Top down, Springsteen on the radio and nothing but the open highway. Road trips are synonymous with the United States, but did you know that the first ever road trip by car took place in Germany?
Sometimes it pays to look further than the obvious. Europe has some of the most stunning, thrilling roads in the world, with breathtaking views and pit-stops worthy of their own journey alone.
For those who dream of being on the open road, and the sense of freedom that entails, YourParkingSpace has put together some of the best routes for a European road trip, plus what you can see and do in these regions. With less travel time and expenses, and a great variety of culture, it’s a no brainer. With all this in mind, here are our 5 IDEAL European road trips.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
If you love alpine views, then the Stelvio Pass in Northern Italy is for you. This is one of the highest and most dramatic mountain passes on the continent. It provides stunning views of the Italian and Swiss Alps – taking your breath away and earning you instant instagram kudos at the same time. Approaching the Stelvio Pass from the North West side allows you to experience Stelvio Pass’s renowned wall of 48 switchback turns. This is great fun as each turn is numbered with stones so you can track your way to the top. If you’re planning on taking this route, make sure to fuel your body on the Northern Italian specialties that you’ll find in this mountainous region like Taroz, Pizzoccheri and Polenta Taragna.
Old Military Road A93 & A939, Scotland
The wild and rocky Scottish Highlands, there’s no other place like it in the world. If you’re looking for spectacular scenery and unspoilt wilderness then this is the place to come. The Old Military Road is widely regarded as the U.K’s best road for driving and takes you through the heart of the Cairngorms National Park in Scottish Highlands and past sights like Balmoral Castle. This route is filled with twisting hair pins, roller coaster-like ups and downs and steep gradients, plus the views are pretty good too. There is a wide variety of different wildlife in the Highlands so keep your eyes peeled for deer, snow rabbits and grouse, to name but a few.
Black Mountain Pass, Wales
Although it sounds like a treacherous place in The Lord of The Rings, don’t let this put you off as The Black Mountain (A4069) pass is not to be missed for road lovers. Connecting Llandovery with Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, it is generally considered to be one of the best road in Wales, if not the UK. This A-road twists and turns around the Black Mountain, the slaloming continuing through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and features an array of sharp corners, hairpins and switchbacks. One word of warning though, although you won’t come across any orks or trolls, watch out for livestock (especially sheep) that have strayed onto the road particularly after blind corners.
Susten Pass, The Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Got mountains in mind for your road trip? The Swiss Alps are arguably the most iconic and stunning mountains in the world and it’s here you’ll find Susten Pass. Often in and amongst it in any ‘best roads in the world’ list, the Susten Pass has captured drivers’ hearts and minds since its inception with its sweeping valley roads, stunning forward views and challenging switchbacks, which take you to the summit of 2,224 meters. The route starts in Wassen, finishes in Innertkirchen and provides plenty of vantage points to stop and take in the spectacular mountain views. The road down to Innertkirchen takes you through forests and across fabulous stone bridges.
Route 500, The Black Forest, Germany
Thinking of a cake? The Black Forest (or Schwarzwald) is actually a region in southwestern Germany, famous for its winding roads and is a popular choice for road trips amongst the biker community. Some historians believe the cake got its name from the traditional outfit that was worn by women in the Black Forest. This attire was made up of a black dress, white blouse, and a hat with red pom poms on top, mimicking the chocolate shavings, cream, and cherries on top of the cake.
Any way, this route combines smooth and sweeping fast sections with dense forest trails and tight switchback turns. Near its highest point, around the Hornisgrinde Mountain, there are some great elevated views with plenty of places to park up and take in the scenery . We suggest that you plan your journey to take in the early morning, taking advantage of the reduced traffic in the process. Oh and don’t forget to stop off and eat some cake.
Check out the below infographic from YourparkingSpace for the distances and times of these great European routes.