Europe is so diverse and colorful and you can easily explore different countries, cultures, and cuisine by going on just one holiday. A great idea is to plan an entire road trip across the different regions and visit multiple locations in just a few weeks, or a month. If you are ready to immerse yourself in this adventure, check our top tips for planning a road trip in Europe!
1 Research and Plan your Route
The first and most important tip for planning a road trip in Europe is to research and plan your route. Unless you will be spending 5 – 6 months on the road, you need to be prepared that you cannot explore all of Europe. That is the reason why choosing a particular region is extremely important. You can start by deciding on the main country you would like to visit and then add the neighboring countries to your travel itinerary as well. For example, if you are planning a month of being on the road, you can easily drive through Northern Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, and even Austria. Keep in mind that when driving, you might need additional time to cross borders, so do not overdo your itinerary and leave enough time to enjoy each area.
2 Get offline Google Maps
Navigating your way in a foreign country can be a bit challenging sometimes. When planning a road trip in Europe, there is a high chance that you would be driving through the countryside and areas without signal or data service. Hence, preparing in advance to be able to find the correct road is absolutely vital. Google Maps now have the functionality of downloading a map of a particular area that you can then access even when offline. Another good idea is getting country maps, as they could be a serious lifesaver if your phone runs low on battery.
3 Prepare for highway tolls or vignettes
The next extremely crucial tip for planning a road trip in Europe is preparing for the highway tolls or vignettes. While most countries would have tolls that you can pay as you are driving along the motorway, there are a number of European countries that use vignettes instead. This is a small sticker that serves as a pass and you need to add on the inside at the bottom corner of the windshield next to the driver’s side. The passes vary based on the length of your trip. You can get one just for the weekend, for 2 weeks, an entire month of even for a year. For example, in Croatia and Italy, you can expect to pay the highway tolls, whereas Slovenia and Bulgaria are countries that require a vignette.
4 Check driving regulations and get an International Driving Permit
Before you hit the road, make sure to check the driving regulations of the countries you will be visiting. Despite the fact that most European countries drive on the right side, the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta drive on the left instead. It is also important to know what are the main rules of the road, such as the highway speed limits. Additionally, if you already possess a European driving license, you will be able to drive in most countries without any additional documents. For example, American citizens, however, need to obtain an international driving permit as well, which they will need to present together with their official valid driving license if requested.
5 Book Flights and Rental Car
Last but not least, you might need to book your flight tickets and rent a car. While you can use Skyscanner.com for researching flight options, Autoeurope.com is a great source of finding the best rental car deals. If you have decided to use your own car, however, you would need to also prepare all the necessary vehicle documents, which will probably be requested as you are crossing the different countries’ borders.
Did you find these top 5 tips for planning a road trip in Europe useful? Are you ready to hit the road and start your next holiday?