European road trips
The Grand European Road Trip
Belgium, Germany and France in one loop: a canal city, the forest ridge road, the Alsace vineyards, then the Normandy cliffs before turning for home.
- The Schwarzwaldhochstraße ridge road
- Strasbourg's Petite France on foot
- Étretat's cliffs at the end of the loop
- Duration
- 11 nights · 12 days
- Destinations
- 4 stops · 3 countries
- Travel style
- Long-distance touring, a new base every few nights
- Indicative budget
- £1,840–£2,480
- Ferry crossing
- Dover – Calais
Every detail is editable: change the dates, add a stop, swap a hotel or start again from the ferry.
The route
1,731 km · about 22 hours driving in total
P · ferry port1–4 · overnight stopDashed line · suggested route, illustrative
Night by night
The suggested shape of the trip, in driving order. Take it as it is, or treat it as a starting point and move a night, swap a hotel or drop a stop.
- Outbound · Dover – Calais1h 30m crossing
- Drive from Calais · 1h 35m · 122 kmillustrative estimate
- 1
BrugesBelgium
2 nights · nights 1–2
A city that rewards an early start: bell towers, still water and waffle steam on cobbles that stay empty until the coaches arrive. Park the car on the edge and walk the rest.
Suggested stay
Minnewater Apartments · apartment · from £122 a night
Suggested attractions
- Belfry of Bruges · £14
- Rozenhoedkaai · free
- Drive from Bruges · 7h 45m · 606 kmillustrative estimate
- 2
The Black ForestGermany
3 nights · nights 3–5
Forest roads that fold into one another, thermal towns, and the kind of quiet you only find an hour off the motorway. Bring walking shoes.
Suggested stay
Waldhaus am Bach · guesthouse · from £132 a night
Suggested attractions
- Triberg Waterfalls · £9
- Schwarzwaldhochstraße · free
- Drive from The Black Forest · 55m · 74 kmillustrative estimate
- 3
StrasbourgFrance
3 nights · nights 6–8
Petite France is a canal postcard; the European quarter is a different city entirely. Between them, the cathedral and a wine route that starts at the tram stop.
Suggested stay
Petite France Maison · guesthouse · from £176 a night
Suggested attractions
- Petite France · free
- Strasbourg Cathedral · £10
- Drive from Strasbourg · 8h 40m · 679 kmillustrative estimate
- 4
NormandyFrance
3 nights · nights 9–11
Wide skies and an unhurried coast road: Honfleur's harbour, the cliffs at Étretat and orchard country inland where the cider is still made by hand.
Suggested stay
Cliff Top Cottages · cabin · from £142 a night
Suggested attractions
- Étretat cliffs · free
- Honfleur harbour · free
- Drive from Normandy · 3h 10m · 250 kmillustrative estimate
- Return · Dover – CalaisSailing home