Suggestions for a (solo) roadtrip in september through Europe?

VictordeHolland · 2018-07-16, 16:04

I have got about 2 weeks worth of holiday allowance and compensation hours (for overtime) over for this year. The earliest I can use those is roundabout half september. I'm thinking about doing a solo roadtrip then, but I've never done such a thing before!
I'd prefer to start from my home in the Netherlands and use a car. I own a tent/sleeping bag and cooking accessories, but if the weather is bad then a hostel / bed and breakfast / hotel will be my preferred option.

I've been to Barcelona, Venice, Ferrara (Italy), Brussels, Strasburg, London, Edinburg, Geneva and a bunch of other European cities and I'm more of a nature person anyway. I've been to the Belgian Ardennes a couple of times, while it is beautiful there I'd like to go somewhere new. I'm thinking about Austria (I've been on skiing holiday there a couple of times), Denmark/Southern Sweden, French Alps, maybe Switserland (but it is expensive there) and Northern Italy come to mind.

Any suggestions? Places to go to?

Keep in mind that I have to drive by myself and I'd like to take regular breaks and enjoy the scenery. Spain, Southern Italy and Norway are probably too far away to get to in 2 weeks and back.

jvang · 2018-07-16, 17:36

Lots of those locales sound pretty nice. You should be able to make it to Switzerland in 2 days comfortably; the Alps have lots of cool views and the cantons in that area are especially rich in culture and foods

Mark Rose · 2018-07-16, 18:32

In my experience, you will want to plan for hotels/hostels at least some of the time. Sleeping in a tent gets old. But the nice thing about Europe is that if you forget something, there are stores almost everywhere.

Switzerland would be a comfortable 1 day drive for me. It's only ~9 hours.

Norway would also be spectacular, and it's only a ~15 hour drive/ferry (time to sleep!). So out of 16 days for two weeks plus a weekend, losing 3 to a commute isn't so bad.

xilman · 2018-07-16, 19:44

I rather like the Czech republic. Prague is too pretentiously up its own backside IMAO (though it's a major stop on the Grand Tour trail) but Brno and its surroundings is well worth a visit --- again IMAO.

But there again, I like beer so perhaps I'm biased.

Till · 2018-07-16, 20:34

If you head for Chechia, have a look at this area too:
https://www.oberelbe.de/bilder-impressionen/bastei.php

Otherwise, a kind of tour de France would be nice to. Go south near the Rhine river where you find many natural reserves / middle sized mountain ranges on each side of the border. Spend some time between Clermont-Ferrand, Geneva, Monaco, Montpellier. Then go west to the atlantic coast near to Arcachon. Than back via Paris and/or the Normandie.

If there is not anough time for the full trip, you can sidestep some stages...

VictordeHolland · 2018-07-16, 21:23

Thanks for the suggestions!

Switzerland is definitely on my wish list. I think I might leave Norway for a other time when I can get a longer vacation. Friends of my went on vacation in Norway and visited the Nordkapp and they said that 4 weeks was actually too short.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Rose

In my experience, you will want to plan for hotels/hostels at least some of the time. Sleeping in a tent gets old. But the nice thing about Europe is that if you forget something, there are stores almost everywhere.

I have no problems with sleeping in a tent. Only if it rains, things start to get muddy, cold and irritating quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

But there again, I like beer so perhaps I'm biased.

Can't argue with cheap beer!

pinhodecarlos · 2018-07-16, 21:43

I’ll be in Portugal, Porto area, from 30th August to 6th Setember and would be keen to meet you in case you decide to visit my country.

Uncwilly · 2018-07-16, 23:54

There are a ton of amazingly beautiful places in Norway. They have camping, cabins, hostels, etc. If you through Denmark, there is a bridge as well as a ferry to Sweden. Going from Denmark to Sweden to Norway in one day shows off the difference in geography. I have been mainly on E6 through Norway, before going over to Lofoten. If you have never seen fjords, you need to see them in person sometime. There is a visitor center right on the Arctic Circle. Just be warned, much of the road is winding and with lower speed limits. So note the travel times in what ever guide/software that you use.

Mark Rose · 2018-07-17, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by VictordeHolland

I think I might leave Norway for a other time when I can get a longer vacation. Friends of my went on vacation in Norway and visited the Nordkapp and they said that 4 weeks was actually too short.

Norkapp is awesome. I'd go there for the solstice, but plan to spend a couple of days on Magerøya in case the weather is crap (which it often is). See the sun bounce off the northern ocean at midnight is special. If you enjoy cold water, the ocean is about 6° that time of year, warm enough for a quick splash. There is one tiny sandy cove next to the highway on Magerøya.

If I were rich, I'd have a home in Lofoten. It's the most beautiful place I've ever been to.

I could easily spend months in Norway. Even just driving the roads could take two weeks. Norwegians travelling long distances often shortcut via the fast, straight roads of Sweden.

Quote:

I have no problems with sleeping in a tent. Only if it rains, things start to get muddy, cold and irritating quickly.

