 3 days to explore the country of Luxembourg.

From Dhara of It’s Not About the Miles

Looking to complete one of the best road trips in Europe? Consider Poland!

In about 10 days, you can see the best of this northern European country. 

Begin your trip in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Warsaw’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World War II bombing destroyed quite a bit of the city, but it has been reconstructed.

Apart from Old Town, Powazki Cemetery, the monument to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Presidential Palace are must-visits.

From Warsaw, drive to Krakow where you can visit Market Square, St. Mary’s Church, and the famous Wawel Castle.

Old Town Krakow is gorgeous so plan on a walking tour to admire the architecture.

From Krakow, drive to Auschwitz  to tour the former concentration camp. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, travel to Wroclaw, with its beautiful Old Town. Market Square has stunning architecture.

From Wroclaw, drive to Torun, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Torun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Nicolas Copernicus.

Next, drive to the port city of Gdansk, the birthplace of Lech Walesa’s Solidarity Movement.

Gdansk has a beautiful Old Town as well. A   walking tour of Gdansk Old Town  is the best way to experience the sights.

Also do not forget a stop at Westerplatte, where the first shots of WWII were fired.

Return to Warsaw to complete your road trip through Poland. On the way, you can stop at Malbork Castle, the largest castle in the world!

This Poland road trip is best completed in about 10 days.

South Styria Wine Road, Austria

From Lori of Travlin Mad

The  South Styria Wine Road  in southern Austria is the perfect European road trip for food and wine lovers.

This 44-mile-long patchwork of woodlands, lush rolling hills, and verdant vineyards just an hour from Graz is the southern part of Styria, known as the Green Heart of Austria, and looks more Tuscan than Alpine.

This part of Austria also borders northern Slovenia so combining both as part of a multi-country road trip in Europe is a great idea.

Fall is an especially good time to visit when autumn colors begin to appear in the vineyards and the first wine is being pressed.

People gather outdoors at local wineries along Wine Road drinking stürm wine and roasting chestnuts around a crackling fire.

Through the breeze, you’ll hear the unusual clacking sound of the klapotetz windmills spinning slowly through the countryside, designed to ward off birds and other pests who tend to gobble up the grapes.

Food lovers should start their tour with a visit to Vinofaktur Genussregal, the largest store in Styria featuring over 2,500 Styrian wine and culinary products from over 250 regional producers.

For lunch or dinner, local winery-owned buschenshanks are the place to go for platters of local smoked meats and cheeses.

It’s all so quintessential Styria and the perfect destination for a fall road trip through Europe.

Though you can complete this European road trip in a day, it’s best to set aside at least a couple of days if you’d like to leisurely explore what the wine route has to offer (and allow your designated driver some chances to sample the wine).

From Inma of A World to Travel

There are a surprising number of things to do in Latvia , the beautiful Baltic Republic located in northeast Europe–and it’s possible to cross the entire country in six hours!

The road trip itinerary suggested here covers 6 of the wonders of this country, from west to east, starting in the immediate vicinity of the Lithuanian border.

From exceptional natural landscapes to charming villages and large cities, this European road trip itinerary has something for everyone!

Stop first in Liepaja, known for its beaches with dunes and its constant wind, before moving on to Kuldiga, a picturesque village in the Western part of the country.

Be sure to make time for the unique Kemeri National Park, where it is possible to practice bog-walking with the right equipment and a guide!

Riga, the capital of Latvia and your next stop on this Europe road trip, needs no introduction. Neither does its historic center, central market, and lively nightlife.

From there, move on to visit Sigulda, a historical village that has lots to offer to lovers of active tourism.

Finally, pay a visit to Gauja National Park, located near the border with Estonia. There is no other place like this in the whole country to go hiking on its many trails. 

If possible, set aside about a week to explore this European road trip route through Latvia.

From Jo of Lost Wanders

There’s plenty to see in Lithuania other than the trendy capital Vilnius and it’s well worth having your own transportation for a road trip in this beautiful Baltic country .

The first stop is the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai to see a unique memorial dedicated to the many unknown deaths of the Lithuanian uprising against Russian rule.

The hill now holds over 100,000 crosses memorializing people from around the globe with more being added daily.

A two-hour drive west uncovers an old nuclear missile silo, one of only three left in the world, that’s been turned into a Cold War Museum.

It’s located deep within Žemaitijos National Park, down bumpy gravel roads, where you can also get a chance to spot wild animals such as Lynx.

Another hour’s drive towards the Baltic Sea, Klaipeda is the base for heading out to the Curonian spit, a large sandbar covering Lithuania’s coastline.

The town is famous for its spas and long open beaches.

Back down towards Vilnius, Trakai Castle is a must-see.

If you do just one castle on this trip make it this one. It sits on an island out on a lake where you can pedal and paddleboard in the summer months. 

