Road trips are very popular among all adventurous souls who enjoy the feeling of freedom, like being on the move, and cherish the unique views of the sunset. While all continents offer fascinating tours, this time the Tourism Review team has prepared a list of the seven most interesting road trips around Europe.
Route: Würzburg to Füssen, across Bavaria,
Length: 415 kilometers
The time required: at least three days
The Romantic Road in the Free State of Bavaria rightly bears its name: medieval towns and castles line up along the way. The tour starts in the Lower Franconian town of Würzburg with its baroque residence, which is based on the magnificent palace of Versailles. The journey leads to the fairytale castle Neuschwanstein in southern Bavaria. In between are small country towns that have hardly changed since the Middle Ages, such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is still surrounded by an intact wall. You should take several days for the more than 400 km long road trip - it's less about the driving experience than about the treasures you can discover.
Route: Reykjavík to Reykjavík
Length: 1300 kilometers
The time requirement: at least one week
Iceland is booming. The small island at the Arctic Circle has been experiencing an unparalleled tourist rush for several years. The reason is simple: the rough landscape with its volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and glaciers is enormous. In addition, there are hospitable people who love the supernatural. Travelers trying this kind of a road trip are in danger of starting to believe in the existence of fairies and trolls. All Icelandic highlights are connected by the Hringvegur, the national road 1, which runs around the island.
Route: Kinsale to Malin Head on the West Coast
Length: 2500 kilometers
The time requirement: two weeks
A few years ago, the Irish came up with the idea of connecting the roads on the west coast to a single road trip. From Kinsale in the south to Malin Head in the north, 2500 kilometers are signposted as the Wild Atlantic Way: the longest coastal road in the world. At least that's what marketing says. Along the route are highlights such as the Ring of Kerry, the mystical monastery island of Skellig Michael, the impressive cliffs of Moher, the moorland of Connemara and the world-class surf spots of Donegal.
History: Holm to Godøystraumen, on the west coast
Length: 430 kilometers
The time requirement: three days
Norway's most famous road is the Trollstigen, the Staircase of Trolls, which winds its way up a coastal mountain over a distance of about four kilometers and eleven hairpin bends - including great views of the spectacular fjord landscapes. The admittedly great experience is quickly over (if you take your time and stop at every lookout, you'll be on the road in two hours). For the true Norwegian experience, one should, therefore, go to the "Helgelandskysten". The signposted panoramic road leads from Holm to Godøystraumen, north of the Arctic Circle. On the 430-kilometer long route, one experiences the fjord landscape in all its splendor.
Route: Seville to Oviedo, in western Spain
Length: 800 kilometers
Time requirement: one week
The first great road builders in Europe were the Romans, who covered their empire with fortified roads 2000 years ago. After the fall of the Romans, the paths were used, restored and extended in the following centuries. Many of today's roads follow the paths on which Roman legionnaires once walked through the country. One such former Roman road is the so-called "Ruta de la Plata", the silver road that runs through the whole of western Spain. The journey begins in Seville, where Christopher Columbus, the world explorer, is buried in the cathedral and continues to the Atlantic coast in Oviedo. In addition to Roman excavation sites and Romanesque buildings, the town of Salamanca is a special highlight on the 800-kilometer route. And of course, the route also leads through culinary paradises: various wine regions and the home of Serrano ham.
Course: once across Switzerland
Length: 1600 kilometers
Duration: If you want to cover the entire route, you should have at least one week.
In 2015, the marketing organization "Switzerland Tourism" launched the Grand Tour of Switzerland, which runs over 1600 kilometers through Switzerland. All regions, 44 sights and all eleven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland are located along the route. The tour was mainly designed for foreign visitors, but it is also suitable for Swiss citizens who want to rediscover their homeland.
Route: Portbou to Jaca, from east to west
Length: 450 kilometers
The time required: two days
Probably the most beautiful mountain road trip in Europe is the N260 national road in the Spanish Pyrenees. The highway starts at the Spanish Mediterranean coast and leads for about 500 kilometers across the mountains to Jaca. From there, one has the possibility to drive over the Somport Pass to France, from where it goes back to the starting point. In addition to the grandiose landscape, you can discover hearty villages, culinary delights and the museum of the probably most eccentric Spanish artist, the Teatre-Museu by Salvador Dalí in Figueres.