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How To Travel To Europe From India? The Complete 2024 Guide

So how do you actually travel to Europe from India?

Planning a trip to Europe can be a daunting task, especially if you are travelling from India.

With so many different countries and cultures to explore, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Fortunately, with some careful planning and research, it is possible to have a seamless and enjoyable travel experience when visiting Europe from India.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning a solo trip to Europe or a family holiday, we have got you covered!

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about visiting Europe and planning your trip. By the end of this article, you will be confident about anything a trip to Europe could throw at you.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro, this guide will help you navigate all the ins and outs of travelling to Europe from India.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

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No worries- I’m here to help!

THIS 7-Day Taste of Central Europe Tour  is great if you want to see Europe with an expert

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Planning A Europe Trip? Check Out These Resources

🚖  Need to book an airport transfer?

Get door-to-door service with  Kiwitaxi .

📍  How to find the best tours and experiences?

Check out the most amazing tours and activities with  Viator .

🚗  How to hire a car?

Road trips are my jam and the only company I use is  Discover Cars .

🏨  How to find hotels?

I always find great deals for accommodation with  Booking.com .

How much does a Europe trip cost from India?

Unfortunately, there is not a direct answer to this question, as the cost of a European trip from India will depend on a number of factors, including the length and type of travel, the time of year you plan to visit, and your budget preferences.

A budget-conscious traveller can expect to spend around $1000, whereas those who are seeking a more luxurious trip can spend upwards of $10,000 for a trip to Europe from India.

If you are looking for a more affordable option, there are many budget-friendly travel packages available that can help you plan an exciting and memorable trip at an affordable price.

These packages may include basic transportation, accommodation, and activities such as sightseeing tours.

There are a lot of great tours around, but if you want to save money, it is best to book everything yourself .

When is the best time to visit Europe from India?

Most will instantly say the summertime (June-early September)

Without a doubt, the summer months are the most popular time to plan a trip to Europe.

However, it does depend on your preference. And planning your trip from India to Europe will be a lot more expensive during the summer.

Your visit during the warmer summer months will be filled with plenty of festivals and outdoor activities all across the continent. Or you might want to opt for winter to see the festive decorations and enjoy some of the cosy, winter-inspired activities on offer.

The best time to visit Europe does depend on what you want out of your trip. But if you want warm weather and cheaper prices , I recommend visiting in April , May/ early June.

The best way to get to Europe from India

There are a number of different ways to travel to Europe from India for your travels.

If you’re looking for the most affordable and fastest option, consider taking one of the many low-cost airlines that operate between India and various European cities.

These airlines include WOW Air, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and IndiGo.

No matter what you decide is the best way to get to Europe for your trip, make sure you have the best luggage for exploring Europe .

👉 This is my #1 option because it is really durable and can handle a lot!

What is the best way to tour Europe?

There are countless ways to explore this beautiful continent.

Whether you prefer a luxury tour bus with all the comforts of home, an adventurous solo backpacking trip through the countryside, or anything in between, there is something for everyone when it comes to travelling around Europe.

There are a few different ways to travel between countries. One option is to fly from one destination to another.

This can be a quick and easy way to get around, but it can also be expensive.

The most popular option is to take the train. This can be a great way to see the countryside and meet other travellers, but it isn’t always the fastest way.

One of the most popular ways to tour Europe by train is by using an interrail pass.

There are so places in Europe like the Balkans and Greece where getting the train can be hard work, so to make your life easier, take a local bus or hire a car.

I hire a car for most of my trips to Europe, it’s a great way to save money and see a lot of places in a short amount of time.

👉 When looking to rent a car in Europe, I recommend and  always use   Disc over Cars 

How to plan a solo trip to Europe from India

Solo travelling to Europe can be a long and expensive journey- But it’s worth it!

It can also be a bit daunting, especially if you’re not used to it. If you’re thinking of taking a solo trip from India to Europe, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind before you go:

✅ Start by researching the visa requirements for both countries. Indian citizens will need to apply for a Schengen visa in order to enter Europe

✅Make sure you do your research and pick a destination that you’re comfortable exploring on your own. Places like Copenhagen have epic tours and I find it easy to visit alone.

✅ Start planning your itinerary and booking your accommodation and transport in advance. If you’re on a budget, look for hostels or Couchsurfing, they are fantastic options!

✅ Make sure you have a good travel insurance policy in place.

✅ Check you have all vaccinations that you may need for visiting Europe

✅ Learn a few key phrases to use at the destinations you are visiting.

✅ Share your plans with a family member or friend so someone knows where you are.

✅ Grab a beer and check out the best places to eat in Europe

Planning a couples trip to Europe from India

So how do you travel to Europe from India as a Couple? – pretty easily!

Couples travelling from India to Europe for the first time often have a lot of questions. How do you plan an efficient and cost-effective trip? What are the best places to visit? And how can you make the most of your time together?

Here are a few tips to help you plan the perfect couple’s trip from India to Europe:

✅Choose your destinations carefully. Do some research and decide on a few must-see sights.

If you are looking for Europe’s most romantic places to visit, take a look at this guide

✅ Then, start planning your route. Look for flights and accommodations that suit your budget and schedule.

✅ Take a look at what visa options you need and if you need any vaccinations

✅ Once you’ve got the basics sorted, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll do on your trip.

✅ Make a list of activities that both of you will enjoy, and try to include something for every taste.

Applying for a Schengen Visa

If you’re visiting Europe from India, you’ll need to apply for a Schengen Visa .

The Schengen Visa is a short-term travel visa that allows you to visit any of the 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days . The visa is valid for six months from the date of issue, and you can apply for it up to three months before your trip .

The process is relatively simple, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First of all, make sure you have all the necessary documents.

You’ll need your passport, as well as evidence of travel insurance and proof of financial means. You’ll also need to fill out the Schengen Visa application form and submit it, along with the other required documents, to the consulate or embassy of the country you’re visiting.

Once your application is processed, you’ll be issued a visa that allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days . So don’t forget to apply for your Schengen Visa before planning your trip to Europe from India!

How To Book Accommodation In Europe

It doesn’t matter if you are on a solo trip from India or taking the whole family, it is really easy to book accommodation throughout Europe.

There are a few different options available, and it can be tricky to know which one is best for you. Here’s a quick guide to help you make a decision.

One option is to stay in a hotel . This can be a good choice if you’re looking for somewhere comfortable and convenient, with all the amenities you need on-site.

This is one of the popular options as you’ll have someone to help you with any questions you might have about the area. Plus, most hotels offer breakfast, so you won’t have to worry about finding a place to eat.

However, it can also be quite expensive.

Another option is to rent an apartment or house . This is usually cheaper than staying in a hotel, and it gives you more space and freedom. However, it can be more work, as you’ll need to cook and clean for yourself.

If you’re looking for something relatively cheap, hostels are always an option. You can usually find them in most major cities, and they’re a great way to meet other travellers.

✅ To Find The Best Accommodation In Every Location In Europe, Use Booking.Com!

What To Pack For A Europe Trip

Whether you’re going to Europe for business or pleasure, you’ll want to make sure you dress appropriately .

And when it comes to packing, you need to remember that Europe has a wide range of climate zones.

From snow to sun, Europe can hit you with anything during your trip, so it is best to be prepared!

Here are a few things you to consider when packing for your visit to Europe:

✔️ The weather in Europe can be unpredictable, so it’s important to pack a mix of light and heavy clothing-Layers are always a good idea.

✔️If you’re visiting during the summer, remember that the sun can be intense. Pack sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from sunburn.

✔️ Packing comfortable walking shoes is a must – you’ll be doing a lot of walking!

By following these simple tips, you’ll make sure you’re prepared for anything – and ready to enjoy your trip to Europe from India!

FAQs about travelling to Europe from India

You have probably realised that there are lots of things to consider when you are trying to figure out how to travel to Europe from India.

And I am sure a few more questions about visiting Europe have popped into your mind. To help you plan the ultimate trip, here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers:

Can you go to Europe by road from India?

Sure, you can road trip it from India all the way to Europe if you’re feeling ambitious (and have a trusty vehicle)!

It’ll take some serious planning and effort, but it’s doable.

Before you hit the road you will need to have the right documentation and make sure your vehicle is up to European standards.

You’ll likely need to obtain a visa for the countries you drive through and make sure your vehicle is up for the long journey – you’ll be doing a lot of driving!

Once you’re all set, map out your route and hit the open road. travelling by road from India to Europe is an adventure in itself, and you’ll get to see some amazing scenery along the way.

If you’re prepared to put in the planning and legwork, visiting Europe from India by road is definitely possible. So whether you’re dreaming of touring the French countryside or experiencing the nightlife in Berlin, start mapping out your route – Europe awaits!

What should I include in a 10 days Europe tour from India?

How Can I travel to Europe from India in Just 10 days? – it’s pretty easy!

If you’re visiting Europe from India, there’s a lot to see and do in just ten days. Here are some of the highlights you should consider adding to your Europe itinerary :

📍Start your trip in London, one of the most iconic cities in the world.

📍From there, head to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and enjoy some French cuisine.

📍Then it’s on to Amsterdam, where you can explore the canals and visit the Anne Frank House .

📍From Amsterdam, fly to Barcelona to experience the unique culture and architecture of this vibrant city.

📍 Finally, end your trip with a few days in Rome, visiting ancient ruins like the Colosseum and exploring Vatican City.

With so much to see and do, you’re sure to have an amazing time on your ten-day Europe tour from India!

Should I get a sim card for my trip?

If you need to use the internet for google maps or to book an uber without WIFI, I highly recommend you purchase a sim card just for your trip.

You can get some really cheap sim-only cards all across Europe for as little as €10 .

Buying a European sim card will make your trip go a whole lot smoother!

Final thoughts on how to travel to Europe from India

For many people, visiting Europe is the ultimate travel dream. And if you’re lucky enough to live in India, you can make that dream a reality!

Planning a trip to Europe from India is easier than you might think. There are a number of direct flights from major Indian cities to European destinations, and with a little bit of planning, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free trip- And this guide is here to help .

No matter how long you spend in Europe or what you want to do, it has so much to offer. Just make sure you apply for your visa in advance to avoid disappointment!

Here are some more posts that will help you make the most of your trip to Europe:

The Best European Food To Try On Your Next Trip

Can You Drink Tap Water In UK? Everything You Need To Know

The Best lightweight luggage for international travel

What Countries In Europe Speak English?

What Are The Best Greek Islands To Visit ?

Lowri Thomas is the founder of Many Other Roads. She lives and travels in Europe and has explored more than 40 countries. She is joined on her travels with her dog Scout and they explore Europe mostly by road. Born in Wales, she also shares the best things to do in Wales, UK and beyond. She helps over 50,000 people per month plan epic Europe adventures and road trips.

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• Dare To Embark On These 20 Electrifying International Road Trips From India

Driving across cities is a thing of the past. What your maverick soul now needs is a road trip across countries. Yes, you heard that right! After proper planning and acquiring all necessary permits from nations you wish to visit, you can set off on the most cherishable journey of your life. The experience of riding across different countries & continents, the vivid mix of cultures you experience, the sights you witness, the people you meet, the memories you make, and even the hassles you encounter , are sure to move your heart and transform you from within.

So simply check out all these places you can visit, grab your travel documents, hop into your cars, and set off on the most intoxicating international road trips from India that’ll stay in your hearts forever!

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What do you call a country with limitless beauty and where you can enter at any time of the year without prior permissions? You got that right! When on a road trip from India to Nepal , the best way to enter the country is through the Sunauli border in UP , which is about 180 km from Gorakhpur . And once you’re through, the charming views of snowy Himalayas, tranquil stupas and rustic forests are all yours!

Distance from Delhi, India to Nepal by road: Approx 800 km Travel time (Delhi to Nepal): Approx 3 days Documents required: Indian driving license, photo ID proof

Must Read: Nepal: A Paradise Then. A Paradise Now. Your Holiday Can Bring A Thousand Smiles

2. Bangladesh

One can drive to Bangladesh through different entry point like Kolkata, Siliguri, Agartala, depending on where one’s coming from. After completing all formalities at the border, the country’s vibrant culture, pristine rivers, ancient ruins & friendly people will welcome you with open arms on one of the most spectacular international road trips from India.

Distance from Delhi to Bangladesh by road: Approx 1,400 km Travel time (Delhi to Bangladesh): Approx 5 days Documents required: Valid passport, Visa, special permits, carnet (a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle to be taken across a frontier for a limited period)

It’s the nation proudly flaunting the tag of the ‘happiest country in Asia’ and is ridiculously easy to drive to from India. Do you need more reasons to visit this elusive paradise? It is preferred to enter Bhutan through the Jaigaon-Phuntsholing border in West Bengal, since the popular cities of Paro & Thimphu are closer from there. Once in, the charging atmosphere, overwhelming scenic beauty, and cheerful faces of locals won’t let you want to leave this surreal kingdom.

Distance from New Delhi to Bhutan by road: Approx 1,400 km Travel time (Delhi to Bhutan): Approx 5 days Documents required: Indian driving license, Photo ID proof (other than driving license), pre-registration of Indian vehicle at Phuntsholing border’s immigration post & the Department for Vehicle Registration.

Though driving to Myanmar can be a task in itself, it’s worth every effort. One can travel all the way from New Delhi to Myanmar by road via the newly built and spectacular Delhi to Bangkok Highway . You’ll need to complete all these formalities for international tourists travelling through Border Checkpoints before starting your trip. But in return for all your backbreaking efforts, you’ll be rewarded with once-in-a-lifetime experiences amidst golden pagodas, legendary traditions, astounding landscapes, and the old-world architecture of this ancient kingdom.

Distance from Delhi to Myanmar by road: Approx 2,400 km Travel time (Delhi to Myanmar): Approx 9 days Documents required: Valid passport, Visa, special permits, carnet (a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle to be taken across a frontier for a limited period)

Suggested Read: 4197 Km . 3 Countries . 1 Epic Road Trip – New Delhi To Bangkok [INFOGRAPHIC]

5. Thailand

Who wants to go in for flights when one can have a beyond-awesome road trip from India to Thailand on the the newly built Delhi-Myanmar-Thailand Highway ! And once you’re there, get ready to indulge in diverse experiences like exotic beaches, a happening nightlife, temples & churches, night markets, adventure opportunities, and remarkable cuisines . Thailand, no doubt, has something for everyone, be it a budget backpacker, a rich tycoon, or two nervous newlyweds.

Distance from New Delhi to Thailand by road: Approx 3,000 km Travel time (Delhi to Thailand): Approx 13 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa, international driving license, special permits, carnet (a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle to be taken across a frontier for a limited period)

6. Malaysia

Though one might find problems with independent vehicular movement in Tibet, the diversity of fabulous experiences this country offers to its visitors will totally make up for it! With towering skyscrapers standing beside Hindu temples, Chinese sanctums, & mosques on one hand, and a surplus natural biodiversity on the other, the unique cultural ethos of this nation is breathtaking. Mountains, coral islands, tropical rainforests, rare species of flora and fauna . . . the list of natural experiences one can indulge in Malaysia is endless. Some of the best places to visit in Malaysia include Batu Caves, KL Tower, and Bird Park in Kuala Lampur. 

Distance from Delhi to Malaysia by road: Approx 4,400 km Travel time (Delhi to Malaysia): Approx 19 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa, Indian driving license

Suggested Read: 32 Budget International Trips For Your Holiday Which Will Cost You Less Than An iPhone!

7. Singapore

One can merely use the Delhi-Myanmar-Thailand Highway to drive all the way up to this bustling island city-state that is a heaven for shopaholics. Though not yet a very popular option for international road trips from India, Singapore is one rocking destination with a glitzy nightlife and loads of natural and man-made attractions that India’s wandering souls would love to explore! Don’t forget to read our best places to visit in the Singapore guide before departure. 

Distance from Delhi to Singapore by road: Approx 5,000 km Travel time (Delhi to Singapore): Approx 22 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa, special permits, international driving license

8. Sri Lanka

You may be like “Whaaaaat???”. But it’s true folks. You can actually drive to Sri Lanka . One can simply drive down to Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu and get to the Colombo Port in Sri Lanka via the Scotia Prince ferry that offers a drive in & drive out facility for cars. Thanks to this ferry system, travelers can now easily explore the sandy beaches, lush mountains, tea plantations & diverse wildernesses of this tropical heaven on a road trip from Delhi to Sri Lanka .

Distance from Delhi to Sri Lanka by road: Approx 2,400 km Travel time (Delhi to Sri Lanka): 10 days by road + 45 hours by ferry Documents required: Valid Passport, photo ID proof, copy of Visa On Arrival confirmation

Tip: If not the ferry, you can wait for the first ever bridge between India and Sri Lanka to be built by our government soon .

Suggested Read: 14 Wheels, 11 Souls, One Dream: The Epic Road Trip Down South!

This is one of the most challenging and risky international road trips from India . Though one is required to obtain permits two months before setting off, the whole trip hangs on various uncertainties as these applications are very likely to get rejected by the Chinese govt. But if happen to be one of those lucky few who make it, you have a myriad of experiences, some engaging architecture, & delicious Chinese food , simply waiting for you at the other side! The best route into China is via Nepal, which takes you to Lhasa , & then to Xining , before you finally enter China.

Distance from Delhi, India to China by road: Approx 1,600 km Travel time (Delhi to China): Approx 8 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit, temporary driving license

To witness the grandeur of this massive country, one shall have to first drive to China (refer above), then to Kazakhstan , before finally entering Russia. They would need a Visas and border permits for all the countries falling on the way. The road may be a long one, but to explore Russia’s happening places, picture-perfect landscapes, and its magnificent castles , the trip will be worth it!

Distance from Delhi to Russia by road: Approx 7,200 km Travel time (Delhi to Russia): Approx 32 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for China, Kazakhstan & Russia, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit, temporary driving license

11. Finland

Further up from Russia is Finland, a country that’ll never fail to bewitch you with its beauty no matter what season it is. You can visit either during winters when the landscapes is covered in crisp white snow, or during summers when the warm light of the sun illuminates the vast tracts of forests and striking blue lakes. If you don’t wanna visit merely for the spellbinding views , you can visit for Finland’s unending adventure opportunities and its diverse wildlife .

Distance from Delhi to Finland by road: Approx 8,300 km Travel time (Delhi to Finland): Approx 36 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Suggested Read: 20 Dream Roads Across The Globe Fetched Right Out Of A Traveller’s Fantasy

If driving to nearby countries is subtle for you, why not go all the way to Turkey and experience a different culture altogether! The ideal route map for a road trip from India to Turkey would be: New Delhi — Lhasa (Tibet) — China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan — Turkmenistan — Iran — Turkey . One can also go via Russia & Georgia but that might only add to the distance to be driven. Once there, you’ll be greeted with enchanting views of balloon filled skies, queer caves, splendid mosques, breathtaking natural wonders, glam beaches, & architectural marvels of the Roman Empire .

Distance from Delhi to Turkey by road: Approx 7,500 km Travel time (Delhi to Turkey): Approx 32 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations mentioned, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Suggested Read: 37 Best Places To Visit In March In World To Satisfy Your Wanderlust

A road trip from India to it’s neighbouring countries is one thing, but driving all the way to Europe, you’d certainly need to have one hell of a daring soul! Refer above for the route map of Turkey, and add to it a little Greek architecture, the experience of riding a ferry on the mystical Adriatic Sea, and finally the rustic landscapes, soothing music, quaint village life, & mind blowing cuisine , of Italy!

Distance from Delhi to Italy by road: Approx 9,000 km Travel time (Delhi to Italy): Approx 40 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, Indian driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

14. Switzerland

Driving on the smoothest roads among the most beautiful landscapes of the country that is everyone’s dream destination, who’s up for that? If you decide to drive further from Italy, (and you must!) you’ll be warmly welcomed by the mesmerising Swiss Alps , the friendliest of people, cleanest of roads, postcard-perfect houses adorned with colourful flower pots, and the most delicious chocolates you’d ever have tasted on an incredible road trip from India to Switzerland !

Distance from Delhi to Switzerland by road: Approx 10,000 km Travel time (Delhi to Switzerland): Approx 42 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Suggested Read: 11 International Road Trips You Can Take With Your Indian Driving Licence

If you wish to add a tad bit of romance to your road trip from India to Europe, then you can simply ride on to France. And while you set out to admire its rich blend of art, music & poetry and its centuries old churches and palaces, or merely sit by a chic cafe enjoying delicious gourmet pastries and the finest of French wine, you’ll surely have made this one of your most memorable international road trips from India!

Distance from Delhi to France by road: Approx 10,500 km Travel time (Delhi to France): Approx 44 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, Indian driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Now who’d want to come all the way to Europe and miss out on the marvelous experience of visiting Spain! We bet you’ll be enticed to drive further and witness Spain’s heart-warming architecture, watch a Flamenco performance, check out art galleries & museums, relax on the beaches of Barcelona , and gorge on a bowl of Paella or two! Who’d want to give up on that, right?

Distance from Delhi to Spain by road: Approx 11,200 km Travel time (Delhi to Spain): Approx 46 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, Indian driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

17. United Kingdom

To make this international road trip from India even more rocking, you can go on to United Kingdom from France, either via a ferry from Port de Calais with drive in drive out facility, or through the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle that was specially made to transport vehicles across the two countries. Either way, you’ll end up at this glamorous cosmopolitan famous for its fast-paced, contemporary culture that will spoil you for life on your road trip from India to UK .

Distance from Delhi, India to UK by road: Approx 10,000 km Travel time (Delhi to UK): Approx 42 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Suggested Read: Delhi to London By Road: These 3 Indian Super Moms Drove Across 17 Countries in Just 95 Days

18. Czech Republic

Not into modern cosmopolitans? We got you covered. Take a detour to Czech Republic and be transferred back in time as you set foot amidst its historical towns, buildings with an ancient architecture, and its medieval looking landscapes . You can either drive through the earlier mentioned route, or you can go through Russia, depending on which type of cultures you wish to experience on the way.

Distance from Delhi to Czech Republic by road: Approx 7,800 km Travel time (Delhi to Czech Republic): Approx 34 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

19. Uzbekistan

If you don’t want to go on a very long road trip, but still wish to treat your eyes to fascinating views of different cultures, go on to Uzbekistan. The unbelievably elegant architecture of the mosques, mausoleums, fortresses and palaces lying hidden in the ancient cities of this erstwhile gem of the Silk Road will make your jaw drop.

Distance from Delhi to Uzbekistan by road: Approx 4,000 km Travel time (Delhi to Uzbekistan): Approx 17 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

20. Turkmenistan

Another jewel in the crown of Central Asia is Turkmenistan, a relatively unexplored piece of the world that houses mysterious, yet extraordinary natural attractions like the seemingly endless Karakum Desert and the ‘Door to Hell’ . Other than it’s natural wonders, you’re also likely to fall for the unmatched hospitality of the Turkmen people , which is a legend worldwide.

Distance from Delhi to Turkmenistan by road: Approx 4,800 km Travel time (Delhi to Turkmenistan): Approx 20 days Documents required: Valid Passport, Visa for all nations to be crossed, international driving license, carnet, Special Overland Permits for Indian registered vehicles, Tibet Travel Permit

Further Read: 35 Spectacular Road Trips In India For That Passionate Traveler In You

Roads let you explore each town, city, countryside, & village you pass on the way to your destination, unlike other modes of transport. They let you discover & learn more about the world than you plan to do on your trip. So stop thinking, and go! Also, share this with all your buddies you’d want as your travel companions on this trip. And if you know of any more international road trips from India that one can take, pop them in the comments below.

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Frequently Asked Questions About International Road Trips From India

Can we go to Singapore by road from India?

Yes, you can take a road trip from India to Singapore provided you have the required travel documents with you. It is possible to reach Singapore from India by road by crossing all the nations that fall on the way, which means you’ll need the travel documents for entering all those countries as well. The road distance between India to Singapore is around 5970 kilometres, and one can reach there in about 96 hours (exclusive of rest time).

Can we go to Russia by road from India?

Yes, you can drive from India to Russia, provided you have acquired the travel documents and permits required to enter all the countries you’ll be entering enroute, including China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and of course, Russia. You will also need a permit for your car so that you can be allowed to drive on international roads.

Can we travel by road from India to London?

Though hectic and extensive, a road trip from India to London is totally possible. You just need to travel documents and permits you’ll require to enter the various nations that fall on the way, including China since you won’t be allowed to pass through Pakistan by land on an Indian Passport. See how these three women traveled from Delhi to London by road and take tips on how to plan yours.

Can Indian cars enter Nepal?

Yes, Indian nationals are allowed to travel to Nepal in their personal vehicles with an Indian driving license. However, you do need to acquire a permit at the border of Nepal to be able to enter the territory.

How can I go to America from India?

In order to travel to America, one needs to carry the following documents to their visa interview: 1. Your valid passport (and your old passports, if any) 2. Your passport size photograph 3. Your DS160 Confirmation page stamped at the VAC 4. Your Visa application fee receipts (in case you’re applying at a US consulate in India) 5. Your Interview Appointment letter 6. All supporting travel documents

Can I go to China by road from India?

Though it is possible to travel to China by road from India, there are numerous restrictions in place. Firstly, you have to travel via Nepal and Tibet, and independent travel is prohibited in Tibet, unless you have arranged everything through an approved Chinese tour operator. The entire process of arranging the visa documents and permits for entering China is very tedious and time consuming, and can usually take up to 5-6 months.

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Kanika Saxena

Kanika has 4 years of experience in writing blogs and marketing content for travel. And when she’s not writing, she’s either exploring new terrains in a different corner of the world, or out in the city freezing urban scenarios in her camera.

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A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

Europe is considered as one of the most loving travel destinations for Indians.

UNWTO reports stated that Europe sees 20% of the travellers from India’s outbound traffic. France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland are considered favourite countries in Europe.

But still, no matter who you are from India, one basic question comes to your mind before planning a trip to Europe, i.e., how to plan a Europe trip from India – without overreached the earned leaves or budget?

Before deep-diving into this matter let’s find out one thing. Why do we Indians love Europe so much as our dream travel destination?

Needless to say, one of the major influences comes from our Bollywood movies – It’s a romantic gateway for heroes and heroine to cherish their love, where we can witness some stunning landscapes across different parts of the continent, ease of travel throughout the continent, variety of culture, etc. Sometimes the influence becomes so strong that some of us planned their proposal in the ‘City of Love’ – Paris or go on to choose Switzerland as their honeymoon destination to witness the magic of Europe in reality.

I am quite sure, there are some issues with many travellers who are mostly on budget and try to do all sorts of calculations to cut off the expenses related to the trip such as flight charges, accommodation, food, and most importantly visa problem, which hold them back.

Relax! In this article, I will provide you some pro tips and a step-by-step outline on how you can go ahead carefully planning your dream Euro Trip a reality without any stress or any kind of brainstorming and most importantly on a budget.

Let’s go then!

Jump ahead to:

How to Plan A Budget Europe Trip From India

Planning an organized trip can really take as long as you want. However, if you planning to visit at least the big cities/capitals, you should have to spend a minimum of 2 full days in each city you visit and smaller cities might need only 1 full day. Write-off your arrival day to Europe for sure. It’s very natural to get a jet-lag.

Before starting your dream Europe trip plan, here are a few tips for your trip around Europe on a budget:

Choose your destinations wisely — If you have a clear idea about what you want to see like Colosseum or Vatican City in Rome and the Eiffel Tower or Louvre in Paris, you already know where you will go. Found out the main attractions you want to see and do in each city you’d like to visit. Make a list for your reference, so that you won’t miss out on anything.

Plan Your Travel Path — You might have your heart set on Prague, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, and Athens, but if you only have two weeks or less, you’ll have to rethink. These cities are spread out and you need to spend a lot of time traveling than enjoying Europe. Plan out a travel path that is closely connected, and leave the remaining destinations for your next visit. It’s next to impossible to travel even only the big cities in Europe in a month’s time!

Figure out your budget — Apart from planning a travel path that won’t take up your entire trip, you should also plan out how much you need to spend for traveling place to place, food, stay, etc. If it’s starting to hit you hard, try to skip a destination that would be fun, but not worthy for this trip.

Plan Day Trips — Sometimes you may discover after checking your travel route that some places you want to visit are pretty close to bigger cities where you want to stay in. So, planning a day trip to the countryside instead of spending a night in a small town could be exciting and trust me, the European countryside will always surprise you with its beauty and it’s better to have a break from the bustling city.

Look for cheap and convenient travel options – One of the major portions of our budget usually goes into booking the main flights to and from India. I will suggest you use some of the flight app trackers like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or can visit the direct sites to compare the fares to keep a watch on the flight rates well ahead of your tentative travel date to get the best lowest rates or connection. Always look for a cheaper connection from major cities like Delhi or Mumbai. When you are traveling within European cities, you can also plan to take buses, trains, or budget airlines (through low-cost European carrier Ryanair or Wizz Air) on your trip but the prices will depend on how close cities are and which European budget airline you fly with.

Depending on the number of countries you choose, it is often economical to buy a Eurail Pass , an all-in-one train ticket giving you unlimited access to most trains across various destinations. Let me tell you one important thing if you manage your carry-on luggage strictly under 10 kgs, then you can fly as cheap as 30 Euro or less than that to different destinations within Europe to save time. Although, if not then, going by the bus (Flixbus) is the next best but definitely the cheapest option while travelling within Europe. My total intra-Europe travel cost including commuting to five countries through 4 flights, and 1 train travel came up to a total of ₹ 6780.

Find out budget Accommodation – Finding cheap accommodation is another aspect when you have a few days to stay in a city. Some of the best options for affordable accommodations include Airbnb, Youth hostels—or luxury hostels, hotels, and the cheapest of all couch surfing. Each of them will vary in price and location, but according to your budget, you should try to stay near to the city centre as it saves some travel time while visiting the tourist destinations.

When and Where To Visit In Europe

I planned my Euro-trip when I was doing my M.Sc. in Business Administration in Rome.  It took me two months to decide on which places to visit and finally came up with a fully packed 10-day itinerary covering 5 cities (only capital cities) with a complete estimate of what the middle-class me as a student was most worried about – Budget!

Here’s a brief outline for those who are planning a European vacation for the first time.

Now, the answer to this when and where to visit in Europe lies in the time you have available as well as your budget.

So, if you are clueless about what would be the ideal time to travel to your favourite European holiday destinations then the answer will be any time between the high season and low season (Known as Shoulder season) is often considered as the ideal time to visit Europe as major cities don’t seem to be as crowdy as in high season.

Ideally Spring (between March-May) and Autumn (between September-November) are the best time to travel but most of the cities are happen to be crowdy and sightseeing could be a bit expensive as well.

If you are travelling Europe for the first time, try to do a sampling of all the exotic locations that Europe has to offer. Keep the rest for your next visit, which may be a long stay in a destination that really close to your heart, and skip over a place you may not have enjoyed.

No need to worry about that!

Here’s a simple breakdown of the minimum duration of your stay in each country (only for 11 Schengen countries). In this chart below, we are assuming that you are going to visit at least 2 major cities and 2 minor cities in each country for your Europe trip.

Europe Trip Itinerary From India

To make your life easier I am going to suggest a 14-Day Europe trip itinerary from India, which is something like this:

Delhi (India) —> Budapest (Hungary) *

• Budapest is one of those European cities that has a little bit of everything. The main attractions are the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion, the ruin bars etc and is perfect for the budget travellers and backpackers as many of its tourist sights are FREE! In addition, you can also visit few other major urban cities like Eger , Szeged , Pecs .

