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For years, we dreamed of taking an epic street journey throughout Europe in a motorhome. Lastly, 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 a number of the finest meals of our lives.
We not solely hit a number of the standard vacationer spots, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and consuming fondue on Lake Geneva, but in addition spent a number of time exploring smaller villages and cities we’d by no means heard of earlier than.
In case you are in search of a conventional Europe street journey hitting all of the highlights of the continent, this itinerary just isn’t for you. Our street journey fashion is a little more spontaneous and we wish to get off the crushed path. We seek for hikes, nationwide parks, small cities, and typically simply set the GPS to “keep away from tolls” and see the place it takes us!
I hope you employ this itinerary to street journey Europe this summer season!
Why Take a Street Journey in Europe?
When most individuals think about taking a visit throughout Europe, they consider hopping on and off trains or utilizing simple hopper flights. We’ve made a number of of a lot of these journeys, however there are just a few explanation why we selected a street journey throughout Europe as a substitute of public transportation.
1. Spontaneity
A few 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 by the Italian Dolomites and came upon an unbelievable gondola going as much as the highest of a mountain. We instantly pulled over, purchased tickets, and went to the highest. It was a number of the most epic views we’d ever seen (video under).
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 without doubt one of the causes we love road-tripping.
2. Select your individual journey stops.
Whereas driving throughout France, we joined a program known as France Ardour, the place you possibly can camp at wineries and farms free of charge. A number of of the wineries we stopped at additionally had Mattress and Breakfasts as effectively (when you aren’t in a camper!).
3. Sleep in your individual mattress each evening.
So this isn’t the case for each street journey, however it’s when you hire an RV in Europe.
One of many issues we liked most about our month-long journey to Europe was sleeping in our personal mattress each evening. We’ve researched a TON of motorhome leases in Europe and located an organization we love known as Wherever Camper. They may drop off your RV nearly anyplace in Europe (therefore the identify!) 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 completely different international locations (France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Andorra, and Switzerland). We landed in Paris on September twelfth, so we obtained to expertise cooler temps all through our journey. This “shoulder season” is one among our favourite occasions to discover Europe as a result of the crowds are smaller than in summer season (to place it mildly), however all over the place continues to be open.
Paris, France
We at all times 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. However the spotlight was Alyssa taking a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu. They provide just a few public lessons every week so she realized how you can make choux pastry from the perfect pastry chef on the planet. (Actually. There’s a contest. He received.) Extremely suggest for anybody who loves meals!
Champagne, France
Champagne Avenue is without doubt one of 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. When you like wine, champagne will blow you away. Prosecco is crap as compared!
Vougeot, France
Ever heard of this small city? Us neither. Nonetheless, there was an epic fortress we toured surrounded by vines with stay music. There have 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 feel. She would give it a 0/10, don’t suggest.
Mouthe, France
That is rated because the coldest place in France. It was undoubtedly one of many coldest locations we stayed on our complete journey. You may’t see them within the photograph under, 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 climbing path system. Mouthe is a part of the nationwide park, Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura.
Geneva, Switzerland
Whereas we solely spent one evening in Switzerland, I feel it’s all my pockets may afford.
After spending the higher a part of an hour looking for parking, we looked for some cheese fondue. One big bowl and $75 later (for a single bowl of cheese!!!), we loved a sundown looking over the lake in Geneva. Whereas it’s a buzzing metropolis, I might completely love to come back again right here for an extended stint.
Annecy, France
Annecy is called the “Venice of France” and for good motive. The city itself sits on a fantastic lake, and town middle has water flowing by it. This was one among 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 high of the hill, and you’ll stroll into city.
Chamonix, France
Oh, Chamonix, you’re one of the crucial stunning locations I’ve ever seen in my complete life. (In true French trend, it’s pronounced sha-mo-knee.) Within the image under you possibly can see the views from our campsite. Arms down, that is essentially the most stunning place we’ve ever camped anyplace on the planet. One of many issues we did in Chamonix that I might extremely suggest is to take the cog prepare as much as a glacier the place you possibly can discover ice caves.
Chamonix is an journey city and never the perfect place to journey with little youngsters, however we share just a few suggestions for issues to do with youngsters 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 just a few 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 may eat pizza and pasta? No.
Nonetheless, 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 attempting eating places, enjoying 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. Due to this fact, we discovered a campground in Italy with a shuttle that might take us to the prepare station to then trip 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 cities in Provence value visiting.”