You can do this trip in a week but allow 10 days to 2 weeks to fully see everything and don’t miss a couple of days in the capital.

Summer is by far the most favorable time to do this trip, crowds aren’t as big as in Central Europe and winters can get very cold for taking northern European road trips!

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

2 thoughts on “55 Epic Road Trips in Europe (Itinerary Ideas + Tips!)”

These road trip ideas are fantastic. I’d love to do the Dublin to Dingle trip someday.

We’ve done that one ourselves, and can absolutely endorse it! It’s phenomenal.

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Volvo's Overseas Delivery Program: A Dreamy Road Trip with Your Brand New Car

I f you're thinking about buying a new Volvo, you might want to consider taking advantage of their Overseas Delivery Program . This unique program allows you to pick up your new Volvo at the factory in Sweden and explore Europe for two weeks before shipping it back home. It's a great way to experience the thrill of driving your new car on European roads and get a taste of Swedish culture.

How It Works

The Overseas Delivery Program is open to buyers of select Volvo models, including the XC90, XC60, XC40 ICE, V90 Cross Country, and V60 Cross Country. The process is similar to buying a car from a local dealership, but there are a few additional steps involved.

• Visit a Volvo dealership: Select the Volvo model you want and place a deposit to confirm your order.
• Choose your travel dates: Once your order is confirmed, you'll need to choose your travel dates. You'll have two weeks to explore Europe before shipping your car back home.
• Book your flights and hotel : Volvo will provide you with round-trip airfare to Gothenburg, Sweden, and two nights of hotel accommodation.
• Pick up your car at the factory: Upon arrival in Gothenburg, you'll be picked up at the airport and taken to the Volvo factory. There, you'll register your car, get insurance, and take a tour of the facilities.
• Enjoy your European adventure: With your new Volvo in hand, you're free to explore Europe at your own pace. Visit historical landmarks, explore charming villages, and savor the delicious cuisine.
• Ship your car back home: When your two-week adventure is over, you can either drop your car off at a designated drop-off point in Europe or have it shipped back to the United States.

A Customer's Experience

Gabriela Rodríguez López and Wence, a couple from Houston, Texas, recently participated in the Overseas Delivery Program and shared their experience with Motor1. They purchased a Volvo S60 and spent two weeks exploring Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.

"We had an unforgettable experience driving 1,500 kilometers through Sweden, Denmark, and Germany," they said. "There's no better way to test drive your new car than on the German autobahns, where there are no speed limits."

After enjoying their European adventure, the couple dropped off their S60 in Frankfurt for shipment back to Houston. Three months later, they were back home, driving their new car around town.

The Benefits of the Overseas Delivery Program

The chance to explore Europe in a brand new Volvo: 

This is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of driving your new car on European roads and get a taste of Swedish culture.

A memorable experience: The Overseas Delivery Program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you'll cherish for years to come.

A great way to save money : You may actually save money by participating in the Overseas Delivery Program, as the price of the car does not increase with the program.

If you're considering buying a new Volvo, I highly recommend checking out the Overseas Delivery Program. It's a truly unique and rewarding experience that will make your car purchase even more special.

Would you consider taking delivery of your new car halfway across the world? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

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Bella Hadid Wears the Naked Dress to End All Naked Dresses

By Hannah Jackson

Anthony Vaccarello finally figured out how to reproduce his collection of ultra-sheer pantyhose dresses. Bella Hadid hit Cannes in look seven from the Saint Laurent fall 2024 show: a halter dress featuring 10 denier hosiery cups, a knotted pantyhose bodice, and a below-the-knee skirt with a control top hemline.

Hadid, styled by Molly Dickson, leaned into the Old Hollywood glamour that has become synonymous with the Cannes Film Festival, adding a pair of mahogany peep-toe ankle strap heels and an enormous pair of drop earrings from Chopard.

This look fits into Hadid’s latest sartorial M.O. of sheer earthy tones that can only be described as “sexy nymph.” While promoting her fragrance, Orebella, in New York, the model wore a diaphanous nude Dior slip dress by John Galliano, as well as a cream-colored Rokh dress with a lace bodice. And yesterday in Cannes, she further explored brown tones in a simple tank dress . But this look—with only some extremely well-placed seams preserving her modesty—is by far her boldest to date.

When asked about how he would manufacture these ephemeral pieces from the collection, Vaccarello told Vogue, “Don’t even ask me about production—I can’t tell you.” This being the first instance the delicate outfits have been spotted on the red carpet speaks to Hadid’s risk-taking style. Even if she is the only person who ever wears one of these sheer Saint Laurent looks out in the world (let’s see if she can make it to the end of the night without any snags) the fact that Vaccarello was readily willing to make one for her speaks to Hadid’s immense power in the fashion industry.

And if this is Hadid’s wardrobe for her first official day of events in Cannes? We can only imagine what’s to come.

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