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For years, we dreamed of taking an epic street journey throughout Europe in a motorhome. Lastly, with our three-year-old and toddler in tow, we rented a motorhome for a month to kick off the journey! We noticed mountains, oceans, and rivers and ate a number of the finest meals of our lives.
We not solely hit a number of the widespread vacationer spots, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and consuming fondue on Lake Geneva, but in addition spent a whole lot of time exploring smaller villages and cities we’d by no means heard of earlier than.
If you’re searching for a standard Europe street journey hitting all of the highlights of the continent, this itinerary just isn’t for you. Our street journey fashion is a little more spontaneous and we wish to get off the crushed path. We seek for hikes, nationwide parks, small cities, and typically simply set the GPS to “keep away from tolls” and see the place it takes us!
I hope you employ this itinerary to street journey Europe this summer time!
Why Take a Highway Journey in Europe?
When most individuals think about taking a visit throughout Europe, they consider hopping on and off trains or utilizing straightforward hopper flights. We’ve made a number of of these kind of journeys, however there are a number of explanation why we selected a street journey throughout Europe as an alternative of public transportation.
1. Spontaneity
A few of our favourite journey recollections have come from days we didn’t plan. My spouse’s technique as she plans our itineraries is to seek out the favored areas after which go to small cities and hidden gems that pop up close by. We’ve discovered numerous waterfalls this manner! (She has her priorities!)
Just a few years in the past we had been driving our motorhome via the Italian Dolomites and chanced on an unimaginable gondola going as much as the highest of a mountain. We instantly pulled over, purchased tickets, and went to the highest. It was a number of the most epic views we’d ever seen (video under).
We didn’t know this gondola was right here, and we solely discovered it as a result of we had been driving aimlessly. This is likely one of the causes we love road-tripping.
2. Select your personal journey stops.
Whereas driving throughout France, we joined a program known as France Ardour, the place you’ll be able to camp at wineries and farms without cost. A number of of the wineries we stopped at additionally had Mattress and Breakfasts as properly (in the event you aren’t in a camper!).
3. Sleep in your personal mattress each evening.
So this isn’t the case for each street journey, however it’s in the event you lease an RV in Europe.
One of many issues we liked most about our month-long journey to Europe was sleeping in our personal mattress each evening. We’ve researched a TON of motorhome leases in Europe and located an organization we love known as Wherever Camper. They’ll drop off your RV virtually wherever in Europe (therefore the title!) after which fly to choose it up on the finish of your route. This lets you cowl extra floor versus doing a round-trip route.
The Route
We kicked off the journey in Paris. Our entire street journey ended up being greater than 2,000KM over the course of a month. We crossed into 6 completely different international locations (France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Andorra, and Switzerland). We landed in Paris on September twelfth, so we obtained to expertise cooler temps all through our journey. This “shoulder season” is one in every of our favourite occasions to discover Europe as a result of the crowds are smaller than in summer time (to place it mildly), however all over the place remains to be open.
Paris, France
We at all times begin a street journey in a serious metropolis the place we will simply get a motorhome rental (and the place we will recover from jetlag whereas exploring!). We did all the large stuff, just like the Eiffel Tower and a meals tour of French delicacies. However the spotlight was Alyssa taking a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu. They provide a number of public courses every week so she realized tips on how to make choux pastry from the perfect pastry chef on this planet. (Actually. There’s a contest. He gained.) Extremely advocate for anybody who loves meals!
Champagne, France
Champagne Avenue is likely one of the nicest, fanciest locations I’ve ever visited. We drove across the city of Epernay, a pair hours outdoors Paris. We toured a number of champagne homes courting again centuries and even camped at two champagne homes. In case you like wine, champagne will blow you away. Prosecco is crap compared!
Vougeot, France
Ever heard of this small city? Us neither. Nonetheless, there was an epic fort we toured surrounded by vines with dwell music. There have been so many individuals we needed to park and stroll up from 5 minutes away. Our daughter took it upon herself to attempt a grape straight from the vines, Malbec I feel. She would give it a 0/10, don’t advocate.
Mouthe, France
That is rated because the coldest place in France. It was undoubtedly one of many coldest locations we stayed on our complete journey. You’ll be able to’t see them within the photograph under, however off to the precise are ski slopes.