Budapest (Hungary) —> Vienna (Austria)

• Guess what! Your next destination has been ranked the most livable city in the world! You should definitely visit Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Belvedere Palace, The Museum of Fine Art, and last but not the least, the classical Vienna Coffee with Sacher cake. Include Innsbruck and Salzburg in your list as well (Bollywood has a special inclination towards these three locations – 85 movies were partly shot in Austria in the last few years)

Vienna (Austria) —> Prague (Czech Republic)

• Capital of Czech Republic – Prague or Praha is also known as the “City of Thousand Spires”, situated at the centre of Europe. The most significant landmarks include Charles Bridge, Prague Castle Complex, The Old Town, Prague’s Astronomical Clock, and of course, the Czech beer!  Don’t miss out Brno , second biggest city and considered as one of the  top places to visit in Czech Republic. From Brno you can visit Adršpach Rock City, famous for formations made out sandstone that are pretty unusual in appearance. This one is perfect city for those who’re looking forward to an offbeat adventure. Your last stop could be Liberec, city with perfect balance of art and adventure. Adventure lovers can hike and ski at Jizera Mountains. Also, visit Jested peak that offers jaw-dropping views.

Prague (Czech Republic) —> Paris (France)

• Most people prefer to visit the ‘City of Love” – Paris during their first trip to Europe. Paris is a plethora of fashion, food, art and culture. The most popular attraction in Paris is none other than the Eiffel Tower, an engineering marvel in itself. Other popular attraction includes – Louvre Museum, Arc De Triomphe, Palace of Versailles. Finally, how you can miss the Champs-Elysées evening stroll and Ladurée’s macarons which are the perfect balance of flavours that simply melts in your mouth! A walk in Montmartre is perfect to end your day of exploration. If you are a lover of good food and wine, then Bordeaux, the capital of French wine is the place for you. Nice and Marseille are among the other best cities to visit in France.

Paris (France) —> Rome (Italy)

• There are so many incredible cities to visit in Italy alone, you could easily spend your whole 14-days’ vacation in this wonderful country with a stunning natural beauty and rich historical, architectural brilliance. The cities that you shouldn’t miss apart from Rome is Florence, which require at least 2-3 days each, while smaller cities like Naples and Venice can be seen in a day or two.

Rome (Italy) —>Delhi

*Write-off your arrival day to Europe

For internal travel between cities check options through  rome2rio , which shows the best and cheapest options for buses, flights, or trains.

Moreover, if you don’t want to plan your Europe trip by yourself, then you can travel through some Indian Tour agencies who provide some best Europe tour packages from India, like Thomas Cook, SOTC, etc, but I personally don’t recommend that as they have some pre-planned trips with time-bound.

Finally, if you are looking for a guided and expert planned vacation and travel packages and want to plan your own custom Europe trip, your best place could be ‘TravelStride’. They will match you with a local travel expert and plan, a custom itinerary for you as per your budget!

How cool is that!!

Things To Take On Europe Trip From India

Before heading out to the booking your flight, there are few very important things that you’ll need to take on a Europe trip from India.

Before you pack your bags and be ready to go, check all your travel documents and other necessary things prepared. This includes your passport (valid at least 6 months from your arrival), Europe travel insurance, travel itinerary, Europe trip package information, hotel reservations, visas (if necessary), copies of your passport, Europe travel map, and an international driver’s license if you intend to drive in countries that require one.

Visa for Europe Trip From India

For Europe, there are 26 countries that are covered under the Schengen Visa scheme. Firstly, be very clear about your plan and the number of countries you intend to visit, check whether they are covered under the Schengen scheme or not?

For traveling to Europe, you need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa under the “tourist” specification from India. Schengen Visa Fees for Indian Passport holders is around ₹ 7000.

You can easily apply through the VFS centres in your respective city. Still having doubts, don’t!

You can apply your Schengen Visa on your own through VFS Global .

It is highly recommended to apply for a visa at least two months prior to your probable travel date to avoid last minute tension.

SIM Card For Europe Travel From India

Are you planning to buy a SIM card for Europe travel from India?

If possible, try to avoid that. It’s always better to buy a local SIM card in the respective country as roaming charges do apply and network availability might vary. For example, in Italy Wind mobile is economical and easily accessible across all cities with attractive plans.

Europe Travel Insurance

When you are travelling to Europe, it is compulsory to have well-covered travel insurance for visa purposes as well as for our own medical assurance. It is recommended to always purchase insurance which covers not only the actual number of days but extra days as well. There are various approved Indian travel insurance companies (Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, etc), where you can purchase travel medical insurance for the Schengen visa process. I purchased my insurance through Bajaj Allianz at the time of my travel. It will cost you around ₹ 2000 to ₹ 3000.

How Much Does It Cost For Europe Trip From India?

Many people ask this question, but honestly speaking that is quite difficult to answer.

Firstly, Europe is not a country, it’s a continent that comprises many countries. Some of them are more expensive to travel like, Switzerland and some are relatively cheaper like, Greece, while a few of them are pretty cheap e.g., Budapest.

Please keep in mind that your cost will entirely depend on which places you visit at what season, the kind of accommodation you stay at, the modes you choose for intra-city transportation (flights, taxis, train, buses, etc.).

How much would a solo Europe trip from India cost?

Europe trip budget from India for a normal 14-day trip that covers 4-5 countries usually costs people up to 1 to 1.5 Lakhs per person. On the other hand, if you are doing the entire Europe trip backpacking (hitchhiking, staying in hostels, choosing cheap transportations wisely etc.), the costs will be substantially different from a regular trip.

You can get an idea of the costs from the posts on Eastern Europe tours from India .

I hope this gives you a clear idea about the cost of Europe trip from India.

I am quite sure that this article will help you plan a budget Europe trip with ease and serves as a complete Europe trip guide from India. If you find it useful, have any questions, or suggestions for improving the blog please write feedback in a comment.

5 thoughts on “A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Plan A Europe Trip From India”

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How To Plan A Road Trip To Europe: Step-By-Step Planner

Having spent ten weeks on a road trip in Europe, I’m well-positioned to write about the best way to plan a trip. 

I went through all the pre-planning steps, from creating a realistic budget to choosing the best insurance and making sure all the essentials were covered. My time in Europe was amazing, and I had an incredible time. I researched a lot online, but by doing the road trip myself, I learned so much more, and I took home invaluable insights. 

This post is a complete step-by-step guide to planning a road trip in Europe. I’ve included tips and strategies I learned along the way, which I’m happily sharing to ensure you have all the information you need to plan the perfect trip.

I’m Going On An Adventure contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I will earn a small commission if you purchase through any qualifying links at no extra cost to you.

Road Trip To Europe Step-By-Step Planner

Before diving into the details, I thought it would be helpful first to brainstorm some key questions to ask yourself before you start planning.

• What’s my main goal for this trip? 

Think about it and decide whether you’re looking for scenic adventure, cultural experiences, or a mix of both. Knowing what you want to get out of the trip will help shape your route, destinations, and overall planning.

• How much time do I have? 

Will it be a short getaway or a longer journey? The time you have available will influence how far you can travel, how many countries you visit, and how flexible your itinerary can be.

• What type of vehicle suits my trip? 

Are you going in a comfortable car, or would a campervan offer more flexibility? Consider the number of people travelling, luggage space, and whether you’ll need to navigate narrow city streets or stick to the open road.

• What’s my budget? 

How much are you willing to spend on fuel, tolls, accommodation, and activities? Having a clear budget will help you decide whether to stick to main routes or explore off-the-beaten-path areas and whether you opt for campsites, hotels, or budget stays. 

• What time of year am I going? 

Do you want to travel in the peak summer months, when the weather is warm but tourist spots are crowded, and prices are higher? Or do you prefer the quieter shoulder seasons like spring and autumn, where you can still enjoy pleasant weather but with fewer crowds?

• Do I want to pre-plan everything or be spontaneous? 

Do you prefer booking accommodation and activities in advance, or would you instead leave things flexible and go with the flow? Your travel style will impact how rigid or open your route and daily plans need to be.

You might also be interested in

• Ultimate Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary: An Epic 8 Weeks + Map .
• Driving In Tuscany, Italy: 15 Tips For A Safe & Happy Journey .
• How To Visit The Borromean Islands .
• 20 Most Beautiful Villages In Alsace, France You HAVE TO Visit!

Something to think about

If you’re focused on sticking to a budget, I’d suggest starting with Step 7. However, if budget isn’t your main concern, deciding on the trip details first and working out the costs afterwards can be a more enjoyable way to plan, in my opinion. It’s always possible to adjust the itinerary later on by cutting back on stops, attractions, or accommodation choices to fit your budget.

Once you’ve got a clear holiday goal, planning the next steps will be much easier!

Step 1: Length of trip & route planning

I always like to start by deciding how much time I can realistically dedicate to a trip. Consider whether you want to cover multiple countries or explore one region in more depth. Once I’ve set a time frame, planning the route becomes much easier.

Next, figure out which towns or cities you want to visit and how long you will spend in each. Research online and get recommendations from people who have been there—this will help you gauge how much time is needed at each stop. 

As a rule of thumb, I generally like to spend at least two nights in one place, but for smaller villages, one night is enough.

Download the Google Maps app

Get familiar with Google Maps and the areas you’ll be visiting. I find it helpful to save each location on the map and then zoom out to see where they are in relation to each other. This helps me visualise the distances between stops and determine the most logical order to visit them, making it easier to plan an efficient itinerary.

I also use the app to calculate the drive time for each leg of the journey. By doing this for every destination, you’ll get a clear idea of how much time you’ll spend on the road versus how much time you’ll have for exploring. This helps ensure a balanced itinerary where you’re not stuck driving all day and can fully enjoy each stop along the way!

Here are a couple more questions to guide your planning:

• What’s your priority: seeing as much as possible or taking a slower pace? Deciding if you want to hop between destinations or spend more time exploring each area will help you work out how long your trip needs to be.
• Do you prefer sticking to main roads and motorways, or do you want to take scenic backroads? Your preferred driving style will determine whether you opt for faster routes or scenic detours that take you off the beaten path. Keep in mind that the scenic backroads will cost more in fuel.

Keep your route flexible

From the start, I knew we had about ten weeks to explore Europe. It seemed like plenty of time, so I created an itinerary packed with all the places I wanted to visit—probably a bit too ambitious, to be honest.

If we’d stuck strictly to the plan, we could have done it all. But I’ve always been one to go with the flow. A few weeks in, it became clear that we wouldn’t have enough time for everything originally planned, mainly because we added extra stops and ended up staying longer in certain areas. Our road trip naturally evolved from there.

This turned out to be a good thing! We still followed the general route but decided to skip southern Italy entirely, giving us more time to explore the north at a relaxed pace.

As much as I love a well-laid plan, it’s essential to stay flexible. Plans are there to guide you, not to dictate every move. A fluid itinerary allows for unexpected adventures and changes—something I think makes road trips even more enjoyable.

⭐ Pro tip >> A week might be enough for a couple of countries, but longer trips allow more flexibility and relaxed driving days . Try not to fit too much into a short period and build in buffer time for unexpected delays or spontaneous stops.

Where To Go On A Europe Road Trip? 

I’ve packed tons more helpful information into my Europe road trip itineraries below; check them out, as they’ll help you plan country-specific trips!

• France: Alsace’s famous Wine Route
• Italy: Piedmont and the Northern Lakes
• Italy: Liguria and Italian Riviera
• Italy: The rolling hills of Tuscany
• England: The quintessential Cotswolds

Step 2: Choosing a vehicle

It might seem like an obvious answer, but there is more than one option when planning a European road trip. We went in our self-converted campervan, which gave us more flexibility, but the choice of vehicle depends on your route, group size, and travel preferences.

Consider these questions:

• How many people are travelling with you?
• How much luggage will you be taking?
• What type of roads will you be driving on?
• How important is comfort to you?
• Are you planning to sleep in your vehicle?
• Are you conscious of reducing your carbon footprint? Hybrid and electric vehicles can be good options if so.
• What is your budget?

I noticed plenty of motorhomes on the road in Europe, and most European countries are well-equipped for roadside camping. The UK, however, seems to lag behind a bit in this area. I think this is the best way to road trip Europe, although I get it might not be for everyone.

You could also opt for a motorbike road trip . We travelled from Sierra Leone, in West Africa, to the UK in a tuk-tuk , which is ultimately a motorbike. The journey was surreal, but I found once we reached Europe, the roads were perfect for motorbikes.

If you don’t have or want to travel to Europe in a campervan, road-tripping in your car or a rental is another excellent option . Both options have pros and cons, but the biggest drawback is you will have to fork out more for accommodation.

Taking your car is more convenient and familiar, plus you can pack as much as you need. Renting a vehicle, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to choose something that suits your trip, like a campervan or a smaller car for city-focused trips.

However you choose to go on a road trip around Europe, remember you’ll be spending a lot of time in the car, so it needs to be comfortable. A fuel-efficient vehicle is ideal if covering long distances.

⭐ Pro tip >> If taking your own vehicle, remember to make sure it’s in top condition before setting off, with a service, tyre check, and enough storage space for luggage.

Step 3: European Insurance and breakdown cover

👉 Car Rental: DISCOVER CARS

If you’re renting a car, insurance and breakdown cover can often be added to the bundle for an additional cost. Although I don’t usually rent a vehicle, I tend to use DISCOVER CARS when I do. I’ve written a review of the company that is worth reading if you’re thinking of renting a car.

For those of you who have your own transport, ensure you have comprehensive European car insurance that covers all the countries you’re visiting. Depending on your vehicle, your insurance company might be able to extend the policy to cover Europe. You’ll have to call them up to check this; there’s typically an additional fee.

We used AdrianFlux Insurance , a specialised car and van insurance company. Due to our DIY van conversion, we did find it hard to find an insurance company that would cover us, but in the end, AdrianFlux served us well, and I recommend them.

European breakdown cover is a must—it can save a lot of stress and expense if something goes wrong. Check if it includes repatriation of your vehicle and onward travel for you and your friends if you break down.

We had one incident during the entire trip, which left us with a blown tyre in France. Luckily, we were able to fix it on the road. I did contact our insurance company, which was going to send out a recovery vehicle, but the wait time was a few hours, so it was lucky we had a spare tyre and were able to change it ourselves!

Travel Insurance

Travel medical insurance is important for health emergencies, trip cancellations, theft, and accidents. I use two companies depending on the type of trip I’m planning. For my Europe road trip, I used SafetyWing . 

⭐ Here’s a guide to why I think SafetyWing is one of the best travel medical insurers available.

Step 5: Accommodation type

Once all the car stuff is sorted and you have a route planned, the next step is to decide whether you prefer hotels, B&Bs, campsites, or even staying in your vehicle. Booking ahead gives you peace of mind, but being spontaneous can lead to some fantastic finds. 

We stuck to campervan sites and roadside parking. As I mentioned earlier, Europe is fantastic for motorhomes, and overnight parking is everywhere . Most campervan sites come with facilities such as clean water, toilets, and greywater disposal. There’s plenty of dedicated roadside parking, so it’s a great way to save on accommodation.

If you decide to go on a road trip around Europe in a car, you’ll need to budget for accommodations. This is where the cost of your road trip can begin adding up. As we all know, Europe isn’t the most affordable place to visit!

⭐ Pro tip >> I used the Park4night app , which lists a range of sites to stop for the night. The app also offers authentic experiences, such as farm stays, which can add a fun quirk to any trip. It’s also worth investing in the full version of the app, but it’s super affordable. If you’re camping, check local regulations—wild camping isn’t legal everywhere. 

Step 6: Booking attractions & excursions

Next, figure out which attractions you’re interested in visiting. Once I had my route planned, and although I already had an idea of the top sites, I also started researching popular attractions and planning key activities. However, deciding to book in advance depends a lot on the length of the trip. 

I booked activities only a week or so ahead since we were travelling for ten weeks . On a longer trip, plans tend to change, so booking too far ahead can become a hassle if you suddenly need to be somewhere at a specific time. To complicate things further, certain attractions, like the Duomo in Florence , can be booked up weeks in advance, especially during peak season. So, while booking ahead is sometimes necessary, it does mean you’ll need to stick to specific dates.

In some cases, this can actually be helpful as it keeps you moving. It’s easy to linger too long in an amazing place. Pre-booking a few key activities creates milestones along the trip, giving you structure without overloading your itinerary. Just be careful not to pack it too tightly—leave room for spontaneity!

My favourite attractions and activities 

Skip-the-line tickets are fantastic and will save you hours of queuing. If you’re booking activities in popular tourist spots, I highly recommend seeking this option.

• Paris: Palace of Versailles full access passport ticket
• Berlin: 1-hour spree cruise from Friedrichstrasse
• Rome: Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel escorted entrance
• Florence: Florence ticket to Brunelleschi’s dome with panoramic views
• London: London Westminster Abbey skip-the-line entry guided tour
• Barcelona: Barcelona Park Guell guided tour

⭐ Pro tip >> Pre-booking often saves money and time, but don’t overbook. Be sure to leave room for unexpected discoveries and downtime. Some tourist spots may have specific visitor rules, so check ahead for things like parking arrangements or dress codes in religious sites.

Step 6: Visas and documentation

Before setting off on a road trip, make sure you have all the necessary visas and documentation for each country you plan to visit. Many European countries are within the Schengen Zone (which allows 90 days for visa-free travel) for multiple nationalities. However, it’s essential to check if you need a visa based on your passport and the countries you’re visiting.

*From early 2025, the EU will be implementing the ETIAS travel authorisation to enter most European countries.

Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended return date. 

You should also carry the following documents:

• Driving Licence: A UK, EU and US driving licence is generally accepted across Europe. However, you might need an International Driving Permit (IDP).

For the UK: IDP Gov.uk For the USA: IDP USA.gov 

• Vehicle Registration (V5C): Always have the original vehicle registration document (the “log book”) on hand.
• Proof of Insurance: Ensure you have valid European car insurance, and check if you need a Green Card . A green card is how you prove that you have vehicle insurance when driving abroad.
• Breakdown Cover Details: Keep a copy of your European breakdown cover policy number and documents.
• Proof of ID: Passport.
• Travel Insurance: A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is essential for accessing state healthcare. However, it’s also wise to have travel insurance for additional cover.

⭐ Pro tip >> Double-check that all visa and document requirements, MOT, and tax are up-to-date before your trip to avoid any last-minute issues at borders or checkpoints. That said, once you’re in the EU, the borders will be open, and moving through them is hassle-free.

Step 7: Budgeting

Budgeting is the big one, and I’ve found it concerns travellers the most. It also requires the most planning. As I mentioned earlier, I prefer planning my road trip first and then working out the cost, removing attractions and destinations afterwards to fit my budget. I just find this a more fun way to plan a holiday. 

Next, calculate your key expenses : fuel, tolls, rental costs and accommodation. Remember to budget for food, attractions, and any unexpected fees.

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The best way to use this is to research the cost of the activities and accommodations you prefer while visiting Europe; use the table above to help with the rest.

Fuel costs can vary across countries, but they remain similar in Europe; still, it’s always a good idea to check current prices online. Using our road trip as an example, we paid about €170 for a full tank, which gave us about 500 miles . Using the scenic roads used more fuel, although the views were worth it. Keep in mind that we were in a heavy van; if you’re travelling in a car, expect the cost to be much less.

On the other hand, although using motorways is more fuel-efficient, tolls are common, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain, and they cost quite a bit. For example, in Italy, the Autostrada was about €10 every 100 kilometres. In the end , the fuel costs of using rural roads compared to tolled motorways equalled one another; however, the motorways save time.

⭐ Pro tip >> Use route planners like ViaMichelin to estimate toll costs . Also, parking fees should be considered, especially in cities. 

Accommodation

Accommodation will set you back a bit. We were lucky to be travelling in our van, but even the official camper sites come with a fee. However, they are much more affordable than hotels. Depending on where you are in Europe and the time of year, campsites cost between €15 to €35 for 24 hours.

All other accommodation costs depend on your travel style. I use Booking and Agoda to book hotels and compare prices; make sure the parking filter is ticked.

Booking accommodation in advance has its own set of challenges. While it can offer peace of mind, especially in busy areas or during peak season, it also locks you into a specific schedule. This can be limiting if you decide you want to stay longer in a place you love or if you find somewhere unexpected along the way that you’d like to explore.

For me, the ideal approach is a mix. I like to pre-book key stops or stays in high-demand areas but leave some gaps in the itinerary for a bit of spontaneity. That way, I’ve got a rough plan without feeling wholly tied down, giving me the best of both worlds!

Food & Dinning

If you really want to save money, the best way is to make your meals, buy street food and grab breakfast from the bakeries. Some say the local markets are good places to find a bargain, but I’ve always found the produce to be expensive…

It’s easy to manage your meals when travelling in a campervan, and there are plenty of delicious canned meals in the supermarkets!

What To Know Before Planning A Road Trip To Europe

European driving kit.

One thing you will definitely need to invest in is the European Driving Kit. The kit contains certain safety items essential for driving around Europe. It needs to be kept in the front of the car.

⭐ We purchased ours from Amazon. 

The kit must contain:

• A reflective vest for each passenger
• A warning triangle
• A first-aid kit
• Headlamp beam deflectors
• A UK driving sticker (if coming from the UK)

Aside from the essentials, other non-compulsory items like a fire extinguisher, breathalysers, and spare bulbs are wise to have with you. While not mandatory, they can be useful in an emergency and might even save you from fines in certain countries.

Ferries and island hopping

There are plenty of ferries connecting European countries. Depending on your route, sometimes it’s more convenient to jump on one rather than drive, and it can also be a fun experience. Although there are various companies, I always use Direct Ferries. They compare all the ferry companies and provide a selection of options.

Here are some of the most popular countries:

• From/to England
• From/to France
• From/to Spain
• From/to Italy
• From/to Greece

⭐ Should you book in advance? Booking in advance usually saves money , but again, it’s going to tie you down to specific dates. During peak season, look to book a couple of weeks or so ahead of time if you want the best deals; otherwise, I’ve not found it to be a necessity and booking a couple of days ahead is fine. 

If this is your first time boarding a ferry, it’s pretty straightforward. You simply drive onto the vessel and park where directed. You won’t be able to stay in the vehicle, but on deck, there are facilities and amenities to grab a bite and relax. 

If you’re travelling to the UK, the Eurotunnel is another option. It takes around 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais and keeps you in your vehicle throughout.

Getting around Europe: Cities, roads & motorways

From experience, I’ve found European road networks are generally excellent, but driving in big cities like Paris or Rome can be chaotic and a little scary. You’ll need to plan your city routes carefully and be a confident driver. 

Rural roads are where you’ll have the most fun on your road trip, but they can be pretty tight and narrow, especially in countries like Italy. Driving our big van around some places was tricky, but it was manageable.

LEZs and LTZs

There are low-emission zones and limited traffic zones in many cities that require special permits throughout Europe. 

Some popular cities in which you’ll need permits include:

• London: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/
• Paris: https://www.lez-france.fr/en/low-emission-zones/paris
• Toulouse: https://www.lez-france.fr/en/low-emission-zones/toulouse
• Copenhagen: https://www.ecosticker.dk/en/low-emission-zones/copenhagen
• Turin: https://www.green-zones.eu/en/low-emission-zones/italy/turin
• Rome: https://www.green-zones.eu/en/low-emission-zones/italy/rome

A vignette (road tax sticker) is mandatory for driving on some motorways in European countries. The ticket can be purchased at border crossings, petrol stations, or online before your trip. The vignette must be displayed on your windscreen, and if you get caught driving without one, you can be fined heftily.

These countries require a vignette:

• Bulgaria: https://www.bgtoll.bg/en/e-vignette
• Austria: https://www.tolls.eu/austria
• Romania: https://www.e-rovinieta.ro/en/
• Switzerland: https://www.tolls.eu/switzerland
• Slovakia: https://eznamka.sk/selfcare/purchase/
• Slovenia: https://www.dars.si/Vignette_system/Points_of_sale
• Moldova: https://evinieta.gov.md/#step-1
• the Czech Republic: https://www.motorway.cz/index.php
• Hungary: https://ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu/hu/belepes

Motorways & Roads

European motorways are usually fast and well-maintained, but many have tolls. I noticed some of the machines only took cash, while others took card payments. Make sure you’re in the correct lane, as not all toll booths accept all payment methods. Signs above each lane indicate which types of payments they take.

The toll system in Europe is efficient. Generally, you will be given a ticket when entering and then pay upon exit. It’s about €10 every 100 kilometres, or a bit less, but if you budget for €10, there’ll be some left in the kitty.

In rural areas, GPS can sometimes be unreliable , so it’s a good idea to have an offline map or physical road atlas as a backup. 

Road signs and markings can vary between countries, and some regions might only display them in the local language, making navigation trickier. Speed limits and road rules vary, so brush up on your local driving laws.

⭐ Pro tip >> Watch out for variable speed limits, which can change depending on weather conditions or time of day, especially on motorways in countries like Italy, Germany or France.

Lastly, I found parking in European cities and towns can be challenging and sometimes expensive. Many older cities and tourist spots have limited parking options, and parking restrictions are strictly enforced –-there are lots of traffic wardens roaming the streets! 

There are plenty of car parks, though, and it’s worth using park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of major cities to avoid navigating congested streets. However, if you’re in a campervan, you’ll need to check that they are camper-friendly. 

⭐ Pro tip >> Most tourist towns have official camper park sites (called aires) where larger vehicles can be parked. These are generally on the outskirts of town but usually within walking distance or near bus stops.

Tips For A Europe Road Trip

1. Sim Card

I was able to extend my monthly plan to include European roaming before leaving the UK, which was great. It’s undoubtedly a good idea to contact your provider and see if there are any deals available. 

Otherwise, purchasing a local SIM will ensure you have data for research and maps without spending a fortune. You can easily pick up a SIM card at airports or convenience stores.

⭐ Alternatively, try downloading an eSIM, such as Airalo , which can be activated instantly without needing a physical card. You’ll need to download it before you leave so it’s ready to activate upon arrival.

In city centres, street parking is often metered and limited, with different zones for residents and visitors. Look out for colour-coded lines—blue lines usually indicate paid parking, while yellow is typically restricted to residents. White parking zones are free unless otherwise specified.

3. Petrol Stations

Many petrol stations in Europe have self-service pumps where you can pay with a card and fill up at any time . The motorways have 24/7 petrol stations, but be careful when driving around rural areas as opening hours are limited. 

I noticed that they are open from early morning, around 7 am, to midday, closing for lunch and then opening again at 3ish till about 7 pm. Sundays, sometimes Mondays, and holidays, you’ll find them closed. 

So fill up where and when you can!

4. Tourists Like Stopping For Photos

It’s no surprise that tourists love to stop for photos, but it can be frustrating when they suddenly brake and pull over without warning. We quickly realised that using indicators wasn’t common practice, and when they did, it was usually at the last possible moment. The locals weren’t much better, although at least they weren’t veering off at scenic viewpoints. 

It’s wise to keep a safe distance from the car in front, as sudden stops for a quick snap are pretty standard. 

5. Avoid Rush Hour Traffic

We managed to avoid heavy traffic during our trip by steering clear of peak hours. Major spots can get quite congested, particularly during rush hour. If possible, try to avoid driving between 7 am and 9 am and 5 pm and 7 pm. 

The main roads are generally good, but weekends can get busy. Planning your drive outside of these peak hours can help ensure a smoother and less stressful journey.

6. Learn How To Change A Tyre

After we experienced a flat tyre, it was a relief that we knew how to handle it. Although we had breakdown cover through AdrianFlux, and they were helpful, the wait time was long.

If you’re not confident with tyre changes, I recommend practising before your trip. 

7. Pick Up Rentals At The Airport

If you’re flying into Europe for your road trip and planning to rent a car, it’s best to collect it from the airport. Whether you need the vehicle straight away or a few days later, heading back to the airport is usually the most convenient option. It saves you from the headache of finding a rental office within the city and makes for an easier start to your journey.

Navigating narrow city streets, dealing with parking, and driving in unfamiliar areas can be pretty stressful. Plus, there’s the issue of ZTLs (restricted traffic zones) to worry about. 

The Wrap: A Road Trip To Europe Planner

And there we have it, my step-by-step planner for the perfect road trip to Europe. Planning a trip like this takes some effort, but it’s incredibly rewarding. 

As someone who’s spent ten unforgettable weeks on the road, I can honestly say that the freedom, adventure, and incredible sights make all the planning worthwhile.

Enjoy the process and take time choosing the right vehicle and mapping out your route–this is the best bit. Research insurance companies and activities, and have some fun doing it! Although every step is essential for creating a seamless journey, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. 

Take your time, plan carefully, and most importantly, allow for spontaneity—you never know what hidden gems you’ll stumble upon along the way.

Happy road-tripping! I hope these tips help you create your own epic European adventure!

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FAQs: A Road Trip To Europe

Which european country is best for a road trip.

I really enjoyed France, Spain, and Italy. These are three of the most popular countries to visit in Europe, but many of the Eastern European countries are also beautiful. If you prefer cooler weather and mountains, the Scandinavian countries are also spectacular. 

The beauty of Europe is its culture, and choosing to explore by road offers a unique way to experience the continent’s history and soul.

All of Europe’s countries are fantastic for a road trip, as the roads are generally well-maintained and good infrastructure makes road trips easier.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly to Europe?

It depends on your starting point and travel style. If you’re already in Europe, flying between countries can be surprisingly cheap, especially with budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet. They often offer low fares, but remember to factor in additional costs like baggage fees and airport transfers.

Europe’s extensive public transport network, including trains and buses, is affordable and efficient for visiting just a few destinations. Road-tripping through Europe offers freedom and flexibility, but costs can add up quickly. Rental car fees, petrol prices (which are generally high), toll roads, and parking charges should be considered.

Is it difficult to drive in Europe?

Driving in Europe might feel a bit intimidating at first, especially if you’re not used to narrow streets or driving on the opposite side of the road. Many European cities have old towns with tight, winding streets that can be tricky to navigate. But if you’re a confident driver, it’s really not that difficult. The roads are generally in good condition, with clear signs and consistent rules across most countries.

It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with local traffic laws and road signs beforehand, as they can differ slightly from country to country.

What’s the best time to visit Europe?

In my experience, the ideal time for a road trip to Europe is between September and early October. We found this period to be absolutely fantastic. In September, the weather was still warm, and there were fewer crowds.

Spring, particularly from April to May, is another beautiful time to visit Europe. However, I’d recommend avoiding the peak tourist season between July and August, when it gets overly crowded and uncomfortably hot.

September and October coincide with the grape harvest (vendemmia) season, but the crowds are thinner compared to the busy summer months. Many villages host small festivals to celebrate the harvest, adding to the charm of visiting during this time.

What Do I Need To Travel To Europe By Car?

You’ll need valid passports, a UK driving licence, and your vehicle’s V5C registration document. If you’re driving your own car, ensure it’s roadworthy and up-to-date on its MOT and service. 

Some countries in Europe might require an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

The post-Brexit landscape also means you’ll likely need a Green Card from your insurer and a UK health insurance card (GHIC) for medical cover. Lastly, it’s important to get a European breakdown cover and a European Driving Kit.

Abigail Dalton is the owner and creator behind I’m Going On An Adventure, a blog which helps travellers find unique destinations worldwide. She focuses on offbeat travel and road trips, giving first-hand experiences to help her readers plan their perfect trips and make the best memories. She also helps travellers plan their dream holidays with bespoke travel services where she creates fun-packed itineraries. When she isn't writing about her travels you'll find her on long country walks foraging for mushrooms or enjoying a cool fruity white under the sun, toes tucked in the sand.

