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For years, we dreamed of taking an epic street journey throughout Europe in a motorhome. Finally, with our three-year-old and toddler in tow, we rented a motorhome for a month to kick off the journey! We noticed mountains, oceans, and rivers and ate among the greatest meals of our lives.
We not solely hit among the standard vacationer spots, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and consuming fondue on Lake Geneva, but additionally spent numerous time exploring smaller villages and cities we’d by no means heard of earlier than.
If you might be on the lookout for a standard Europe street journey hitting all of the highlights of the continent, this itinerary isn’t for you. Our street journey model is a little more spontaneous and we prefer to get off the crushed path. We seek for hikes, nationwide parks, small cities, and generally simply set the GPS to “avoid tolls” and see the place it takes us!
I hope you utilize this itinerary to street journey Europe this summer season!
Why Take a Road Trip in Europe?
When most individuals think about taking a visit throughout Europe, they consider hopping on and off trains or utilizing straightforward hopper flights. We’ve made a number of of a majority of these journeys, however there are a couple of the explanation why we selected a street journey throughout Europe as an alternative of public transportation.
1. Spontaneity
Some of our favourite journey recollections have come from days we didn’t plan. My spouse’s technique as she plans our itineraries is to search out the favored areas after which go to small cities and hidden gems that pop up close by. We’ve discovered numerous waterfalls this fashion! (She has her priorities!)
A number of years in the past we had been driving our motorhome via the Italian Dolomites and found an unimaginable gondola going as much as the highest of a mountain. We instantly pulled over, purchased tickets, and went to the highest. It was among the most epic views we’d ever seen (video beneath).
We didn’t know this gondola was right here, and we solely discovered it as a result of we had been driving aimlessly. This is among the causes we love road-tripping.
2. Choose your individual journey stops.
While driving throughout France, we joined a program known as France Passion, the place you’ll be able to camp at wineries and farms without spending a dime. Several of the wineries we stopped at additionally had Bed and Breakfasts as effectively (should you aren’t in a camper!).
3. Sleep in your individual mattress each night time.
So this isn’t the case for each street journey, however it’s should you hire an RV in Europe.
One of the issues we cherished most about our month-long journey to Europe was sleeping in our personal mattress each night time. We’ve researched a TON of motorhome leases in Europe and located an organization we love known as Anywhere Camper. They will drop off your RV virtually anyplace in Europe (therefore the title!) after which fly to select it up on the finish of your route. This lets you cowl extra floor versus doing a round-trip route.
The Route
We kicked off the journey in Paris. Our entire street journey ended up being greater than 2,000KM over the course of a month. We crossed into 6 totally different nations (France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Andorra, and Switzerland). We landed in Paris on September twelfth, so we bought to expertise cooler temps all through our journey. This “shoulder season” is one in all our favourite instances to discover Europe as a result of the crowds are smaller than in summer season (to place it mildly), however in every single place continues to be open.
Paris, France
We all the time begin a street journey in a serious metropolis the place we are able to simply get a motorhome rental (and the place we are able to recover from jetlag whereas exploring!). We did the entire large stuff, just like the Eiffel Tower and a meals tour of French delicacies. But the spotlight was Alyssa taking a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu. They supply a couple of public courses every week so she realized the right way to make choux pastry from the perfect pastry chef on the earth. (Really. There’s a contest. He gained.) Highly advocate for anybody who loves meals!
Champagne, France
Champagne Avenue is among the nicest, fanciest locations I’ve ever visited. We drove across the city of Epernay, a pair hours exterior Paris. We toured a number of champagne homes courting again centuries and even camped at two champagne homes. If you want wine, champagne will blow you away. Prosecco is crap compared!
Vougeot, France
Ever heard of this small city? Us neither. However, there was an epic fort we toured surrounded by vines with reside music. There had been so many individuals we needed to park and stroll up from 5 minutes away. Our daughter took it upon herself to strive a grape straight from the vines, Malbec I believe. She would give it a 0/10, don’t advocate.
Mouthe, France
This is rated because the coldest place in France. It was positively one of many coldest locations we stayed on our complete journey. You can’t see them within the photograph beneath, however off to the suitable are ski slopes.