Surrounding our idyllic campsite had been cow bells jingling off within the distance, a waterfall, and a path system for hikes. Mouthe is a part of the nationwide park, Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura.
Geneva, Switzerland
Whereas we solely spent one evening in Switzerland, I feel it’s all my pockets might afford.
After spending the higher a part of an hour looking for parking, we set off looking for some cheese fondue. One large bowl and $75 later (for a bowl of cheese!!!), we loved a sundown searching over the lake in Geneva. Whereas it’s a buzzing metropolis, I’d completely love to come back again right here for an extended stint.
Annecy, France
Annecy is named the “Venice of France” and for good motive. The city itself sits on a stupendous lake, and town middle has water flowing via it. This was one in every of our favourite days we spent on this journey wandering round, consuming crepes and having fun with the views.
Tip: There’s free parking on the Basilique de la Visitation on the high of the hill and you’ll stroll into city.
Chamonix, France
Oh, Chamonix, you’re one of the vital stunning locations I’ve ever set foot in my complete life. (In true French vogue, it’s pronounced sha-mo-knee.) Within the image under you’ll be able to see the views from our campsite. Palms down, that is essentially the most stunning place we’ve ever camped wherever on this planet. One of many issues we did in Chamonix that I’d extremely advocate is to take the cog practice as much as a glacier the place you’ll be able to discover ice caves.
Chamonix is an journey city and never the perfect for touring with little children, however we share a number of suggestions for issues to do with children.
San Bartolomeo Al Mare (The Italian Riviera)
After experiencing bitter climate up in Chamonix, we determined we would have liked to heat up for a number of days. So we drove over to San Bartolomeo Al Mare and parked subsequent to the seaside. Do we all know something about this city aside from the truth that it’s Italy and we might eat pizza and pasta? No.
Nonetheless, these are a few of our favourite smaller cities to discover. We had no expectations coming in, and we had an incredible couple of days strolling round and attempting eating places, enjoying in parks, and hanging on the seaside.
Monaco
One factor we knew earlier than arriving in Monaco was that you just can’t drive an RV into the nation. Due to this fact, we discovered a campground in Italy with a shuttle that will take us to the practice station that goes into Monaco. We spent most of our day on the aquarium (Musée Océanographique de Monaco) and strolling across the metropolis.
Pernes-les-Fontaines, France
“Hey Siri, Google cities in Provence value visiting.”
“Here’s a city that appears just like the set of Magnificence and the Beast:”
One factor we needed to do on our France journey was to discover a number of the smaller and lesser-known villages. Someday, we spent a day strolling round Pernes-les-Fontaines, identified for its many fountains. It seemed just like the city the place Belle grew up and our three-year-old liked it! We visited on a Saturday and walked via the farmer’s market and the whole village. At each flip, there have been vines rising on the buildings, fountains, and idyllic espresso outlets. I extremely advocate additionally stopping in close by Avignon, which we drove via and gawked at! All of those tiny cities in Provence are picture-perfect.
Carcassonne, France
Based within the sixth century BC, this medieval fort is legendary for its 52 towers and spectacular structure. Nonetheless, Alyssa and I’ll ceaselessly bear in mind it as a result of we had a basic Toulousian dish that modified our lives. Cassoulet is a hearty, slow-simmered stew with sausage, navy beans, duck confit and pork. I give it some thought on a regular basis.
That is additionally the most important fort in France and the place we took the perfect ever image of our daughter:
Ignore the tulle and he or she is prepared for battle!
Lourdes, France (Pyrénées Nationwide Park)
Lourdes is a serious vacation spot for these searching for therapeutic. Folks come from all around the world for the waters in Lourdes which are imagined to have therapeutic powers. What we liked most about Lourdes wasn’t the city itself (which was crowded) however its entry to the Pyrénées Nationwide Park (above). We spent two days exploring the nationwide park which was completely beautiful.
If you wish to get a style of the nationwide park vibes, you’ll be able to watch a video under from one in every of our hikes within the park.
One other nice exercise within the space is the Parc Animalier des Pyrenees. This zoo was actually the perfect zoo I’ve ever been to in my life.