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Planning A EuroTrip From India in 2024 (Tips, Apps and websites to Use, Budget etc)

Everyone wants to go on an ideal Eurotrip but are usually confused. Here, I write a guide on planning a Europe trip from India all on your own.

Written by: Soumya Nambiar

Last Updated on: May 5, 2024

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links we may make a commission from.

Many of us have that dream. To spend one summer, backpacking across Europe.

Even though it was not my first time in Europe , I finally got some time off to do a trip across Europe this summer. I am not sure why. But suddenly, I am getting queries from many of my readers to help them plan their trips to Europe and they see me as some kind of a Europe vacation planner.

Even though many of my readers consider me as a Europe trip planner from India, I really cannot spare the time to plan someone else’s vacation. Planning Europe trip from India is not a cakewalk but I give you pointers in this post. I had written a similar one for USA and hopefully, this guide will be as helpful as that one. Here I give you tips on planning a Europe trip from India.

I have gone more than 20 times to Europe in the past 10 years and you can find more about my favourite European destinations . This Europe travel blog by an Indian hopes to be the foremost expert on this subject.

Planning your Europe trip at the last minute?

I know everyone is busy and don’t have time to plan their itinerary to Europe. Here are some quick links to make you the best Europe trip planner.

• Booking is my go to for booking boutique hotels in Europe.
• I always use Skyscanner for all my flights to Europe.
• Getyourguide is my favourite tour aggregator in Europe.
• I use Hostelworld to book all my hostels in Europe.
• I use DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices.
• FlixBuses for all my bus transportation in Europe.
• RailEurope for all my train bookings in Europe.

Don’t want to plan your Europe trip on your own? I found many preplanned Europe tours for you to choose from:

• Europe for 12 days
• Jewel of Europe for 14 days
• Balkans for 12 days

Table Of Contents

• 0.1 Find out my recommendations for Europe
• 1.2 Read a lot of travel blogs/ travel articles online while planning Euro trip from India:
• 1.3 Booking Your Flight tickets while planning a Euro trip from India:
• 1.4 Preparing a 5-6 week Europe trip itinerary from India
• 1.5 Applying for a Schengen Visa for Indians:
• 1.6 Internal Travel within Europe during your Euro trip:
• 1.7 Accommodation while Eurotrip planning from India:
• 1.8 How to book other Activities to plan a trip to Europe from India:
• 1.9 Public Transportation in Europe:
• 1.10 What to Pack for Women for a trip to Europe?
• 1.11 Foreign Currency in Europe:
• 1.12 Europe trip cost from India / How much does it cost for Europe trip from India?
• 1.13 Which Mobile SIM to use in Europe:
• 1.14 Using Google Maps in Europe:
• 1.15 Inform all your banks and mobile phone operators while planning a Europe trip from India:
• 1.16 How do I plan a 15 day trip to Europe?
• 2 Conclusion:

Find out my recommendations for Europe

Before we go any further, find out some of my recommendations for day trips for your trip to Europe.

Hvar, Croatia

The 5 island tour from Split is a favorite

Colmar, France

Colmar is definitely one of the prettiest towns in Europe.

Algarve, Portugal

My favorite beaches in Europe are here

Tips on planning a Europe Trip From India / How to plan Europe trip from India

Find below some sample itineraries if it is your first time in Europe. You can find more details in my detailed Europe itinerary post.

Read a lot of travel blogs/ travel articles online while planning Euro trip from India:

A year ago, if you had asked me where Algarve was , I would have probably stared at you like you were from outer space. But now that is a thing of the past and Algarve has been added to my list of favourite places from around the world. I read a lot of travel blogs, national geographic/ lonely planet / Conde Nast travel articles every day.

I read voraciously any travel related content that I can get my hands on. I now have a better sense of the places that I really want to visit. So why do I ask you to read them? Because if you don’t, then you end up visiting only the famous cities like Paris , Amsterdam etc and you tend to ignore all the other gorgeous lesser-known cities/towns/villages. If you want to be your own Eurotrip planner, then no one can judge your tastes better than yourself.

As travel bloggers, we can only give you our version of how a place is and give you tips based on our experiences on how to plan Euro trip. This post gives you some ideas on how to plan a Europe trip from India.

Booking Your Flight tickets while planning a Euro trip from India:

This comprises a huge chunk of your travelling expense. So you need to find the best possible deal for this. In my case, I had made my mind to fly into Lisbon and then fly back to Bangalore via Dubai (I stayed with my sister for a few days on my way back) from one of the cities in Western/Central Europe.

With this intention in mind, I logged into Skyscanner and Kayak  to give me the best possible rates and dates for this combination. After many iterations, I finally got a good deal and picked Emirates which was my best option. Both these sites are extremely good when it comes to finding the best flight deals.

I flew into Lisbon and flew out of Frankfurt via Dubai to Bangalore . Even though my cheapest option was Oman Air, I did not want to spend a lot of time in transit and preferred a straightforward route rather than taking multiple flights.

Read this post

Best places in Mexico to visit

Preparing a 5-6 week Europe trip itinerary from India

I know that there are many people who would love to take traveling as it comes. Go without any pre-set plan and make plans on the go. I am not such a person. I always love to know beforehand where I will be staying, for how long I will be there in any particular place.

Even though it sometimes does not go according to plan , my mind is still at peace if I knew beforehand.So what did I first do? While planning my Europe travel itinerary , I made an initial list of places I wanted to visit. I did take a lot of inspiration from this post by BlondeAbroad . So my initial draft of places for my Europe tour plan from India looked like this:

• Lisbon • Porto • Madrid • Costa Del Sol • Seville • Barcelona • Andorra • Paris • Strasbourg • Luxembourg • Bruges • Ghent • Amsterdam • Frankfurt But then I decided to consult a map and realised that my geography was all over the place. I knew that I had to make some changes. A friend helped too. He was like why are you not going to Central Europe or Mallorca in Spain ?

Since I had been to Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, I decided to cut short my days there and decided to add Vienna and Prague to the list. I had to remove Andorra also since I realised that I needed a multiple entry Schengen Visa and I had applied for a single entry.

After multiple iterations, my itinerary finally looked doable. My final Europe tour itinerary looked like this:

• Lisbon • Algarve • Madrid • Seville (This got canceled) • Barcelona • Mallorca • Paris • Amsterdam • Brussels (Took day trips from here to Luxembourg, Bruges and Ghent) • Luxembourg • Bruges • Ghent • Strasbourg (Day Trip to Colmar) • Colmar • Vienna • Prague • Frankfurt (Only went to catch a flight to Dubai since changing the port of exit to Prague meant paying a huge deal of money.) Whew, that is too many places to see. Don’t get disillusioned by the number of places. It is definitely doable. I wish I can follow the concept of ‘slow travel’ but currently, that is not an option for me. Once the places were decided, I had to decide how many days I was going to spend in each of these locations.

I had an excel sheet where I tracked all these changes and I have no clue what I would have done without that excel sheet.

Many attractions in popular cities like Paris, Rome tend to get sold out months in advance. Check your availability for tickets below.

Recommended Read – Where to go in Europe

Applying for a Schengen Visa for Indians:

I have already written about this in detail here . Once I figured that I was going to spend 9 days in Spain , I realised that I had to apply for a Schengen Visa through Spain consulate.

There is one thing I would like to tell my readers here. I cannot give you any guarantee that you will be granted a visa. But what I have seen is that if you have all the required documentation, then they have no grounds to reject the visa.

Internal Travel within Europe during your Euro trip:

I know the temptation of buying those Europe travel packages from India. But you need not do this and can entirely plan your travel within Europe on your own at half the price.

If you do not use Rome2rio yet, please start using it at once. It is one of the most helpful websites that I have come across. So what does it do? It gives you a list of options of how you can go from one place to another. It even tells you which mode of transportation is the shortest and the cheapest.

Many people asked me if it is required to get a Eurorail pass . There are contradictory views to this. But when I evaluated it in my case, it was coming out to be too expensive. The only advantage that an Eurorail pass gives is flexibility and it may work out to be cheaper if you are less than 26 years old. Also in some of the countries I visited, buses were cheaper and more convenient. Since my dates were already fixed, it was easier for me to pre-book all my tickets. But if you want flexibility, then a Eurail pass may be better.

Another great resource for train travel in Europe is Man in Seat 61 . This dude knows everything about train travel and you can check him out. He gives you multiple options on which trains to take from Point A to Point B. He also tells us which website is better to book trains in each country.

From Rome2Rio , I figured out if it was better to take a bus or a train. It also redirects to the websites of the various bus operators in the continent. Flixbus is a good and cheap bus service if you want to book buses within Europe. I took only one flight within Europe, that was from Barcelona to Mallorca and back. I booked through Ryan Air and they are one of the cheapest options. But there are several things to keep in mind if you are flying with Ryan Air. I will detail them out in a later post.

Accommodation while Eurotrip planning from India:

So do you want to book hostels, budget hotels or luxury hotels ? It really depends on what kind of a traveller you are. Since I was given sponsored stay in some locations, I did not have to worry about them. But for the rest of the locations, I still needed a place to stay. I went with a combination of all three.

I researched like crazy on Tripadvisor , Booking and narrowed my choices for the hotels.

In cases where I was staying in hostels, Hostelworld and Hostelbookers were my go-to guide. If you are staying in a 4-bed female dorm in a hostel, it will cost you a minimum of 25 Euros and this depends on how expensive the city is. Even in hostels, a private room can cause you around 80-100 Euros easily. In some cases, the hotels were cheaper than the hostels. All my accommodations in Europe cost me between 20 Euros – 110 euros per night during my Euro trip plan.

Need more budgeting tips. See how Amy managed to go around Europe in 45 days on a 3500$ budget .

Many people are apprehensive when it comes to booking hostels. But I really enjoyed my time in hostels this time around and I would definitely be using them more next time.

Most hostels now cater to the luxury traveller who wishes to have some privacy but at the same time want to meet new people. Hostels host a variety of fun events like bar crawls, free walking tours, traveller nights etc.

I did not opt for an Airbnb this time since I was travelling alone. Else Airbnb is an excellent choice in Europe. I was very happy with all my choices and the only one I would have changed is the one in Amsterdam .

But you cannot have everything in life and there will be few cases when all the above sites fail you. But through all the three sites, you can research which is the best locality for you and which hotel/hostel suits your tastes. All these sites also offer deals and they can be a steal if you do your research right.

How to book other Activities to plan a trip to Europe from India:

You can always book for other activities online through Viator and GetyourGuide . But for most of it, I left the day’s activities idle. This gave me the flexibility for me to go there and decide what I wanted to do and what I did not want to do.

However, for things like the Opera in Vienna , you may have to make your booking in advance if you want a good seat.

Public Transportation in Europe:

I love the public transportation system in Europe and you can always use Google maps to help you figure out how to go from one point to another. Else you can always walk, which I feel is the best way to discover a city in Europe.

I did not have much success with Uber though in Europe. They were always 15 minutes late. This has definitely become much better over the years.

What to Pack for Women for a trip to Europe ?

Carry an umbrella. You never know when it is going to rain. Since I was there during Spring/early Summer , I had carried with me a combination of clothes that would suit both weather conditions. I was able to wear shorts only in sunny Algarve . Most of the other places I had to stick to wearing jeans and tops coupled with a light sweater. I wore a lot of dresses but I had to wear tights along with it. A jacket is also ideal for colder locations like Paris. You are going to be doing a lot of walking. So it is ideal that you carry a good walking shoe and a pair of flip flops. I managed to considerably reduce the amount of baggage I was carrying this time. The thing to remember is that you can do your laundry there and most hostels will have a washing machine which you can hire for less than 5 euros. Europe uses round pins for all their electronic devices. So make sure to carry multi plugs if your devices have a square pin. Try to keep all your toiletries to the maximum allowed limit. Most of the hotels and hostels provide them.

Foreign Currency in Europe:

Do not carry too much cash. That is always my motto. Even though I lost all my cards this time , I will still stick to carrying the minimum amount of cash. In case you want to withdraw, you can always go to an ATM  and withdraw cash.

Only thing to note is that you have to pay around 3% on every card transaction. So it makes better sense to withdraw in bulk.

Also get yourself a cash passport. They are the most helpful cards that I have used till date.

Europe trip cost from India / How much does it cost for Europe trip from India?

Most people ask me how much it cost for my European vacation. In most places, I was able to manage with 50-100 Euros per day.

It also depends on the location you are travelling to. Places in Eastern Europe like Montenegro and Sarajevo are some of the cheapest destinations I have travelled to in Europe.

Which Mobile SIM to use in Europe:

I preferred Orange in Europe . You can use your Orange sim in all the countries in Europe. The only issue is that you cannot recharge them in another country. For instance, if you bought a SIM in Spain, you can use the SIM card in France too. However, you cannot recharge the card if it is out of balance. Initially, in Portugal, I went for a lesser-known company. But that SIM stopped working the minute I was out of Portugal. Hence it is better to stick to the known operators. But public free Wifi is the best thing in Europe. I will definitely write on that later.

Using Google Maps in Europe:

Always remember to download an offline Google map of the next city in your itinerary. You will not realise how useful this is for you. I forgot to do this for Madrid and you know how that turned out.

Inform all your banks and mobile phone operators while planning a Europe trip from India:

You are going for a long trip. So it is better that you inform all your concerned banks and mobile phone operators.

Airtel has pathetic customer care service and be prepared to scream at them for their incompetence. In spite of informing them, I still had to pay an exorbitant amount once I got back.

How do I plan a 15 day trip to Europe?

I have written extensively about planning your Europe itineraries . Use a combination of any of them to pick out the best one suited for you.

Conclusion:

These are some of my tips on how to plan a Europe trip on your own from India? Do you have any other queries regarding your trip to Europe ? You can always shoot me an email and I will get back to you at the earliest. Hopefully, I have covered most of the queries first-timers have about their Eurotrip .

Don’t forget to take a printout of every booking and leave a copy of it at home. Liked it, then pin it.

Find some recommendations for Europe guidebooks

Guidebooks for Europe

Traveling to Europe and need more guidance on which books to read? These are our recommendations for you to read before you go.

• Rick Steve’s Guide to Europe
• Lonely Planet’s Guide to Europe
• DK Eyewitness Guide to Europe

Recommended : Best DAy Trips in Europe

BOOKING RESOURCES

Looking to book your trip now? Find some of my favorite resources I use while booking my trip. You can also find my travel gear here .

Book Your Flight

I am a  Skyscanner  fan when it comes to booking international flights. I use  Makemytrip  and  Yatra  for domestic flights.

Book Accommodation

Booking  , Agoda and Hotels are my go to resources for booking hotel accommodation and I use  Airbnb  for booking my homestays. I also compare prices on  Tripadvisor  always. Another one I always use is Expedia .

Travel Insurance

As an Indian, I prefer  ICICILombard  and I am always insured when I am traveling outside India. In addition, I have used  World Nomads  and SafetyWing for some of my trips.

I do go on a lot of day tours especially when I am traveling solo and love going on road trips with my husband.. Depending on convenience, my choices are  Viator  or  Getyourguide .

About Soumya Nambiar

Soumya Nambiar here. I am an avid traveler, travel blogger, vegetarian foodie and entrepreneur from Bangalore, India who grew up in Tanzania, Africa. I have been to more than 60 countries and in this blog, I write about my personal experiences as an Indian traveller around the world as well as my struggles as a vegetarian. I can be reached at [email protected] .

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2019 in review: a year of loss, gratitude, new beginnings (and mexico), how to change wordpress theme to astra in 2024 (using elementor pro builder), 66 thoughts on “planning a eurotrip from india in 2024 (tips, apps and websites to use, budget etc)”.

I'd imagine that for most travellers from India, six weeks in Europe would really tax the budget. Exchange rates would be pretty tough when you're converting Rupees to Euro. That's possibly why you're getting lots of enquiries about budget travel. What are the most popular destinations in Europe for travellers from India?

Great all-inclusive post about travel to Europe. I must admit, I had to google Algarve. Now that I've seen photos of it though, I am dying to go! Great tip about the visa, too.

Great tips about planning the trip! I must say I would have really hard time choosing just some places to visit during a trip like that. Europe offers so much, I really do not know how would I choose. What was your criteria, besides geography? 🙂

I plan my trips pretty similarly, with a lot of research and inspiration from fellow travelers and magazines. I love Rome2Rio also and I use it nearly every time I travel near or far. Hopefully I'll be touring Europe soon and I'll probably borrow some of your itinerary!

It sounds like you are super organised in planning your trip, especially using an excel spreadsheet – sounds just like me! I am a planner too and love to read up on places to go and also keep an eye out using sites like Skyscanner. Your trips are fantastic and really helpful to plan a trip to Europe, especially for first time visitors.

There was so much useful information crammed into one post! I have done both kinds of long term trips : planned from start to finish, and completely unplanned. I honestly enjoy both but I agree that sometimes it's better to have an itinerary planned, especially if traveling to areas like Europe that tend to cost more than say, SE Asia. It's definitely no fun to get to city and realize the only available accommodation is either out of your budget or already booked. I've been in those situations and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, which ends up costing more. Plus, pre-planning your trip allows for more time to actually enjoy the place you're in instead of surfing the web. I'll definitely have to check out Rome2Rio. Thanks for sharing!

I know some friends who have done the backpacking trip and I so wish I had the energy to do it! There are a ton of amazing tips in here. I was surprised to read that you were able to find some good deals with Emirates. I thought they were the nicer airline companies that are on the pricier side 🙂

Great article abput how to plan a trip to Europe. It has all the important information one could need about visa, currancy etc. Thanks a lot! I love planning holidays. Probably my favourite past time activity.

Great itinerary for a Eurotrip, I've been to several of those cities already, a great choice of places! Also very useful info about those who travel to Europe for the first time. Thanks for sharing this!

There is definitely a lot to consider when planning a long trip especially in Europe. Hope it works out. Great list of things to research and places to visit.

Currently the most popular destinations are Paris and Amsterdam. Hopefully this will change in the coming years.

You should definitely go. It is a gorgeous place.

Well I wanted to go to Western Europe this time. So that was my criteria this time. 🙂

Hope you have a fun time in Europe when you go.

Yes I love planning most of my trip. I leave only some parts of the trip unplanned.

Yes Europe can turn out to be costly if we do not prebook in advance.

I am a frequent traveler on Emirates. So I usually have points. However this time I booked well in advance so the price difference was not much. Not as cheap as Oman Air. But the travel time for Oman Air was like 50 hours which meant I had to sleep in two different airports each way. Definitely not worth it.

Yes It is definitely a fun activity.

You are welcome

Yes I definitely did have a great trip except for a few bumps here and there.

Looks you have planned out your trip in detail very efficiently and its good to plan before visiting the place so you can utilize your time maximumly and can explore and enjoy the place.

Yes I love the planning part the best. So the trip was carefully planned.

Your article is a life saver. I can’t tell you how relieved I feel after getting all the inputs from your side. Coincidentally I started the planning thing on excel as I was bored at work :D. You’ve wonderfully attempted to explain every important aspect of travelling. Kudos !!

Thank You so much Abhishek. I am glad that you found it helpful.

You have mentioned about the Excel file with the planning here in the article. Could you share that with me please.

Even as a Swede I would probably try to mix it up a bit and put it into groups. This because some countries are easier to explore than others. Countries like France, Germany and Italy are groups one by one due to their size. Then you have the Benelux countries which is easy to travel between. You have the Iberian peninsula. You have Eastern Central Europe, with Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia. You have the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland), Balkans and Balticum. There are of course a few more. By sorting it out in groups like this, then for a 6 week trip you have the possibility to choose three groups and really have the time to explore and enjoy each place. 🙂

I think you managed to pick a lot of lovely places, mostly very characteristic of their countries. I have realized that there is no such thing as a perfect itinerary. We need to enjoy each destination for what it is.

You definitely have some great tips here. Picking a geographical area is definitely key. Also, I’m heading to Belgium this summer, and saw you did a day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg. Now googling that for my trip 🙂

Europe is an expensive destination but if planned well and in advance definitely could be done. We have recently moved To Ireland and are planning to cover as much Europe possible by scoring some deals on flights. Downloading offline maps is a great way.

You have done a fab job listing these tips for someone looking to plan a Europe tour. Though everyone has their own set of plans but these basic tips would surely be handy. Agree public transport in Europe is awesome and they make it lot easy to travel across Europe. You have covered some of the best destination we missed looks like we need another trip planned 😉

It’s a dream for most Indians to go a Europe trip. But, money isn’t the only problem, the biggest challenge is to plan and execute the trip. You have just given the most amazing way to fulfill this Indian dream. We consider ourselves privileged to have been able to visit the lovely continent on a couple of occasions.

Totally loved your article. My Europe trip is planned in a month, and most of the planning part is done, still I am going to bookmark it for further reference w.r.t forex, google maps etc. It will help if you can add some info on some apps that might have come handy during this trip. We are also people in job, and we didn’t have time to go on a long backpacking trip. So, we are going on a two weeks holiday. Some things like booking your flight in advance, booking your hotel options in advance and making the right choice totally makes sense no matter for how many days you travel.

Great tips for travelling Europe from India. I really like the itineraries that you made. Those are some great cities with tons of stuff to see.

Great tips of planning Euro trips from India! I’ve never been to Europe but hope to visit soon. I also liked your visa tips!

I’ve lived in Europe for 4 years and travelled so much but this was still informative. I did look at your first itinerary and was like hmm that seems pretty erratic but then your second one made so much more sense haha. I agree with you on the wifi thing. I never had a functioning sim card outside of Denmark and I never needed it because wifi was everywhere!

It is a well written post with all little details. An Indian really need to plan well a budgeted trip to Europe otherwise the expenses will go beyond anything. Apart geography what else you considered for selecting the location for one week. Skyscanner is a real good option for flights and Rome2rio is new for me. Will bookmark this for my future reference.

Great post. Thanks a lot for taking so much effort to explain the things. Indians planning their first foreign trps always go through a lot of uncertanties and hesitations. As for myself, I am yet to even start planning but this should help!

Such a comprehensive guide this is. Thank you for sharing the tips. It will definitely help everyone who is planning a Europe Trip in coming days. I wish to go on a long trip like this someday

This is a very good guide not only for Indians who want to travel to Europe but for everybody. We should all spend time to careful plan our vacations in order to get the best deals and see as much as possible while also having fun. For me personally, when I backpacked Europe, the Interrail was very useful because I chose to travel a lot by train in Scandinavia. Just 2 train tickets in Norway would have made up the entire cost of the Interrail so for me it was a no brainer to buy the pass instead.

Such a long trip requires massive planning and you have good pointers to that. I usually do in smaller installments that is little easy on the pocket too and can balance with office and school schedules. But then your pointers are helpful for shorter vacations too.

Thanks for sharing this information.Europe is a dream destination of so many people to spend their Vacations. While visiting Europe we have to be careful about choosing best deals.

Wow! Amazing post for someone from india to plan a Euro trip from India. Bookmarked this post for my future travel plans.

Hope you get to visit Europe one day.

Thank you for making our knowledge more because it is most important to know about place we would like to visit once and we will see all location with is describe by you your blogs are very nice

Hi Soumya, Is Dec a good time to venture western European counties for an Indian couple?

Christmas markets and other winter activities are definitely a must in December. If you don’t mind the cold.

Many of us have a dream of travelling to euro countries from India. Thanks for this awesome post. This will definitely help many of our people and guide them.

Great tips you got there! Do Africans fit into the visa ideas?

Your blog is very informative thank you. It’s really helped me. Thank you

I have read your blog post and i found it is quite absolutely interesting. Keep up the good work!

Fantastic article, but you’re missing Europe’s most beautiful and inexpensive destination, Albania! No Schengen. easy visa

Hi A well written article How about a bus trip across europe, like landong in budapest and return from some other destinations?

Good luck 🙂

Thanks for sharing your detailed info. I love traveling very much. and I want to know which website is sharing cheap flight tickets.

Such a informative content! I hope everyone loves to travel for mental freshness. With the help of travel, we can improve health and immunity.

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Travel blog by an Indian travel blogger.

How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

The very process of how to plan a Europe trip from India can feel daunting.

From applying visas to shortlisting destinations to following a strict budget, there is a lot to plan.

When I was thinking of my first ever backpacking trip to Europe, I was quite doubtful too. I had limited money and was travelling alone. To make it even worse, I was travelling Europe for 2-month, straight, covering 8 countries in total. But then, it helped me learn how to plan a Europe trip from India.

And now that I’ve been to Europe about a dozen times since my first trip in 2017, I think it’s time that I share some useful tips and a step-by-step guide and help others in planning a Europe trip from India, the way I did. So here we go…

Before I start, let’s see a quick Youtube video I have posted on my Youtube Channel. This is an overview of my 2 months Europe backpacking trip :

Now let’s start with TIP number 1 in our list of how to plan a Europe trip from India…

Know Your Budget

There is no denying the fact that Europe is an expensive destination for Indians. Even a basic meal in Mc Donalds, somewhere in Zurich, can cost over 1000 Rupees. Knowing how much you can spend always helps.

I suggest you take a pen and paper write down the approximate costs because thinking of budget figurately is a lot different than putting it on paper. Writing down your budget is the first step to plan a trip from India to Europe.

To give an idea, the day-to-day costs including accommodation, food, sightseeing, public transportation, and a few extra incidental costs come to somewhere between 60-100 EUR per day in Western Europe and 40-80 EUR per day in Eastern Europe, for a budget traveller. This is when you are not living lavishly but not making too many sacrifices either. If you’re doing activities like sky diving or visiting an adventure park, add those expenses on top.

If you are a little more careful, you can save about 20%-30% more. This includes cooking your own food than eating out, travelling on a bus than on a train, and so on and so forth.

Here’s a related article you may want to read: Top Budget Travel Tips for Europe .

Once you know your budget, the next things to do in this travel blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India is creating an itinerary.

Create An Itinerary

Once you are done with the budget part, the next thing is shortlisting destinations, creating a route-map and finalizing your itinerary.

If you’re planning a one week trip in Europe, for example, I suggest you start with deciding a base city for you, and travel around it, doing a loop. This allows you to not redo the same journey and travel only new places.

For example, during my Europe trip, I chose Zurich as my base city (or my starting and finishing point) and did a big circle around it. Here’s what I did:

The reason I chose Zurich was that flights from India to Zurich were the cheapest India. Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, Berlin, Rome are a few popular destinations with cheapest flights from India. Consider starting your trip from one of these cities.

Additionally, ask yourself whether you are into history or art or culture? Or perhaps adventure. And choose destinations accordingly. Also, if you want to travel on a low budget, focus on Eastern Europe. Scandinavia and Western Europe are the two most expensive regions in Europe.

Once you’re done with a rough the itinerary, consider yourself halfway to their entire dilemma of how to plan a Europe trip from India.

Search A Flight

While there is no standard time to book a flight, doing it about 6 weeks prior to your trip is a good idea. Remember, it can also take up to 4 weeks to get your Schengen visa.

A round-trip flight is always cheaper than a one-way flight. But if you want to start from one destination and finish at the other, a multi-destination flight works the best.

If you have some time before you travel to Europe, it’s best to keep checking the flights from time to time. Signup for a reminder when the price for the flight you’re looking for becomes the cheapest. You can do that on flight booking sites like Skyscanner, Goibibo and others. For best flight deals, check the offers here as well.

And here’s a more detailed article to help you with more tips: Top Tips For Booking Flight Tickets .

Buy Travel Insurance

For Indians travelling to Europe, travel insurance is mandatory. There are several domestic companies like Aditya Birla, Bajaj Allianz and Bharti AXA, among others, I never bought my travel insurance from them.

Because they don’t cover every aspect of my trip.

When buying travel insurance you should know what kind of coverage your insurance policy entitles you to. Travel insurance is not just medical insurance. There are different types of coverage available based on your needs.

Since I carry a lot of expensive photography/computer gear I need something that also covers me in case I get robbed. Eg, I got robbed in Bratislava a few years ago, but my insurance plan covered my damages.

So if you are someone who travels alone, carry a lot of digital equipment, book too many hotels/flights in advance, and want to stay covered no matter what, I suggest you buy your insurance from this company called ‘SafetyWings’. I’ve been using them for a couple of years for all my international travels. It covers me for medical problems, accidents, travel delays, lost checked luggage, and even natural disasters.

Think of travel insurance as an investment and not an expense. It covers you if something goes wrong. A wrong (or a cheap) travel insurance is just as good as having no insurance as all.

You can check Safetywing’s website by clicking here . Check different plans, and buy the one that best suits your needs.

Apply For Schengen Visa

Of course, you cannot plan a trip to Europe from India without getting a valid Schengen visa. Apply for a single-entry tourist visa, and you can use it to cross borders across the Schengen territory.

It is advised to apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa at least 4 weeks prior to the planned trip. In most cases, however, The Embassy Consulate takes only around 10 days to process the application. A tourist Schengen visa is commonly valid for stays no more than 90 days.

Though the process of applying for a Schengen visa looks complicated, it’s rather very simple. I suggest you apply for a Schengen visa on your own and save the agent fee. Here’s a detailed article on How To Apply for Schengen Visa As Indians .

Nex tip in this blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India is learning how to travel inside the continent.

How To Travel Inside Europe

Now that you are ready for the journey, let’s figure out how to best travel inside Europe. From booking hotels to buses, in Europe, everything feels so organised and orderly done — contrary to how we are accustomed to in India — making travelling in Europe fairly easy.

One thing you want to do as soon as you end up in a new town in Europe is visiting the local Tourist Information centre and collecting the free city-map and other reading material. This allows you to know the latest tourist attractions as well as get some local information not covered in guidebooks and online travel blogs.

If you’re going to be using public transport and visiting a lot of museums, invest in a City Card. Most towns across Europe have a City Card that allows unlimited free public transport and free entry to museums. For tourists who enjoy doing too much in too little time, a City Card saves them time as well as money. It is possible to buy a City Card online as well as from the local tourist information centre.

Between your arrival and departure in Europe, you won’t find any immigration checkpoints. Just catch a bus or a train and cross borders inside the Schengen zone, just like you enter from one state to the other in India.

Here’s more information on different transportation modes inside Europe:

Flights : It is possible to find a cheaper flight ticket in Europe than a train/bus ticket, so keep an eye. And it mostly happens for prominent long-distance journeys like Rome-Paris or Paris-Barcelona or Barcelona-Amsterdam. For example, I once travelled from Rome to Paris, with Ryanair, for 25 EUR. The same journey in train and bus would have cost me 80 EUR and 60 EUR, respectively. My three favorite low-cost budget airlines in Europe are Transavia, EasyJet, and Ryanair.

Buses : Buses in Europe are a lot cheaper than trains, and most budget backpackers rely on them to keep their travel costs low. Speaking of my personal experience, during my 2-month backpacking trip to Europe in 2017, I did 18 bus rides and 2 train rides in total. By doing so (and roughly speaking) I saved around 200 EUR. Where a train ride would have cost 50 EUR, the bus took 35, sometimes even lesser. Though of course buses take comparatively more travel-time, for me time was never a problem, and speaking of comfort, I personally found buses just as comfortable as trains. Megabus, Flixbus , Eurolines, Regiojet are a few international bus operators in Europe.

Trains : Trains in Europe are faster than buses, and take a more scenic route, passing through beautiful countryside. Almost every country has its own national train service that is cheaper than EuRail. But if you’re visiting a few countries and you want to travel by train, it’s best to buy a weekly pass for EuRail.

Various bus operators also have a weekly/monthly travel pass. Compare different bus/train operators and find what suits you the best.

Car-Hire : I once did a one-week road trip across Germany and totally loved the experience. It may take a couple of days to get used to, but driving in Europe has its own charm. And if you’re a group of more than 3 people, hiring a car moreover saves you a great deal of money. Read this article for more tips: Tips For Renting A Car In Europe .

