Best RV Road Trips in Europe

Follow the wild Atlantic coastline from Porto's wine cellars to San Sebastián's pintxos bars. This route takes you through Portugal's rugged Minho coast, past Galicia's dramatic Cape Finisterre — the ancient "end of the world" — and along Spain's green northern shore through Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. Expect stunning cliff-top drives, fresh seafood at every stop, surf beaches, and campsites with ocean views. The route avoids motorways in favour of coastal roads wherever possible.

Route Highlights

• Porto — Port wine cellars, Ribeira district, Livraria Lello
• Vigo & Rías Baixas — Best mussels in Europe, Cíes Islands day trip
• Cape Finisterre — End of the Camino de Santiago, dramatic lighthouse
• A Coruña — Tower of Hercules, seafood markets
• Asturian coast — Wild beaches, cider houses, Picos de Europa nearby
• Santillana del Mar — Medieval village, Altamira caves
• Bilbao — Guggenheim Museum, pintxos in the old town
• San Sebastián — La Concha beach, world-class food scene

Stops on This Route

Porto

1 Pentieiros campsite

2 Vigo — O Berbés

3 Milladoiro

4 Fisterra

5 Overnight caravan stop

6 A Coruña

7 Castro de Rei

8 La Regalina campsite

9 Colunga

10 Santillana del Mar

11 Bilbao

San Sebastián

Drive the stunning Adriatic coastline from Trieste through Croatia's island-dotted shore to medieval Dubrovnik and into Montenegro's dramatic Bay of Kotor. This route follows one of Europe's most scenic coastal roads, passing through Istria's hilltop villages, the Kvarner Gulf islands, Dalmatia's ancient walled cities, and Montenegro's fjord-like bays. Expect crystal-clear water, affordable camping, fresh seafood, and UNESCO World Heritage sites at every turn.

Route Highlights

• Trieste — Italian-Slovenian border city, coffee culture, Miramare Castle
• Istria & Kvarner — Islands of Krk and Pag, turquoise coves, hilltop villages
• Plitvice Lakes — UNESCO World Heritage cascading lakes (day trip detour)
• Zadar — Sea Organ, Roman ruins, famous sunset
• Split — Diocletian's Palace, waterfront promenade, ferry hub
• Makarska Riviera — Dramatic Biokovo mountain backdrop, pebble beaches
• Dubrovnik — "Pearl of the Adriatic", city walls walk, Game of Thrones filming
• Bay of Kotor — Montenegro's fjord, medieval Kotor old town, Our Lady of the Rocks

Stops on This Route

Trieste

1 Odmorište Zamet

2 Camp Ujča

3 Camping Šimuni (Pag)

4 Krk Premium Resort

5 Camping Zelena Dolina

6 Camping Lika (Plitvice)

7 Zaton Holiday Village

8 Camp Europa

9 Kamp Lisičina (Split)

10 Camp Podaca

11 Camping Nevio

12 Budina

13 Laguna Autokamp

Budva, Montenegro

Loop through the heart of the Alps from Munich into Austria's Tyrol, over the Italian Dolomites' legendary passes, and back via Salzburg. This circuit crosses three countries and delivers some of Europe's most dramatic mountain scenery — from the jagged peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the cable car ride atop Sass Pordoi, the Habsburg grandeur of Innsbruck, and the baroque beauty of Salzburg. Perfect for motorhomes that want alpine passes, cable car adventures, and cosy mountain campsites.

Route Highlights

• Innsbruck — Nordkette cable car to 2,300m, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Golden Roof
• Schloss Ambras — Renaissance castle with Habsburg art collections and armour gallery
• Passo Pordoi — Cable car to Sass Pordoi (2,950m) for 360° Dolomite panorama over the Marmolada glacier
• Leuchtenburg — Medieval hilltop castle with views over the Etsch valley and Lake Caldaro
• Lake Garda — Italy's largest lake, windsurfing, lakeside villages, and lemon groves
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo — Iconic three-peaked Dolomite massif, classic alpine hike
• Salzburg — Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg fortress, Sound of Music locations
• Gollinger Wasserfall — 75m two-tiered waterfall in the Berchtesgaden Alps

Activities on This Route

• 🚡 Nordkette Cable Car — Three stages whisk you from Innsbruck's old town straight up to 2,334 m on the Hafelekar summit. The panorama stretches from the Zugspitze to the Brenner Pass, with the entire Inn Valley sprawled below. On clear days, pack a picnic — there are benches right at the top. Allow 3 hours. nordkette.com

• 🏛️ Hofburg Imperial Palace — The Habsburg emperors' alpine residence, rebuilt in rococo style under Maria Theresa. Wander through the Giant's Hall with its ceiling frescoes and the imperial apartments where the royal family once stayed during Tyrolean visits. Budget around 2 hours. hofburg-innsbruck.at

• 🚡 Sass Pordoi Cable Car — A four-minute ride launches you from Passo Pordoi to the 2,950 m summit terrace nicknamed "the terrace of the Dolomites." Up top, a full 360-degree view takes in the Marmolada glacier, Sella group, and dozens of jagged peaks fading into the distance. Set aside 2–3 hours.

