Sign up for our “Milan to Monaco: How to Plan a European Road Trip” webinar here to get expert advice on hitting the road in Europe.  

One of the benefits of visiting Europe is the ease in which you can visit multiple countries in a short amount of time. Getting from country to country is simple thanks to cheap flights and efficient trains, but if you want to get a sense of an entire country (and not just the touristy hot spots), road trips are the best way to explore a region up close.

As the slow travel movement makes a comeback, encouraging travelers to pace themselves to truly develop a deeper understanding of a region’s people, culture and values, international road trips will only increase in popularity. If you can conquer your fear of driving on the opposite side of the road and have some time to spare, these road trip ideas will help you see another, richer side of Europe.

Italy

Three weeks in Italy may sound like a lot of time to spend in one country, but Holidays To Europe’s self-drive tour guide across the country will help you see the best Italy has to offer. Start in Rome and make your way to must-see destinations like Venice, Naples and the Amalfi Coast for the ultimate Italian road trip.

italy-drive

RELATED: 10 Photos That Will Make You Fall In Love With Santorini

Sweden

Inntravel helps traveler’s plan the perfect tour of Sweden’s West Coast, starting in Fjällbacka and snaking down to the Bohuslän archipelago in the islands of South and North Koster, through the seafood safari in Fiskebäckskil and ending in the foodie city of Gothenburg. Book through Inntravel and your car, accommodations and most meals are included!

Iceland

According to USA Today, the 830-mile route along Iceland’s Ring Road is a must if you want to see the gorgeous landscape of Eyjafjordur, active volcano areas, mud pools and geysers. The Ring Road circles the country, so rent a four-wheel drive vehicle and begin and end your trip in Reykjavik.

iceland-drive

England

Bruised Passports recommends allotting two to three weeks to cover the 800 miles between Cornwall and the Lake District National Park in England. You’ll see Canterbury, Oxford, London, Stonehenge and more along the way.

SEE. IT. ALL.

Have a few months to spare? One man designed the ultimate European road trip spanning 16,287 miles and 45 stops. The trip requires 14 days of driving time alone, so you’d need at least three months to attempt the route, which begins in Innsbruck, Austria and ends in Interlaken, Switzerland with stops in Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Estonia, Spain and France along the way. The route is too ambitious for most, but you can use the map here to inspire a small portion of your own European road trip.