I recommend you to check deals at Discover Cars for car rental options.

How To Book Accommodation In Europe

From budget hostels to luxury hotels to b&bs, Europe has something for everyone. And the best thing is, no matter what you choose, you’re going to find it neat and clean. There will be no smelly bedsheets waiting for you in Europe.

For me, backpacker hostels are the preferred accommodation type. And this is for two reasons… 1) I travel solo and hostels allow me to meet other travellers. 2) hostels are cheap.

If you want luxury and high-standard, and you are travelling in a pair, choose to stay in a hotel. If you want luxury and high-standard, and you’re three or more people, consider renting an apartment (apartments come with a kitchen too, allowing you to cook your own food). Airbnbs are good if you want a more local experience.

Either way, your place to stay with cozycozy , the accommodation search engine, where you’ll find hotels, hostels, Airbnbs and more.

If you’re a long-term backpacker, or local experiences attract you, I suggest you try Couchsurfing as well. I have personally tried Couchsurfing in Europe and loved the experience. It is also possible to volunteer in Europe as an Indian. Use websites like WorldNomds and workaway.info to find volunteering options. Read my horse riding experience In Germany . If you’re planning to volunteer and travel, you only need to apply for a tourist visa.

Best Months For To Plan A Europe Trip From India

Honestly speaking, any time is a good time for Europe.

If you want more backpackers around and want to enjoy open/street cafes, summer is the best time. But remember that summer is the peak season for most countries in Europe, so expect more crowd and high prices wherever you go.

If you want to experience Christmas markets in Europe and cosy indoor cafes, visit during winter. Daylight remains fairly limited during winter, but that doesn’t stop locals and tourists to enjoy the charms of Europe. Winter makes for a romantic time to travel in Europe.

If you want to visit Europe in the off-season (though there’s nothing like an off-season for Europe, but only fewer tourists around) visit during monsoon. Unlike in India, it only drizzles in Europe. The rain never stops any movement in Europe.

What To Carry From India For A Europe Trip

Wondering what to carry for your Europe trip? My advice: Not too many things.

Taxis are expensive in Europe. You may have to walk. Chances are, you are moreover going to shop in Europe, so don’t carry too much.

For a trip lasting one week or more, this is what I suggest you carry:

• 3-6 pairs of T-shirts
• 2-3 Paris of party wear shirts
• 4 bottoms or pants
• Ankle boots
• 1 sweater/fleece (for all seasons)
• Thermals and a heavy jacket (for winter)
• Sunglasses (for summer and spring)
• Waterproof jacket (for monsoon)
• 5-6 pairs of socks
• Medications and first-aid kit
• Basic Toiletry

9 Tips For How To Plan A Europe Trip From India

• Use websites like Musement, GetYourGuide, Klool and Viator to book group tours in Europe.
• Don’t try to explore too many destinations in a short frame of time. You will end up missing the essence of the place.
• Learn some local phrases. Eg. people in France will behave much nicely if you start the conversation in French and then gradually switch to English. Same with Germans or Italians or Czech.
• The standard voltage in Europe is 230V and the frequency is 50HZ which is the same in India but the socket type varies. I advise you to buy an international converter to be able to use it worldwide. You can buy a converter in most airports around the world.
• Your Indian sim card is either not going to work or charge you hefty amounts for international roaming. Solution? Buy a local sim-card, or get an international sim-card. Matrix, UniConnect and WorldSIM are some of the top international sim-card providers.
• Almost all tourist towns in Europe organise a free-walking tour. Ask the local tourist information center about the timing and the starting point. Walking tours are great to get to know about a city and even make some friends if you’re travelling solo.
• I understand that the first Euro trip is always about seeing the maximum number of countries, so be it. The only advice is don’t just stick to visiting big towns, rather, explore a bit of countryside too. It is the countryside in Europe that makes it more romantic and beautiful.
• Though most people say the contrary, I find tipping in Europe isn’t mandatory — especially in Western Europe. If you do not have the money or don’t like the service, it’s okay to not tip at a restaurant or at a bar. The waiters are not going to frown upon you, as they otherwise do in India.
• Euro is the standard currency across all Schengen countries. Rather than carrying cash, I suggest you carry a travel card. An International travel card works similar to your Bank Debit Card in India — just transfer funds from your bank account to your travel card, and voila. Refill when the funds are exhausted. Countries that have their own currency like Hungary and the Czech Republic happily accept Euros everywhere.

I understand the process of how to plan a Europe trip from India can feel daunting, especially for the first-timers. But after a few trips, you automatically start understanding the continent better. Which bus service is the cheapest? How to find a free walking tour? How to survive in Europe as a vegan. All these learning come to you naturally. But whether you travel Europe as a rookie or as a savvy traveller, any time spent in Europe makes for a beautiful memory.

Also read: How To Travel World Without Money

That’s all in this blog on how to plan a Europe trip from India. If you have more questions, ask me in the comments below.

Great work! Me and my husband are planning our first Europe trip and were just looking out for this kinda content 🙂

It would be great if you can share the locations to book an accommodation in Paris, Amsterdam and Rome.. thanks!

Great blog MR Dev and i am travelling europe may be with in 2-3year acc to this pandamic and full support from me brother love u love from UP And also great explanation of blog

Hi Dev, Very nice and helpful blog I must say. I am planning to visit Europe maybe next year.. depending upon the pandemic situation. Thanks for this post. I will surely consider the points you have listed before planning the trip.

Stay safe and thank you

Thanks Shweta. Stay safe \/

Very nice and detailed blog. I am planning to visit Europe from Delhi India in 2021. Useful suggestions.

Hi dev, u did a fabulous job bro.. I needed ur help to plan my Europe trip as I am traveling along with my wife, as I am holding a budget of bout 3..4 lacs frm, “India” for about 3-4 weeks of trip. I just wanted to know from where to begin & where to end.. Like serial wise..

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How to Plan a Europe trip from India? – Complete Guide With Packing Tips, Hacks and more!

Planning a Europe trip from India?

Here is the only guide you will need.

Dazzling, artistic, phenomenal, romantic, gorgeous, historic, splendid, and inspiring, Europe means to travel. We’ll stop with that considering the fact that there aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe the beauty of Europe. But if you are a newbie to the world of international travel, you might be a little lost when it comes to planning a Europe trip.

Time to rejoice now. We have put in all our efforts to create a Europe trip planner that will help you plan a Europe trip right from scratch and experience the continent to the fullest.

Read it, bookmark it, share it, and pack your bags. Here’s how to plan a Europe trip from India .

Plan your budget

One of the first things to do before you start narrowing on a destination is establishing a proper budget. Thinking of a budget figuratively is different and putting it on paper is different. Write your budget on a whiteboard and then plan your trip around it. So, every time you plan on doing something related to your trip, you will actually find it easier to arrive at a conclusion given you already know your budget.

Interesting read:   Top 10 affordable destinations in Europe for the budget traveller

Going on a Europe vacation or any vacation for that matter is greatly dependent on the number of days you can take off. With stringent holiday policies at workplaces, we Indians find it difficult to go on a long vacation, Euro trip included. Bring out that calendar and try to plan around long weekends and holidays that you may have. We have a solution right here for you.

Europe has four different seasons. Generally spread out like this: March to May – Spring, June to August – Summer, September to October – Autumn, and November to February – Winter. While the peak season in Europe is during the summer, the prices and the crowd will be on the higher side as well. The ideal time to visit Europe is during the shoulder season (Spring and the Autumn season) when the crowds are fewer with good day-light. Thereby giving you a chance to enjoy the perks of both peak-season and off-season.

Alternatively, you can plan your Euro trip during the Winter which is also the off-season. The prices are at an all-time low but be wary, as most of the attractions might be closed.

Don’t miss out on these Europe packages from different departure cities:

Europe Packages from Pune | Europe Packages from Hyderabad | Europe Packages from Delhi | Europe Packages from Mumbai | Europe Packages from Bengaluru | Europe Packages from Chennai | Europe Packages from Ahmedabad

Choose a destination and work on an itinerary

Now that you know your budget and the season you will be traveling, start looking for destinations that will best suit your interest. While you are at it, also ask yourself these questions. Are you a person who loves history or art or culture? Or perhaps adventure?

Moving on, look for the list of popular festivals celebrated in Europe and see if you really want to be a part of one of those. Next comes planning the itinerary. While you are planning your itinerary, make sure you give ample time to explore each destination. You will never be able to travel at breakneck speeds all the time. Especially, when you are in a major destination like Paris, London or Barcelona, you will have to stay a minimum of 4 days to experience the city. Also, never underestimate the time that it takes to travel between destinations.

With so many things to do in each destination, it is very easy to get lost and wonder what you should actually be doing. If all this seems like a tedious task, then try Pickyourtrail. You can create your itinerary to wherever you want to go, customize it according to your interest, get the split pricing for each activity. All this is done within 5 minute tops!

Look for flights and finalize the best route possible

Ready with a rough itinerary and destinations to visit? Start looking for flights. While there is no standard time to book flights, booking it 10 to 12 weeks prior is the ideal time to do it. Look for standard round-trip flights that work perfectly if your itinerary is a proper loop with the start and the end being the same destination. Standard round-trip flights are generally cheaper than one-way flights. On the other hand, if you want to add more flexibility to your plan then one-way flights are the best bet.

If you are looking to strike a deal while booking flight tickets, then the best way to do it is by constantly checking the flight prices from time to time. Also, red-eye flights are cheaper than ordinary flights. A frequent flyer who has earned decent Airline Miles? Then you can save a lot using reward points.

Also, you have to work on several permutations and combinations before you arrive at the best possible flight prices. This may also mean that you have to make adjustments to your route. At the end of the day if saving is what you are looking forward to, then be ready to put in the effort and the time.

Get your documents ready

So you are planning your Europe trip and wondering what all visas you have to apply for. The answer is this, you just have to apply for a Schengen visa. We have written an entire article that will enlighten you on the visa front. Further, if you are planning to travel to multiple countries within Europe, then you have to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. And remember to apply the visa to the country where you will be staying for the longest. In case, you stay at two different countries for the same duration, then address your visa to the country you will be entering first. VFS Global has also announced a helpline number which you can use to gain assistance on your Schengen visa. So, a Schengen visa from India is just a call away!

Travelling between destinations

• Traveling within a single European destination simplifies transportation planning.
• Local transportation, particularly metros, is favored by locals and efficient for navigating cities.
• Obtain a transit map from tourist offices, subway ticketing offices, or hotels for city navigation.
• Utilize city-specific transport apps for comprehensive information.
• Consider purchasing metro passes for unlimited travel, reloadable cards, or multi-ticket deals based on travel frequency.
• Tourist offices or subway ticketing offices are reliable sources for understanding transportation options.
• Experience the city’s culture by riding buses; locals can provide insights into bus timings.
• Many European cities are bike-friendly, offering affordable bicycle rental options for exploring, such as Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Copenhagen, and more.
• Alternative transportation options in European cities include trams, taxis, and rental cars.
• For travelers visiting multiple European destinations, a variety of transportation options are available for convenience and flexibility.
• If time is a huge constraint in your Euro trip and not money, then flight is the best way to get around destinations in Europe.
• Some of the budget-friendly airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, Norweigan, Wizz Air, Air Berlin, and Eurowings have deals running all the time and it is not that difficult to strike a bargain. Remember that the ticket prices increase with your baggage.
• Thanks to the effective Eurail system, train travel is one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. Not to forget the wonderful landscapes that you get to see as you travel along.
• Western Europe is so well connected that you can get through even small towns on a train. In Central Europe, you can visit all the major cities on the train.
• On the other hand, travelling within Eastern Europe on Eurorail is let alone a problem. It isn’t as well connected as Western or Central Europe. If you have plenty of time on your itinerary, try taking the overnight train. They are cheaper. And if you are planning to travel extensively on Eurail? Get a Eurail Pass.

Looking to cut down on your expenses? Travelling on the bus is the best way to do it. The luxury, the extra legroom, the fascinating views, WIFI options, and the cheaper updates are few of the perks of travelling on a bus. Just make sure, the destinations you are looking for is covered on your bus journey. There might be frequent hopping in and hopping off. If you can bear it and have the time? Then, you can save huge by opting for a bus. There are also package bus excursions which you can opt for.

Some of the major long-overhaul bus companies include Eurolines, FlixBus, Polskibus, Alsa, Avansa, and Hello.

• Renting a car in Europe allows for flexible exploration but can be costly.
• Prices vary by country, generally leaning towards the higher end.
• Prioritize rental car insurance to cover any unforeseen incidents.
• Avoid renting directly from the airport to dodge additional fees like airport taxes.
• Selecting the right car rental company involves considering rates, car selection, service options, and pickup/drop-off locations.
• Automatic cars are pricier than manual ones, and European cars typically have less legroom but larger trunk space.
• European car rentals operate on a 24-hour basis, so returning the car even slightly late incurs an extra day’s charge.
• Driving in Europe follows right-hand side rules.
• Some companies permit pick-up and drop-off at different locations, offering added convenience.
• Prepaying often secures discounts.
• Ride-sharing presents an alternative to renting for some travel needs.

Plan your accommodation

From luxury hotels to mid-range accommodations to bed & breakfasts, the range of accommodation in Europe will amaze you. While hotels always cost a little extra, our Europe trip planner also suggests you with some of the cheaper accommodation options.

Think budget, think hostels. A popular choice among the backpackers and the youth, hostels are highly budget-friendly and provide you with the option to interact with travelers from all around the world. And there is often a common misconception when it comes to hostels that they will be shabby and are suited only for young people. On the contrary, modern-day hostels are clean and carry rooms that are suited for solo travelers, couples, and family-travelers as well.

Stay with locals

Wondering if staying with locals is actually possible? The answer is yes, totally. Sites like Couchsurfing are a great place to connect with locals and finding accommodation during your travel. What’s more interesting is you get to understand the culture and experience the local part of the destination. Just make sure, the profile checks out on Couchsurfing and you are good to go.

House Swapping

While the concept of house exchange has been there for a long time now, not many people are actually aware of it, until recently. This is how it works – you offer your house to someone visiting your hometown and in exchange they offer theirs. House Exchange might not work for you all the time but if you find like-minded people, then house swapping is a great option to consider.

Monasteries

Staying in a monastery may come in as one of the offbeat things to do but it is a real money saver. While some monasteries demand rent or a donation, some offer free accommodation.

Short rentals

Priced somewhere between the hotels and the hostels, short rentals offer the comforts of home while in a new destination. Plus, most of the short rentals come with a kitchen so you can prepare your favourite even when you are in Europe.

At the end of the day, the type of accommodation that you want to stay depends on the budget and the type of people you will be traveling with.

Europe trip planner – Few essentials

European language.

One of the major issues, most of us Indians face when we are traveling to Europe is language. While Europeans can speak & understand multiple languages, English isn’t actually their cup of tea. So be prepared to be surprised. If you still want to get away with speaking English, then consider speaking slow and be sure to use internationally popular words.

Further, start with learning the basic phrases that you will be using during your travel. Duolingo is one of the many apps you can use to do this. Further, you can listen to podcasts and watch movies as well to cultivate the habit better. The locals appreciate you trying to learn the local language and will generally be more than willing to help you out.

European Food

Europe has a wide range of cuisines to choose from and you will be literally spoilt for choice. Eating out is generally costlier than eating out in India. Looking to save money on food? Always eat like the locals do, at cheap eateries and other local hot spots. While Europe has a decent chunk of Indian restaurants to eat from, the food is a bit expensive than what we normally pay in India. Alternatively, you can shop for local produce at the markets and prepare it by yourself to save money.

Drinking is not a taboo in Europe, except for a few countries. The legal drinking age is somewhere between 16-18 and the Europeans love to wine and dine.

Adventurous Switzerland getaway

Exciting 11-day itinerary to Lucerne, Zurich, Interlaken, & Zermatt

What to pack for your Europe trip? A major question on any traveller’s mind. With each destination having its own style and culture, it is hard to come up with a default set of things to pack. But based on the season, we have tried our best to compile some of the essentials that you should be packing on your Europe trip. And remember, always try to pack light.

• 2 pair of casual comfy tops
• 4 bottoms (pants/skirts)
• 5-6 pairs of innerwear
• 5-6 pairs of socks
• Light scarf
• Ankle boots
• Waterproof jacket
• Light shaded trench coat
• 4 shorts/skirts
• 1 pair of sandals
• 1 pair of casual walking/running shoes
• 2 pair of tank tops/casual tops
• Thermals/long johns
• 1 sweater/fleece
• Layered tops
• Rain-friendly boots
• Thicker scarfs
• 1 pair of thermals/long john
• More layers
• Warm sleepwear
• Winter boots
• Thicker Scarf
• Woollen Socks

European Currency

There is a common tendency to feel insecure and rush straight to the ATM to withdraw cash the minute you land at the airport. It’s a reflux reaction. It can happen to anyone but don’t ever drop by the currency exchange booths at the airport in Europe (any destination for that matter). The currency exchange booths at the airport have the worst exchange rates. Avoid them at all costs. For best exchange rates, either head on to an ATM or use your credit card. Also, make sure to inform your bank that you will be travelling outside India and that you will be using your credit card. This will prevent your card from getting blocked if the bank detects any fraudulent activities.

How much to tip?

• Tipping is not customary in India, but it’s a cultural norm in many other countries.
• In Europe, there isn’t a fixed standard for tipping, unlike the U.S.
• European waitstaff are usually well-compensated, so tipping is optional.
• If the bill includes a service charge, additional tipping may not be necessary.
• If you choose to tip, 5–10% of the total bill is considered sufficient.
• Give the tip directly to the waiter when paying the bill, rather than leaving it on the table.
• For counter service or takeout, tipping is generally not expected.
• Tipping for extra services beyond dining is discretionary, not obligatory.

Voltage requirements

The standard voltage in Europe is 230V and the frequency is 50HZ which is the same in India. But the socket type varies from country to country in Europe. In France, the socket type is C & E. In Germany, it is C & F and so on. While you don’t require a voltage converter, you will definitely require power adapters to help you use your electrical appliances.

Tips for traveling in Europe

• Don’t try to explore too many destinations in a short frame of time. You will end up missing the essence of the place.
• Look for offbeat/local things to do in each destination rather than the same touristy stuff.
• Put in an effort to blend in with the locals. This will help you get the best of the destination, not to forget the money-saving tips and the authentic experience.
• Avoid taking too many photos and rather try to be there at the moment.
• Keep your passport and other valuables safe.
• Do not skip travel insurance.

Planning an Europe trip from India all by yourself can be a little stressful. But, we are sure this Europe trip planner would have addressed all your issues. If you are still not sure about planning, then go Pickyourtrail for a hassle-free customized Europe honeymoon package .

188 Posts Published.

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How to plan a europe trip from india.

Europe is one of those dream continents for many. The variety of culture, and romantic landscapes, and ease of travel makes it one of the top destinations to travel.

A total of 44 countries make up Europe — some as big or small as some of the states in India.

However, with variety comes a burden of choice.

Starting from which countries and cities to choose from, planning logistics, stay, and deciding on things to do in each country, it can get overwhelming pretty soon!

Introduction on Planning a Europe Trip from India

Europe is a popular tourist destination, with millions of tourists visiting the major European cities every year. And few popular European cities serve as an introduction to Europe for the majority of the tourists like Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Barcelona, Amsterdam,  Budapest , or London.

Given that Europe has world-class public transport infrastructure, a variety of accommodation options from affordable hostels to swanky 5-star hotels, and a new country only a road-trip away, it’s quite easy and safe to find destinations that will appeal to the explorer in you.

Destination & Things to do in Europe

While every European city is unique and appealing in its own way, detailing all the destinations is well beyond the scope of this post. So, I’m going to give a brief lay-down into some of the top cities.

Most people prefer to visit the romantic French city of Paris during their first trip to Europe. Paris is a cornucopia of art, fashion, food, and culture. One of the most popular attractions in Paris is none other than the Eiffel Tower, which is an engineering marvel in itself. Also visit the  Louvre museum, Arc De Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, in Paris  to start with.

Amsterdam is yet another popular destination among tourists. The capital city of the Netherlands, also known as the city of canals.  Canals, beautiful houses, ‘coffee’ shops, and the Red Light District are some of the most apparent reasons why tourists visit the city . But there’s plenty of artistic heritage, rich history, and culture if you decide to explore further. Also, be it summers or winters, cycling acts as the main lifeline of transportation in the city.

Prague (capital of the Czech Republic), also known as the “City of Thousand Spires” is another popular city in Europe. Cobblestone alleyways, colorful baroque buildings, Gothic architecture, makes the city all the more charming and fairytale-like. And also cheap compared to other popular European cities. Stop by at the  beautiful Prague castle that overlooks the city, iconic Charles Bridge, Old Towns square, and Astronomical clock , to name a few.

Berlin is growing in popularity every year as a touristic spot, and it’s easy to see why. Rich World War II history makes it a prime attraction among history lovers, a variety of food options makes it the ideal place for foodies, and its fascination towards contemporary and modern art makes it a uber-hip city.  East Side Gallery (the longest open-air gallery in the world), Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag building, numerous museums, and expansive parks  only scratch the surface of the things to do in Berlin.

Did you know that the capital city of Austria – Vienna has been ranked the most livable city in the world, the 10th year in a row? While that’s just one aspect, Vienna, with its music, art, and cafe culture, only makes it a perfect city for visitors. Do visit  St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Naschmarkt (outdoor market), House of Music (Haus der Musik)  — among other things when in Vienna.

Scandinavia or Nordic Countries

I wanted to specially mention the Nordic countries – Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and  Iceland . While it’s far more expensive and characterized by lower temperatures than the rest of Europe – it has its own charm. If you visit here when the nights are long — that is between November and March, you have a higher chance of witnessing the magical Northern Lights as well.

However, with most of these cities facing overtourism issues like Venice, Rome, Paris — it’s probably is a good idea to either visit these cities during the off-season or finding destinations that are off the tourist radar to get the best out of Europe.

Things to do in Europe

• Go on a free walking tour, which gives you an introduction into the city — history, culture, food, and its main attractions. While it says free, the tour mostly runs on donations. The idea is that, at the end of the tour, you can make a donation to the tour guide based on how you find it. Typically, around 5-10 Euros.
• Like I mentioned before, public transportation in Europe is top-notch. So, a lot of people go on day trips from the city. So, check out if you’d be interested in any day trips from your city.
• While cities are popular among tourists, the countryside of Europe is picturesque and quite fascinating. Consider staying in the countryside and experience the humdrum of daily life which is much slower-paced than in the cities.

Best Time to Visit Europe

While each season has its own charm and the best time to visit depends on your interest, and the kind of crowd you can handle, the most  touristic time in Europe is between June and August.

If you can manage the cold, then try visiting in the winter months between December and March, when you can witness the cities magically clad in snow. It’s a whole different experience altogether, and of course, you end up skipping the tourist crowds. Also, the entrance tickets and stay prices are far more affordable in winters.

Also, Christmas is a big thing in Europe, and you’ll see every significant city decked in lights and local Christmas markets popping up in the Old Town. So, it’s also a fantastic time to be in Europe to bring in the festive spirit.  Tallinn, Zagreb, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and many parts of Germany and France have some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

On the other hand, if you want a  compromise between weather and crowd, then the shoulder months of October and April would be ideal  for you.

Visa for Europe Trip from India

Most tourists visiting mainland Europe usually apply for a Schengen visa.

Equipped with a Schengen visa, you have access to 26 countries that are part of the Schengen region. Apart from this, 23 countries are not part of the Schengen region. Still, some offer a free visa on arrival with a valid Schengen visa, including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and so on.

However, the Schengen visa is one of the most elaborate when it comes to applying for a visa. It has quite a lot of paperwork involved. To make it simpler for you,  here’s an extensive guide on applying for a Schengen visa from India.

If you are not traveling to the Schengen region, chances are you’d have to apply for a country-specific visa — say Croatia, Romania, Ireland, or the UK.

Flights to Europe from India

You’ll find a reasonable number of flights flying to Europe from major metro cities in India.

Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are the top places to fly out to Europe .  And Paris, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Vienna are the major flight destinations in Europe from India.

KLM has direct flights to Amsterdam from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. And AirIndia has direct flights from Delhi to Paris and Air France from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Paris.

The expected duration is about 12-13 hours by flight one way.

On average, flight costs about INR 45,000 for a return ticket. With a little research, you can find flights for about Rs. 30,000 return as well.

Accommodation in Europe

Again, accommodation varies based on which city you’re visiting. Starting prices for accommodation can be much higher in Western Europe than in Eastern Europe.

Having said that, here’s what you can expect in major cities in Europe:

Europe is well-known for its backpacking culture thanks to its closely-knit group of budget-friendly hostels. Usually, dorms range from 4-beds to 16-beds dorm — either categorized by gender or mixed. Also, hostel culture allows you to interact with some cool people from all around the world. Also, it offers numerous activities, like group tours and pub hopping. Some hostels offer free breakfast and usually come fully equipped with a kitchen where you can prepare your meals if you like. Hostel accommodation typically ranges between 15 and 25 Euro per night.

More and more people now prefer to stay in  Airbnb  in a home away from home. Ideal if you are looking for your own space for a private holiday either with friends or family. Airbnb usually comes fully equipped with a kitchen, which makes making dishes all the more convenient. Prices typically start from 20 to 30 Euros per night. Also, check out Airbnb experiences for more exciting experiences with locals.

Here is a definitive guide on how to book an Airbnb for a perfect stay abroad

If neither a hostel or Airbnb is suitable for you, then the next best option would be to stay at a hotel. Hotels usually come with free breakfast, and a concierge service — so it’s quite a convenient means of traveling. Hotel accommodation usually starts at about 35 Euros to 50 Euros per night. Also, prices can vary by where you prefer staying in a city.

Pro Tip: While booking stays for a visa, make sure that your name and all your travel companions’ names are mentioned clearly in the booking to avoid visa problems.

Transportation in Europe

The best part about Europe is that its quite convenient to travel between countries — it’s mostly as easy as traveling domestically.

If you are traveling between countries or cities, plan your itinerary such that you can utilize the extensive public transport network in Europe, either buses or trains. The best and most convenient is to opt for rail pass through services like Eurail.

Eurail Pass

There are different categories of Eurail Passes based on the countries you are planning to visit, and the number of days of travel. Single country passes are cheaper than multi-country passes. Usually,  Eurail Passes costs upwards of 400 Euros for seven days travel in a month per adult on a Global Pass, and around 200 Euros for eight days travel in a month for a single country pass.  With Eurail Pass, you have the flexibility of choosing your days of travel, and it’s not fixed like when you book tickets. If flexibility is what you are looking for, then it can’t get any better than Eurail Pass.

If you are looking for a more affordable way to travel across cities, then check out  Flixbus, which has bus connections throughout Europe . You can find tickets at around 25 Euros for an 8-hour journey if booked a week or two in advance.

Renting Cars

When in Europe,  go on road trips  whenever possible. It’s a fantastic place to go on road trips between countries and enjoying the beautiful scenery at your own pace. Especially helpful when you are visiting small towns where public transportation may not be frequent. Typically, it costs between 50-100 Euros per day of rental.

Local Travel

As far as traveling within a city is concerned, each city typically has trams, buses, a subway, or a metro network. Either you’d have to buy a transport card before your travel and reload it as much as you want, or buy a single ticket within the city limits. And in most major cities, there are multi-day passes that you can avail from the local tourist office or website. And, use Google Maps for public transport suggestions (trams, buses, or subway/metro) within city limits.

Food & Drinks in Europe

The variety of countries in Europe is reflected in its food culture as well.

Typically,  doner kababs are cheaper pretty much everywhere (about 5 Euro). Some of the other more affordable food options include — pizza slice (3-5 Euro), sandwich (4 – 8 Euro), burgers (5 – 8 Euro), or Hummus (5 Euro).

And also, eating out in a fancy restaurant with a couple of drinks will easily set you back by 20 Euros or so.

Also, do try the local food specialty when you can. Usually, a simple google search will bring you recommendations on the best places to eat and drink. Also, check TripAdvisor and Zomato for reviews.

Vegetarian food in Europe

Due to a wave of vegan culture in Europe, vegetarian food is more readily available now than ever. And you usually wouldn’t face many issues in Western Europe. But, in Eastern Europe, it could be a problem as vegetarian food is quite limited there. Even then, you’ll find vegetable burgers, sandwiches, Margherita pizzas, or salad at the least. And also if you don’t have a vegetarian dish on the menu, you can request them to make a dish without meat. Some times, it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But there’s no harm in trying!

Currency in Europe

While the majority of Europe uses Euro, there are quite a few countries which have their own currency as well. Ideally, you can carry Euros from India and then convert it into the local currency in one of the currency conversion centers.

The currency rates differ from one to another, and it could be tricky to find the best and authentic places to convert currencies. Instead, I’d suggest withdrawing cash from your forex card, which dispenses cash in the local currency. Using a debit card would be the next best option to withdraw some money.

Also, for transactions, it’s better to use forex cards over credit cards as credit cards usually levy about 2.5-3.5% extra (currency conversion, and forex charges). You can request a forex card from the bank you have an account with.

Or the best I’ve found so far from India is to signup for a NiYo Global Card – which is a prepaid card, and you can reload money on the card and use it pretty much like a forex card. But the advantage is that the foreign exchange rates are much better than a forex card, and also they don’t have any additional charges signup charges for the same.

Not all places accept card — like transport ticket when you are paying inside the bus or tram, or small shops or markets. So, it’s better to carry some cash along with you.

Europe Trip Cost from India

This is a question that is quite difficult to answer.  Keep in mind that Europe is not a country, but a continent that comprises of many countries. Switzerland is way more expensive than Greece and Spain, while Budapest is pretty Cheap.

Also keep in mind that it varies quite a bit based on the places you visit, the kind of accommodation you stay at, the modes you choose for inland transportation (flights, taxis, ferry etc.).

That said a normal 10 day trip that covers 2-3 countries usually costs people about 1 to 1.25 Lakhs per person.

You can get an idea of the costs from the posts on Budapest and Iceland.

Also, if you will be doing your entire Europe trip backpacking (hitchhiking, staying in hostels etc.), the costs will be substantially different from a regular trip.

I hope this gives you a fair idea about the cost for Europe Trip.

What to wear in Europe

Since the temperatures could be in Europe depending on when you are visiting, it’s essential to plan your travel wardrobe accordingly. Do check the weather forecast to get an approximate idea of the temperatures before visiting.

Spring (March to May)

Most of Europe is pleasant during spring which temperatures typically ranging from 11-19 degrees Celsius. It’s the season when the flowers bloom — so it’s one of the most beautiful seasons to travel in. Pack thermals and jackets depending on the temperatures.

Summers (June to August)

Sunny weather, long days, and flourishing nightlife makes summer the high season among tourists. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures reaching up to 32 degrees Celsius. Wherever you are in Europe during this season, a single layer of clothing would be enough.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumns in Europe are a sight to watch with leaves changing colors to myriad shades between yellow and red. There’s usually a nip in the air during this season — and it could vary greatly based on where you are located. Autumn is usually characterized by positive single degree temperatures and rains, so it might be necessary to pack a raincoat or an umbrella.

Winters (December to February)

This season is mostly about snow and temperatures are usually below 0 degrees. It’s essential to pack extra layers – thermals, sweatshirts, and a winter coat along with your usual item of clothing. Also, carry a winter cap, shawl, gloves, socks, and winter-proof shoes. Very important to cover your extremities so that you don’t fall sick.

