Europe Road Trip suggestions
 

Hi all,

Me and my girlfriend planning a road trip during July. There are so many options so every day we changing our mind about where exactly in Europe we want to go. We though about a road between Amsterdam to Zurich, about the romantic road in Germany, about north or south Spain. Because of that I would like to explain a bit what we looking for and hear your ideas about where do you think we should go. Any option and new ideas will be welcomed.

Here is what we looking for:
1. Total time of the trip 10-14 days.
2. We want to start, to end, or both, in a nice city where we can stay for 2-3 nights.
3. We looking to drive in a scenic road, not the highway.
4. Of course the beauty of the road is important but more than that we looking to enjoy people and cultures so nice towns/cities along the way are a must.
5. We not looking to hike or do any outdoor activities this time. Just to enjoy few hours driving a day and visit a new place every day where we can stay and enjoy.
6. Looking to stay in decent hotels in areas where u have restaurants and other places open at night.
7. We are 32 years old. Don't want to do so much "old people" trip.

Will be happy to answer any questions that will help you to help me.

So, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Ori

Assuming you will be renting a car it is a good idea to start and end in the same country to avoid one-way drop off fees.
If you start say in Amsterdam then pick up the car after a few days, maybe at Schiphol, and arrange to drop it back there at the end of the trip, prior to flying home.

I think you really need to think about what appeals most to you as far as countries go. Be aware that in Germany many towns and cities require an "environment" sticker on the car before you can enter them. I doubt many hire cars have them, certainly not in the Netherlands.
You could of course start in Amsterdam then get the train into Germany and rent a car there for the rest of your trip.
Parking can be a pain in cities too.

We did a trip like this across the north of Spain a fair few years ago in an open top sports car. The north coast is often the holiday destination that the Spanish themselves enjoy and in July you are just at the start of high season. However, financial austerity may keep more people at home.

So go for it, highlights for us where Santiago, the roman goldmines, the Rioja wine region, the Picos mountains, empty roads, buying biscuits from nuns, the big places didn't do it for us but the little places, the hidden hotels, dead bars (with the whole village eating out the back) all great

bilboburgler, can you please provide me some details about the route you made. from where to where and the main spots on the road. Thanks

Oricoop, I've dug about and found an old journal, after blowing the dust off it and taking care of the fragile paper I come across myself 20 years ago.

Bilbao (we came in by Ferry and out nearest car service agent for our car is Paris)
Cosgaya (great cable car on the road after here)
Cervera
Leon
Ponferrada
Hostal El Palacio, Calle Palacio, Molinaseca being one of the weird old pilgrimage places we stayed in
Las Medulas (gold mine)
Carrecedo del Monasterio

Other spots, Lugo, Monesterio de Samos (wow), Ribadaria, Puebla de Sanabria, Zamora, Toro, Valladolid, Santa Domingo de Silos, Burgos, Haro and Vitoria.

Best I can do from the old thing, I recommend Rough Guide Spain.

Amsterdam to Zurich in 14 days is pretty but the majority of roads are going to be big, and I think I could do it on a bicycle in that time. Basically you would be trying to avoid the Rhine most of the way.

The Romantik road is a piece of German marketing to keep a bunch of place on the tourist eyeline, there are others, a good search of the German tourist info website describes them all.

I have also been researching a road trip for 2014 around Europe. Early days, yet, but as part of our two month trip we are looking at about a week and half from Lake Constance to Amsterdam at the end of June. Our rough itinerary might give you an idea of the Amsterdam to Zurich route (in reverse):

Around Lake Constance we are hoping to include the gardens and butterfly observatory on the island of Mainau (www.mainau.de/home.html) and the Zeppelin Museum at Friedrichshafen (www.zeppelin-museum.de/home_en.0.html).

We will drive along the Panoramastrasse through the Black Forest, including Titisee, the waterfalls at either Hexenloch or Triberg, the cuckoo clock museum at Furtwangen, and the Open Air Museum in Wolfach (www.en.vogtsbauernhof.org).

We then plan on seeing Heidelberg Castle, before continuing up towards Frankfurt and following the Rhine around to Koblenz. There is a day cruise from Koblenz along the Rhine which is on our list (). A side trip to Burg Eltz castle and perhaps to see the cathedral at Cologne before heading into the Netherlands. On our list there, would be one of the Polder museums at either Lelystad or Cruquis, the Zaanse Schans (www.zaanseschans.nl) and the windmills at Kinderdijk (www.kinderdijk.com), as well as the canals of Amsterdam.

We are looking for scenic drives with one or two nights only in each place and interesting small towns to visit. But we are travelling on a tighter budget, and with two kids (aged 9 and 10), so we are avoiding spending time in major cities here. We also must include a number of racetracks and car museums in the area (Stuttgart, Hockenheimring, Nurburgring), sure to please a petrolhead husband...