Epic European Roadtrips

There are few better feelings than jumping in your car, winding down the windows, putting on your favourite tunes and pushing the pedal to the metal as you head on your next adventure. Road trips give you the freedom to explore like few other modes of transport, to go off the beaten path and find the hidden gems and stunning scenery that most people can only ever dream of. In Ultimate European Road Trips we’ve pulled together a collection of Europe’s most epic drives and unforgettable journeys. Hunt for trolls in Norway, uncover the real story behind Dracula on the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania, discover fairy tales and castles in Germany or search for the truth as you head to the Oracle on a Greek Odyssey. The book is jam-packed…

Poets have written about the value of seeing the world on wheels. Great thinkers have espoused the virtues of hitting the road. Writers and charismatic speakers have shared the benefits for the mind, body and soul that can come from the trio of just you, a car and a destination unknown. A weekend city break to Paris never mustered this much musing, a sun-soaked holiday in Magaluf is never going to inspire the artists of our time: so what is it about road trips that make them so compelling? Whether it’s a meticulously planned trip to take in the sights and sounds of a specific region or a two-week holiday with little more than a full tank and a thirst for adventure, travelling the open road is first and foremost…

It’s easy to get swept away by panic when it comes to planning a road trip, since from the initial outlay there are a lot of seemingly important decisions to make. But don’t get flustered, it’s not nearly as stressful as you might first expect. Let’s say you’ve settled on a road trip as your next travel adventure, even picking a destination might be overwhelming: where should I go? What places are best or easiest for a first-time tripper? How do I get there? Our selection of the best road trips in Europe have been carefully chosen and are detailed intricately, so really your first step is to read through this bookazine! Consider a few that stand out to you and narrow it down based on cost and ease of…

• Cool bag• Swim wear• Neck pillow• Windscreen cover• Mobile phone and charger• Head torch• Portable speaker• In-car air freshener• Trash bags• Sun cream TUNES Whether you want to go old school about it and make the perfect road trip mix CD or just want to download a Spotify playlist of tracks that complement the road, preparing the songs to score the adventure ahead of time will help you to avoid the unusual local radios of wherever you’re heading. You could even make it a pre-road-trip night as you and your co-trippers compile the ultimate playlist. FIRST AID KIT A basic set of supplies for minor injuries is always a handy thing to have in the car anyway, but when setting out on a long road trip you’ll want to…

Road traffic accidents are one of the biggest dangers in our everyday lives, and so taking part in an adventurous road trip – whether you’re in a different country or not – is naturally going to mean you’re encountering a certain degree of risk. That’s not to say that you’re definitely going to find yourself in harm’s way, but certain countries have a more lackadaisical approach to their driving style than you might be used to, while some road trips are often only recommended for experienced drivers due to their precarious nature. Regardless, you’ll be doing what you can to avoid danger, of course, and so long as you’re prepared to deal with any potential issue then you will minimise any ensuing fallout. At a very basic level this means…

The most elating moment of any road trip is the first 30 minutes; the tunes are pumping out, the road before you promises an untold number of opportunities and the shared excitement is tangible. It might seem disappointing to hear this, but it’s really the anticipation of adventure that drives those first few moments – and the thrills are only going to get better. But don’t let the excitement get the better of you; you might be prepared and ready to go, but there are still things to keep in mind. Maybe you’ve already thought of the essentials, but there are certain aspects of any road trip that are crucial to consider. Take the petrol, for example. Probably you’ll begin the journey with a full tank – and that’s a…