Tips While on a  Europe Trip from India

• Most of the countries in Europe have their own language, so it would be better if you learn a few words in advance to better interact with locals.
• Europe is pretty much safe for solo travelers, including women. But of course, like always, trust your instincts, and take necessary precaution – like not roaming around in deserted alleys, or going for drinks alone in a bad neighborhood, and such.
• Many people don’t realize that pick-pocketing is quite common in the major cities in Europe. So, be cautious about where you keep your valuables. While you are out sightseeing, don’t carry your original passport preferably unless absolutely necessary — leave it at your accommodation and take a photocopy instead. Also, bring along just enough cash that will last you a day or two. And don’t carry all your money in one pocket.
• Always carry your passport when crossing borders, even if it’s just on a day trip.

BTW, Have you checked out our other posts on Planning trips to Europe from India? 

Raksha is a travel and adventure blogger at therovingheart.com. She is always collecting experiences. She has spent around 3 months in Europe (most of it solo) after taking a career break.

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Epic Europe road trip across 47 countries

Have you ever wondered what is the most efficient way to visit all the countries in Europe by road? The answer is this epic European road trip that takes you to 47 countries in geographical Europe , and almost all of the European Union, whoa! 

Unfortunately, it skips the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland which you can easily do on a roadtrip either on a group tour , or independently.

If you were to drive this amazing road trip across Europe in one go, without stopping and without sleeping, it would take about 364 hours or 16 days to cover the route, and you would drive almost 27,000 kilometers.

But you wouldn’t go on this once in a lifetime European road trip and just drive through, you would want to stop, probably several times every day, to explore some of the most beautiful, heritage-rich, fascinating and delicious parts of the continent. You may even consider hiring a motorhome for your journey so that you can really take your time. 

Realistically, we would recommend completing this epic European road trip in probably a year, but 6 months would be enough to do justice to most of the key highlights.

We planned this road trip with a very cool and addictive app (yep, we stayed up till 2am playing with it!) called Roadtrippers which not only lets you plan a road trip but also shows you all the points of interest, accommodation & restaurants, photo spots, attractions, and more on the map. Use our bonus coupon code BTR5QTP for $5 off. Check out this list of gifts for road trippers to get all the gadgets you need.

Epic European road trip by the numbers

• Almost 27,000km of roads.
• Approximately 364h of driving time without stops.
• Over $1,600 in fuel spent.
• 47 countries, including 25 European Union members, Kosovo (which we count as an independent country despite the lack of recognition by the UN), the 3 countries in the Caucasus, Turkey and Russia, both of which are partially in Europe and mostly in Asia. Only 3 island countries would be missing, Malta, Cyprus and Iceland.
• More than 200 UNESCO sites would be within 50km of the itinerary.

In this unforgettable European road trip you will explore well-known but no less amazing cities such as Barcelona , Prague, London and Rome , and other up and coming ones such as Ljubljana, Bruges, Girona , Kiev, Tirana or Tbilisi. 

Of the 400 UNESCO listed sites in Europe , this road trip will get you within 50km to more than half of the continent’s most fascinating heritage, from Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia to Switzerland’s stunning mountain train journeys such as the Glacier Express or lesser known spots in tiny countries such as Andorra .

More standouts include medieval Kotor , Salzburg and Dubrovnik, the Vatican City, Santiago de Compostela’s Cathedral, Brussels’ Grand Place, Budapest Castle, Mostar Old City, Casa Batllo , Lake Ohrid, and many more.

You could add about 100 more UNESCO sites if you take a detour to explore southern Italy and Sicily , central Spain or Germany , a country that is only bordered on this itinerary. 

It is also a great road trip for foodie lovers with stops in San Sebastian for pinchos and tapas, in Bologna for parmesan cheese and mortadella, in Lyon for refined French food, Copenhagen for forward-looking Nordic food and in Porto for seafood and codfish.

The route does not just cover mainstream destinations but will also take you to the lesser known parts of the continent such as the tiny country of Liechtenstein (one of the least visited countries in the world despite being located in the middle of Europe), Croatia’s Istria, Romania’s Transilvannia, and historical sites such as Chernobyl. 

European road trip essentials 1. Roadtrippers : Create the itinerary and navigate with points of interest marked along the way with Roadtrippers , such a cool app. Get it, it’s a no brainer. 2. Visas : We highly recommend iVisa , they are prompt and professional and offer lots of services. A Schengen visa gives you access to 25 countries, others have their own system, Russia will be the trickiest. 3. Car rental : Our choice is Rentalcars.com which aggregates car rental companies across the world. Make sure you can take the car across the border and check additional insurance and permits. Or buy a car and sell it at the end. 4. Travel insurance : Do not leave the house without, really, don’t. We recommend World Nomads or SafetyWing who include coverage for COVID-19 since August 2020. 5. Accommodation : Use Booking.com they offer free cancellation charge if your plans change. 6. Tours : An efficient way to see cities in a short period of time is to get a day tour. We love and use Getyourguide which allows you to cancel tours up to 24h in advance.

So where does this incredible road trip across all of Europe and the Caucasus take you? Let’s explore the main stops.

1. Dublin, Ireland

Your journey starts in the capital of Ireland, beautiful Dublin. Being the birthplace of Guinness beer, you’ll definitely need to taste the dark stout in one of Dublin’s 1,000 pubs like Temple Bar or The Brazen Head , Ireland’s oldest pub. 

If you plan on driving after your visit, just go to the Guinness Storehouse where you can dive into the 250+ year history and have a bite to eat. Jameson Whiskey also has its home in Dublin. 

Peer into Ireland’s Emigration history at World Travel Awards winner EPIC to see what it means to be Irish beyond the border. If you have some time left over pop into Dublin Castle which dates back to 1204 and has guided tours.  Ireland is also home to many great thinkers such as Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett and is even one of UNESCO’s Cities of Literature . Visit Trinity College where they all got their start.

2. London, United Kingdom

Next on your European road trip is the capital of the UK, London! With a rich history and loads of activities to take part in, you can experience art at museums like the Tate Modern or The National Gallery , have fun on the London Eye , learn something new at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park , have a pub lunch overlooking the river Thames, or try and see the Queen at Buckingham Palace . 

If you aren’t for visiting tourist sites like Big Ben , the Tower of London , Westminster Abbey or the bohemian Soho district, you can always try something a little different and experience one of these unique things to do in London like eating jellied eel or take a somber stroll around Highgate Cemetery. Make sure to make a stop at Borough Market for a super good vibe with loads of fresh produce and delicious meals!

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Leaving the island and riding north-east, you’ll soon get to friendly Amsterdan in the Netherlands. This bustling city is so much more than hash brownies, tulips and windmills as you’ll experience on a bike after parking your car. 

Cruise along the canals at your own pace and visit the best tourist attractions in Amsterdam like Rijksmuseum , Van Gogh Museum , the artsy district of Jordaan, or dine way up high at A’dam Lookout .

A must-visit is Ann Frank’s House , where you will learn how this brave soul lived through a treacherous time. Apart from the multitude of historic sights, Amsterdam is also home to hip and up-and-coming neighbourhoods like gentrified Westergas and creative Zaandam’s Hembrugterrein. Walk the cobbled streets of De Negen Straatjes (‘The Nine Streets’) for some boutique retail therapy. 

4. Brussels, Belgium

As the administerial centre of the EU, Belgium’s capital can be viewed as quite a stringent place. Yet when you pass the iconic little boy peeing into the fountain at the Manneken Pis, you get a sense for the city’s lightheartedness. It’s this mix that makes it a fascinating place for all types of tourists. 

There is spectacular architecture like the Grand Place , Notre Dame Du Sablon , or the Instagrammable Atomium . See arts and culture at the Musee des Beaux-Arts d’Ixelles or Musee Constantin Meunier and gorgeous nature at Park Malou, Parc Georges Henri or Parc Du Cinquantenaire. 

But you cannot leave Brussels without going on a beer tasting tour while diving mouth-first into their famous fries and mussels. 

5. Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world and most of the top places to visit in Luxembourg are all concentrated in the city center. This makes it a great day stop for your European road trip. Start slow by perusing the Old Quarter in Luxembourg City which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site , as the night nears, take in a show at the legendary Philharmonic of Luxembourg .

Then make your way to any of the multitude of castles in the country (there are 130 in total) from Luxembourg Fortress to Vianden Castle . The castles you choose to explore will depend on the amount of time you have and whether you’d like to include a bit of nature on your visit or not. 

For nature we suggest the Mullerthal region where you’ll find Schiessentümpel Waterfall. You can even camp there for the night along the river Sûre in your car or spa at Mondorf-les-Bains if that’s more your style.

6. Liechtenstein

While an unlikely candidate, Liechtenstein is actually one of the least visited countries in the world . The main reason is because it’s a landlocked country, sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, without an airport. This means it’s perfectly reachable by car, great for your European road trip!

A fun fact about Liechtenstein is that it hasn’t had a murder since 2014 and is therefore one of the safest countries in the world. As it’s so small, you can see the entire country in a day from castles like Vaduz , Burg Gutenberg or Obere Burg to jaw-dropping nature (400km network of hiking trails!) and even eat at a Michelin-awarded traditional Restaurant Torkel . This is a popular winter Europe road trip pit stop for ski fanatics.

7. Bern, Switzerland

The city where Einstein started dabbling in physics and the older enclave being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, Bern is a thriving city with a deep history and stunning sites. In fact you can visit Einstein’s former residence or the museum constructed in his name . 

If you’re a fan of treasure hunts, you could try to find all 11 Renaissance fountains in the centre of Old Bern. Saunter around the Rosengarten , take in the views at Gurten mountain, or see the symbol of Bern (and Toblerone ) at Bärengraben (Bear Pit) or BärenPark (Bear Park). 

With a rich culture, Bern has loads of great artsy festivals to take part in year round from the Summer and Winter Jazz Festivals to the Buskers Festival to July’s Gurtenfestival . If you miss the festivals, don’t worry, there’s more art at the Kunstmuseum (Museum of Art) which contains 51,000 pieces! The fascinating Zytglogge , a medieval clock tower with moving puppets, is always a fun stop over. 

If you’d like to go beyond the capital and are a fan of skiing or being pampered, I would suggest making a stop at either Andermatt or St. Moritz (stay for the night at Chedi, Andermatt ). Or change your mode of transportation and hop on the Glacier Express which connects St. Moritz with Zermatt and is a truly once in a lifetime experience.  

8. Central France

Traveling south from Switzerland (with a possible stop in Geneva before crossing the border), you’ll be cruising the central part of France passing by two exquisite regions: Lyon and Bordeaux. 

Lyon is steeped in a 2,000 year history and is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is also considered the foodie capital of France so you should make sure to eat your way around the city. 

Witness the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules and venture into Vieux (Old) Lyon with the largest renaissance old quarters in Europe. But don’t miss the modern Confluence district on the Presqu’île peninsula with its elegant bistros and upscale apartments.

There are museums of all kinds from fine art at Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon to the Institut Lumière , an ode to the famed brothers who spearheaded the modern cinema. The architecture will leave your jaw agape, so be sure to pass by the Fourvière Basilica and Lyon Cathedral. 

Making your way toward the Bay of Biscay you’ll end up in one of the most praised wine regions in the world, Bordeaux. Wine enthusiasts better get a designated driver, because this stretch of your Europe road trip is bound to be the most fueled by alcohol. 

The choices of wineries to visit can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s best to first visit the spectacular ode to wine, La Cité du Vin. This is a mammoth 3,000sqm building with a 55m tower that looks like a giant decanter. It has around 10 hours of audiovisual info all about the history and future of the grape. You’ll also be able to get help picking which wineries to visit. 

Beyond wine, there are open spaces (Quais de Bordeaux, Jardin Public), shopping streets (Rue Sainte-Catherine), ancient architecture (La Grosse Cloche, Porte Cailhau, Bordeaux Cathedral) and so much more!

Those wanting to stop by Paris should do so after Luxembourg, as this is the quickest route to the capital and you will only be venturing further south from here. Read our Parisian articles to get more insight about the City of Love:

• Best Paris Bistros
• Autumn In Paris, A Perfect Weekend For Two
• Rooftop Bars In Paris With The Ultimate Best Views Of The City
• 5 Markets In Paris To Bargain-hunt
• Adorable Places For A Beautiful Picnic In Paris From Rivers To Gardens
• Secret Gardens In Paris To Find Romance And Nature

9. Northern Spain

Reaching the Bay of Biscay with a possible hangover, you’ll surely just want to take it easy on the beach. This is where San Sebastián comes in. Also known as Donostia, San Sebastián is a resort town hidden in Spain’s mountainous Basque Country and is known for Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta. 

Playa means beach, and beach is what you will get, although not the kind of warm beach you find on the Mediteranean! Bring a sweater, even in the summer months San Sebastian can be pretty chilly.

Not only will you find beautifully soft sand, but also picturesque bayfront promenades, cobblestone roads of old town (Parte Vieja), upscale shopping, vibrant pintxo bars and world-class restaurants. 

San Sebastian is one of Spain’s foodie capitals along with Barcelona and Madrid and the Basque Country where it is located, has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other part of the country.

Think three-starred Arzak and Akelarre , one-starred Kokotxa and Mirador de Ulía or famous Nerua in the Guggenheim Bilbao. Or just have a picnic at Miramar Royal Palace ( Palacio de Miramar ) if your wallet is feeling a bit light. 

Taking the most epic coastal drive, you’ll enter one of Spain’s most spiritual centres at Santiago de Compostela. This is the end of the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route as well as the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. Legend has it that the apostle St. James was buried in what is today the UNESCO-listed old town. 

Even if you aren’t religious, you’ll find a spiritual resonance in the idyllic Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, particularly the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria . The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela , Praza do Obradoiro and Monastery of San Martiño Pinario are all epic and within walking distance. 

10. Coastal Portugal

Grab your surfboards because you are entering a country with some of the best waves in the world. Even if you don’t know how, Portugal is a great place to learn how to surf. It’s also a burgeoning place for digital nomads so you’re sure to bump into other European road trippers here on your journey. 

The three standout places you’re going to pass on the coastal route are Porto in the north, Coimbra in the center and Lisbon at the south. Porto is known for its dessert wine which you will know as Port. But beyond the sweet aperitif Porto offers stately bridges, the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district with cobbled streets and cafes, and grand designs from baroque São Francisco Church to the palatial Palácio de Bolsa .

Travel down to the coast and you’ll end up at the riverfront city of Coimbra. It is famous for its historic University of Coimbra that houses a baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina with a gorgeous 18th-century bell tower. You can set foot around the city’s old town to take in the calm atmosphere and visit the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral Sé Velha.

Drive south from the old capital (Coimbra) to the new one, Lisbon. This hilly coastal city has some spectacularly romantic views, particularly at sunset from São Jorge Castle where the pastel-colored buildings blend with the pink and purple hues of the setting sun. 

Nature blends seamlessly with historic buildings in Lisbon, so make sure to pass along the Torre de Belém , the Golden Gate-like Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge, and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos . Try to take a day trip to the protected Tagus Estuary. You can ride trams throughout the city and then relax on the beaches of Cascais, Costa da Caparica, or Estoril. 

11. Southern Spain

Now it’s back into Spain where you’ll witness a very different vibe and even peer over into Africa. The south of Spain is spectacular as you travel through Seville, Gibraltar, Granada, Valencia and finishing in Barcelona.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and has a rich Moorish heritage which is evident in the colourful tiles, the lobed arches and the iconic Giralda tower . 

This is the place to experience the stereotypically Spanish cultural activities – flamenco, tapas and toros (although we strongly oppose bullfighting and you should too). Spring is a particularly festive time to visit with Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the lively Feria de Abril ( Seville Fair ). Or just to stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir. 

Before you leave the area, consider a day trip to Morocco which you can take from Tarifa . Go on a guided tour which is usually cheaper than buying a ferry ticket, and add a new continent, just for the day. 

Gibraltar may be geographically located in Spain, but it was actually ceded to Britain in 1713 and remains a British Overseas Territory. This means that while Euros are accepted, the main currency is the British Sterling. 

Moorish architecture and the Rock of Gibraltar are the two most famous sites. Europa Point at the most southern tip of Gibraltar is where you can glance into Morocco, an entirely different continent. Try not to visit on a Sunday as most places on Main Street will be closed. 

Laying at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains is Granada, best known for its pristine examples of medieval architecture, particularly the Alhambra from the Nasrid dynasty . UNESCO-listed La Alhambra is massive and needs a full day to explore properly, especially to see the Generalife gardens . 

From past to future, you’ll then venture forth to Valencia, known for its City of Arts and Sciences . This futuristic structure, reminiscent of Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan or Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul , Contains a planetarium, oceanarium and interactive museum. 

As Valencia is a coastal city, you can also set your towel down in one of its beaches including those in the Albufera Park, which is actually a wetlands reserve with a lake and walking trails. This is also a fantastic place to try out authentic paella. 

Your last stop over in Spain will be the capital of Catalunya, Barcelona. There is too much to do in Barcelona and we have written about it extensively as it is our Editor-in-Chief’s home. 

If you’re looking for things to do in Barcelona on this leg of your European road trip, here is a massive list of articles you can save, from the best of Gaudi to the top wineries to some brilliant ideas for day trips…

Barcelona guides:

• A local’s guide to one day in Barcelona
• Barcelona itinerary – Where a Barcelonian would take you in 4 days
• Epic and fabulous, the best things to do in Barcelona
• The most unusual things to do in Barcelona – unique activities to cool places
• Where to stay in Barcelona – Best areas and luxury boutique hotels
• The Best Rooftop Terraces in Barcelona to watch the sunset
• Gaudi Barcelona most incredible sights
• Guide with Sagrada Familia tickets, sights, history and other info
• A local’s guide to seeing Casa Batlló inside and out
• A local’s guide to La Casa de les Punxes
• Tips to Prepare for your Camp Nou Tour
• A local’s tips for visiting Barcelona Bunkers del Carmel

Wineries near Barcelona & Food:

• Weekend wine escape from Barcelona – includes full itinerary
• Top wineries near Barcelona to visit – Best wine and cava tours
• Poblet Monastery in Conca de Barbera: How the church brought back wine
• How to make the most of your Familia Torres Winery visit
• Visiting Cava Codorniu Spain’s oldest family-run business
• Albet i Noya – the pioneer in organic winemaking in Spain
• A day out of Barcelona taking the Cava Llopart 1887 Gran Reserva Tour
• Learning about Kosher wines at Celler de Capcanes
• Disfrutar Restaurant, elBulli’s legacy freshly carried on
• Review of Lasarte, Barcelona’s first 3 Michelin star restaurant
• Review of ABaC Restaurant Barcelona
• Gaig Restaurant Barcelona: Traditional Catalan fine-dining since 1869
• The Proximity Food Movement in Barcelona – Beyond Organic 

Day trips from Barcelona:

• Perfect day trips from Barcelona for everyone as told by a local
• Things to do in Sitges where to eat and best beaches
• How to get from Barcelona Airport to Sitges? (and from Sitges to Barcelona Airport)
• Guide to Siurana, a legendary village on Priorat’s mountains
• Day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona by a local
• Things to do in Girona + 1 day itinerary

12. Andorra

Just like Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, Andorra is another one of the smallest countries on the planet. Landlocked between Spain and France, it’s a hidden secret that will add some spice to your Europe road trip. The “country in the Pyrenees mountains” is all about beautiful nature in any season. 

There are ski slopes to hit in winter, gorgeous hiking trails in summer and a variety of activities for everything in between. Topping the list is the Caldea spa complex that leverages the natural hot springs in the area to provide an entertainment destination with hydrotherapy and wellness in mind. 

We have written a complete guide to Andorra where you can explore all of the best things to do from savoring rustic food to a list of all the museums to the best places to go shopping and the top hotels to stay at. 

13. Southern France

Crossing the border, you’ll again venture into France, this time exploring the coastal cities along the Gulf of Lion from Languedoc to Provence all the way into Italy. 

Start at Montpellier, an underrated city with a rich history, beautiful architecture and bustling boutiques and sidewalk cafés among magnificent squares. It even has its own Arc de Triomphe . 

Montpellier’s lively vibe is attributed to some 60,000 students that call it home. Sip some Languedoc-Roussillon wines with delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine or climb the 658m Pic Saint-Loup. You may want to explore Toulouse, known as “The Pink City” due to its terra-cotta bricks, as it is another lively and gorgeous destination for a European road trip. 

After Montpellier, you can choose to explore the more popular port city of Marseille and Nice along the French Riviera, both in the Provence region, if you like more touristy and cosmopolitan destinations. The former is hailed for the epic Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and the latter pays homage to native artists Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall . 

It’s time to join the rich and famous in another one of the smallest countries in the world, Monaco. In fact, Monaco is the second smallest country after the Vatican and is only 2sqkm. Like Andorra and Liechtenstein, Monaco is a principality, meaning that a monarchy governs, currently ruled by Prince Albert II of the Grimaldi family.

The most well-known area in Monaco is its capital city, Monte-Carlo, synonymous with James Bond, Casinos, F1 and the rich and famous (because of its tax status). Expect a multitude of yachts docked at the ports along this country in the French Riviera housing all the beautiful people of the world. 

For more, check out our guide to Monaco . 

15. The Vatican

From the second smallest to indeed the smallest country in the world and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church which is home to the Pope. 

Like Lesotho in South Africa , the Vatican is surrounded by the Italian capital, Rome. So if you’re visiting Rome, the Vatican is a must. Your time at the Vatican will be spent viewing ancient buildings, seeing historic art pieces and taking in the spirituality of Catholicism. 

Standouts include Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel , St. Peter’s Basilica which is the world’s largest basilica of Christianity, Renaissance art treasures at the Vatican Museums , Castel Sant’Angelo , Saint Peter’s Square and Gardens of Vatican City .

16. Rome, Italy

Buongiorno, you’ve reached the “beautiful country”! You’ve explored the Vatican and had your spiritual fix, so now it’s time to venture into the capital of Italy, Rome. While it wasn’t built in a day, you can try to see it all in 24 hours but we recommend spending much longer, Rome needs to be enjoyed not rushed. 

Ancient landmarks like the Colosseum , the Pantheon , the Roman Forum and the Arch of Constantine should all leave you speechless. 

Gaze at the famed Trevi Fountain as you pay homage to Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita or “take a little time for yourself…live dangerously” at the Spanish Steps like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck did in Roman Holiday . Then support the local artists and street vendors at Piazza Navona. 

What next? 

Eat, eat and eat some more by exploring all the Michelin-starred restaurants of Rome (there are around 20!). 

You can then ride directly up into San Marino, which we explore next, or you have the option for going south into Naples and then Sicily to take a detour around the Italian coast and see some of the most famous parts of the country which have recently reached Instagram stardom (Amalfi Coast, Capri, etc.). 

The beaches in Favignana, off Sicily

In Sicily you can hike up an active volcano at Mount Etna , explore the best Sicilian food , visit the Godfather filming locations like Savoca , or relax in the quaint towns of Syracuse or Taormina and its Ancient Greek Theater . Here’s an extensive travel guide to Sicily for those who want to set out into the island. 

17. San Marino

San Marino is a hilly microstate on and around Mount Titano that’s completely surrounded by north-central Italy. It’s as if time has stood still in this ancient republic, with much of its historic architecture still intact. 

The capital, sharing the same name as the microstate, is most well known for its medieval walled old town and narrow cobblestone streets. Once a year in July there’s even a Medieval Days festival which is a spectacle as the entire town dresses up and celebrates their history. 

At the top of Titano’s peaks sits The Three Towers which date back to the 11th century and are great viewpoints. If you have a drone, this would be the place to fly it! 

You may want to pop into foodie heaven Emilia-Romagna or Venice to see the iconic canals and the colorful glass island of Murano before moving onto Slovenia. 

18. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Well done, you’ve made it into central Europe! 

Start in Slovenia, a really beautiful country known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes. Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana (say “loo-blee-ana”) is a university city with epic green spaces. Tivoli Park is the first of these spaces that you’ll want to explore. It’s a well manicured park where you can take a break and wander to your heart’s content. 

Cross over the iconic Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) and visit a few of the outdoor cafes that dot the Ljubljanica River. Then get cultured at one of the many museums like the National Museum of Slovenia or the Museum of Modern Art .

55km north-west from the capital is the epic Lake Bled, the iconic blue lake with Bled island at its center that houses the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja). This is closer to the Austrian border though, so you may want to visit it later in your journey as you’re now going down to Croatia. 

19. Zagreb & Split, Croatia

While Croatia is quite large, you’ll be sticking to the south-west so that you can easily make it into Bosnia & Herzegovina and then Montenegro. This area is also the most well-catered for tourists due to its gorgeous beaches. 

Starting in the capital of Zagreb, you’ll get to stretch your feet as you explore the quaint Tkalčićeva Street with its outdoor cafes and car-free Jelačić Square in Lower Town which also has museums, shops and parks. Upper Town is more focused on Austro-Hungarian architecture like Zagreb Cathedral and St. Mark’s Church.

Quirkier travelers can visit the Museum of Broken Relationships which is dedicated to breakups. Make sure to get a licitar, a traditional honey dough cookie in the shape of a heart and is Zagreb’s symbol. There’s no real to-do in Zagreb so let your feet guide you.

Moving onto the more touristy sites, you’ll venture on down to the coastal cities of Zadar and Split. Zadar, on the Dalmatian coast, is most well known for its Roman and Venetian ruins such as St. Anastasia’s Cathedral and the Church of St. Donatus. 

Split on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea has some really beautiful beaches that get super packed in summer. The entire city center is like visiting a giant Roman palace, still going strong after 1700 years with additions and restorations. Game of Thrones fans will know all about Diocletian’s Palace, which is also UNESCO listed . 

20. Mostar & Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Moving onto your next country in the Balkans, Bosnia & Herzegovina came into the public eye in the 90s due to the Bosnian War. Today it’s a lively off-the-beaten track destination that is safe for visitors to soak in the diverse culture. 

Unlike tourist-heavy Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina is yet to have a tourist boom and therefore makes for a great destination for those who like a more intimate experience. 

You can start your journey in Mostar before heading into the capital of Sarajevo. Mostar is a quaint city that’s known for its iconic UNESCO-listed Stari Most (Old Bridge) surrounded by mountains and greenery. Explore the alleyways on foot and find some hidden gems before walking up the hills for some panoramic views. 

Previously war-torn Sarajevo is now completely restored to its former glory where east meets west – think Vienna paired up with Istanbul. While not too touristy, it still caters for foreigners with information booths and guides to the many churches, mosques, museums, amazing cafes and vibrant nightlife. 

Stroll through the cobbled streets of Baščaršija and look out for the 100 “Sarajevo Roses” which commemorate those who lost their lives in the war. A walking tour is a must! And you should definitely educate yourself on the Bosnian War before heading into the country. Read up more about it here . 

21. Kotor, Montenegro

Back to the coast, you’ll head to the south of gorgeous Montenegro . This is the best place to go in the Balkans for sun, sand and sea as it’s way less packed than neighbouring Croatia. 

The quaint UNESCO-listed fortified city of Kotor is a great place to have a moment of respite as you wander through the cobblestone roads or perhaps walk up to St. George Fortress for a spectacular view of the idyllic bay below.

You could also choose to explore some of the many picture perfect beaches of Montenegro , take a day trip to the uber luxurious and iconic Aman Sveti Stefan , or make your way to the humble oceanside towns of Rose, Perast or Ulcinj. Montenegro also has a very unique local cuisine which is always fresh and super delicious.

22. Tirana, Albania

Similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania has a difficult and tumultuous past. After the fall of long term and extremely paranoid dictator, Enver Hoxha, the country has tried to rebuild itself as a center for arts and the freedom of expression. 

You’ll see graffiti all around the country, particularly in the capital of Tirana, where it is encouraged to turn the dreary blocklike buildings into a sign of hope for the future. 

The Bunk’Art museums in Tirana are a perfect example of this change, where underground bunkers built by the Hoxha regime were converted into exhibition and learning spaces. 

Beyond the beautiful Tirana, there is so much to see in Albania, from idyllic Albanian beaches to gorgeous castles (look for Rozafa, Prezë and Kruje Castles), or ancient architecture in Berat , Durres and the Greek ruins at Archeological Park of Apollonia – a UNESCO heritage site .

Need some more help? I have written articles on fun facts about Albania , the best food in Albania , as well as a complete travel guide to Albania and things to do in Tirana . 

23. Ohrid, North Macedonia

Before venturing into the Land of the Gods, you’ll be making a stop at the sleepy resort city of Ohrid, Macedonia. You’ll come back to the capital of Macedonia, Skopje, a bit later in the journey. 

This is your chance to completely relax from the frantic sightseeing and driving – wine glass in hand, platter of cheese and cold cuts in front of you, while gazing deep into the vast expanse of UNESCO-listed Lake Ohrid . 

If you can get off the view, take a stroll in Old Town, a boat tour around the lake or walk along the ancient Somoil’s Fortress and picturesque St. John the Theologian Church for more epic views. 

24. Thessaloniki, Greece

Cruising into Greece, you’re going to stay in the north, stopping halfway at Thessaloniki. This port city, straddling the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, is a glimpse into the country’s past. 

You can see Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman remains, particularly if you venture into the upper town of Ano Poli . While parts of the city were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1917 , some ruins remain like Roman Emperor Galerius’ 4th-century palace. Munch on local street food koulouri Thessalonikis and pop open a local wine from the nearby Naousa appellation .

25.  Istanbul & Ankara, Turkey

You’re now on one of the longest stretches on your trip which is from Greece through Turkey and onto Georgia. You can space out your long drive by stopping first at energetic Istanbul and then in Ankara, the cosmopolitan capital. 

Istanbul is the confluence of East meets West, of Europe and Asia, all in one. The fantastically fascinating Old City will give you a glimpse into the past. 

Explore the Sultanahmet district which houses the Roman-era Hippodrome (think chariot races), Egyptian obelisks, the epic Blue Mosque and the jaw-droppingly beautiful Byzantine Hagia Sophia . Don’t miss the Grand Bazar for some local delights. 

Ankara is more about the present and has a thriving performing arts scene. This is your chance to dress up and go to the Opera, Ballet or see a show at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra . Before the show make sure to visit the grand Anıtkabir , the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey.

26. Tbilisi, Georgia

After a very long drive through the Turkish countryside, you’ll finally cross the border to Georgia, which was once part of the Soviet republic. Today, due to providing 365-day visas on arrival, Georgia has become a digital nomad hotspot if you need to get some work done or meet like-minded travelers. 

Georgia is famous for its black sand beaches, the quaint Caucasus Mountain villages and Vardzia, a sprawling cave monastery dating to the 12th century. 

Yet you’ll be stopping in the capital landlocked city of Tbilisi where you can wander through the maze-like cobblestoned roads of old town or hike up the scenic Narikala Fortress to see the blend of art nouveau buildings, Soviet Modernist structures and Eastern Orthodox churches. 

27. Sheki & Baku, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, known as the Land of Fire and the birthplace of crude oil, is a place where East meets West, where Asia and Europe are both present but do not dominate, at once modern and a well-preserved history. 

Make a culinary pitstop in Sheki, a small but gorgeous historic town on the ancient Silk Road route. You can taste some of the best local Azerbaijani food like piti and halva in a Caravanserai before moving onto the capital. 

In Baku you will experience some of the most luxurious hotels in Azerbaijan like the Fairmont Baku Flame Towers , modern architecture like Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center , and ancient natural wonders like the volcanoes. 

Little known fact about Azerbaijan , it has 45% of the world’s mud volcanoes! For a closer look, read my article on the top things to do in Baku and Azerbaijan . 

28. Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, is your next stop on this epic European road trip. The imposing Soviet-era architecture will astound you and its history will amaze. Make a stop at the Matenadaran library , where you will find thousands of ancient Greek and Armenian manuscripts. 

Then head over to the vibrant Republic Square to watch the musical water fountains. Learn a bit more about Armenia’s past at the History Museum of Armenia with artefacts dating back to 3500 BC.

Note on feasibility : The itinerary considers that you return to Georgia from Armenia and then enter Russia by crossing the disputed territory of Abkhazia, however, at the time of writing, that is not possible. Instead, you should leave Georgia to the north at Kazbegi and enter Russia at Vladikavkaz and then retake the route. Thank you to Alastair Gill for pointing this out.

29. Sochi, Russia

As you may know, Russia is absolutely massive. In fact, at 17 million sqkm it’s the largest country in the world , by far. 

To put it in perspective, the 2nd largest country, Canada, stands at just under 10 million sqkm. In order to fit Russia into your road trip of Europe, you can travel to Sochi, along the Black Sea and far from the capital Moscow . Sochi is around the same distance between Armenia and the Ukraine. 

You may know Sochi best as the home to the 2014 Winter Olympics, but in summer it’s also a popular beach resort destination. The 1,937sqkm Forested Sochi National Park is a must for nature lovers. Interested in ditching the car and catching the train? I’d definitely recommend either the Golden Eagle on a once in a lifetime trans-Siberian journey .  

Note on safety and feasibility of this portion : At the time of writing, the itinerary passes through the disputed territory of Crimea. Entering Crimea from Russia is possible but, if you plan to continue driving into Ukraine, as shown in this itinerary, you would be entering Ukraine illegally. Likewise, crossing from Russia into Ukraine is currently difficult given the security situation. The safest and easiest way to drive from Russia into Ukraine involves driving farther north on the border between the two, possibly near Kharkiv or Sunny and then driving down to Odessa to continue with the itinerary. Thank you to Alastair Gill, Igor Gakalo and Justin Golden for share their experience.

30. Odessa & Kiev, Ukraine

Traveling along the Black Sea, you’ll cross the border over into the port city of Odessa. You’ll get to relax on one of the many beaches or watch a performance at the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater. 

Film fanatics will tick an activity off their bucket list as they climb the iconic Potemkin Stairs, immortalized in The Battleship Potemkin . Saunter along Primorsky Boulevard with monuments and mansions.

Next up is Kiev, an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern Europe. It’s a pedestrian-friendly city with amazing public transport and a metro. So you can visit all the most beautiful monuments quite easily. 

Marvel at Eastern Orthodox Christianity’s most important landmark Pechersk Lavra , which is a complex of churches, bell towers and subterranean caves and contains a host of UNESCO heritage sites . Look up to see notable monuments like Maidan Nezalezhnosti or The Motherland Monument and then finish with a stroll in Hryshko National Botanical Garden .

Before crossing the border to Minsk, you should make a stop in Chernobyl, an historical destination where you can learn about humanity’s flaws, particularly the nuclear power plant accident from 1986 . 

You will need to go on a tour of the abandoned city in a hazmat suit, but it is safe due to stringent precautions. It is a sobering experience and definitely one that will stay with you. Learn more about Chernobyl from the recent HBO docuseries.  

31. Chișinău, Moldova

Adding Moldova to your European road trip will have you taking a bit of a detour. Instead of going straight from Odessa in the south to Kiev up north, you can make a pit stop in Chișinău between the two. 

The capital of Moldova is an up and coming destination, but still one of the least visited in Europe . It’s a pedestrian-friendly city where you can soak up the local culture at Piata Centrala, Stephan the Great Central Park or Valea Morilor Park. There are also a few landmarks to spot like the neoclassical Nativity Cathedral or the dome-topped Chișinău’s Cathedral Park.

32. Minsk, Belarus

Belarus is definitely not one of the most sought after European road trip destinations, but it surely has its own charm. At first it may seem like there is not much to do in the capital city of Minsk, but the attractions could keep you busy for about 2-3 days. 

Like most post Soviet Union countries, one of the top things to do in Minsk is to admire the Soviet architecture, particularly walking along Independence Avenue. 

Main structures include the Central Post Office , Palace of the Republic , Nyamiha Shopping Center, the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre and even an incredible Soviet bas-relief above a KFC. 

There’s also a quaint Old Town, shopping at a GUM (department) store, visiting Mir and Nesvizh Castles , and checking out the hip cafes and street art near trendy Kastrychnitskaya street. 

33. Vilnius, Lithuania

Another city where you can find astounding architecture is Lithuania’s capital Vilnius , a UNESCO heritage center . Architectural styles from all periods can be found here. And did you know you can go on a hot air balloon ride over the city? Amazing.

Strolling along the cobblestoned streets of Old Town you’ll come across the beautiful baroque Gate of Dawn and Basilian Monastery, neoclassical Vilnius Cathedral and Gothic St. Anne’s Church (and so so much more!). 

Get your green fix at Bernardine Park , open air museum Europos Parkas or atop the Hill of Three Crosses for panoramic views. Shop local at Hall Market and explore the multitude of museums.

34. Riga, Latvia

From one capital to the next, this time you’ll be visiting Latvia’s Riga, the largest city in the three Baltic states. 

You may be a bit tired of perusing all the amazing buildings of Vilnius, and Riga is just the right place as it’s a youthful city with a pumping nightlife, hipster eateries and thriving alternative scene. Maybe you’ll take home a bottle of Riga Black Balsam , a bitter but slightly sweet liqueur made in oak barrels.

Before partying it up, take in the old centre of Vecrīga, with its maze-like streets filled with restaurants, museums and nightspots, Medieval churches and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site . 

But of course, there is more than enough architecture too to keep you happy from the vibrant House of the Blackheads to the world’s largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings, particularly those by “Riga’s Gaudí”, Mikhail Eisenstein . 

35. Tallinn, Estonia

Your final Baltic State before crossing over to Northern Europe is another cultural hub right on the Black Sea. Tallinn is for creatives. 

Starting at Telliskivi Loomelinnak (Creative City) where you’ll find Fotografiska (home to fine-art photography), venture onto PROTO Invention Factory for a look into the history of inventions and then end off at Kumu Art Museum which won European Museum of the Year in 2008. 

Cafe hop as you pass ancient monuments like Kiek in de Kök , Gothic-structured Town Hall or 13th-century St. Nicholas Church.

36. Helsinki & Rovaniemi, Finland 

Take the 2 hour ferry ride across the Gulf of Finland where you’ll end up in its capital, Helsinki. You can continue your cultural adventure by taking a walk along the Mannerheimintie, with its multitude of institutions like the National Museum , grand Parliament House and Kiasma contemporary art museum. 

Temppeliaukio Church is out of this world (think Auroville in Pondicherry or Iglesia El Rosario in El Salvador ) and Suomenlinna , a giant maritime fortress spread across seven islands, is man-made marvel. Red-bricked Uspenski Cathedral is also stunning.

In Helsinki, take the option of a ferry ride to St. Petersburg and avail of the 3 day free visa option to explore Russia’s grandest city. 

You wouldn’t want to leave Finland without making a trip to Rovaniemi. Why? Because it’s the official home of Santa Claus! 

That’s right, the capital of Lapland is also home to one of the most beloved figures. There’s Santa Claus Village , SantaPark , Santa Claus Office and even Santa Claus Reindeer where you can meet the friendly helpers. Beyond all things Santa there is also lots to do from Arktikum Science Museum , Rovaniemi Art Museum , and of course Angry Birds Park !

Rovaniemi is also your chance to experience an authentic Finnish sauna, munch of some pulla (Finnish cardamom bread), and glimpse the Northern Lights. 

37. Stockholm, Sweden

Journey down the coast of Sweden along the Gulf of Bothnia all the way down to the Baltic Sea where you’ll find the capital, Stockholm. What many travelers to Stockholm might not know is that the capital city actually encompasses 14 islands with over 50 bridges. So the best way to see it all is to hop on the various ferries or sightseeing boats between the islands. 

Like most large European cities, Stockholm has its own old town called Gamla Stan which stands out for its cobblestone streets and ochre-colored buildings. 

Notable sites here include the 13th-century Storkyrkan Cathedral (make sure to go inside), the Swedish monarch abode Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum (about the history of the Nobel Prize ). 

Get your Mama Mia on at the ABBA Museum , learn about all things nautical at the acclaimed Vasa Museum , or be more contemporary at Moderna Museet . Fashionista’s shouldn’t miss a visit to Södermalm (home to Greta Garbo) for “fika” (Swedish coffee break), boutique shopping, and massive photography gallery, Fotografiska . 

38. Oslo, Norway

Take in the gorgeous scenic landscapes of Swedish as you travel across the country into Norway. Shortly after crossing the border, you’ll arrive at the capital of Oslo. 

Here you’ll find vast green spaces and plenty of museums to explore. Nature is a key part of life in Oslo, so this is a great chance to get out and moving as you won’t want to miss the epic scenery of the forests, walking trails and mountains – all easily accessible by public transport if you want to take a break from driving. 

Take a coastal stroll on the Bygdøy Peninsula which has, apart from astounding natural scenery, 5 national museums including the Viking Museum . Saunter around Frogner Park which has some 212 sculptures from artist Gustav Vigeland (as well as an eponymous museum ). 

Another major artist with a dedicated museum is Edvard Munch . Learn all about sliding down snow at the Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Tower or see a show at Oslo Opera House . Make your journey complete with a tranquil trip around the Oslofjord.

We would also recommend you add 3 more weeks to your trip and explore the rest of Norway. Check out this website with 18 scenic routes in Norway .

39. Copenhagen, Denmark

Your epic European road trip continues back into Sweden with an extensive leg of the journey down into Malmö (where you should try their famed kebabs), crossing the epic Øresund Bridge and ending up in Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen. One glimpse at this beautiful city and you’ll see where famed fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen got his inspiration. 

Copenhagen has something for literally anyone from amusement parks ( Tivoli Gardens ) to trendy pedestrian streets (Strøget) to Michelin-starred cuisine (23 stars to 16 restaurants in 2020) to arts and culture galore. A short 10km ride to Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune you’ll find the oldest amusement park in the world called Dyrehavsbakken (“The Deer Pasture’s Hill”), also known as Bakken (“The Hill”).

Rent a bike and do as locals do, explore different areas from Christiania, an old commune, the historic waterfront of Nyhavn and of course the Little Mermaid statue. 

If you can, leave your car in Copenhagen and traverse the waters into the tiny island territory of the Faroe Islands – where the roofs are covered in grass , the sheep outnumber the people and the views are epic. This might inspire you to take a trip…

40. North and East Germany

Catch another ferry from Lolland in Denmark to Fehmarn in Germany. The Fehmarn Belt connecting these two destinations through an 18km underwater tunnel has also been approved , so keep on the lookout for its opening. 

You will be traveling the North of Germany through such cities as Hamberg, Bremen, Münster, Dortmund, down to the tip of the Rhine, then onward through several states from Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg which encompasses the capital of Berlin.

Here is where startup owners mingle with vegans, artists and hipsters, Berlin is the center of art and creativity in Germany and well worth a couple of days. 

While we only border Germany, you can feel free to venture into the country and explore as much or as little as you would like. Cruise straight through as fast as you can on the Autobahn blaring Kraftwerk ,enjoy sausages and beer and just take it all in.

41. Warsaw & Wrocław, Poland

After speeding on the Autobahn and living it up in hedonistic Berlin, it’s time to take it a bit slow as you enter Poland’s capital of Warsaw. 

Warsaw is a city to reflect on the atrocities of the Nazi invasion and the aftermath of World War II by visiting the many monuments dedicated to the mass destruction of the city and the people in it. Yet, like a flower through the cracks, the city has been restored to its former glory – a far cry from the rubble of the 1940s. 

Old Town and Łazienki Park are particularly beautiful and the many museums will keep you intrigued, like POLIN , Warsaw Uprising Museum or the Copernicus Science Centre (Poland is the birthplace of the famed mathematician who found the sun to be the centre of our universe). Make a pit stop at Wrocław on the Oder River, particularly the Market Square for some more culture, art and elegant architecture.

42. Prague, Czech Republic

Crossing over to the center of the Czech Republic, Prague is a beautiful city to go around on foot while exploring the unique baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the stunning medieval Astronomical Clock. 

It’s a place where art and creativity is thriving from puppetry to jazz, and was also home to writer Franz Kafka (he used to live in Golden Lane) and father of modern psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud . There’s even a statue of him hanging from a pole in Old Town.  

Sip some world famous Czech pivo (beer) while gazing at the Vltava river or go the full nine yards by taking a tour of the Czech Beer Museum Tour where you can bottle your own beer. Don’t forget to taste some pork knuckle and pickled cheese before exploring the thriving nightlife. 

43. Salzburg & Vienna, Austria

Cross yet another border and you’ll be in the birthplace of Mozart , Salzburg. It is known for having the best-preserved baroque architecture in the old town centre in Europe, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site . If you have time visit The Eagles Nest in nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany for an amazing hike and epic views of the Bavarian Alps. 

Vienna is the next stop on your epic road trip of Europe, home to the United Nations and the cultural, economic and political center of Austria. It’s known as one of the most livable cities in the world and has a rich history of artists, intellectuals, culture and music. So there will be more than enough to keep you busy for a few days.  

44. Bratislava, Slovakia

Right on the border of both Austria and Hungary is Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. So it’s an easy choice to stop here between the two countries. 

Get your hiking shoes because this beautiful city has many nature trails on offer through vineyards, the Little Carpathian mountains, and overlooking the breathtaking Danube river. From fairytale castles ( Bratislava & Devin) to sky blue cathedrals to the revitalised Eurovea district , there is surprisingly a lot to take in when visiting Bratislava. 

45. Budapest, Hungary

Roll along the north of Hungary until you reach the Danube, which bisects Hungary’s capital Budapest. Interesting fact about Budapest is that it’s actually not one, but rather 3 unified cities. 

They are Buda and Óbuda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east bank. Many consider Budapest to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and will be a surprising standout of your Europe road trip. 

If you don’t know where to start in this gem, try the UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue. Peruse the gorgeous Parliament Building along the banks of the Danube, or Heroes’ Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica before descending into the infamous Faust Wine Cellars under Buda Castle. Then relax your muscles with a dip in the Széchenyi Thermal Baths or the Gellért Baths . 

46. Transylvania and Bucharest, Romania

While Transylvania is usually associated with Dracula, Gothic fortresses and churches and baroque buildings, it’s not as spooky as Bram Stoker makes it out to be. 

Most of your Transylvania itinerary will be centred around the castles like Bran , Peleș and Corvin , the UNESCO World Heritage Site of colorful Sighișoara and exploring the Turda Salt Mine are equally impressive. 

But it is a rather large region of around 102,834 sqkm, so there’s a lot to cover. Hop over to the trendy student area of Cluj-Napoca for a taste of Romanian cool, explore the medieval walls and towers of Sibiu on foot or ski at Poiană Brașov.

Keep going south-east until you reach the capital of Bucharest. Once home to Vlad the Impaler and communist despot Nicolae Ceaușescu , it’s now in a boom with highrise towers and sleek glass facades. 

There is still a glimpse of the past among the newer lofty towers. Bucharest has the world’s biggest parliamentary building Palace of Parliament standing at 365,000 sqm and 1,100 rooms. Take a romantic stroll at Cișmigiu Gardens, the cobblestone streets of Lipscani (Old Town) and glimpse a replica of Paris’s Arcul de Triumf, an ode to its former nickname “Paris of the East”. 

47. Sofia, Bulgaria

Walking through the capital of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria is like taking a time machine back to almost 2,000 years ago. 

Witness Sofia’s history of outside occupation through the Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet landmarks. The city’s history is deep and complicated where mosques have been converted into churches and monolithic soviet structures overshadow newly formed boulevards. 

While you can’t dip in, the Central Mineral Baths is a very photogenic spot with an informative museum. Adventurous travelers can ascend the 2,200m Vitosha Mountain. 

48. Skopje, North Macedonia

Coming back into North Macedonia, this time you’ll be visiting Skopje, the country’s capital and largest city. 

While being the center of politics, culture, economics, and academics, it is an ancient city dating back to 4000 BC with Neolithic remains at the old Kale Fortress. Probably the best thing to do in Skopje is to stroll along the Vardar river and do some quirky architecture and statue spotting (trust us there is a lot of that!). 

After all the walking, get some fuel at the old bazaar where you can also delve more into the culture of Skopje and visit the fort at the top of the hill. Then continue on to find some really quirky brutalist architecture and sip some thick coffee at the hipster Debar Maalo area. 

49. Pristina, Kosovo

Pristina might not be the most popular or well-known city in Europe, but once you start strategizing a trip here, you’ll notice that there is indeed a lot to do. 

One unique fact about Albania concerns Kosovo where 92.9% of the population is actually ethnic Albanian and Muslim. 

This ethnic differentiation between Muslim Kosovar people and the rest of Orthodox Serbia, the official UN country Kosovo belongs to has been the focus of tension for decades and tragically ended in the terrible Kosovo War . 

Sadly, because Kosovo has not been recognised as an independent country by the UN, these tensions continue and mean that parts of the country are under the supervision of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces . But fret not, traveling in Kosovo is very safe and attacks are rare.

Back to pristina, many of the things to do in the capital are interlinked with Albanian culture.  For example, you can taste some Albanian Rakia , see sculptures of Skanderbeg like the ones in Tirana , and pay homage to the devout spiritual leader at the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa (who was ethnically Albanian). 

You can socialise over a thick Turkish coffee, witness the medieval UNESCO Site in Gračanica or see one of the world’s ugliest buildings – the Kosovo National Library . 

To truly enjoy the most beautiful parts of Kosovo, take a detour to Peje and Prizren, two beautiful mountain villages where traditional architecture and rich Ottoman heritage have been preserved, they are real gems.

50. Belgrade, Serbia

You’ve been around the continent and visited almost every country and your final epic European road trip destination is Serbia’s capital, Belgrade. 

Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has a tumultuous past of war and upheaval. It’s possibly this turbulent past that’s created it’s free-spirited present, particularly on the Bohemian avenue of Skardarlija and in the frequent splavovi (party boats) along the Danube and Sava.  You can end your monumental road trip of Europe with a bang in Belgrade by partying the night away. After sobering up, take in your final views from the Beogradska Tvrđava fortress , stroll around in deep thought at what you’ve accomplished at Kalemegdan Park and then jump into the water at Ada Ciganlija island.

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Europe tour packages from India covers the continent’s favourite sites, combining them together to explore all of its most voted attractions and the must sees’ of the world. Here at Veena World, connecting these core vivid nature of travellers to their dream destinations is made possible with Europe holiday packages. These are intricately handcrafted to gift you and your family, the experience you have dreamt of! Special Europe tour packages for family customized to give you perfect family vacation. From the Eiffel Tower to Colosseum and from the love of Modern Art to Gothic Architecture, Europe packages from India include everything to surprise you, with what the world has to offer!

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The fantasy land popping straight out of your favourite storybook as a child has successfully grasped the world’s attention since the beginning of the time. Its aesthetic synchronization of art, history and culture has given birth to incredible heritage and immortal people. The true essence of this land ranges from the royalty of Your Highness, The Queen’s Buckingham Palace in England to the architectural marvel like Gaudi’s Sagrada Família in Spain. The personality of Europe welcomes every traveller with a complete new perception towards life as a whole. Whenever one thinks about booking a dream vacation, hunting for the best Europe tour packages is not far from their minds. Here at Veena World, Europe holiday packages are intricately tailor-made to provide you a perfect vacation. Travelling is known to bring people together as we grow with every tour. The handcrafted online Europe tour packages for family are made with a motto to celebrate the bond of the family. The idea of travel, explore and celebrate is reflected in every tour that we undertake! Your choice stands as our priority, may it be for adventure or for leisure, for one country special or two or even multi country, for some special reason like honeymoon or just a short escape travel, for a desire to travel alone or with family, all of it is made possible with Veena World!

Europe being the wish list destination of every traveller, choose a perfect match like Veena World to make your travel dream come true! This land will never disappoint you with its remarkable scenery and cultural differences that amaze you. Veena World has a focus of innovating and building unrivalled tours. We bring together everything best available, for a one of a kind memory and travel story that can be shared with your loved ones. Europe is an all year round destination with so much to offer every time that travelling here once wouldn’t be enough! Raise your spirits for your fantasy of Europe, as this fairy-tale is waiting to be true!

The Geography and Seasons

Wrapped with the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Europe is blessed with serene blue waters, charming bays and fjords. The continent’s location of Northern Hemisphere and part of it in the Eastern Hemisphere gives the ironic distribution of seasons and weathers. Some experience extreme cold and some experience warmth. The Europe tour packages from India available online, let you experience the significantly different seasons than that from India. The variety of sun soaked beaches and the white snow-capped mountains often stand out as the highlights in the Europe tour packages from India.

The Culture

Europe is a land of rich culture and history. Our online Europe holiday packages explores the in-depth flavour of true Europe that echoes in the cobblestoned streets and lanes. It’s an architectural gem with multi flavoured cuisines at each sector and can be explored along with our Europe family holiday packages. Europe also holds the most popular identity affiliated to wine and beer, with its beautiful wineries and breweries. The unique festivals like Oktoberfest celebrates the beer culture of Germany, Tomorrowland in Belgium celebrates music and modern world and La Tomatina of Spain is also an extraordinary experience celebrating mere togetherness. Europe travel packages from India give a beautiful glimpse of the continent with a precise balance of art, culture and history; thereby, letting you see the soul of Europe!

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Every destination’s charm thrives on the experiences that it beholds for the visitor. The traveller in you should be content with the experiences planned and offered in our affordably priced Europe holiday packages. At Veena World, we believe to give every individual the trip they dream to have! A special tour with your better half can get extra special with Europe honeymoon packages from India. Discover Europe’s peace and tranquillity as a life defining adventure. Europe has so much in its bounty, that it’s perfect for a family vacation. A family getaway can be made exceptional with the tailor made Europe tour packages for family. With an eccentric range of ultimate relaxing destinations, our Paris and France holidays will leave you spoilt for choice. Historical and cultural uniqueness makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and can be explored along with our Europe family holiday packages. Celebration of eternal love in the city of romance with our affordably priced Paris holiday packages is every lover’s dream. Enjoying the freezing cold in Scandinavia only to witness the phenomenal Northern lights, raising up the spirits in the white and blue land of Santorini, Greece or Gondola rides in the canals of Venice in Italy. All of such one of a kind experiences in the world, graced as a part of this continent’s legacy can be lived with our online Europe tour packages from India. Europe being the pioneer left its lineage in many countries including our own. The classic link felt by us, can be a part of your experience too as we travel from the country’s financial centre with our affordably priced Europe tour from Mumbai.

The Highlights

The true essence of the continent is a perfect combination of all of Europe’s highlights. Exploring Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame de Paris, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and more in Paris holiday packages or Colosseum, Acropolis of Athens, Sagrada Familia, Buckingham Palace, Alps of Swiss and more, crafted together in the Europe holiday packages from India. The amalgamation of these attractions, in an affordable package customised to let you have it all. Europe tour packages from India available online, covers the continents favourite sites, combining them together to explore all of its most voted attractions and the must sees’ of the world. A glimpse of European highlights include top picks like Paris of France, Lucerne and Engelberg of Switzerland, Innsbruck and Wattens of Austria and Munich of Germany along with Vaduz of Liechtenstein. With a plethora of exotic Europe travel packages from India, Europe has something to offer to everyone. These are some of the top destinations that can be added to your affordably priced Europe tour from Mumbai to get the most out of your European sojourn to link back the influential traces found in your own hometown.

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Riding from India to London through the Silk Route, on a motorbike

The ambitious journey will traverse 21 countries and three continents in 85 days, on a route specially designed for an all-women biker group from surat.

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Kumar Shah is a motorcycle enthusiast who realised his dream of riding across the world at 52, despite three heart attacks. A newspaper proprietor and editor of Vadodara Samachar, a daily newspaper in Vadodara, he rode from Vadodara, Gujarat to London, United Kingdom on his 1994-make Royal Enfield in 2013. Shah has been an active part of the motorsports community in India, organising blind car rallies and motorcross events in his hometown since the 1980s. He is an award-winning golfer, and spends his free time coaching a university football team—he was the goalkeeper of the same team in college. He launched Ride Your Dreams a year ago to design and curate extraordinary journeys for biking enthusiasts. In May 2019, he has set off on the maiden journey to London with motorcycles and a back-up car in tow. Follow this blog for live updates of the journey.

• India to London road trip, part 13: Paris to Barcelona, Spain to Morocco
• India to London road trip, part 12: Storybook scenes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• India to London road trip, part 11: Latvia, Lithuania, and a flavour of Gujarat in Poland
• India to London road trip, part 10: Russia and the lost passport nightmare
• India to London road trip, part 9: Feeling like a king in Kazakhstan
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The dream was to do a bike journey halfway across the world – once. It was a dream that I had been harbouring since 1983, when I was only a 22-year-old college student. So in 2013, when I began riding my 1994-make Enfield, from Vadodara, Gujarat to London, United Kingdom, it was a culmination of a desire of 30 years and the euphoria of the journey was unparalleled. I knew then that this was just the beginning.

On May 30, 2019, I set off for the journey again; only this time, I‘m taking the Biking Queens of Surat on a specially designed route, across 21 countries and three continents.

In 2013, when I got home after being on the road for 76 days and riding across 14 countries, sure, I was expecting attention from the press. The small-town press has always been focused on the endeavours of its people. What I wasn’t expecting was emails and phone calls and unexpected visits from travel and biking enthusiasts from every corner of the country, seeking help to design similar, inspiring journeys for them. My Facebook profile was flooded with friend requests and my phone wouldn’t stop ringing.I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought of a journey like this. Many tried. In the 1980s, a few of my friends tried to go through Pakistan, but returned in a few days because their papers were not in order. Charting out your route through 19,000 km, through countries that aren’t the obvious choices for tourists, isn’t a walk in the park. Then there’s the gargantuan task of getting visas for various countries without flight tickets. Insurance, visas for vehicles, explaining to every stunned visa officer that you’re indeed going on a motorcycle--the sheer logistics and planning involved in an expedition of this magnitude is enough to dissuade most enthusiasts.

The Silk Odyssey 2.0 route passes through 21 countries, including Kyrgystan, Russia and Lithuania. Currently, the group is passing through China.

It took me many months to finalise my Silk Odyssey, taking the ancient silk route that was used to trade mainly silk and spices through China, India and many countries. The Silk Road got its name in 1877 by a German geographer. I tried the easy way out-–I spoke to travel planners and experts but at the end of the day, all of them gave up. It can’t be done, I was told. It’s too difficult; it’s a mad man’s plan, they said. That’s when I spoke to the people who have been a part of the madness. I spoke to bikers around the world and got a sense of the expedition I was about to undertake. But none of them had taken the route I had planned, so I was left to fend for myself.

Eighteen months later, I had my route planned down to the towns I will be halting at, the ones that have inns and gas stations, the prices of fuel in each city, village or town across 14 countries. It was the sheer might of the 30-year-old unfulfilled dream that drove me. The unanswered part was getting a vehicle insurance and the cost involved. I only learned of it once I set out. Formalities at various borders was a challenge too. Some border crossings would be smooth while some could take up to six hours. Language was going to be a challenge as many countries do not speak English at all. I learnt about police harassment on some routes and ways to address them. Acquiring a Carnet De Passage was expensive. It allows a temporary import of your vehicle into other countries for a fee and deposit, with an assurance to bring the vehicle back to the country, else pay the export duties.

Planning and executing such a huge expedition takes a lot of understanding about the regulations of the countries I had to go through. Endless logistics had to be worked out. I searched for Indians who would have ventured out but found none. I only got a note from a friend’s friend, that, in the early sixties, some police officers had ventured to London from India, but other than that, got no more information. I searched for more details through my network but unfortunately could not locate a single member of that expedition. I became a member of various international motorcyclist forums and motorcyclists riding around the world.

This brought clarity to some of my queries. Even then, there were a few loose ends. I finally found my answers from riders coming to India from various countries. I met up with a few and invited a couple to stay with me. Finally, all my questions regarding logistics were answered from the horse’s mouth. It was only after this that I set out on my motorcycle tour to London.

After returning, I realised that the lack of adequate information is a problem that every traveller faces. Soon, many people came to me to plan the details of their trips. This is when I decided to design road journeys for others using my experience, and make them a blue print. It was a laborious task and I was later shocked to learn that none of the nine clients I had, had ventured out. The blue print remained in their closets, because of an underlying fear of venturing out on their own. This gave birth to ‘Ride Your Dreams’ and I am now going to conduct my first great tour under it, the India-UK Motorcycle Tour 2019. This tour is specifically designed for an all-women riding group called ‘Biking Queens’, Surat.

The India-UK Motorcycle Tour 2019 kicked off on June 6 from Varanasi, and will conclude in London on August 25. The route goes through 21 countries and three continents in 85 days. The entire group consists of three motorcycle riders on KTM 390 cc and two members, a mechanic and a photographer in the back up vehicle, ISUZU D-max, which I will be driving.

Stay tuned for dispatches from the road, as we travel through fascinating Silk Route countries along the way.

The author is a motorcycle enthusiast who realised his dream of riding across the world in his 50s, despite three heart attacks

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.

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14 International Road Trips From India - Your Checklist

1. nepal .

Distance (from New Delhi to Kathmandu): 1,125 kilometres Route: A drive from New Delhi to Kathmandu will take you across two states in India (New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, and you enter Nepal through Sunauli Border Duration: 21 hours (approximatley 2 days) Best time to visit: February to April Entry Requirement: Indian driving license. No other documentation is required. Visa Requirements: There is no visa requirement. Indians holding a valid passport, voter ID, driving license or ration card or any identification issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu can  live and work in Nepal, without any restrictions.

Distance(from New Delhi to Thimp): 1,546 kilometres Route: The route to Thimpu from New Delhi will take you across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Assam, from Guwahati (state capital of Assam), you will be able to move to the Bhutanese village Phuntsholing and then head to Thimpu. Duration: 32 hours (approximately 3 days) Best time to visit: March to May Entry Requirements: A travel pass and a vehicle pass will be required for entering the country. Both can be obtained from the immigration office at Phuntsholing for approximately BTN 300 per person. Visa Requirements: While there is no official visa requirement for Indians, Indians holding a valid passport (valid for atleast 6 months from the date of travel), voter ID and travel related documents can obtain a 7 days’ entry-cum-stay permit from the border office. (Note: Bhutan regulates the number of foreign tourists within their country!)

3. Bangladesh

Distance (New Delhi to Dhaka): 1,850 kilometres Route: To reach Dhaka, you will have to travel across New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and cross the border at Sonamasjid Sulka checkpoint or Petrapole–Benapole border to arrive in Bangladesh. Once you are on Bangladesh land, it will take you approximately an 8-hour drive  to arrive in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Duration: 35 hours (approximately 3 days) Best time to visit: October to April Entry Requirements: Bangladesh recognizes Indian international driving permit. However, a carnet is required for you vehicle before you enter the country. Carnet is issued by the Automobile Association of India upon payment of a refundable bank guarantee/ cash/ cheque of approximately 200% the market value of your vehicle. Though expensive, Carnet is your vehicle’s visa for over 62 countries in the world. Visa Requirements: Indian nationals holding a valid passport are eligible to avail visa from the Bangladeshi embassy.

