We have decided to drive from Rotterdam to Como in two weeks. I am either incredibly foolish or living life to the full .
We have a week in Bellagio sorted so would like a three day driving route down and a four day back (or vice versa but different both ways)
Let's assume the former as so far, we've only decided on "maybe" a 6 hour drive first day and staying in Baden Baden. Though happy to take advice on pretty/ier towns.
The most important thing is that it feels like part of the holiday, rather than just driving to get somewhere. Scenery (breath taking would be a bonus) is really important.
The other important thing is to avoid stopping in France (I fear that from the UK we'd have to quarantine on return judging from current news reports) and also avoid stopping in Belgium and Luxembourg.
So so far, the main thoughts are to stop in Germany and Switzerland there and really open to suggestions back.
Budget for room is preferably £200 per night but would pay more if necessary, towns rather than cities would be preferable, and I'm happy to pay tolls and the vignette.
There are two of us.
I've been looking on Michelin Route planner but I'm so confused about what would be best.
Having read some of the threads here, I know there are some experts. Happy to answer any questions at all if more info is needed.
Can anyone help me out, please

Hi, just wondering if you had considered a guide book? Let me explain: I have a copy of the AA Best Drives: Germany by Adi Kraus (my copy from 2008). It is very good on circuits through different areas in Germany and although we have never done exactly any of those drives we have sometimes taken inspiration from them. There is a circuit based on Baden-Baden that takes in the surrounding towns and cities (3 days, about 450km). There are too many names to list them all here but suffice it to say you will get your dose of half-timbered houses. You could link up a couple of those trips. Coming from the Netherlands I would say you could drive through the middle Rhine gorge and that would tick one of your boxes. You might make a stop somewhere like Bonn, Koblenz or Mainz on the way.

I have also done the drive into northern Italy (Como area) from Germany (Wiesbaden). On the way there we stopped in Lucerne and stayed in Carlazzo (between Lake Como and Lake Lugano, close to Lake Piano). Lucerne is beautiful and we were within reach of many beautiful destinations in Italy, and we also went to St Moritz for a day. Lugano seems not to have so many fans here but we really liked it. On the way back my brother-in-law wanted to drive home via Austria so we stopped in Liechtenstein and Bregenz, although Switzerland was entirely more interesting. I would not bother with the Romantic Road, it links some pretty cities / sights but the road itself is not beautiful. I think this is one of the problems about travelling long distances - to make headway you really need to use the Autobahn but it is rarely picturesque. You are better off doing one of those drives that I mentioned - they use B roads and link some lovely townships, and just use the Autobahns to get to your starting point.

I don't know if I have been entirely helpful but for us the scenery parts start in Switzerland and not so much in Germany (although this doesn't mean that the Black Forest isn't picturesque) just because of the mode of driving there.

Lavandula

Be prepared to skip Switzerland too.
Switzerland had yesterday 274 new coronavirus infections respectively 32 infections per million inhabitants.
France had yesterday 1397 new coronavirus infections respectively 21 infections per million inhabitants.
But you can easily drive around Switzerland, may be via
Stuttgart - Ulm - Lindau - St. Anton am Arlberg - Landeck - Spondinig - Stelvio Pass - Sondrio - Varenna
or via Stuttgart -Ulm - Fuessen - Nassereith - Oetztal - Timmelsjoch - Meran - Val di Sole - Tonale Pass - Aprica Pass - Sondrio - Varenna.

My BIL lives on the German/Swiss/Austrian border. Do not go that way as Austria is changing its mind day by day over the border. Too risky. So either stay west side of Switzerland or risk a stop in France.


More sensibly if you like lakes I'd just do Lake Constance rather than Como

Thank you all - given the ever changing situation, we may end up flying

I think you are brave for even going to Italy ... had you considered just planning your trip for now and going later? That way you will get the trip you want, with possibly fewer risks.

We will get past this. It might take some time but eventually it will be safe to travel again.

Lavandula

Italy has one of the lowest infection rates in Europe at the moment. Perfect time to go to avoid the normal crowds. Most people hiding at home now will likely die from other factors and will have wasted one year of their lives not traveling. Now that is sad.

Bilboburger: I never heard about problems at the border points of Leiblach (Vorarlberg). What do you mean exactly?