Beautiful roads in Europe - along dramatic mountainsides or through rolling green landscapes. We were asked to write about beautiful European roads we've experienced by car or motorhome, and we were inspired to dream of travelling in Europe.
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Beautiful roads in Europe, as experienced by car or motorhome
Before this post, we have talked a lot about beautiful roads in Europe that we have experienced. So nice to dream back! Here we present 12 nice roads - sometimes shorter "snippets" and in other cases longer tours.
1. Corsica: Calanche
The first road that came to mind when we started talking was the mountain roads that run by Calanche, on the western side of Corsica. Incredibly dramatic and incredibly beautiful. You drive along steep rock faces that plunge straight down into the turquoise sea. Every encounter is an adrenaline rush. An experience!
2. the Czech Republic: Bohemian Switzerland
Bohemian Switzerland is a national park in the north-west of the Czech Republic. People travel here to hike, camp, kayak and cosy up in picturesque inns. It's also a great place to drive through the area. Winding roads take you slowly through intense greenery.
3. Montenegro: Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor, on the northern coast of Montenegro, is a bay that winds its way into the UNESCO city of Kotor. You drive along the waterfront all the time, looking out over the high mountains. It is also very interesting to visit the beautiful town of Kotor, which is located within high walls. Don't miss taking the stairs up to the fort on the mountain.
4. Norway: Bodö
We flew to Bodö in northern Norway, where we rented a car. From Bodö we then made excursions to Kjerringøy, Hamarøy and Tranøy, among others. What fantastically beautiful roads! Here you look out over mountains and plains and here you meet moose, reindeer, sheep and sea eagles.
5. Albania: Mountain roads between Himara and Radhima
Albania is a mountainous country with incredibly beautiful views. One of the most dramatic roads we experienced was the one between Himara and Radhima, near the coast. In some places, the roads wind upwards, upwards through one hairpin curve after another. Fantastic!
6. Sweden: Vallevägen
One of the most beautiful roads in Europe! Last summer, we found Vallevägen, which many consider to be Sweden's most beautiful road. Vallebygden is located between Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern, on the road between Timmersdala and Varnhem. A big orange "V" guides you through a village with nature reserves, waterfalls and farm shops.
7. Germany: Moselle valleys
The Moselle Valley is a wonderfully green part of Germany. For example, you can drive from Koblenz in the north to Trier in the south, all the while travelling on charming country roads along the Moselle River. Everywhere you see vineyards, and of course you can stop at any time to buy wine from a winemaker.
8. Northern Ireland: Torr Head Scenic Route
On the western side of Northern Ireland there is a nice road called the Causeway Coastal Route. This is really nice, but yet it gets nicer if you go north. Peter complained that I only took pictures of lambs (so cute!) but the view is also absolutely magical. This road is suitable for a car or a small campervan.
9. Switzerland: Grand Tour of Switzerland
Switzerland is so stunningly beautiful that it's hard to choose. That's why we mention the entire 'Tour of Switzerland', which takes you around the finest parts of the country. Stunning scenery, great food and good quality of just about everything. all. Our favourites include beautiful Interlaken with Lake Grienz and the lovely little town of Appenzell.
10. France: Gorges du Verdon
France is one of our favourite countries, for many reasons. If we were to redo a single road trip, it would be the journey around the dramatic Gorges du Verdon canyon. The cliff edges are deep, the scenery is green and the villages are incredibly picturesque.
11th Iceland: Around Iceland
Iceland is an exciting country to discover by car. Dramatic volcanoes, endless glaciers and towering waterfalls - it doesn't get any better than this! There's also a good chance of seeing a cute horse. A tour around the whole country is recommended!
12th Ireland: Wild Atlantic Way
The western part of Ireland is spectacular. For example, you can stop at the Cliffs of Moher, which rise 214 metres above the Atlantic Ocean. You can also experience the charming music city of Galway and perhaps the charming Dingle Peninsula.
More beautiful roads in Europe?
Do you have tips for more beautiful roads in Europe? Which roads have you driven that you have particularly fond memories of?
4000mil says:
We also love beautiful roads! 🙂
We have travelled the Bay of Kotor, the Icelandic ring road, the Gorges du Verdon and the Wild Atlantic way and in Bohemian Switzerland.
I have heard about Vallevägen on several occasions, it shouldn't be too difficult to get to it sometime, as my sister lives close by.
Transfagaransan Road in Romania, which I actually recently wrote about, would definitely be on my list too.
25 March 2021 - 8:39
Helena says:
Isn't it wonderful with nice roads? 🙂 That road in Romania sounds exciting! In general, I am curious about Romania. You have to see when it can happen.
25 March 2021 - 17:28
BP says:
A lovely post! Now I've travelled around almost all of Europe without moving a muscle:-)
25 March 2021 - 18:00
Helena says:
Practical, right? It was a round trip for us too 🙂
26 March 2021 - 20:40
Frido says:
Thank you very much! Thought about choosing one of these as a dream route, but it didn't work out. Iceland, Ireland and then the Moselle Valley... and a bit of Albania on it....
25 March 2021 - 20:08
Helena says:
Great plans! Right now it has been difficult, but hopefully it will be easier to travel again in the future!
26 March 2021 - 20:42
bmlarstravellingblog says:
There are so many wonderful roads and so many we still have to discover! Of all these, we have only travelled in the Mosel valley and of course on the Valle road, most recently last weekend when we picked up the motorhome....
Our most beautiful road ever is probably when we travelled on Lofoten and Västerålen. There were many stops just to enjoy the views and lots of photos were taken.
25 March 2021 - 21:36
Helena says:
There are of course as many beautiful roads as possible! I can imagine that Lofoten is also fantastic!
26 March 2021 - 20:43
Lena - good for the soul says:
Imagine how much beauty there is around the world. How much they miss, those who just fly "abroad" and lie down by a pool or on a beach and then go home. I also like to lie and sunbathe by a pool or beach, but I wouldn't want to miss out on looking around too. But everyone likes different things.
Hug Lena
27 March 2021 - 7:29
Helena says:
Of course, you like different things. We absolutely want to look around, and automatically you see more on the road when you do a road trip! 🙂
27 March 2021 - 8:03
Only British says:
Yes you have to go to Scotland and maybe mainly the Glencoe Valley and the Isle of Skye but there is much more. A personal favourite is the road between Land's End and St Ives in Cornwall (picture of a road with a farm on my front page but you can't see the Atlantic Ocean). The Lake District with its steep gradients, much of the Yorkshire Dales and the Pickering to Whitby road are also favourites, as is the fossil coast of Dorset with Chesil Beach.
Switzerland yes...the whole country, haha. In Germany I love the roads in the Black Forest. Danish Mön is nice too.
Vallevägen is cosy although it reminds me of others such as Bjärehalvön, Lysekilstrakten and the like. I would probably like to strike a blow for southern Öland with its villages and Alvaret which is fantastic. Most known as a road I think is Silvervägen but I have not been there myself. I also want to go to Flatruet.
Hm... I travel a lot by train myself, so there's more there.
27 March 2021 - 9:50
Our Vantastic Travels says:
Thanks for the tip about Vallevägen, have not heard of it before. Will have to Google it. Another very nice spring or early summer trip is Humleslingan in southeastern Sweden, well worth a report.
Enjoy!
30 June 2021 - 7:31