Surrounding our idyllic campsite had been cow bells jingling off within the distance, a waterfall, and a mountain climbing path system. Mouthe is a part of the nationwide park, Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura.
Geneva, Switzerland
While we solely spent one night time in Switzerland, I believe it’s all my pockets might afford.
After spending the higher a part of an hour looking for parking, we looked for some cheese fondue. One large bowl and $75 later (for a single bowl of cheese!!!), we loved a sundown looking over the lake in Geneva. While it’s a buzzing metropolis, I might completely love to return again right here for an extended stint.
Annecy, France
Annecy is named the “Venice of France” and for good cause. The city itself sits on a stupendous lake, and the town heart has water flowing via it. This was one in all our favourite days we spent on this journey wandering round, consuming crepes and having fun with the views.
Tip: There’s free parking on the Basilique de la Visitation on the prime of the hill, and you may stroll into city.
Chamonix, France
Oh, Chamonix, you might be one of the vital lovely locations I’ve ever seen in my complete life. (In true French trend, it’s pronounced sha-mo-knee.) In the image beneath you’ll be able to see the views from our campsite. Hands down, that is essentially the most lovely place we have now ever camped anyplace on the earth. One of the issues we did in Chamonix that I might extremely advocate is to take the cog practice as much as a glacier the place you’ll be able to discover ice caves.
Chamonix is an journey city and never the perfect place to journey with little children, however we share a couple of suggestions for issues to do with children right here.
San Bartolomeo Al Mare (The Italian Riviera)
After experiencing bitter climate up in Chamonix, we determined we would have liked to heat up for a couple of days. So we drove over to San Bartolomeo Al Mare and parked subsequent to the seashore. Do we all know something about this city aside from the truth that it’s Italy and we might eat pizza and pasta? No.
However, these are a few of our favourite smaller cities to discover. We had no expectations coming in, and we had a tremendous couple of days strolling round and making an attempt eating places, taking part in in parks, and hanging on the seashore.
Monaco
One factor we knew earlier than arriving in Monaco was that you just can not drive an RV into the nation. Therefore, we discovered a campground in Italy with a shuttle that will take us to the practice station to then journey into Monaco. We spent most of our day on the aquarium (Musée Océanographique de Monaco) and strolling across the metropolis.
Pernes-les-Fontaines, France
Me: “Hey Siri, Google towns in Provence worth visiting.”
Siri: “Here is a town that looks like the set of Beauty and the Beast:”
One factor we needed to do on our France journey was to discover among the smaller and lesser-known villages. One day, we walked round Pernes-les-Fontaines, recognized for its many fountains. It regarded just like the city the place Belle grew up, and our three-year-old cherished it! We visited on a Saturday and walked via the farmer’s market and the complete village. At each flip, there have been vines rising on the buildings, fountains, and idyllic espresso outlets. I additionally advocate stopping in close by Avignon, which we drove via and gawked at! All of those tiny cities in Provence are picture-perfect.
Carcassonne, France
Founded within the sixth century BC, this medieval fort is known for its 52 towers and spectacular structure. However, Alyssa and I’ll endlessly keep in mind it as a result of we had a basic Toulousian dish that modified our lives. Cassoulet is a hearty, slow-simmered stew with sausage, navy beans, duck confit and pork. I give it some thought on a regular basis.
This can also be the most important fort in France and the place we took the all-time image of our daughter:
Ignore the tulle and she or he is prepared for battle!
Lourdes, France (Pyrénées National Park)
Lourdes is a serious vacation spot for these on the lookout for therapeutic. People come from everywhere in the world for the waters in Lourdes, that are purported to have therapeutic powers. What we cherished most about Lourdes wasn’t the city itself (which was crowded) however its entry to the Pyrénées National Park (above). We spent two days exploring the nationwide park, which was completely gorgeous.
If you wish to get a style of the nationwide park vibes, you’ll be able to watch a video beneath from one in all our hikes within the park.
Another nice exercise within the space is the Parc Animalier des Pyrenees. This zoo was actually the perfect zoo I’ve ever been to in my life.
