Europe's 7 Most Beautiful Drives

The seven

#	Drive	Country	Length	Best month
1	Maloja Pass	Switzerland	35 km	Jun–Sep
2	Tre Cime di Lavaredo	Italy (Dolomites)	70 km loop	Jun–Sep
3	Plitvice Lakes approach	Croatia	40 km	Apr–Oct
4	Amalfi Coast SS163	Italy	50 km	Apr–Jun, Sep
5	Scottish Highlands NC500 north	Scotland	250 km	May–Sep
6	Algarve coast EN125	Portugal	150 km	Year-round
7	Great Dolomites Road SS48	Italy	110 km	Jun–Sep

You don’t drive these to get somewhere. You drive them because the road is the destination.

What makes a great driving road, and what these have

• Switchbacks with views, not just switchbacks. Maloja and Tre Cime deliver both.
• A road surface you can trust. Amalfi’s SS163 is narrow but well-maintained; the Algarve EN125 is wide and easy.
• Pull-offs where you actually want to pull off. Scotland’s NC500 is built for this; the Dolomites have lay-bys every kilometre.
• Light that does the work. Sunrise and the hour before sunset.

The seven, in brief

1. Maloja Pass, Switzerland

From St Moritz down to Chiavenna (Italy), 35 km of switchbacks dropping out of the Engadine. Best at dawn. Pull off at the 5th hairpin from the top — the long view back up the pass.

2. Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy

A 70 km loop in the Dolomites. The driving road climbs to Rifugio Auronzo (€30 toll); the real shot is the road to the parking lot. Arrive by 07:00 in summer or the lot fills.

3. Plitvice Lakes approach, Croatia

The drive from the south (Zadar via D1 then D429) is the one. Two hours of rolling karst hills, no traffic.

4. Amalfi Coast SS163, Italy

50 km from Sorrento around to Salerno. Do it at dawn or in shoulder season. July is misery. Base in Praiano (between Positano and Amalfi) for half the price and less parking chaos.

5. Scottish Highlands NC500 north

The full 500-mile loop is more than most families want. The best 250 km is the north section between Ullapool and John o’ Groats. Single-track means passing-place etiquette (it’s the law, not a courtesy).

6. Algarve EN125, Portugal

Most travellers hit Faro and the resorts. The EN125 and smaller roads west of Lagos (dropping into Praia da Marinha and Praia do Camilo) are the ones. Year-round drivable (mild winters).

7. Great Dolomites Road SS48, Italy

Bolzano to Cortina, ~110 km, four mountain passes. The pass roads people put on calendars. Closed October to mid-May depending on snow.

Suggested combos for one week

• Italian Alps loop (7 days): Venice → Cortina → Tre Cime → Great Dolomites Road → Bolzano → Venice. (Drives 2 + 7.)
• Coast contrast (10 days): Lisbon → Algarve → fly to Naples → Amalfi → Capri. (Drives 4 + 6.)
• Wild Europe (10 days): Edinburgh → NC500 → fly to Zagreb → Plitvice → Adriatic coast. (Drives 3 + 5.)
• Alpine arc (7 days): Zürich → Maloja → Bolzano → Great Dolomites Road → Tre Cime → Venice. (Drives 1 + 2 + 7.)

Renting a car for this with kids

• Book early. Smaller alpine pickup points (Bolzano, Innsbruck) sell out 6 weeks ahead in summer.
• Cross-border surcharges exist for most car-hire companies. Confirm before you book if crossing CH → IT or HR → BA.
• Automatic transmission is rare in Europe; book early or expect manual.
• Full insurance. Mountain roads, parking nightmares, €15/day worth every cent.
• Larger family car for two adults + two kids + luggage. Not a compact.

Three things nobody mentions

1. Fuel is far between in the Highlands. Top up in Ullapool before going north. The next reliable station is 100+ km away.
2. Dolomites pass tolls add up. Tre Cime is €30, Pordoi parking €5, Cortina €3/hour. Budget €40 to €60 in tolls and parking for a Dolomites week.
3. Most drives are better at the day’s edges. Sunrise and the hour before sunset. The middle of the day is the worst light and the worst traffic.

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