From spotting bears on Romania's Transfăgărășan Highway to navigating Norway's fjord-side hairpin bends, readers have shared their most memorable European road trips. The routes, chosen for their scenic beauty and unique experiences, range from Iceland's ring road to Italy's Valle del Sagittario.
Helen Jackson described the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania as thrilling, with hairpin bends and climbs over the Carpathian Mountains. She noted that bear sightings are possible, with one bear posing for photographs by the roadside. The road to Bâlea Lake is open only in summer due to harsh winters, making it particularly beautiful.
Joe and his wife undertook a 1,000-mile road trip around Ireland after an overnight ferry from Liverpool to Belfast. They visited cities and towns including Dublin, Cork, and Galway, and were impressed by the Ring of Kerry, the Burren's karst landscape, and the wild sands of Glassilaun beach. They praised the friendly people and superb pubs.
Nick Martin drove from Bergen to Vossevangen along the Hardangerfjord, with a diversion to Flåm for a sauna and dip. The route included hairpin bends, waterfalls, and a descent into Vikøyri. He also visited the secluded village of Nese and took car ferries to Dragsvik and Dingja for fishing, before returning to Bergen.
Jess drove Iceland's ring road from Reykjavík, finding the dramatic landscapes and weather conditions fascinating. Despite the expense, whale-watching and swimming in geothermal pools made the trip worthwhile. Tania drove to Orkney, stopping at the Falkirk Wheel, Kelpies, Scone Palace, and Dunrobin Castle, with the Caithness coastline and Dunnet Head being main attractions.
Marilyn drove the Romantische Strasse in Bavaria, covering 286 miles from Würzburg to Schwangau. She visited medieval towns, climbed the clock tower at Nördlingen (built inside a meteor crater), and ended at Schloss Neuschwanstein. She enjoyed hearty Bavarian cuisine and local beer. In Italy's Abruzzo region, another reader recommended the Valle del Sagittario, with its limestone cliffs, the town of Scanno, and the Godi mountain pass offering views of Lago di Barrea.