You get (virtually uncomfortably) shut entry to the animals and the strolling monitor via the zoo is extra like occurring a scenic hike than simply visiting a zoo. When you’ve got children or similar to zoos, I’d extremely advocate stopping right here close to Lourdes.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra
You’ve most likely by no means heard of the tiny nation of Andorra. Nestled within the mountains, it’s tucked between France and Spain and takes about an hour to drive the size of the nation. It seems like somebody took a ski resort city and turned it into a stupendous little nation.
Sadly, we obtained sick throughout our stopover in Andorra and spent our time having fun with meals poisoning and Googling the closest ER. What we did expertise within the nation was beautiful although!
Bagà, Spain
A brief drive into Spain from Andorra, we crossed into an space named Bagà. It was a small village subsequent to leisure land (AKA a number of free tenting for us) and mountains. We had no intention of spending greater than a day right here, however we favored it a lot we stayed a few days. You’ll be able to see extra of the expertise on this video:
Tavertet, Spain
This cute little city was principally all closed up once we obtained there. Take a look at this campsite although! Not pictured: An awesome playground and a public pool.
Perealada, Spain
Driving towards the Costa Brava, we stopped on this little city for cappuccinos. In case you’re the playing kind, try this fort which is definitely a on line casino.
Castellop d’Empuries, Spain
We’re seaside individuals. If there’s an opportunity to spend an additional evening or two on the coast, we take it. So once we discovered Tenting Laguna and had an oceanside campsite, we prolonged our keep evening after evening.
Take a look at this household. That’s what happiness seems like! We loved cava and tapas and the sunny seaside for a number of days.
Cabrera de Mar, Spain
Our final evening in our campers, we needed to get as shut as potential to Barcelona. Cabrera de Mar is a beachside city with a completely automated campground with services that’s a simple stroll to parks and a seaside. It was on this city the place we noticed faculties and parks and households having fun with the sunshine that we stated these vacationer phrases…
“I feel we must always transfer right here.”
Barcelona, Spain
Everybody loves Barcelona. Generally, European cities which are so widespread don’t dwell as much as the hype (sorry, Paris, you’re nonetheless stunning). However Barcelona was unimaginable!
We took a meals tour and obtained to find out about completely different meals and the historical past of town. And we (in fact) visited the zoo, the place the children had been thrilled to discover. We ate extra tapas and tried churros and chocolate (10/10, must stroll loads to get better from these energy). This was undoubtedly a metropolis we’ll come again to! We dropped off our motorhome on the practice station and located an Airbnb within the gothic district that was walkable.
FAQs
What’s the finest time of yr to go to Europe?
To beat the crowds, we advocate visiting Europe in Could or early June or ready till September and October. The climate will probably be excellent, and there gained’t be as many crowds. The whole lot will nonetheless be open for the season however might supply low season pricing, making the journey rather less costly.
Are you able to go on a street journey to Europe?
No you’ll be able to’t drive to Europe (somebody requested me that just lately!) However you’ll be able to freely and simply drive throughout borders in Europe. Only a few borders have safety (in contrast to US borders), and it’s possible you’ll even cross into one other nation with out realizing it. There could also be milk restrictions, like needing a sure driving move for Switzerland. Our camper rental included all of these passes, so we didn’t have to fret as we traveled!
What’s the finest automobile for a Europe street journey?
We’re 100% motorhome individuals. We’ve been RVing for a decade and it’s our favourite solution to journey, regardless of the continent!
How a lot cash do you want to spend a month in Europe?
Let’s not sugarcoat it. A month-long journey is dear! We share all of our detailed bills from this street journey right here.
Are you able to drive a campervan round Europe?
You do not want a particular license to drive a campervan in Europe. Some international locations might require a global driver’s allow.
Are campervans widespread in Europe?
Campervans are extra widespread in Europe than they’re within the States! In case you suppose you’ve seen packed campgrounds in America, wait till you present as much as the coast of Spain within the fall. They snowbird in Europe to Spain and Portugal similar to they do to Florida!
Highway Journey Europe: 30-Day Itinerary
For the time of yr, we selected southern Europe for our 30-day street journey. There’s a lot extra to see, however if you wish to cowl a whole lot of floor in a brief period of time, use this street journey Europe itinerary to stipulate your personal dream journey. Have questions on planning an RV journey in Europe? Drop it within the feedback!