I measure trips in snacks and songs. Also gas stops. And views that punch you right in the heart. These are the drives I’ve done myself, seat belt clicked, coffee on the dash, maps offline. Some were smooth. Some were chaos. All of them stuck with me.
You know what? I’d drive them again tomorrow.
For a distilled checklist—mileage, fuel stops, and my most reliable snack brands—grab the cheat-sheet in The Best Road Trip Routes in Europe I’ve Actually Driven.
Quick note I learned the hard way: carry coins for toll booths, download offline maps (I use Google Maps and Waze), and check if you need a vignette sticker. Also, fill up when you can. Empty roads can be sneaky.
Portugal’s N2: Chaves to Faro (The Slow Gold Line)
The N2 is Portugal’s Route 66. It runs down the spine of the country. I started in Chaves. I ended with sand between my toes in Faro. It felt like a ribbon through time.
- My car: a little diesel Golf, steady torque, no fuss.
- Best bit: the Alentejo stretch. Cork trees. Honey light. Quiet towns.
- Stop I loved: a pastel de nata and espresso in Lamego. Simple joy.
- Where I slept: a whitewashed guesthouse near Almodôvar. I heard crickets.
- Annoying thing: speed traps near villages. And tractors. Lots of tractors.
Before I set off, I scroll through stays on European Guesthouse to lock in small-town rooms that feel as authentic as the road itself.
Tip from me: get the N2 passport stamp book at gas stations. Silly? Maybe. But it turns a road into a story.
For detailed insights into Portugal's N2 road trip, consider this comprehensive guide.
Spain’s Green North: San Sebastián to Cudillero (Anchovies and Cliffs)
This route smells like salt and rain. It rolls from the Basque Country past Cantabria and Asturias. I hugged the N-634 and the A-8 when I got tired.
- Eat in Getaria. Anchovies. Grilled fish. You’ll lick your fingers.
- Walk the Flysch cliffs in Zumaia. The rock looks like folded pages.
- Camp at Playa de Oyambre near Comillas. I fell asleep to waves.
- Detour up to the Picos de Europa. The Covadonga Lakes felt like a dream.
It rained sideways near Llanes. I laughed, then I swore, then I kept driving. That’s the north. It’s moody, and it’s worth it.
France: Route des Grandes Alpes (Passes, Cheese, and Goosebumps)
From Thonon-les-Bains to Menton, this road climbs and drops like a song. Col de l’Iseran. Galibier. Izoard. Names that make your palms sweat a little.
- I ate Beaufort cheese so good I bought a second wedge.
- Sunrise at Col d’Izoard turned the world pink. I got quiet.
- I rolled through Val d’Isère and waved at cows with bells.
- Watch brakes on long descents. Smell that? That’s your pads.
- Powder chasers: several of these passes back right up to ski domains I covered in the resorts I'd return to again and again.
Fog found me near Galibier. I slowed to a crawl. I said I wasn’t scared. I lied a bit. Then the sky cleared, and I laughed out loud.
Italy: Amalfi Coast SS163 (Beauty With Horns)
I rented a tiny Fiat 500 in Sorrento. Good call. That road is thin. Buses own the curves, and they will use the horn like it’s a language.
- Park early in Vietri sul Mare or use paid lots. Don’t gamble.
- Lemon groves hang over blue water like a movie set.
- I had a warm sfogliatella in Minori. Flaky. Sweet. Gone in two bites.
- Ravello at dusk felt like velvet.
Would I drive it in July again? Maybe not. Too many people. But at sunrise in May? Yes. Yes I would.
Scotland: The NC500 (Edges and Echoes)
I went anti-clockwise from Inverness. The single-track roads ask for manners. Use the passing places. Wave. Everyone waves back.
- The Bealach na Bà to Applecross is a serious climb. Hairpins like a corkscrew.
- Midges tried to eat me near Gairloch. I wore a head net. Fashion!
- Fish and chips in Ullapool. Hot and crisp and perfect.
- I slept at Sands Caravan and Camping. Good showers. Wide sky.
Fill up in Inverness and Durness. Don’t chance it. Oh, and sheep. They stare like they know your secrets.
Ireland: Wild Atlantic Way (I Did the Dingle and Connemara Bits)
I didn’t do the whole thing. I took two bites. Both were grand.
- Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula made me tear up. Those cliffs.
- A farmer waved me through a sudden cow jam. I waved back.
- In Connemara, the Sky Road near Clifden runs high and bright.
- Music in Doolin at night. Fiddle, pint, soft voices.
The roads are narrow. The views are large. I slowed down and felt rich.
Romania: Transfăgărășan DN7C (The Drama Queen)
This road feels like a loop-the-loop. Hairpins climb to Bâlea Lake, then drop and twist and rise again. I drove a Dacia Duster. It fit the scene.
- I saw a bear by the guardrail. I stayed in the car. Please do the same.
- Rockfall signs are real. I heard a ping on the hood. Ouch.
- The lake at the top felt cold even in summer.
- The road closes in winter. I went in August. Good choice.
Some folks call it the best road on Earth. I won’t argue. Not today.
For authoritative information on the Transfăgărășan Highway, you can refer to the Wikipedia article.
Norway: Lofoten E10 (Midnight Sun, Midnight Snack)
Norway isn’t cheap, but the E10 through Lofoten? Worth every coin. Bridges, bays, sharp peaks that look drawn with a knife.
- I slept in a red rorbuer cabin in Å. It creaked in a sweet way.
- Reine at midnight glowed like a secret.
- The roads are narrow and clean. No trash. Please keep it that way.
- Rain came fast. Then it left. Then it came back. Bring a shell.
I ate cinnamon buns from a tiny bakery in Henningsvær. Warm, sticky, gone in seconds. No regrets.
Germany: The Romantic Road (Castles and Pretzels)
From Würzburg to Füssen, it’s storybook calm. My map looked like lace. Half-timber towns. Slow bends. It felt…kind.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber is almost too cute. Still, I stayed longer.
- Nördlingen sits inside a crater. Wild, right?
- Park in Füssen and bus to Neuschwanstein. Save your nerves.
- I snacked on pretzels the size of my face. Salt is a friend.
If your wheels tend to turn toward memorials and battlefields, carve out an extra day or two—my report from World War II tours across Europe flags the sites that hit hardest and pairs well with the gentle stretches of Bavaria.
I kept the speed steady and let the radio hum. It’s a gentle drive. Not every trip needs to shout.
Quick Gear and Road Notes I Wish Someone Told Me
- Apps: Google Maps offline, Waze for speed checks, Park4Night for camping spots, ViaMichelin for toll costs.
- Money: coins for old toll booths; some card readers sulk in rain.
- Car stuff: a real spare wheel if you can; a compressor if not. A headlamp. A microfibre towel. Wet maps are sad.
- Fuel: in Scotland and Norway, fill early. In Spain and Portugal, prices drop at big supermarkets.
- Seasons: May–June and September feel sweet. July crowds can fray your joy.
- Manners: on single-track, use passing places. Wave. It matters.
So, Which One Is “Best”?
It depends on your mood.
- Want hush and honey light? Portugal’s N2.
- Want salt, cliffs, and good food? North Spain.
- Want high passes and that “I did it” grin? France or Romania.
- Want pure romance? Germany’s soft roll.
- Want wild edges? Scotland, Ireland, or Norway.
I chased views. I found people. I found myself a bit too, which sounds cheesy, but hey, road trips do