With the school break looming and the travel season heating up, British drivers are steering away from packed holiday spots and soaring ticket prices, instead opting for self-guided European getaways.
Car sharing marketplace Turo has compiled five European road trip routes for summer 2025 that Brits could take in, each of them offering the option of driving from the UK.*
These routes offer a balance of scenic beauty, thrilling drives, and cultural charm—giving motorists the freedom to explore Europe without the inconvenience of flights, layovers, or excess luggage charges.
Rory Brimmer, UK Managing Director of car sharing marketplace Turo, commented:
“European road trips offer something truly special – the freedom to discover hidden valleys in the Alps, coastal roads along the Mediterranean, and historic cities at your own pace. These routes are designed to maximise both driving pleasure and cultural discovery while starting and ending at ferry ports, making the logistics simple for UK drivers.
“Whether you’re looking for the winding mountain passes of the Dolomites or the sun-soaked coastal roads of Portugal, Turo can provide the perfect vehicle for your European adventure. From comfortable touring cars for long distances to sports cars for those memorable Alpine passes, having the right car transforms a good trip into an unforgettable one.”
Unforgettable European Road Trips
The Alpine Adventure Circuit (10-12 days)
Route: Calais → Strasbourg → Munich → Innsbruck → Bolzano → Lake Como → Geneva → Reims → Calais
This classic route combines the best of Alpine driving with stunning lake views and historic cities. The journey includes Germany’s romantic road sections, Austria’s dramatic Tyrolean passes, and Italy’s breathtaking Dolomites. Highlights include the Stelvio Pass (one of Europe’s highest paved roads), Lake Como’s elegant villas, and Geneva’s cosmopolitan charm.
Driving highlights: Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Stelvio Pass, Furka Pass
Best for: Mountain enthusiasts and serious driving fans
The Iberian Coastal Loop (15 days+)
Route: Portsmouth → Le Havre → Bordeaux → San Sebastián → Bilbao → Porto → Coimbra → Salamanca → Segovia → Madrid → Valencia → Barcelona → Perpignan → Montpellier → Lyon → Caen
This sun-soaked circuit showcases Spain and Portugal’s Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts alongside world-renowned wine regions. Experience the Basque Country’s culinary excellence, Portugal’s dramatic coastline, and Spain’s architectural masterpieces. The route includes time in three UNESCO World Heritage cities and some of Europe’s finest coastal driving.
Driving highlights: Atlantic Coast Road through Portugal, Pyrenees mountain passes, Costa Brava coastal route
Best for: Culture lovers and coastal driving enthusiasts
The Northern Fjords Explorer (12-14 days)
Route: Newcastle → Bergen → Geiranger → Trondheim → Östersund → Stockholm → Malmö → Copenhagen → Lübeck → Hamburg → Utrecht → Amsterdam
This spectacular Nordic adventure combines Norway’s legendary fjords with Scandinavia’s vibrant cities. The route includes some of the world’s most dramatic scenery, from Geiranger’s towering waterfalls to Sweden’s pristine lakes. Ferry connections and the Øresund Bridge add unique travel experiences to exceptional driving roads.
Driving highlights: Geiranger-Trollstigen route (Open from 14 July), Atlantic Ocean Road, Swedish lake district
Best for: Nature photographers and adventure seekers
The Eastern European Discovery (11 days+)
Route: Harwich → Hook of Holland → Cologne → Berlin → Dresden → Prague → Salzburg → Vienna → Budapest → Ljubljana → Zagreb → Venice → Innsbruck → Munich → Frankfurt → Calais
This cultural immersion showcases Central Europe’s imperial grandeur and emerging dynamism. The route connects five capital cities with stunning countryside drives through the Bohemian Forest and Austrian Alps. Adding stops in Dresden (baroque masterpiece), Salzburg (Mozart’s birthplace), and Ljubljana (Slovenia’s charming capital) create manageable driving distances while exploring lesser-known gems.
Driving highlights: Romantic Road in Bavaria, Wachau Valley, Alpine passes into Slovenia
Best for: History buffs and cultural explorers
The French Vineyard Circuit (7-9 days)
Route: Portsmouth → Caen → Reims → Beaune → Lyon → Avignon → Toulouse → Bordeaux → Tours → Caen
Perfect for shorter breaks, this route celebrates France’s greatest wine regions while showcasing diverse landscapes from Champagne’s rolling hills to Provence’s lavender fields. The circular journey includes medieval cities, Renaissance châteaux, and world-famous vineyards, with excellent driving roads throughout.
Driving highlights: Route des Grands Crus in Burgundy, Provence’s D roads, Loire Valley châteaux route
Best for: Wine enthusiasts and francophiles.
*Travel abroad requires prior approval from the host and Turo.
About Turo
Turo is the world’s largest car sharing marketplace, where you can book the perfect car for wherever you’re going from a vibrant community of trusted hosts across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and France. Flying in from afar or looking for a car down the street, searching for a rugged truck or something smooth and swanky, you can skip the rental car counter and choose from an extraordinary, totally unique selection of nearby vehicles shared by local hosts. Entrepreneurs can take the wheel of their futures by becoming hosts and building car sharing businesses on Turo, leveraging our established platform to scale their businesses to meet their goals.
With an unwavering mission of putting the world’s 1.5 billion cars to better use, Turo unlocks the hidden value in idle and underutilised assets, empowering anyone to get in the driver’s seat. Find your drive® — Turo.
To learn more about Turo, please visit www.turo.com.