Siri: “Here’s a city that appears just like the set of Magnificence and the Beast:”
One factor we wished to do on our France journey was to discover a number of the smaller and lesser-known villages. At some point, we walked round Pernes-les-Fontaines, recognized for its many fountains. It seemed just like the city the place Belle grew up, and our three-year-old liked it! We visited on a Saturday and walked by the farmer’s market and the whole village. At each flip, there have been vines rising on the buildings, fountains, and idyllic espresso retailers. I additionally suggest stopping in close by Avignon, which we drove by and gawked at! All of those tiny cities in Provence are picture-perfect.
Carcassonne, France
Based within the sixth century BC, this medieval fortress is legendary for its 52 towers and spectacular structure. Nonetheless, Alyssa and I’ll eternally bear 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.
That is additionally the biggest fortress in France and the place we took the all-time image of our daughter:
Ignore the tulle and he or she is prepared for battle!
Lourdes, France (Pyrénées Nationwide Park)
Lourdes is a serious vacation spot for these in search of therapeutic. Individuals come from all around the world for the waters in Lourdes, that are alleged to have therapeutic powers. What we liked most about Lourdes wasn’t the city itself (which was crowded) however its entry to the Pyrénées Nationwide 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 possibly can watch a video under from one among our hikes within the park.
One other nice exercise within the space is the Parc Animalier des Pyrenees. This zoo was truthfully the perfect zoo I’ve ever been to in my life.
You get (nearly uncomfortably) shut entry to the animals, and the strolling monitor by the zoo is extra like happening a scenic hike than simply visiting a zoo. You probably have youngsters or similar to zoos, I might extremely suggest stopping right here close to Lourdes.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra
You’ve in all probability 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 seems like somebody took a ski resort city and turned it into a fantastic little nation.
Sadly, we obtained 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 plenty of free tenting for us) and mountains. We had no intention of spending greater than a day right here, however we appreciated it a lot we stayed a few days. You may see extra of the expertise on this video:
Tavertet, Spain
This cute little city was mainly all closed up after we obtained there. Try this campsite, although! Not pictured: a fantastic playground and a public pool.
Perealada, Spain
Driving towards the Costa Brava, we stopped on this little city for cappuccinos. When you’re the playing kind, take a look at this fortress, which is definitely a on line casino.
Castellop d’Empuries, Spain
We’re seashore individuals. If we are able to spend an additional evening or two on the coast, we take it. So after we discovered Tenting Laguna and had an oceanside campsite, we prolonged our keep evening after evening.
Have a look at this household. That’s what happiness seems like! We loved cava and tapas and the sunny seashore for just a few days.
Cabrera de Mar, Spain
On our final evening in our campers, we wished to get as shut as attainable to Barcelona. Cabrera de Mar is a beachside city with a completely automated campground and services that’s a simple stroll to parks and a seashore. It was on this city, the place we noticed faculties, parks, and households having fun with the sunshine that we mentioned these vacationer phrases.
“I feel we should always transfer right here.”
Barcelona, Spain
Everybody loves Barcelona. Typically, European cities which can be so standard don’t stay as much as the hype (sorry, Paris, you’re nonetheless stunning). However Barcelona was unbelievable!
We took a meals tour and obtained to study completely different meals and the historical past of town. And we (after all) visited the zoo, the place the youngsters had been thrilled to discover. We ate extra tapas and tried churros and chocolate (10/10, have to stroll rather a lot to get better from these energy). This was undoubtedly a metropolis we are going to come again to! We dropped off our motorhome on the prepare station and located an Airbnb within the gothic district that was walkable.
FAQs
What’s the finest time of yr to go to Europe?
To beat the crowds, we suggest visiting Europe in Could or early June or ready till September and October. The climate shall be good, and there received’t be as many crowds. Every part will nonetheless be open for the season however could supply low season pricing, making the journey rather less costly.
Are you able to go on a street journey to Europe?
No you possibly can’t drive to Europe (somebody requested me that not too long ago!) However you possibly can freely and simply drive throughout borders in Europe. Only a 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’s the finest automobile for a Europe street journey?
We’re 100% motorhome individuals. We’ve been RVing for a decade, and it’s our favourite technique to journey, irrespective of the continent!
How a lot cash do you might want to spend a month in Europe?
Let’s not sugarcoat it. A month-long journey is pricey! We share all of our detailed bills from this street journey right here.
Are you able to drive a campervan round Europe?
You don’t want a particular license to drive a campervan in Europe. Some international locations could require a world driver’s allow.
Are campervans standard in Europe?
Campervans are extra standard in Europe than they’re within the States! When 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 similar to they do to Florida!
Street Journey Europe: 30-Day Itinerary
For the time of yr, we selected southern Europe for our 30-day street journey. There’s a lot extra to see, however if you wish to cowl a number of 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!