Distance (New Delhi to Mandalay): 2,959 kilometres Route: To cross the Indian border, you will have to travel across New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. You will enter Myanmar from the Moreh Border checkpoint and then head to Mandalay, and further down south to reach Yangoon. Duration: 64 hours (approximately 6 days) Best time to visit: November to February Entry Requirements: A special overland permit, a temporary customs import permit and a MMT permit will be required for travelling into Myanmar with your vehicle. The Myanmar government also issues an approved escort vehicle with a tourist guide and a liaison officer to accompany you during your stay in Myanmar (this is non-negotiable). Visa Requirements: A visa stamped from the Myanmar embassy is required before travelling into the territory of Myanmar. While Myanmar issues e-visa to Indians which allows a single entry permit for upto 28 days’ of stay – this may not be sufficient or appropriate for road trip into the country. 

5. Sri Lanka

Distance (from New Delhi to Colombo): 3,533 kilometres Route: A journey from New Delhi to Colombo will take you across the length of India, crossing 6 states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, you can take the Nagappattinam ferry to Colombo. Duration: 78 hours (approximately 7 days) Best time to visit: Although the west coast and south coast are ideal during December to March, the best time to visit the east coast of Sri Lanka is in April-May. Entry Requirements: An international driving license, carnet and motor insurance should be obtained in advance. Visa Requirements: Sri Lanka grants a 30 days’ e-visa for a maximum of 30 days’ stay.

6. Thailand

Distance (New Delhi to Bangkok): 4,198 kilometres Route: The road to Bangkok, will travel across the north eastern states of India and will cross across Myanmar to arrive in Thailand. Many who have undertaken this road, suggest the following journey, head from Delhi to Imphal, cross Moreh, Kale, Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon, Maesot, and arrive in Bangkok from Tak. Duration: 71 hours Best time to visit: November to early April Entry Requirements: Make sure you are also carrying the requisite approvals and documents for travelling across Myanmar. You can drive with an international driving license. Visa Requirements: Thailand allows e-visa on arrival for Indians holding a valid passport.

7. Malaysia

Distance (New Delhi to Kuala Lumpur): 5,760 kilometres Route: To arrive in Kuala Lumpur, you will have to travel across two other countries – Myanmar and Thailand. Due to the travel mode, the visa/entry requirements for each of these countries will also need to be complied with (please see the specific requirements for each, above). Duration: 101 hours (approximately 8 days) Best time to visit: December to February Entry Requirements: Malaysia recognizes international driving license issued in India, and the carnet is sufficient for your vehicle’s entry and drive around Malaysia. Visa Requirements: Indian passport holders are eligible to apply for a single entry eNTRI visa, which grants permission to the traveller to stay in Malaysia for a maximum of 15 days.

8. Singapore 

Distance (New Delhi to Singapore): 6,118 kilometres Route: To reach Singapore from New Delhi, you will have to travel across three countries – Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Due to the travel mode, the visa/entry requirements for each of these countries will also need to be complied with (please see the specific requirements for each, above). Duration: 105 hours (approximately 9 days) Best time to visit: February to April Entry Requirements: Singapore recognizes international driving license issued in India. Visa Requirements: Singapore grants an e-visa (valid for 30 days) to Indians holding a valid passport.

Distance (from New Delhi to Tibet): 1,142 kilometres Route: For arriving in China from New Delhi, one may take a route through Nepal via the Kodari — Zhangmu border. Duration: 40 hours (approximately 4 days) Best time to visit: Either the spring months of March and April or the autumnal September or October can be the best time to visit the country, depending on which you prefer. Entry Requirements: In order to drive in the territory of China, you will be required to obtain a special overland permit, a temporary driving licence and vehicle plate. The process of obtaining the overland permit takes over 3 months. In addition to these, you will also be required a liaise with the Chinese officials regarding your itinerary, whereafter a guide vehicle will be assigned to escort you for the duration of your travel. While Chinese do not rely on it, it is advisable to carry your international driving license with you at all times. Visa Requirements: Chinese visa from the Chinese embassy and Tibetan entry permit must be obtained in advance. In case you take the route across Nepal, the Chinese visa will have to obtained from the consulate of China in Kathmandu as well. 

10. Vietnam

Distance (New Delhi to Hanoi): 5,162 kilometres Route: A car ride from New Delhi to Hanoi will take you across Myanmar, Thailand and Laos before reaching  Vietnam. Duration: 101 hours (approximately 5 days) Best time to visit: from March to May or from September to November Entry Requirements: Vietnam allows Indians to drive their own vehicles within the country with a valid international driving permit and a carnet. However, a local insurance will have to be obtained in Vietnam for the vehicle as well. Visa Requirements: Indians are allowed to obtain an e-visa prior to entering into the country, which is valid for a period of 30 days.

Distance (New Delhi to Istanbul): 4,546 kilometres Route: A car ride from New Delhi should take you across China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, before arriving in Turkey. Duration: 59 hours (approximately 6 days) Best time to visit: April to May and from September to mid-November Entry Requirements: Indian international driving permit will suffice for your drive through the country, but a special permit in addition to the Carnet will be required from Turkish authorities. Visa Requirements: Turkey grants an e-visa for Indians holding a valid visa or resident permit for either United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America or any of the Schengen countries. 

12. Uzbekistan

Distance (New Delhi to Tashkent): 2,280 kilometres Route: While Uzbekistan may be closer through Afghanistan-Tajikistan, due to safety and logistical reasons the route via China may be preferred. Duration: 30 hours (approximately 4 days) Best time to visit: April to May, and September to early November Entry Requirements: Uzbekistan does not recognize the validity of India’s international driving permit and therefore, a special permit will be required from Uzbek authorities in advance. Visa Requirements: Entry into Uzbekistan requires special invitation letters, border crossing assistance as well as custom inquiry at several stages.

13.  Greece

Distance (New Delhi to Athens): 6,105 kilometres Route: Reaching Athens, will take you across 8 countries - China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Duration: 71 hours (approximately 8 days) Best time to visit: While the month of July endorses some of the most beautiful sunny days and sunset views with no rains, the period between April to mid-June and September to mid-October is also ideal for travel. Entry Requirements: Along with carnet and the international driving permit, you will be required to avail a special permit for driving in your vehicle in Greece. Visa Requirements: Greece is a European Union nation and therefore, a Schengen visa will have to be obtained for your stay in Greece.

14.  London

Distance (New Delhi to London): 7,832 kilometres Route: From those who have undertaken this enormous distance travel, the recommended route crosses over 11 countries to arrive in the United Kingdom. A car ride from New Delhi should take you across China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France.  Duration: Approximately 2 weeks Best time to visit: March through May Entry Requirements: UK recognizes international driving license issued in India. Visa Requirements: Indians holding a valid passport can apply for a temporary stay visa for United Kingdom.

This post was published by Deepika Yadav

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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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The driving distance from India to Europe is:

5,643 miles / 9 082 km, map of driving directions from india to europe.

View a map with driving directions using your preferred map provider: Google Maps , Bing Maps , or MapQuest .

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Driving distance from India to Europe

The total driving distance from India to Europe is 5,643 miles or 9 082 kilometers .

Your trip begins in India. It ends in Europe.

If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from India to Europe so you can see when you'll arrive at your destination.

You can also calculate the cost of driving from India to Europe based on current local fuel prices and an estimate of your car's best gas mileage.

If you're meeting a friend, you might be interested in finding the city that is halfway between India and Europe .

Planning to fly a plane instead? You might be more interested in calculating the straight line distance to fly from India to Europe .

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Driving distance calculator

Travelmath helps you find driving distances based on actual directions for your road trip. You can get the distance between cities, airports, states, countries, or zip codes to figure out the best route to travel to your destination. Combine this information with the fuel cost tool to find out how much it will cost you to drive the distance, or compare the results to the straight line distance to determine whether it's better to drive or fly. You can print out pages with a travel map.

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10 epic road trips in Europe

If you ask me, one of the best ways to experience Europe is on an epic road trip. There’s something liberating about taking to the open road and discovering new destinations along the way.

Winding through stunning landscapes, quaint villages and historic sites, the best road trips in Europe offer heaps of beauty and adventure. 

From the sun-drenched coasts of the south to the rugged fjords of the north, I’ve handpicked each of these road trips for their scenery, activities and diversity.

Here’s my pick of the best road trips in Europe.

Author Bio: Jessie Moore

Jessie Moore is a luxury travel expert with years of experience travelling the world to find the best destinations, hotels and adventures.

This post contains affiliate links.

1. Amalfi Coast in Italy

We’re all familiar with the postcard-perfect scenery of the impossibly pretty Amalfi Coast.

One of the best ways to experience it is on a road trip, where you can soak up breathtaking views of the coastline along the way. 

The 50 km stretch of winding road is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s not hard to see why! 

This road has panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea on one side, and picturesque little villages on the other. A series of cliffs adds to the uniqueness of this beautiful spot. 

One of the highlights of the trip is braving the narrow winding roads from Nocelle, then rounding a bend, and getting the first glimpse of Positano .

Pastel-coloured buildings cascade down the hillside in an amazing way unique to this part of the world. 

If you have time, make a stop at the town of Amalfi, one of the most beautiful Italian coastal towns . The small town is bursting with history and interesting architecture. 

The Arab-Norman Cathedral with its Byzantine, striped facade is a testament to the colourful cultural heritage of the area.

Amalfi is also known for its limoncello, so make sure to sample some of that – just don’t get behind the wheel until the effects have worn off!

2. Ring Road in Iceland

The Ring Road of Iceland, or Road 1, is one of the longest on this list, as it’s a 1,332 km drive, showcasing the country’s fascinating landscapes.

This road trip is a geologist’s dream, with unbelievable views of active volcanoes, immense glaciers, and everything in between fire and ice. 

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is unmissable, with its huge icebergs that calve from a glacier, and then drift serenely across the lagoon. 

At the nearby Diamond Beach , little chunks of ice wash up on the dark sand, creating a sparkling carpet that shimmers magically in the dusk.

The magic doesn’t end there, as the Northern Lights are a sight to behold. 

It’s worth noting here that the best time to watch these dancing celestial lights is during the months from September to March.

That’s when the Aurora Borealis really comes to life with its green and purple hues. You can park your car at any spot in the road, turn the headlights off, and enjoy the light show!

If you’re planning a trip to Iceland , have a read of my guides before you go:

• 15 luxury hotels in Iceland
• Ultimate guide to visiting the Golden Circle
• Everything you need to know about the Blue Lagoon
• Visiting Iceland in November: what to know
• 7 incredible Michelin restaurants in Iceland

3. North Coast 500 in Scotland

The North Coast 500, or the NC500, also known as Scotland’s Route 66, is an 830 km drive that starts and ends at Inverness Castle.

It’s a perfectly circular route that became open to the public in 2015. The rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands is unparalleled, and this is a great way to explore it. 

This road also takes you through historic castles and stunning coastal scenery.

One of my favourite stops along the road is Dunrobin Castle , which is one of Scotland’s grand houses.

Its fairytale spires, manicured gardens, and wild landscapes surrounding it are simply picture-perfect. 

The NC500 , by design, twists and turns through sparsely populated areas like Sutherland and Caithness.

The long drive with only heather-covered hills, and grazing cattle in sight, is a great way to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with nature. 

If you’re planning a trip, have a read of my Scotland guides before you go:

• 10 epic castles in Scotland
• 10 gorgeous boutique hotels in Scotland
• 10 charming seaside towns in Scotland

4. Romantic Road in Germany

Germany’s Romantic Road is a 350 km drive through the heart of Bavaria.

The Romantic Straße, as the Germans call it, takes you back in time where there are castles, medieval walled towns, and half-timbered houses. It’s a real-life fairytale! 

For me, the highlight of this trip is the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle . This 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace stands regally on top of a rugged hill.

Some say that it inspired Walt Disney’s Princess animations, and in particular, the castle in Sleeping Beauty. 

Another surreal stop along this road is the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber . Its cobblestone streets and well-preserved medieval architecture will transport you back in time!

I was lucky to be there around Christmas, when the whole town transformed into a winter wonderland. 

Discover more ideas for your Europe bucket list .

5. Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland

Imagine standing atop a 214 m high cliff, and watching the Atlantic waves crashing against massive rocks below.

This unforgettable view is at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare , and it’s one of many that you too can see along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. 

The 2,500 km drive runs mostly along the country’s western seaboard. As you advance through this road trip, you’ll savour Ireland at its best: rich culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality. 

If you love visiting castles, I’d recommend a stop at Kylemore Abbey , which is a beautiful Victorian neo-Gothic castle standing in the middle of Connemara’s wild landscape. 

The coastal villages are also amazing, and I’d suggest visiting Dingle in County Kerry. It’s a particularly delightful destination with jolly colourful houses and friendly pubs.

Plus, if you look carefully at the coast, you might spot the famous resident dolphin, Fungie.

6. Basque Circuit in Spain and France

The Basque Circuit straddles the northern parts of Spain and southwestern France. 

It’s an out-of-this-world drive through verdant mountainous regions, charming coastal towns , and vibrant cities.

The 482-km drive starts at Bilbao, Spain and ends at Biarritz, France.

Don’t miss the chance to explore San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) . This elegant city has incredibly beautiful beaches; as for the afternoons, you should definitely sample its world-class cuisine. 

If you like architecture, then you’ll find a treasure in Espelette’s white-washed houses, and as you cross into France, you’ll be dazzled by the beauty of Biarritz. 

This French seaside town was the preferred destination for European aristocrats, and its Belle Époque architecture reflects that so well! 

7. Dalmatian Coast in Croatia

To fully explore the Dalmatian Coast, you’ll need to free up 7-10 days. There’s so much to explore, and every spot is worth seeing. 

The road winds through medieval towns, Roman ruins, oyster farms, family-run wineries, and some of the clearest waters in the whole world. 

One of my favourite places is the old town of Split . At its core, there’s a palace that was built in the 4th century AD.

The UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace is a filmmaking site, with TV shows like Game of Thrones taking advantage of its ancient walls and narrow streets.  

Croatia’s roads and beaches are busiest from June to August when tourists enjoy luxury hotels and turquoise bays.

The ‘shoulder months’ from September to early May are the best times for taking the Dalmatian road trip.

8. The Great Dolomites Road in Italy

The Great Dolomites Road, or as the Italians call it, the Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, is a 110 km road trip through the heart of the Alps.

I love the mountains, so this is one of my favourite road trips in Europe for its dramatic mountain scenery. 

A breathtaking moment during the Dolomites road trip comes when you reach the Pordoi Pass. You’ll stand at an elevation of 2,239 m, watching the surrounding peaks.

If you’d like to see more stunning vistas, you can take the cable car to the Sass Pordoi plateau, also known as the “Terrace of the Dolomites”. 

I’d recommend making a stop at Cortina d’Ampezzo, which will be hosting the next Winter Olympics in 2026.

It’s a quaint but glamorous village, and one of the most luxurious ski resorts in Europe . While in the summer, you’ll find plenty of hiking opportunities .

The food there is a fusion of Italian and Austrian tastes. Make sure you try canederli, which are bread dumplings served in broth; it’s simple and absolutely delicious! 

9. Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania

The Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania isn’t too long, as it’s a 90 km drive, but it’s most certainly an unforgettable experience!

The road twists, winds, and wades into the Carpathian Mountains, sometimes making steep descents and hairpin turns. But these heart-stopping moments are totally worth it! 

This highway was built in the 1970s, initially intended as a strategic military route.

At its highest point, it has an altitude of 2,042 m, and that’s where you’ll get the best views of the valley below.

A little heads-up for those who get car sick like me: the road zigzags sharply as it ascends the mountainside. 

If you like photography, then you shouldn’t miss the Bâlea Lake, which is a fascinating glacier lake near the road’s highest point.

The crystal-clear water reflects the surrounding peaks on its mirror-like surface in a picture-perfect scene you can only find in Romania. 

Discover more of the most beautiful lakes in Europe .

10. The Fjords in Norway

Taking a road trip through Norway’s fjords is like watching extraordinary landscapes in an art gallery, except that all this beauty is real.

As you drive from Bergen to Geiranger, you’ll come across snow-capped mountains, thundering waterfalls, and deep blue fjords. 

The Geirangerfjord is one of the most visited locations in Norway. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the best places to experience the country’s unique nature.

The Geiranger Skywalk at Dalsnibba is Europe’s highest fjord viewpoint. From there, even the cruise ships appear tiny and inconsequential beside the massive towering cliffs.

Have you done any of these road trips in Europe? Let me know your favourites in the comments below!

If you’re planning a European getaway, you may also like: 

• 10 underrated European cities to visit
• 12 amazing hidden gems in Europe
• 10 European destinations that are hot in October

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Jessie is a luxury travel expert with years of experience travelling the world to find the best destinations, hotels and adventures.

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The Mindful Traveller

Eco Travel Blog & Photography

Most Scenic Road Trips in Europe: 16 Epic Routes

13 October 2023 · In: Europe , Road Trip

Are you looking for the  most beautiful and scenic road trips in Europe ? Adventure lovers, you have come to the right place! This article walks you through  16 road trip ideas to add to your bucket list  for an unforgettable holiday, whether you are travelling for 7 days or 2 weeks.

Europe is a breathtaking destination  which has much to offer! From quaint villages and stunning natural landscapes to emblematic historical sites and tasty local cuisine, you will find  plenty of things to do and places to see  on a European road trip in both summer and winter.

Born near Paris and living in Manchester in the UK,  I consider Europe my home , continually exploring it and discovering something new. Each country has something exceptional to offer, and I am always surprised by their  cultural diversity . 

So, are you ready to discover the  top 16 Europe road trips that you must experience ? Let’s get started! And, of course, let me know in the comments below if you have any other suggestions 🙂

Disclosure : Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. For more information, please  read our full affiliate disclosure .

16- Vienna to Innsbruck, Austria

Overview: 16 epic european road trips.

1- Iceland Ring Road 2- North Coast 500, Scotland 3- The Loire Valley, France 4- The Romantic Road, Germany 5- Pula to Dubrovnik, Croatia 6- The Atlantic Coast, Portugal 7- The Tuscan Countryside, Italy 8- The Atlantic Road, Norway

9- The Peloponnese region, Greece 10- Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland 11- Andalusian Escape, Spain 12- Montenegro Loop 13- London to Edinburgh, UK 14- Baltic States Route 15- Into the Wilderness, Finland 16- Vienna to Innsbruck, Austria

Best Europe road trips – Map

16 breathtaking road trip routes in Europe

Here are 16 road trips to inspire your next European adventure. Each of these routes is easily accessible by car, campervan or motorbike. But also be sure to check road conditions, especially during the winter months, and book your accommodation in advance.

Best car rental options

Looking for the best car rental deals for your road trip in Europe?

Check out Rentalcars.com to search and compare which one is best for you. From affordable to luxury, they make it easy to choose and have a great selection of rental agents.

1- Iceland Ring Road

⏰  Duration : 7-10 days 📆  When to go : summer (June-August) 

The Iceland Ring Road, also known as  Route 1 , is the main route  that circles the entire island  and connects most of the major towns and attractions, making it an ideal road trip route for exploring the country.

This incredible road offers one of the  most famous and scenic drives  in the world, where you will be able to experience the best of Iceland through its  breathtaking landscapes , including glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs, black sand beaches and more!

Iceland is one of my favourite countries, and I never get tired of it. It is also the  perfect place for a road trip  due to its Ring Road forming a complete loop around the island,  accessible any time of the year , although I would be careful and focus on the South in winter.

READ MORE: 9 Perfect Days in Iceland: Ring Road Itinerary

ITINERARY 

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering the most iconic natural wonders in Iceland:

Day 1: Reykjavik

• Start your road trip in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.
• Discover the main attractions and sites, including Hallgrímskirkja Church, Harpa Concert Hall and the downtown area.
• Bathe in the  Blue Lagoon , a relaxing geothermal spa.

Day 2: Golden Circle

Explore the Golden Circle , which includes three highlights:

• Thingvellir National Park: walk (or swim) between tectonic plates and visit Lake Thingvallavatn.
• Geysir Geothermal Area: see the still active and erupting Strokkur Geyser and its hot springs.
• Gullfoss Waterfall: admire the stunning waterfall.

Day 3: South Coast

Head to the south coast and visit attractions such as:

• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall: walk behind the waterfall.
• Skogafoss Waterfall: climb to the top for panoramic views.
• Reynisfjara Beach: discover the black sand beach and its basalt columns.
• Vik: stop to discover this charming town.

Day 4: Vatnajökull National Park

Explore Vatnajökull National Park:

• Skaftafell: hike to Svartifoss waterfall or take a  glacier hike  (I highly recommend it! In winter, you can also join an  ice cave tour ).
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: marvel at the floating icebergs.

Day 5: East Fjords

• Take the day to travel through the picturesque East Fjords, stopping at fishing villages and enjoying scenic views.
• Visit Seydisfjordur, a lovely hidden town with colourful houses.

Day 6: North Iceland

• Visit Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
• Travel north to visit places like Húsavík (known for  whale watching ) and Goðafoss Waterfall.
• Explore the town of Akureyri, the second-largest city in Iceland.

Day 7: Northwest Iceland and back to Reykjavik

• Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and its dramatic landscapes.
• Return to Reykjavik.

RING ROAD MAP

Click on the top left of the map to display the list of stops and locations.

2- North Coast 500, Scotland

⏰  Duration : 5-7 days 📆  When to go : spring & summer (May-September) 

The North Coast 500 (NC500) is one of the most scenic driving routes in the UK , taking you on a circular journey through some of the  most picturesque and remote parts  of the northern Scottish Highlands. It is a fantastic way to explore the  beauty and rich heritage  of the country.

This popular route covers around 500 miles (805 kilometres) of stunning scenery, rugged coastlines, historic sites and charming villages. Some of its highlights include the wild  Torridon Mountains , the fairytale-like  Dunrobin Castle  and the secluded  Cape Wrath .

This road trip itinerary is also perfect for nature lovers! You will find  many outdoor activities  possible, such as hiking, cycling and wildlife spotting. In addition, the area is known for  birdwatching and stargazing  due to its low light pollution. And in winter, you might be lucky enough to  see the Northern Lights !

Here is an example of a  7- day itinerary  covering the main highlights of the North Coast 500:

Day 1: Inverness

• Start your road trip in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.
• Visit Inverness Castle and stroll along the River Ness.
• Explore the nearby Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns.

Day 2: Ullapool

• Drive to Ullapool, a picturesque fishing village.
• Along the way, stop at the Rogie Falls and Corrieshalloch Gorge.
• In Ullapool, enjoy fresh seafood and walk along the harbour.

Day 3: Durness

• Head north along the coast, passing through the spectacular scenery of Assynt.
• Stop at Ardvreck Castle and the Bone Caves.
• Visit Smoo Cave near Durness.

Day 4: Thurso

• Continue to drive along the north coast to Thurso.
• Explore the stunning beaches of Balnakeil and Sandwood Bay.
• Visit the Castle and Gardens of Mey.

Day 5: John O’Groats and Wick

• Drive to John O’Groats, the northernmost point of mainland Britain.
• Visit Duncansby Head and its distinctive sea stacks.
• Head south to Wick and explore the town, including the Old Pulteney Distillery.

Day 6: Dingwall

• Leave the north coast and head south to Dingwall.
• Along the way, visit the Black Isle, known for its picturesque villages and dolphin-watching opportunities.
• Explore the town of Dingwall and its surrounding areas.

Day 7: Return to Inverness

• Drive back to Inverness and complete the North Coast 500 loop.
• Along the way, consider visiting the historic town of Beauly and the Beauly Priory.
• Return to Inverness, where you can spend your final evening exploring, shopping or relaxing.

3- The Loire Valley, France

⏰  Duration : 5 days 📆  When to go : spring & summer (May-September) 

The Loire Valley, located in central France, is a  picturesque and historic region  known for its magnificent castles, vineyards, picturesque villages and beautiful countryside. It is the ideal place to learn more about the  rich culture and history of France .

Not only a paradise for history and architecture enthusiasts, this road trip itinerary is also a delight for food, wine and nature lovers. It offers a  perfect blend of cultural, culinary and natural experiences  that make it a popular destination for travellers from around the world.

I feel lucky to say that  I was born in the Loire Valley , more precisely in Orleans. I loved the area and its cultural landmarks. It always felt great to be in the countryside whilst still being close to major cities like Paris. I am sure you will love exploring the many castles (châteaux) – a  great location for families with children !

READ MORE: Most Scenic Road Trips in France: 12 Epic Routes

Here is an example of a  5-day itinerary  covering some of the most famous châteaux and attractions in the Loire Valley:

Day 1: Tours

• Start your road trip in Tours, a city in the heart of the Loire Valley.
• Explore its historic Old Town with half-timbered houses and Place Plumereau.
• Visit the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
• Take a walk along the banks of the Loire.

Day 2: Château de Villandry and Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

• Drive to Château de Villandry, famous for its superb Renaissance gardens.
• Continue to Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, a fairytale castle set on an island in the Indre River.

Day 3: Château de Chambord and Château de Cheverny

• Visit the iconic  Château de Chambord , a masterpiece of the French Renaissance.
• Explore its massive double-helix staircase and its vast garden.
• Head to Château de Cheverny, famous for its elegant interiors and well-preserved furniture.
• If you have time, you can also discover the pretty village of Cheverny and its vineyards.

Day 4: Château de Chenonceau and Amboise

• Visit the elegant  Château de Chenonceau , spanning the Cher River.
• Explore the stunning gardens and galleries of the castle.
• Drive to the town of Amboise, where you can visit Château d’Amboise and Clos Lucé, the former home of Leonardo da Vinci.
• Spend the evening exploring the quaint streets of Amboise.

Day 5: Wine tasting and back to Tours

• Enjoy a wine-tasting experience at a local vineyard in the Vouvray or Montlouis-sur-Loire wine region.
• Return to Tours in the afternoon.
• Spend your last evening in Tours sampling local cuisine and wine.

LOIRE VALLEY MAP 

4- The Romantic Road, Germany 

⏰  Duration : 4-5 days 📆  When to go : spring & summer (May-September) 

The Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) in Germany is one of the  most famous and scenic tourist routes , taking you through charming villages, historic towns and beautiful countryside. You will embark on a journey filled with  medieval architecture, stunning landscapes and a feeling of romance . 

The road stretches for around 350 kilometres (220 miles) through the  southern part of Germany,  near the border with Austria, and is a great way to immerse yourself in  German history and culture  as you come across many influential landmarks.

And for any  food lover  out there, you have come to the right place! The region along the Romantic Road is known for its  delicious Bavarian cuisine , including sausages, sauerkraut, schnitzels and pretzels. And do not forget to try  local beers and wines , such as Franconian wine.

READ MORE: Bavaria Road Trip: Epic 1-Week Itinerary

Here is an example of a  5-day itinerary  covering some of the most iconic stops along the Romantic Road:

Day 1: Würzburg

• Start your road trip in Würzburg, a city known for its stunning Residenz Palace.
• Explore the Residenz and its beautiful gardens.
• Take a stroll through the Old Town.
• Enjoy a glass of Franconian wine at a local wine tavern.

Day 2: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

• Drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany.
• Explore its charming streets and walk along the city walls.
• Visit the Town Hall and St. Jacob’s Church.
• Try a Schneeball, a local pastry speciality.

Day 3: Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen

• Head to Dinkelsbühl, another picturesque medieval town along the Romantic Road.
• Explore its well-preserved city walls and the Cathedral of St. George.
• Relax in the charming market square.
• Continue to Nördlingen, a town located in a meteorite crater. 
• Visit the Daniel Tower for panoramic views.

Day 4: Augsburg

• Drive to Augsburg, one of the oldest cities in Germany.
• Visit its historic Old Town, home to the Augsburger Dom and the Fuggerei, the oldest social housing complex.
• Explore Maximilianstraße and its beautiful Renaissance buildings.

Day 5: Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle

• Head to Füssen, a pretty town located at the foot of the Bavarian Alps.
• Visit Hohes Schloss.
• Explore the picturesque streets of the town.
• Do a quick detour to  Neuschwanstein Castle , the iconic fairytale castle.
• Take a guided tour of the castle or enjoy the views from Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge).
• Return to Füssen to end your road trip.

ROMANTIC ROAD MAP 

5- Pula to Dubrovnik, Croatia

⏰  Duration : 7-10 days 📆  When to go : spring (May-June) & autumn (September-October)

A road trip from Pula to Dubrovnik in Croatia is an adventure you should not miss, as it takes you  along the stunning Adriatic coast  through historic towns and beautiful landscapes. The country has become an increasingly  popular tourist destination  in recent years, and you will understand why!

The perfect  blend of natural beauty  (from the coastline to national parks),  historic monuments and vibrant culture  make Croatia a diverse and attractive destination for travellers looking to explore the Adriatic coast and immerse themselves in  European history and lifestyle .

Stretching for over 1,700 kilometres, the coastline of Croatia is  ideal for a road trip under the sun with friends , with its thousand islands, crystal-clear waters, pebble and sandy beaches and traditional coastal towns.

READ MORE: 20 Best Summer Destinations in Europe

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering the main highlights of a road trip from Pula to Dubrovnik:

Day 1: Pula

• Start your road trip in Pula.
• Explore its Roman heritage, including the well-preserved Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus and Arch of the Sergii.
• Relax on one of its beautiful beaches.

Day 2: Rovinj

• Continue south to Rovinj, one of the most charming towns of Istria.
• Wander its cobblestone streets, visit the St. Euphemia Church and explore the Old Town.
• Enjoy fresh seafood at a local waterfront restaurant.

Day 3: Poreč

• Head to Poreč, known for its UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica and historic Old Town.
• Explore the basilica complex and its Roman heritage.

Day 4: Zadar

• Leave Istria and continue your road trip south to Zadar.
• Explore its Old Town, including the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun installations.
• Visit St. Donatus Church and the Roman Forum.

Day 5: Šibenik

• Drive to Šibenik, a historic town known for its impressive St. James Cathedral.
• Explore the cathedral and the charming Old Town.
• Take a boat trip to nearby islands or Krka National Park .

Day 6: Split

• Head to Split, the second-largest city in Croatia.
• Explore Diocletian’s Palace , a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Stroll through the historic Old Town.
• Enjoy the lively atmosphere along the Riva promenade.

Day 7: Dubrovnik

• Continue your road trip south to Dubrovnik.
• Walk on the city walls and admire panoramic views of the Old Town .
• Visit iconic attractions like the Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace and Onofrio’s Fountain.
• Relax on Banje Beach.
• Take a cable car ride to Mount Srđ for even more breathtaking views.

PULA TO DUBROVNIK MAP

6- The Atlantic Coast, Portugal

⏰  Duration : 8-10 days 📆  When to go : spring (April-May) & autumn (September-October)

Are you ready to explore the  stunning Atlantic coast of Portugal ? A road trip from Porto to Faro will allow you to experience the  diverse landscapes ,  historic towns  and  most   beautiful beaches  of the country. 

Vibrant and culturally rich, Portugal is also known for its  delicious cuisine and warm hospitality , making it an  ideal destination for solo travellers  (by car or campervan). I experienced it alone for a few days in May and always felt safe. I mostly stayed in hostels and met many other travellers along the way.  

Whether you are discovering historic landmarks, relaxing on the beach, hiking along the coast or savouring local cuisine, Portugal has  something to offer every type of traveller . And there is no better way to experience it all than a road trip from Porto to the Algarve.

Here is an example of a  9-day itinerary  offering a great mix of cultural, historical and natural attractions as you road trip from Porto to Faro:

Day 1: Porto

• Start your road trip in Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal.
• Explore the historic Ribeira district along the Douro River.
• Visit Livraria Lello, Clerigos Tower and Porto Cathedral.
• Enjoy a wine-tasting tour in the nearby Douro Valley .