• 🥾 Gollinger Wasserfall Hike — Hidden in a narrow gorge near Golling an der Salzach, this 75-metre waterfall crashes down in two tiers through moss-covered rock. The trail winds uphill through forest for about 20 minutes before the falls come into view. A small entrance fee supports trail maintenance. Allow 1–2 hours.

• 🚡 Untersberg Cable Car — Just outside Salzburg, the Untersbergbahn climbs 1,320 vertical metres in under nine minutes. At the top station you step out onto a karst plateau with views across Salzburg, the Bavarian Alps, and on good days all the way to the Großglockner. Several summit trails start from here. Allow 3–4 hours. untersbergbahn.at

Stops on This Route

Munich

1 Schloss Ambras

2 Naturcamping Lärchwiese

3 Passo Pordoi

4 Leuchtenburg Castle

5 Caldonazzo (Lake Garda area)

6 Campeggio Bresin

7 Maier Kaser

8 Santa Caterina

9 Overnight (Berchtesgaden)

10 Salzburg

11 Gollinger Wasserfall

12 Aschau im Chiemgau

Munich

Head north from Oslo through Norway's interior valleys to the Arctic Circle and beyond, ending at the legendary Lofoten Islands. This one-way route follows the E6 highway through rolling farmland, past Trondheim's medieval heritage, into the wild Helgeland coast, and across to Lofoten via the Bodø–Moskenes ferry. Expect dramatic mountain passes, the world's strongest tidal current at Saltstraumen, midnight sun in summer, and some of Europe's most striking coastal scenery.

Route Highlights

• Trondheim — Nidaros Cathedral, Bakklandet district, Munkholmen island
• Bymarka — Trondheim's vast forest playground, hiking and lake swimming
• Helgeland Coast — Seven Sisters mountain range, Arctic Circle crossing
• Saltstraumen — World's strongest maelstrom, 400 million cubic metres of water per tide
• Bodø–Moskenes Ferry — Scenic 3-hour crossing into the heart of Lofoten
• Unstad Beach — Arctic surfing at one of the world's northernmost surf spots
• Haukland & Uttakleiv — Pristine white-sand beaches framed by jagged peaks

Activities on This Route

• 🥾 Bymarka Forest Trails — Sprawling across 80 square kilometres west of Trondheim, Bymarka is a patchwork of pine forest, lakes, and granite ridges criss-crossed by marked trails. Locals jog here before work; visitors can spend a full day exploring. Lake Lianvatnet is warm enough for a swim in July, and the network connects to mountain-top viewpoints looking back over the Trondheim Fjord.

• 🏝️ Munkholmen Island — A ten-minute ferry ride from Trondheim's Ravnkloa fish market drops you on this tiny fortified islet. Once a monastery, then a prison, and later a World War II anti-aircraft station, Munkholmen today is a favourite summer hangout with a sandy beach, a café, and walking paths around the old fortress walls. Bring a towel — the swimming is surprisingly good.

• 🌊 Saltstraumen Maelstrom — Four times a day, the narrow Saltstraumen strait funnels the tide between two fjords, creating whirlpools up to ten metres across. Stand on the bridge and watch the current accelerate to 20 knots as the water surface buckles and spins. Time your visit to peak flow — tide tables are posted at the car park. An unforgettable natural spectacle.

• 🎣 Arctic Fishing — The waters around Bodø and Lofoten teem with cod, halibut, and coalfish. Charter boats depart daily from Saltstraumen and Svolvær, putting you over deep-water marks within minutes. No licence is needed for saltwater fishing in Norway. Expect to reel in Arctic cod alongside sea eagles circling overhead — and your catch can be grilled at the campsite the same evening.

• 🏄 Unstad Beach Surfing — Tucked between granite walls on Lofoten's outer coast, Unstad delivers consistent Atlantic swells to one of the planet's most northerly surf breaks. A small surf camp rents boards and wetsuits year-round. Summer sessions run under the midnight sun; winter brings the northern lights. The wave suits beginners and intermediates on most days.

• 🥾 Haukland–Uttakleiv Coastal Walk — A gently undulating trail connects Haukland and Uttakleiv beaches across a low headland, delivering panoramic views of both bays and the open sea. The walk takes about 45 minutes each way and stays below the tree line, weaving through heather and over smooth rock slabs. Pack lunch and settle on Uttakleiv's sculpted boulders for an Arctic picnic.

Stops on This Route

Oslo

1 Storsjøsenteret

2 Storsand Gård Camping

3 Kvam Motell & Camping

4 Nyheim Camping

5 Røssvoll Camping

6 Camp Saltstraumen Elvegård

Lofoten Surfsenter