recommendations for road trip to Italy

[gliggsy]

Hi guys, as per the title, I know there are a few well travelled guys on here so I am looking for recommendations for a road trip, probably Belgium, Germany, Switzerland or Austria, across the alps (scenic) and on to probably somewhere around 20 miles south of Rimini, 7 to 10 days there in Airbnb accommodation. Then across Italy to the other coast, maybe le spazia or whatever gets recommended, 7 to 10 days again then leisurely drive back home, leaving mid September. Did France last year and tuscany the previous year.

 

[Tony Dyson]

In this weather I would prioritise a 12vdc Cooler filled with drinks and fruit, and I've never found driving through Switzerland any fun at all, the scenery is OK roads never were!

 

[Rotorhead500]

How about the Amalfi coast? A friend works there now, and his photos look superb?

Another friend did a bit of a road trip down there a couple of years ago, loved it!

 

[John Laidlaw]

How about the Amalfi coast? A friend works there now, and his photos look superb?

Another friend did a bit of a road trip down there a couple of years ago, loved it!

Interesting driving on that coast road too...

 

[umblecumbuz]

Whenever we've driven into/across/down Italy, we've always aimed for a col rather than one of the tunnels. Defeated just once due to snow, but our favourite is the col du Mont Cenis, from France over to Susa in Italy. Spend time at the top, windswept cafe and lake, corkscrew for miles into Italy. Stay the night in Susa, then - if you're aiming for Rimini - easy long run next day, mostly E35/E45.

 

[Wighty]

Did a trip last year down to the very top of Italy to do the Stelvio pass , went down via Belgium France Germany Austria . The German Black mountains near Karlsruhe are worth passing through (you need a German emissions sticker for cities , similar to the French critair sticker ) .
Some of the Austrian motorways also need a paid pass as well which is purchased at border stops .
Drive the private mountain road "Grobglockner" which is fantastic and maybe the Stelvio pass (as well as others if you like that sort of thing )
The first two pics are Stelvio , the third is the "Grobglockner" (spelling ?)

 

[Wighty]

If you are taking the CLS , (same engine as mine , om642 ) pack a spare 15amp fuse and a 4.7k ohm resistor just in case you suffer any swirl flap issues . They cost under a quid and may get you out of trouble

 

[Blobcat]

In the words of Nike - "Just do it"

Switzerland and Austria require Toll stickers if you're going to use their motorways

 

[ajlsl600]

How about the Amalfi coast? A friend works there now, and his photos look superb?

Another friend did a bit of a road trip down there a couple of years ago, loved it!

good idea, grand on a bike too.

 

[worldbiker]

Well,
I'm here right now, having driven down about two weeks ago. I'm in Montesilvano, just north of Pescara (about an hour south of Ancona). I usually do the trip 2/3 times a year, sometimes by bike.

Your route very much depends on what you want to do; get here as soon as possible, or meander your way across Europe and arrive here eventually. My preferred option is to get here by the shortest and quickest route. I can then use my home here as a base to explore around the area.

My route is down through France, on the peage (for which I have a toll tag), through the Frejus tunnel, and then south of Turin to the A1 (again, I have a toll tag for Italian motorways), passing by Piacenza, Parma, Modena, Bologna, Imola and Faenza - all good places to stop and visit (especially Imola where you can visit the race track and see Senna's statue). Then it's only a couple of hours further on to where you're staying (Pedaso area?).

There's lots to see and do around where you're staying, including Ravenna, San Marino and Urbino, and Floence is only a short train ride away (don't try parking in Florence!).

Just be aware that if you take a more scenic route through Germany there are a lot of roadworks on the autobahns right now so progress may be slow. Also you'll need a carnet for Switzerland and the motorways in Austria. If, however, you do come that way then Bassano del Grappa (where they make the grappa - try the Poli distillery), and Marostica (where, at a certain time of the year, they play chess on the main square with people and horses, and the two 'dukes' in towers at either side directing their pieces) and on your route.

I'm not sure when you're thinking of taking the trip but try to avoid the beginning and end of August because that's when Italy, as well as other parts of Europe, go on holiday.

All the best and by all means PM me if you need any more info.

(by the way - 10 days is WAY too short to explore one of the most historic areas of Italy!)

 

[gliggsy]

Went to amalfi 35 years ago and enjoyed it although was restricted by being on a package hol, I'm not ruling it out as a destination but thought 20 or so days further north ie the two destinations I have mentioned would have given us enough culture and scenery, maybe even get down to Florence, basically stay somewhere within 300mls of Milan we are retired so there's no need to rush anywhere.

 

[Bubble]

My first speeding fine for over 25 years was last year in Italy after visiting Venice. They kindly sent a picture of the back of the car to prove it. Got to love the Italian roads though and all the tunnels!!

 

[keefysher]

Forget Firenze, go to Sienna instead

Did Eurotunnel, then overnight in Troyes, few days in Prutz Tirol where we drove up to Samnaun, Gletcher Glacier, Solden. Then down through Stelvio, Passe De Ponte to Trento, onto Sienna overnight, then onto Naples where we were based with friends and did Pompei, Amalfi Coast.

12 days trip in my BMW Z3, roof down whole time.

Basic route:

 

[grayb]

We went to Florence in May last year - too crowded to be enjoyable, and you have to book the big museums/galleries in advance. Some of the Austrian/Italian alpine roads are brilliant. We are heading there again in September with our Porsche friends.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Just back from a trip to Austria and Slovenia.
We took the Belgium, German route on the E40 (joining near Bruges) across Belgium.
There are plenty of roadworks, which weren't too bad except for the stretch along between Munich and Salzburg which I would avoid like the plague during rush hour and especially on a Saturday.

If you pass through Germany I'd recommend a visit to Bacharach on the Rhine down to Boppard, a lovely stretch.
I'd also recommend staying in Bruges overnight the day before your ferry back (Calais to Bruges in under 1.5 hours).
Austrian motorway stickers come in 10 day minimum for around 9 Euros.
If you want an emission sticker for German some of the German cities then buy before hand - I got mine form the Berlin government site.

 

[Wighty]

Just back from a trip to Austria and Slovenia.
We took the Belgium, German route on the E40 (joining near Bruges) across Belgium.
There are plenty of roadworks, which weren't too bad except for the stretch along between Munich and Salzburg which I would avoid like the plague during rush hour and especially on a Saturday.

If you pass through Germany I'd recommend a visit to Bacharach on the Rhine down to Boppard, a lovely stretch.
I'd also recommend staying in Bruges overnight the day before your ferry back (Calais to Bruges in under 1.5 hours).
Austrian motorway stickers come in 10 day minimum for around 9 Euros.
If you want an emission sticker for German some of the German cities then buy before hand - I got mine form the Berlin government site.

Must have been a real struggle in a CL500 buddy D) . Lets have a little pic of the car on foreign soil please

 

[Capra]

How about the Amalfi coast? A friend works there now, and his photos look superb?

Another friend did a bit of a road trip down there a couple of years ago, loved it!

We had a hire car around that area for two weeks, I thought it was great, the wife hated it!

 

[Blobcat]

We had a hire car around that area for two weeks, I thought it was great, the wife hated it!

So you won't be going back then...

 

[Capra]

So you won't be going back then...

lol. Slight exaggeration, we both love Italy, she was just a little nervous being a passenger on some of the road which had a bit of a drop.

 

[Rotorhead500]

We had a hire car around that area for two weeks, I thought it was great, the wife hated it!

An excuse to get a better hire car then!