Dreaming of hitting the road in a spacious vehicle with space to bring along everything you might need? Van life is a top travel trend as more and more travellers embrace the freedom of this way of roaming around the world.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide to the best places to visit in Europe that are super easy to get to. So if your travel vision this year is a European vacation like no other, you’re in the right place.
Of course, some places to visit in Europe are more van friendly than others so before you embrace this trend for yourself, it’s time to see exactly where you might want to head.
If you’re setting off from the UK, remember that rules on travel may have changed since your last trip. That’s why we’ve also got the most up-to-date P&O Brexit guidance to let you know which documents you’ll need to bring and what you need to know about pets, medical treatment and much more.
The Netherlands
Wondering about places to visit in the Netherlands in a campervan or motorhome? This compact nation is great for cyclists and drivers so we’d suggest you could even bring your bike along with your van on a rack. Just remember when booking your vehicle onboard to measure the height and length of it with your rack or box attached!
The best route for entering the Netherlands is with our Hull to Rotterdam crossing or driving onwards from Calais. If you’re thinking of exploring France first, it’s just a four-hour drive onwards via the E40. From Rotterdam, you can easily reach some of the Netherlands’ best cities like Amsterdam in just an hour’s drive on the A4!
Outside of the Netherlands’ biggest cities, we’d suggest stopping off at Volendam as this picturesque town next to Markermeer Lake is a great taste of Dutch culture. With its multi-coloured wooden houses and fishing boats, wandering around its streets isn’t something you’ll forget anytime soon.
If you’re wondering about the best time of year to visit, July and August are when tourism is at its peak so you may want to avoid the crowds by travelling to Holland in another month.
Austria
For anyone wondering about the best places to travel in June, a summer in Europe brings a new beauty to icy Austrian sights. Stopping off in spots like Lake Wörthersee you can enjoy some alpine air and views from the Pyramidenkogel Tower. Or for a taste of Austrian city life, Vienna’s amazing architecture and marvellous museums are worth wandering around on your European road trip.
As a motorist, if your vehicle is up to 3.5 tonnes, you’ll need to purchase a vignette to drive on any Austrian motorways or toll roads. This displayed sticker tells authorities that you’re allowed to drive on these roads and are sold in windows of 10 days, two months or a year so find the ideal option for you before setting off!
Croatia
Anyone that’s hoping to travel Croatia on the open road can expect a heady mix of sun, beautiful beaches, stunning waterfalls and Roman ruins! One thing to remember when hitting the road in this part of Europe is that Croatia’s currency is the Kuna (HKR) instead of the Euro.
For any lovers of the great outdoors, Risnjak Natural Park is definitely one of the best places to visit in Croatia. As it’s found in the most mountainous area of Croatia, you can enjoy expansive views and challenging hikes around this forested spot.
When you fancy a taste of some Croatian city life, be sure to see some of the top places to visit in Dubrovnik. Walking along the City Walls is an unforgettable way to familiarise yourself with this destination. Dubrovnik Cable Car is also a must for a 360 view across this ancient vista. The City Harbour is also well worth a visit for sumptuous seafood and a relaxing vibe.
Bulgaria
Our next European van life pick is visiting Bulgaria – its compact size means you can easily get between major sights. One thing to look out for is potholes as roads are not as well maintained as in some western European destinations.
Here are some of the best places to visit in Bulgaria that you should think about including on your road trip for an unforgettable exploration of all that this country has to offer! In Sofia, you’ll see Bulgaria’s amazing range of architectural styles that span from the Byzantine era to ancient Greek and Soviet. In the centre of town, you can see Alexander Nevsky Cathedral’s colourful domes and enjoy free entry.
For some of the best places to travel in July in this region, outdoor spots like Rila Lake and the surrounding mountains are great for sunshine and swimming!
Romania
If you happen to head east while on your van life adventure, we definitely suggest taking the chance to travel in Romania. This destination is full of wild natural landscapes: from snowy mountains, to watching the leaves change colour and huge open lakes – be sure to bring a camera when you hit the road here.
The dramatic seasons you’ll see here make it one of the best places to travel in October in Europe. One of the top places to visit in Romania is the Danube Delta river system which stretches over 5,000 km and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! If you’re a nature lover you’ll definitely enjoy looking for over 300 types of bird that live here. Any literary lovers should also take a trip to Bran Castle as it is suggested to be the inspiration for Dracula’s castle!
When entering Romania, remember that you’ll need to disinfect your vehicle, pay a local ecology tax and a small fee for a vignette to display while you drive. You may also find that local signs are less well maintained than in other EU nations so you should definitely have Sat-Nav as a backup for finding your way.