You get (virtually uncomfortably) shut entry to the animals, and the strolling observe via the zoo is extra like occurring a scenic hike than simply visiting a zoo. If you may have children or identical to zoos, I might extremely advocate stopping right here close to Lourdes.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra
You’ve most likely by no means heard of the tiny nation of Andorra. Nestled within the mountains, it’s tucked between France and Spain and takes about an hour to drive the size of the nation. It appears like somebody took a ski resort city and turned it into a stupendous little nation.
Unfortunately, we bought sick throughout our stopover in Andorra. We spent our time having fun with meals poisoning and Googling the closest ER. What we did expertise within the nation was beautiful, although!
Bagà, Spain
A brief drive into Spain from Andorra, we crossed into an space named Bagà. It was a small village subsequent to leisure land (AKA numerous free tenting for us) and mountains. We had no intention of spending greater than a day right here, however we preferred it a lot we stayed a few days. You can see extra of the expertise on this video:
Tavertet, Spain
This cute little city was mainly all closed up after we bought there. Check out this campsite, although! Not pictured: an excellent playground and a public pool.
Perealada, Spain
Driving towards the Costa Brava, we stopped on this little city for cappuccinos. If you’re the playing kind, try this fort, which is definitely a on line casino.
Castellop d’Empuries, Spain
We are seashore folks. If we are able to spend an additional night time or two on the coast, we take it. So after we discovered Camping Laguna and had an oceanside campsite, we prolonged our keep night time after night time.
Look at this household. That is what happiness appears like! We loved cava and tapas and the sunny seashore for a couple of days.
Cabrera de Mar, Spain
On our final night time in our campers, we needed to get as shut as potential to Barcelona. Cabrera de Mar is a beachside city with a totally automated campground and amenities that’s a straightforward stroll to parks and a seashore. It was on this city, the place we noticed colleges, parks, and households having fun with the sunshine that we stated these vacationer phrases.
“I think we should move here.”
Barcelona, Spain
Everyone loves Barcelona. Sometimes, European cities which are so standard don’t reside as much as the hype (sorry, Paris, you’re nonetheless lovely). But Barcelona was unimaginable!
We took a meals tour and bought to find out about totally different meals and the historical past of the town. And we (in fact) visited the zoo, the place the children had been thrilled to discover. We ate extra tapas and tried churros and chocolate (10/10, must stroll lots to recuperate from these energy). This was positively a metropolis we’ll come again to! We dropped off our motorhome on the practice station and located an Airbnb within the gothic district that was walkable.
FAQs
What is the perfect time of 12 months to go to Europe?
To beat the crowds, we advocate visiting Europe in May or early June or ready till September and October. The climate might be good, and there gained’t be as many crowds. Everything will nonetheless be open for the season however could supply low season pricing, making the journey rather less costly.
Can you go on a street journey to Europe?
No you’ll be able to’t drive to Europe (somebody requested me that not too long ago!) But you’ll be able to freely and simply drive throughout borders in Europe. Very few borders have safety (in contrast to US borders), and you might even cross into one other nation with out realizing it. There could also be milk restrictions, like needing a sure driving go for Switzerland. Our camper rental included all of these passes, so we didn’t have to fret as we traveled!
What is the perfect automotive for a Europe street journey?
We are 100% motorhome folks. We’ve been RVing for a decade, and it’s our favourite solution to journey, irrespective of the continent!
How a lot cash do you’ll want to spend a month in Europe?
Let’s not sugarcoat it. A month-long journey is dear! We share all of our detailed bills from this street journey right here.
Can you drive a campervan round Europe?
You don’t want a particular license to drive a campervan in Europe. Some nations could require a global driver’s allow.
Are campervans standard in Europe?
Campervans are extra standard in Europe than they’re within the States! If you assume you’ve seen packed campgrounds in America, wait till you present as much as the coast of Spain within the fall. They snowbird in Europe to Spain and Portugal identical to they do to Florida!
Road Trip Europe: 30-Day Itinerary
For the time of 12 months, we selected southern Europe for our 30-day street journey. There’s a lot extra to see, however if you wish to cowl numerous floor in a brief period of time, use this street journey Europe itinerary to stipulate your individual dream journey. Have questions on planning an RV journey in Europe? Drop it within the feedback!