Day 2: Aveiro

• Drive south to Aveiro, often called the “Venice of Portugal” due to its picturesque canals.
• Take a moliceiro boat ride along the canals.
• Explore the colourful houses of its historic centre.

Day 3: Coimbra

• Visit the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe.
• Explore the Joanina Library, Royal Palace and Coimbra Cathedral.
• Stroll through the medieval streets of the city.

Day 4: Tomar

• Drive to Tomar, home to the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Explore the Templar Castle and its intricate Manueline-style architecture.

Day 5: Óbidos and Nazaré

• Visit the charming medieval town of Óbidos with its well-preserved city walls.
• Enjoy a stroll through its narrow streets and visit the Óbidos Castle.
• Drive to Nazaré, known for its impressive waves and beautiful beach.

Day 6: Batalha and Alcobaça

• Explore the Batalha Monastery, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Visit the Alcobaça Monastery, known for its spectacular Gothic architecture.

Day 7: Lisbon

• Spend a full day exploring Lisbon.
• Visit historic neighbourhoods like Alfama, Bairro Alto and Belém.
• See the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries.
• Enjoy a traditional Portuguese meal and Fado music in the evening.

Day 8: Faro

• Drive to Faro, the capital of the Algarve region .
• Explore its historic Old Town with its medieval walls and charming streets.
• Visit the Faro Cathedral and stroll through Jardim Manuel Bivar.
• Relax on the nearby beaches.

Day 9: Algarve Beaches

• Spend this day exploring the beautiful beaches of the Algarve.
• Consider visiting Praia da Marinha, Praia de Benagil and Praia da Rocha.
• Enjoy water activities like swimming, snorkelling or kayaking tours.
• Or explore traditional villages such as Carvoeiro and Ferragudo.

PORTO TO FARO MAP

7- The Tuscan Countryside, Italy

⏰  Duration : 5-6 days 📆  When to go : spring (April-May) & autumn (September-October)

For any Italy lover out there, you will love this itinerary! A road trip through Tuscany offers a  fantastic mix of picturesque landscapes, medieval towns and excellent cuisine . I experienced it for a few days in March and absolutely loved it. Tuscany has an incredible atmosphere that will  transport you back in time .

Located in central Italy, Tuscany is a  scenic and culturally rich region  renowned for its winding cypress-lined roads, historic villages, Renaissance art treasures, wine production and culinary delights. You guessed it, you will not run out of  things to do . 

In addition, a road trip through Tuscany will be an excellent way to immerse yourself in  Italian culture  and enjoy a blend of  artistic exploration, gastronomic pleasures and relaxation  in a stunning and peaceful setting.

READ MORE: Tuscany Road Trip Guide: Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

Here is an example of a  5-day itinerary  offering a taste of the best that Tuscany has to offer:

Day 1: Florence

• Start your road trip in Florence , the capital of Tuscany.
• Explore its historic centre, including the Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Uffizi Gallery.
• Tour the  Galleria dell’Accademia  to admire the sculpture of David by Michelangelo.
• Take a walk across the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Day 2: Siena

• Drive to Siena, a beautiful medieval town.
• Explore the Piazza del Campo, its main square.
• Visit the Siena Cathedral and the Torre del Mangia.
• Get lost in its narrow streets and alleys.

Day 3: Val d’Orcia and Montalcino

• Explore the beautiful Val d’Orcia region, known for its rolling hills and iconic cypress trees.
• Drive to Montalcino, famous for its  Brunello di Montalcino wine .
• Visit vineyards for wine tasting and explore the town.

Day 4: San Gimignano and Volterra

• Head to San Gimignano, famous for its medieval towers.
• Explore the town and enjoy the views from the Torre Grossa.
• Drive to Volterra, known for its Etruscan heritage and medieval architecture.
• Visit the Volterra Cathedral and the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum.

Day 5: Pisa and Lucca

• Drive to Pisa.
• Visit its iconic  Leaning Tower of Pisa , Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery.
• Continue to Lucca, a charming walled city.
• Explore its historic centre, and walk or cycle along the city walls. 
• Stop at its San Martino Cathedral.
• Return to Florence.

TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE MAP

8- The Atlantic Road, Norway

The Norwegian Atlantic Road, also known as Atlanterhavsveien, is a  breathtaking drive in Norway  taking you along the rugged coastline of the country, passing over islands and bridges  with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean . 

With many charming towns and cultural attractions along the way, it is often considered one of the  most scenic drives  in the world, offering a unique and exhilarating experience for travellers seeking to explore the  coastal beauty of Norway  and its  dramatic landscapes .

Whether you are a photo enthusiast, a nature lover or simply looking for an unforgettable (and short) road trip, the Atlantic Road is a  must-visit destination ! Hop on your car or campervan and enjoy.

READ MORE: Norwegian Fjords Cruise: Complete Winter Guide

Here is an example of a  5-day itinerary  for exploring the Norwegian Atlantic Road and the surrounding area: 

Day 1: Ålesund

• Start your road trip in Ålesund, a picturesque coastal town known for its Art Nouveau architecture.
• Explore its historic district and climb to Aksla Viewpoint for panoramic views.
• Visit the Ålesund Aquarium to learn about local marine life.
• Enjoy a seafood dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Molde and Bud

• Drive to Molde, another scenic coastal town.
• Explore its beautiful gardens and Molde Cathedral.
• Head to the fishing village of Bud.
• Stop at viewpoints along the way to admire the dramatic coastline.
• Visit Bud and discover its historic charm.

Day 3: Atlantic Road and Kristiansund

• Drive along the Atlantic Road, a highlight of your trip, with its iconic bridges and breathtaking views.
• Make stops at different viewpoints and islands along the way.
• Arrive in Kristiansund, a coastal town known for its colourful houses and vibrant cultural scene.
• Explore its city centre and visit the Kirkelandet Church.

Day 4: Geiranger via the Trollstigen

• Drive to Geiranger, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a detour to the famous Trollstigen mountain road.
• Experience the hairpin bends and spectacular landscapes of Trollstigen.
• Explore the  Geirangerfjord  and go on a boat trip.
• Visit the Dalsnibba viewpoint.
• Hike or take a scenic drive to see the Seven Sisters Waterfall and the Bridal Veil Waterfall.

Day 5: Return to Ålesund

• Return to Ålesund.
• You might have time for some last-minute shopping or a final meal before heading home.

ATLANTIC ROAD MAP

9- The Peloponnese Region, Greece

⏰  Duration : 5-7 days 📆  When to go : spring (May-June) & autumn (September-October)

Located in southern Greece, the Peloponnese is a  historically and culturally rich region  separated from the Greek mainland by the Gulf of Corinth. It is a  fascinating peninsula  known for its ancient history, archaeological sites, beautiful coastlines and picturesque towns. 

Venturing on a road trip through the Peloponnese region offers an ideal mix of  history, culture, stunning natural landscapes and outdoor activities . It is a captivating destination if you are interested in exploring ancient ruins, enjoying coastal activities and  immersing yourself in Greek heritage .

And if you are a  food lover , you will also love tasting the culinary delights of the area! The Peloponnese is known for its  delicious Mediterranean cuisine , where you can savour local dishes like pastitsio, grilled lamb, fresh seafood, olives and feta cheese. 

If you would like to extend your trip to the Greek islands, check out this article: 15 Best Things to Do in Santorini, Greece .

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering some of the highlights of the Peloponnese region:

Day 1: Athens to Corinth

• Start your road trip in Athens, the capital of Greece.
• Visit the  Acropolis  and explore the historic Plaka neighbourhood.
• Drive to Corinth, known for the ancient Corinthian Acropolis and Temple of Apollo.

Day 2: Epidaurus and Nafplio

• Visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, known for its exceptional acoustics.
• Explore the Sanctuary of Asclepius and the Epidaurus Museum.
• Continue to Nafplio, a charming seaside town.
• Explore its historic Old Town and visit the Palamidi Fortress.

Day 3: Mycenae and Nemea

• Head to Mycenae, home to the famous Lion Gate and the Treasury of Atreus.
• Explore the archaeological site and the Mycenae Museum.
• Drive to Nemea, a wine region famous for its Agiorgitiko red wine.
• Visit a local vineyard for a wine-tasting experience.

Day 4: Olympia

• Drive to Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games.
• Explore its  archaeological sites , including the Temple of Zeus and the ancient stadium.
• Visit the Olympia Archaeological Museum.

Day 5: Messene and Kalamata

• Visit the ancient city of Messene, known for its well-preserved ruins.
• Explore its Ancient Theatre and city walls.
• Drive to Kalamata, a coastal town known for its olives and olive oil.

Day 6: Mani Peninsula

• Drive to the rugged Mani Peninsula, famous for its unique stone tower houses.
• Explore picturesque villages like Kardamyli and Areopoli.
• Visit the Diros Caves on a boat tour through underground caverns.

Day 7: Monemvasia

• Visit Monemvasia, a medieval fortress town on a small island.
• Explore the narrow streets and Byzantine churches.
• Enjoy panoramic views from the upper town.
• Return to Athens.

PELOPONNESE REGION MAP

10- Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

⏰  Duration : 7-10 days 📆  When to go : spring & summer (May-September) 

The Wild Atlantic Way is a  spectacular coastal route in Ireland , stretching along the west and northwest coasts of the country. It is renowned for its  rugged and dramatic landscapes , quaint villages, historic sites and the raw beauty of the Atlantic Ocean.

It offers a fascinating journey, allowing you to experience the  wild beauty of the west coast of Ireland . From impressive cliffs to pretty fishing towns and unique cultural experiences, a road trip on this iconic road will provide you with  unforgettable   memories ! 

Whether you are driving the entire route or exploring specific sections, exploring the Wild Atlantic Way is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in  Irish natural beauty, culture and history . 

Here is an example of a  10-day itinerary  covering some of the most spectacular parts of the Wild Atlantic Way:

Day 1: Ring of Kerry

• Start your road trip by exploring Kerry, one of the most famous scenic routes in Ireland.
• Drive the Ring of Kerry, stopping at viewpoints and attractions like Muckross House and Torc Waterfall.
• Visit the town of Killarney and its national park.

Day 2: Dingle Peninsula

• Drive to the Dingle Peninsula, known for its stunning scenery and traditional Irish culture.
• Explore the town of Dingle and taste fresh seafood.
• Drive the Slea Head Drive for breathtaking coastal views.

Day 3: Loop Head Peninsula and Kilkee

• Drive to Loop Head Peninsula, a hidden gem on the Wild Atlantic Way.
• Explore the Loop Head Lighthouse and take in the coastal views.
• Continue to Kilkee and relax on its sandy beaches.

Day 4: The Cliffs of Moher and Burren 

• Continue to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most iconic natural attractions in Ireland.
• Drive to the Burren region, famous for its unique limestone karst landscape.
• Visit the Poulnabrone Dolmen and explore the walking trails of the Burren.

Day 5: Galway

• Head to Galway, a bustling city on the western coast.
• Explore its lively Latin Quarter and listen to traditional Irish music in local pubs.

Day 6: Connemara Peninsula and Clifden

• Drive to the Connemara Peninsula, known for its spectacular landscapes.
• Stop at the charming fishing village of Roundstone.
• Visit Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful castle and abbey located in the Connemara wilderness.
• Explore the stunning landscapes of Connemara National Park.
• Continue towards Clifden.

Day 7: Explore Westport

• Drive to Westport, a picturesque town with colourful buildings.
• Spend a full day exploring Westport.
• Tour Westport House and Gardens.
• Enjoy outdoor activities like cycling the Great Western Greenway or climbing Croagh Patrick.

Day 8: Achill Island and Sligo

• Head to Achill Island, known for its stunning beaches and dramatic cliffs.
• Explore Keem Bay and Keel Beach, and take a scenic drive around the island.
• Leave Achill Island and drive to Sligo to explore the town.
• Enjoy the stunning landscapes that inspired the poet W.B. Yeats.

Day 9: Donegal

• Continue north to Donegal.
• Make a detour to the beautiful Glencar Waterfall.
• Explore the wild beauty of Slieve League Cliffs, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
• Visit the charming village of Donegal.

Day 10: Derry

• Drive to Derry (also known as Londonderry), Northern Ireland.
• Explore the historic city walls and learn about its troubled history.
• Take a walk along the Peace Bridge.
• And if you have time, head to the iconic Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

WILD ATLANTIC WAY MAP

11- Andalusian Escape, Spain

⏰  Duration : 7-10 days 📆  When to go : spring (April-May) & autumn (September-October)

Andalusia (Andalucía in Spanish) is a  vibrant and culturally rich autonomous community  located in southern Spain. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, historic towns, Moorish architecture, flamenco music and dance and rich cultural heritage.

Whether you are exploring the historic streets of  Cordoba , admiring the Alhambra in  Granada  or lounging on the beach in  Cádiz , Andalusia offers plenty of experiences  for all travellers and ages . 

The region is also perfect for a road trip thanks to its  diversity and wealth of sites and attractions , from some of the most famous cities in Spain, such as  Seville , to the wide range of landscapes and historical landmarks, including  Roman ruins, Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance palaces .

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering some of the most iconic locations and attractions in Andalusia:

Day 1: Seville

• Start your road trip in Seville, the capital of Andalusia.
• Explore its historic city centre.
• Visit the Alcazar,  Seville Cathedral  and the Giralda Tower.
• Stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir River and watch a traditional Flamenco show.

Day 2: Cordoba

• Drive to Cordoba, known for the beautiful Mezquita.
• Explore the Mezquita and the historic Jewish Quarter.
• Visit the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and stroll along the Roman Bridge.

Day 3: Granada

• Head to Granada and visit the  Alhambra , a stunning palace and fortress complex.
• Explore the Generalife Gardens and the historic Albayzín neighbourhood.
• Visit the Monastery of Saint Jerome.
• Relax in a tapas bar and enjoy the local cuisine.

Day 4: Ronda

• Continue towards Ronda, a picturesque town perched on the edge of a deep gorge.
• Visit the Puente Nuevo and the Plaza de Toros.
• Explore the charming Old Town.

Day 5: Jerez de la Frontera

• Head to Jerez de la Frontera, known for its sherry wine.
• Visit a sherry bodega for a wine-tasting experience.
• Discover the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.

Day 6: Cádiz

• Drive to Cádiz, a historic port city.
• Explore the Old Town and visit the Cádiz Cathedral.
• Relax on La Caleta beach.

Day 7: Seville

• Return to Seville.
• Spend your last day in Seville, doing some last-minute shopping or visiting any attractions you missed.

ANDALUSIAN ESCAPE MAP

12- Montenegro Loop

Montenegro is a small yet  incredibly picturesque country  located in southeastern Europe, in the  Balkans . It is known for its diverse landscapes, rugged mountains, pristine coastline along the Adriatic Sea and quaint historic towns.

The combination of  natural beauty, cultural heritage and outdoor adventure  of Montenegro makes it an attractive destination for road trippers looking to explore a  lesser-known corner of Europe .

Whether you are seeking relaxation on the  Adriatic coast , hiking in the  mountains  or immersing yourself in  history and culture , Montenegro has something for everyone. And if you are adventurous, try yourself at  white-water rafting or mountain biking .

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering some of the most popular destinations and attractions in Montenegro:

Day 1: Podgorica

• Start your road trip in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.
• Explore its main landmarks, including Millennium Bridge and Gorica Hill.
• Try local specialities like Njeguški pršut (smoked ham) and seafood risotto.

Day 2: Lake Skadar

• Drive to Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans.
• Take a  boat trip  on the lake to explore its natural beauty and birdlife.
• Visit the picturesque village of Virpazar.

Day 3: Cetinje and Lovćen National Park

• Head to Cetinje, the historic royal capital of Montenegro
• Visit the Cetinje Monastery and the King Nikola Museum.
• Continue to Lovćen National Park and hike to the Njegos Mausoleum for stunning views.

Day 4: Budva

• Continue to Budva, known for its beautiful beaches and historic Old Town.
• Explore its historic centre and visit the Citadel.
• Relax on one of its sandy beaches.

Day 5: Kotor

• Drive to Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
• Explore its Old Town and climb the city walls for panoramic views.
• Visit the Maritime Museum to learn about local maritime history.
• Discover the lovely Tryphon’s Cathedral.

Day 6: Durmitor National Park

• Head to Durmitor National Park, famous for its spectacular scenery.
• Drive along the picturesque Bay of Kotor.
• Visit the charming coastal town of Perast and take a boat to the  Our Lady of the Rocks  islet.
• Explore the town of Žabljak and the nearby Black Lake.
• Consider hiking the Tara River Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Europe.

Day 7: Return to Podgorica

• Return to the capital city of Podgorica.

MONTENEGRO LOOP MAP

13- London to Edinburgh, UK

A road trip from London to Edinburgh is the perfect opportunity to explore the  diverse landscapes, historic landmarks and beautiful countryside  of England. You will have the chance to uncover hidden gems and  picturesque villages  that are worth the detour. 

Whether you enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere, hiking through scenic national parks or delving into the rich history of the country, England offers a  wide range of experiences for all travellers .

And do not forget to sample  traditional English cuisine  along the way, including dishes like fish and chips, roast dinners, pies and the famous English breakfast. England is also known for its  afternoon tea tradition  and beers in  cosy pubs .

READ MORE: London to Edinburgh Drive: 20+ Best Stops

Here is an example of a  5-day itinerary  covering the best stops and detours for an unforgettable adventure through the UK:

Day 1: Cambridge

• Start your road trip from London and drive to Cambridge.
• Explore the historic University of Cambridge, including King’s College Chapel and the picturesque Backs.
• Discover the city from the water by  punting on the River Cam .
• Admire the beautiful Mathematical Bridge.

Day 2: York

• Drive to York, a city rich in history.
• Stop at the Peak District National Park, known for its dramatic limestone valleys.
• Discover York Minster and walk along the medieval city walls.
• Explore the Shambles, a picturesque shopping street.
• Visit the York Art Gallery and the Castle Museum.

Day 3: Durham

• Continue north to Durham.
• Stop at the charming town of Whitby and visit its Abbey.
• Discover Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Explore the charming city centre.
• Discover Durham Dales and walk to High Force waterfall.

Day 4: Alnwick

• Head to the town of Alnwick. 
• Pass through Newcastle-upon-Tyne and see its historic Tyne Bridges.
• Visit Alnwick Castle and its beautiful gardens.
• Explore the nearby Alnwick town centre.

Day 5: Edinburgh

• Continue to Edinburgh, crossing the Scottish border.
• Visit the town of North Berwick along the way.
• Explore  Edinburgh Castle , the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace.
• Hike to Arthur’s Seat for panoramic views.
• Tour the National Museum of Scotland or the Royal Yacht Britannia.

LONDON TO EDINBURGH MAP

14- Baltic States Route

The Baltic States, also known as the Baltic countries or simply the Baltics, are a  group of three countries located in Northern Europe  along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, which include  Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania .

If they share a common history, geographic proximity and cultural ties,  each has a unique identity  and something different to offer. That is why a road trip through the Baltics is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the  rich heritage of Northern Europe .

From  stunning and well-preserved cities  such as Riga or Vilnius to  breathtaking national parks  and protected areas, the Baltics are the ideal holiday destination whether you are into culture, art or nature. 

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  covering many of the major attractions and cities in the Baltic States:

Day 1: Tallinn, Estonia

• Start your road trip in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
• Explore its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Visit historic landmarks like Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Day 2: Riga, Latvia

• Cross the border into Latvia and head to Riga, the Latvian capital.
• Explore its  Old Town , known for its Art Nouveau architecture.
• Visit attractions like Riga Castle and St. Peter’s Church.
• Take a relaxing walk along the Daugava River.

Day 3: Jurmala, Latvia

• Drive to Jurmala, a seaside resort town on the Baltic Sea.
• Relax on its sandy beaches and enjoy its pretty wooden architecture.
• Explore Dzintari Forest Park and Majoru Promenade.

Day 4: Kaunas, Lithuania

• Head to Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania.
• Visit the Rundale Palace, a magnificent Baroque palace en route to Kaunas.
• If you have time, also drive to the Hill of Crosses, a unique and spiritual site with thousands of crosses.
• Explore Kaunas Old Town, the Pazaislis Monastery and the Ninth Fort.

Day 5: Vilnius, Lithuania

• Continue your journey to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
• Stop in Trakai and discover  Trakai Island Castle  on Lake Galvė.
• Explore Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Visit attractions like Gediminas Tower and the Cathedral of Vilnius.
• Sample Lithuanian cuisine at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Tartu, Estonia

• Drive back north to Tartu, the second-largest city in Estonia.
• Visit the University of Tartu and the Estonian National Museum.
• Explore its charming Old Town and stroll along the Emajõgi River.

Day 7: Tallinn, Estonia

• Return to Tallinn to conclude your Baltic States road trip.
• If time allows, explore any remaining parts of Tallinn or do some last-minute souvenir shopping.

BALTIC STATES MAP

15- Into the Wilderness, Finland

⏰  Duration : 7-10 days 📆  When to go : spring & summer (May-September)

A road trip from Helsinki to Inari in Finland will take you through some of the  most beautiful landscapes of the country , including forests, lakes and the magical Arctic region, providing the opportunity to learn about  Sámi culture  and experience the  unique beauty of the far north .

Often referred to as the Land of a Thousand Lakes, Finland is a  haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts . Additionally, the country boasts a unique  blend of modernity and cultural traditions , making it an appealing destination for a scenic road trip.

And although it is easier to drive in Finland in spring and summer, I would also recommend doing this itinerary  in winter  to discover the best of the country and the Arctic region under a white coat, which includes  skiing, dog sledding and catching the Northern Lights . 

READ MORE: Travel Guide to Lapland, Finland in Winter

Here is an example of a  10-day itinerary  allowing you to experience a diverse range of Finnish landscapes and cultures as you make your way from Helsinki to Inari:

Day 1: Helsinki

• Start your road trip in Helsinki , the capital of Finland.
• Explore its top attractions, including Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and Suomenlinna Fortress.
• Experience a traditional Finnish Sauna at Löyly.

Day 2: Porvoo

• Drive to Porvoo, a charming historic town known for its well-preserved wooden houses.
• Explore its Old Town and visit Porvoo Cathedral.
• Stop at Café Fanny and try their cinnamon buns.

Day 3: Lahti

• Continue your journey to Lahti, known for its beautiful lakes and outdoor activities.
• Visit the Sibelius Hall and Lahti Harbour.
• Explore the nearby Lake Vesijärvi.

Day 4: Jyväskylä

• Drive to Jyväskylä, a city surrounded by lakes and forests.
• Discover the architecture of Alvar Aalto, including the Muurame Church and the Alvar Aalto Museum.
• Explore the Jyväskylä Harbour.

Day 5: Kuopio

• Head to Kuopio, known for its picturesque lakeside setting.
• Visit Puijo Tower for panoramic views and explore the Kuopio Market Square.
• Relax by Lake Kallavesi.

Day 6: Oulu

• Drive to Oulu, a coastal city with a vibrant cultural scene.
• Explore the Oulu Market Square and visit the Oulu Art Museum.
• Relax on Nallikari Beach.

Day 7: Rovaniemi

• Continue your journey north to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland.
• Visit the Arctic Circle and the Santa Claus Village.
• Explore the Arktikum Science Museum and Pilke Science Centre.

Day 8: Saariselkä

• Drive to Saariselkä, a winter sports resort in the Lapland region.
• Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking.
• Explore the Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Day 9: Ivalo and Inari

• Continue north to Ivalo and Inari, which are close to each other.
• Visit the Siida Sami Museum in Inari and explore the beautiful surroundings.
• Experience the unique culture and traditions of the Sámi people.

Day 10: Explore Inari 

• Spend your last day exploring around Inari.
• Take a boat trip on Lake Inari.
• Drive the scenic Kaamasentie road.

HELSINKI TO INARI MAP

Austria, located in the heart of Central Europe, is known for its rich  cultural heritage , stunning  Alpine landscapes ,  picturesque towns  and a high standard of living. And that is why a road trip from Vienna to Innsbruck is an excellent way to discover everything the country offers!

With its perfect blend of  historical landmarks ,  charming historic cities  such as Salzburg and the  ideal setting of the Alps , Austria has become a popular destination for travellers seeking  outdoor adventures with a dose of cultural experiences . 

Whether you are exploring the spectacular palaces and museums, skiing in the Alps or indulging in Austrian cuisine, Austria provides a  diverse range of activities and attractions  for an unforgettable road trip.

Here is an example of a  7-day itinerary  providing a mix of cultural experiences, natural beauty and historical sites along your road trip from Vienna to Innsbruck:

Day 1: Vienna

• Start your road trip in Vienna , the capital of Austria.
• Explore the main attractions, including  Schönbrunn Palace , St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace.
• Stop at a traditional restaurant to sample a Wiener Schnitzel.

Day 2: Melk and Dürnstein

• Drive to Melk and visit the magnificent Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Continue to Dürnstein, a charming town located on the banks of the Danube River.
• Explore the medieval streets of Dürnstein and enjoy the views.

Day 3: Krems and Wachau Valley

• Head to Krems, another picturesque town along the Danube.
• Explore its historic centre and visit the Gozzoburg Castle.
• Drive through the Wachau Valley, known for its vineyards and pretty villages.

Day 4: Linz

• Drive to Linz, the third-largest city in Austria.
• Explore the Hauptplatz and visit the Ars Electronica Center.
• Take a stroll along the banks of the Danube.

Day 5: Salzburg

• Drive to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and a city rich in history.
• Explore its historic Old Town and visit Hohensalzburg Fortress.
• Take an unforgettable  Sound of Music tour .

Day 6: Zell am See

• Drive to Zell am See, a beautiful Alpine town located on the shores of Lake Zell.
• Enjoy water sports, hiking or take a scenic boat ride on the lake.
• Explore the charming town centre.

Day 7: Innsbruck

• Drive to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, known for its breathtaking Alpine backdrop.
• Explore its historic Old Town and visit the Golden Roof.
• Take a cable car to the Nordkette mountain range.

VIENNA TO INNSBRUCK MAP

Shop the printable road trip planner

Plan and create an unforgettable European road trip!

Tips for reducing your impact on a road trip

Are you looking forward to your amazing road trip? I understand! Road trips are a fantastic way of travelling as they allow us to move freely and discover many incredible places at our own pace. However, they can also have negative environmental impacts. That is why considering our carbon footprint and adopting  eco-responsible habits  is essential.

READ MORE: How to Plan an Epic (Eco-Friendly) Road Trip

Here are some sustainable tips on making your Europe road trip more eco-friendly and having a positive impact on the places you visit:

Prepare your route in advance 

I know getting lost on a road trip can feel fun and exciting, but when trying to minimise your footprint, it is best to plan your route to avoid unnecessary travel. In addition, the shorter the distance you travel, the less fuel you will use and the less harmful emissions you will produce. Tip: Get offline maps to stay on track even if you lose signal. 

Plan your meals

Another great way to reduce your impact on the road is to plan your meals. Throughout your journey, try to find local restaurants or eco-friendly facilities. You can try the local cuisine or wander through local markets and buy fresh produce. 

Make your trip plastic-free

As you might know, plastic packaging is a significant environmental issue and causes concerns for wildlife and the preservation of natural landscapes. Therefore, avoid plastic as much as possible and bring reusable items instead. Choose eco-friendly alternatives, like reusable tote bags, cutlery, plates, etc. Tip: you can also buy  filtered water bottles  to refill your water anywhere. 

Check your car and drive smoothly

Make sure your vehicle is in the best possible condition for the road: check the engine, oil level and tyre pressure before your trip. In addition, use the available features in your car, like cruise control, to help you maintain your speed and reduce excess emissions. And even better, drive an electric vehicle if possible! (Or a bike for the most courageous).

Leave a place better than you found it

Aim to live by the principle: leave no trace. And even better, leave a place better than you found it. For example, dispose of your litter appropriately and pick up any trash you encounter. Be respectful of the land and do not drive over protected areas. And finally, stay on the marked trails when hiking, as going off can be dangerous for flora and fauna. 

Adopt a responsible attitude towards wildlife

Be mindful of your surroundings and adopt a responsible attitude towards wildlife, on land and in the sea. Do not come close to, feed or touch animals and corals. Remember that you are only a guest in their home.

Always respect the local heritage

Treat people and their surroundings with respect. Sustainable travel is not only about the environment but also about the local communities. So, always be respectful and try to learn a few local words!

More inspiration for your green vacation:

• Best Travel Apps for Exploring Sustainably
• 15 Travel Books to Inspire Your Next Eco-Adventure
• Best Ecotourism Activities Around the World

Eco-friendly gear you might love:

• 10 Best Sustainable Backpacks for Travel & Hiking
• 10 Best Reusable & Eco-Friendly Travel Mugs
• 8 Best Filtered Water Bottles for Travel & Hiking

Check out  this page  for more inspiration on eco-friendly products & gear.

Europe travel planning guide + tips

Yes, buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Enjoy your European road trip stress-free with one of my favourite providers,  Nomad Insurance .

Yes, tap water is safe to drink in most European countries. But I also recommend travelling with the  UltraPress Purifier Bottle , a filtered water bottle perfect for reducing plastic and staying hydrated.

Yes, renting a car in any European country is easy and is a great way to explore freely. I recommend booking yours with  Rentalcars.com  – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.

The best way to book your accommodation on a Europe road trip is with  Booking.com  – my favourite platform to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable hostels to luxury resorts.

I recommend booking your plane with  Skyscanner to reach any European cities. It has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights whilst lowering my carbon emissions.

The best road trip planner app I recommend you download on your phone is Roadtrippers . It will help you build your perfect itinerary with the top stops along the way.

And you, what is your favourite road trip in Europe ? Let me know in the comments below!

With love ♡ Lucie

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Nakuul Mehta takes a road trip to Ladakh, visits Kargil Memorial with war veteran dad: He had tears in his eyes

Nakuul mehta shares details of his 10-day road trip with father, retired navy officer pratap mehta, across srinagar, leh and ladakh.

In Indian culture, father-son relationships are quite emotionally stunted and formal, but actor Nakuul Mehta challenged it recently as he took a 10-day road trip across Srinagar, Leh and Ladakh with his father, Pratap Singh Mehta. He says, “It’s the first time in my life when my father and I spent a fortnight together without the company of my mother, sister or my wife.”

The actor insists that “conventionally”, for men in his generation and a generation above, there is always a sense of formality and a line you don’t cross with fathers. But he got to see a different side of his dad through this trip. “My father was from the Indian Navy. He is also a war veteran from the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It’s been his dream to do a road trip across Ladakh and Kashmir. While it was beautiful to get to know him, he also got to see another side of me. I am sure there were areas of friction that both of us had but we were able to rise to the challenges.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nakuul Mehta (@nakuulmehta)

Talking about the road trip, Nakuul insists that seeing his father brave the tough situations in the mountains, including oxygen shortage and high altitudes, bravely, did inspire him. “To see him through these challenges and see how his mind works, I learnt a lot of things subconsciously. And him seeing me taking charge of the trip over those 10 days would have been amazing for him as well,” he says, revealing that they also went to the Kargil memorial on their trip. “I could see tears in my dad’s eyes when we were at the Kargil memorial. We met the batallion that captain Vikram Batra was with. They were stationed at Kargil 25 years back and they had returned just now, which happens very rarely. To see how all the martyrs are remembered and respected there, I felt so fortunate,” he shares.

Feeling emotionally fulfilled post the trip, Nakuul says, “I feel everyone should take time out to take a trip with their parents to get to know them better, not just as parents, but as a human being.” The actor concludes saying, “Hopefully, next year I’ll go on an all-boys trip with my father and son.”

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