Which is what happens often in Norway. Good thing you're not going there this time. :-)

VictordeHolland · 2018-09-18, 16:13

And I'm off!
Hope my old beast (Daimler V8) doesn't brake down.
At least now know it can still do 170 Km/h on die Autobahn :). The Germans are nuts, while I was cruising with 150 Km/h in the middle lane, there were Audis/Mercedes and BMWs coming by doing something like 200

pinhodecarlos · 2018-09-18, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by VictordeHolland

And I'm off!
Hope my old beast (Daimler V8) doesn't brake down.
At least now know it can still do 170 Km/h on die Autobahn :). The Germans are nuts, while I was cruising with 150 Km/h in the middle lane, there were Audis/Mercedes and BMWs coming by doing something like 200

They have training...

2018-07-16, 16:04	#1
VictordeHolland "Victor de Hollander" Aug 2011 the Netherlands 2³·3·7² Posts	Suggestions for a (solo) roadtrip in september through Europe? I have got about 2 weeks worth of holiday allowance and compensation hours (for overtime) over for this year. The earliest I can use those is roundabout half september. I'm thinking about doing a solo roadtrip then, but I've never done such a thing before! I'd prefer to start from my home in the Netherlands and use a car. I own a tent/sleeping bag and cooking accessories, but if the weather is bad then a hostel / bed and breakfast / hotel will be my preferred option. I've been to Barcelona, Venice, Ferrara (Italy), Brussels, Strasburg, London, Edinburg, Geneva and a bunch of other European cities and I'm more of a nature person anyway. I've been to the Belgian Ardennes a couple of times, while it is beautiful there I'd like to go somewhere new. I'm thinking about Austria (I've been on skiing holiday there a couple of times), Denmark/Southern Sweden, French Alps, maybe Switserland (but it is expensive there) and Northern Italy come to mind. Any suggestions? Places to go to? Keep in mind that I have to drive by myself and I'd like to take regular breaks and enjoy the scenery. Spain, Southern Italy and Norway are probably too far away to get to in 2 weeks and back.

2018-07-16, 17:36	#2
jvang veganjoy "Joey" Nov 2015 Middle of Nowhere,AR 443 Posts	Lots of those locales sound pretty nice. You should be able to make it to Switzerland in 2 days comfortably; the Alps have lots of cool views and the cantons in that area are especially rich in culture and foods Last fiddled with by jvang on 2018-07-16 at 17:37 Reason: Typing is hard

2018-09-18, 16:13	#10
VictordeHolland "Victor de Hollander" Aug 2011 the Netherlands 2³·3·7² Posts	Arrgghhh! And I'm off! Hope my old beast (Daimler V8) doesn't brake down. At least now know it can still do 170 Km/h on die Autobahn :). The Germans are nuts, while I was cruising with 150 Km/h in the middle lane, there were Audis/Mercedes and BMWs coming by doing something like 200 Attached Thumbnails

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2018-07-16, 18:32	#3
Mark Rose "/X\(‘-‘)/X\" Jan 2013 B74₁₆ Posts	In my experience, you will want to plan for hotels/hostels at least some of the time. Sleeping in a tent gets old. But the nice thing about Europe is that if you forget something, there are stores almost everywhere. Switzerland would be a comfortable 1 day drive for me. It's only ~9 hours. Norway would also be spectacular, and it's only a ~15 hour drive/ferry (time to sleep!). So out of 16 days for two weeks plus a weekend, losing 3 to a commute isn't so bad.

2018-07-16, 19:44	#4
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 10,753 Posts	I rather like the Czech republic. Prague is too pretentiously up its own backside IMAO (though it's a major stop on the Grand Tour trail) but Brno and its surroundings is well worth a visit --- again IMAO. But there again, I like beer so perhaps I'm biased.

2018-07-16, 20:34	#5
Till "Tilman Neumann" Jan 2016 Germany 448₁₀ Posts	If you head for Chechia, have a look at this area too: https://www.oberelbe.de/bilder-impressionen/bastei.php Otherwise, a kind of tour de France would be nice to. Go south near the Rhine river where you find many natural reserves / middle sized mountain ranges on each side of the border. Spend some time between Clermont-Ferrand, Geneva, Monaco, Montpellier. Then go west to the atlantic coast near to Arcachon. Than back via Paris and/or the Normandie. If there is not anough time for the full trip, you can sidestep some stages...

2018-07-16, 21:43	#7
pinhodecarlos "Carlos Pinho" Oct 2011 Milton Keynes, UK 3×17×97 Posts	I’ll be in Portugal, Porto area, from 30th August to 6th Setember and would be keen to meet you in case you decide to visit my country.

2018-07-16, 23:54	#8
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 2³·1,223 Posts	There are a ton of amazingly beautiful places in Norway. They have camping, cabins, hostels, etc. If you through Denmark, there is a bridge as well as a ferry to Sweden. Going from Denmark to Sweden to Norway in one day shows off the difference in geography. I have been mainly on E6 through Norway, before going over to Lofoten. If you have never seen fjords, you need to see them in person sometime. There is a visitor center right on the Arctic Circle. Just be warned, much of the road is winding and with lower speed limits. So note the travel times in what ever guide/software that you use.