Best Driving in Europe?

TriedandTested · 31 Jul 2019 at 17:51

I'm looking to get a new car over the coming weeks and want to plan some great drives in Europe. Where to start? I'm looking for great views, mountain ranges, rolling hills..that sort of thing.

Do you have any recommendations?

This is my starting point and about to read this: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/driving-holidays/Best-driving-holidays-in-Europe/

[TW]Fox · 31 Jul 2019 at 18:07

I've recently come back from a few weeks of driving around Europe - by the far best bits are the Alps - the Swiss, Italian, German, Austrian and French bits are all absolutely wonderful and well worth a visit. They'll give you exactly what you are looking for and then some.

Just remember that Switzerland is about scenery and not about thrashing your car. They have very low speed limits and very harsh penalties for breaking them.

-Ad- · 1 Aug 2019 at 08:16

TriedandTested said:
Do you have any recommendations?

Scotland.

keylion · 1 Aug 2019 at 12:20

We drove to Northern Italy passing through Switzerland and the scenery really is stunning as well as the engineering in terms of tunnels and bridges. This was sticking to the main routes as well. Be prepared to spend a lot on tolls though. The Mont Blanc tunnel was particularly expensive.

233 · 1 Aug 2019 at 12:40

nc500 in about 3/4 months when all the tourists go home

utter torture atm and really not a good experience . personally i'd start off with a day or 2 in Glasgow and head up north via the west coast, Oban, Fort William then up to Inverness via Fort Augustus before picking up the NC500

jpaul · 1 Aug 2019 at 16:45

The earlier route napoleon thread ... driving down into Nice, as you see the sea for the first time

... need the Matt monroe - 'on days like this' track, too ... and hope you don't meet a digger ...

Psycho Sonny · 1 Aug 2019 at 16:50

Scotland avoid NC500 though unless off peak season.

No point travelling thousands of miles when the best views are a stone throw away.

Cleisthenes · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:00

Psycho Sonny said:
Scotland avoid NC500 though unless off peak season.

No point travelling thousands of miles when the best views are a stone throw away.

Takes me the same amount of time to get to the Alp as to get to the NC500. May as well get most likely better weather and go into Europe!

Psycho Sonny · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:06

Cleisthenes said:
Takes me the same amount of time to get to the Alp as to get to the NC500. May as well get most likely better weather and go into Europe!

do you have breakdown cover, insurance and correct license and meet all the regs, etc to drive in europe?

[TW]Fox · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:18

Psycho Sonny said:
do you have breakdown cover, insurance and correct license and meet all the regs, etc to drive in europe?

With the exception of breakdown cover why wouldn't he?

Psycho Sonny · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:25

[TW]Fox said:
With the exception of breakdown cover why wouldn't he?

My insurance company emailed me regarding brexit and to make sure I had something in place before travelling and if he's planning for after we leave then he will need to sort that out.

Also countries have different laws in regards to what you need in your car. Breathalyser, etc.

TriedandTested · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:29

Thanks for all the replies. Some real food for thought...NC500 in particular. Hadnt even heard of that before.

geekman · 1 Aug 2019 at 17:36

Psycho Sonny said:
My insurance company emailed me regarding brexit and to make sure I had something in place before travelling and if he's planning for after we leave then he will need to sort that out.

Also countries have different laws in regards to what you need in your car. Breathalyser, etc.

What countries do you need to have a breathalyser for?

keylion · 1 Aug 2019 at 19:54

I'd never heard of the NC500 either before reading this thread. Looks very scenic and unlike most I don't particularly mind a bid of bad weather.

Pyscho_Si · 1 Aug 2019 at 20:12

keylion said:
. The Mont Blanc tunnel was particularly expensive.

At this time of year, why didn’t you do the St Bernard Pass which is free and beautiful?

bazzabear · 1 Aug 2019 at 20:28

[TW]Fox said:
With the exception of breakdown cover why wouldn't he?

Because you need to get a green card from your insurer to prove you have insurance that covers you on the continent - and even then it's worth checking with them because it might only be 3rd party.

And that's even before we're no longer in the EU.

jpaul · 1 Aug 2019 at 20:35

never done it - does StB get processionary ... do you have to do it at dawn ?

[TW]Fox · 1 Aug 2019 at 21:01

bazzabear said:
ecause you need to get a green card from your insurer to prove you have insurance that covers you on the continent

Do you?

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-abroad

All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third party cover to drive in other EU countries.

Pyscho_Si · 1 Aug 2019 at 21:04

jpaul said:
never done it - does StB get processionary ... do you have to do it at dawn ?

I did the St B pass in August after leaving Evian at about 10am and it wasn’t too bad. I was in Turin early afternoon staying at the old FIAT factory.