Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you.
Six nights self-drive, three in Bordeaux and three in Sarlat: a gourmet walk in Chartrons, e-bike and balloon in Saint-Émilion, oysters at Arcachon, Rocamadour, Padirac and Lascaux IV. Boutique 4-star hotels; for keen eaters.
From €1,499 per person
Six nights self-drive from Frankfurt: Heidelberg, Rothenburg on the Romantic Road, Nuremberg, a Munich beer evening and Neuschwanstein. Guided walks in each town, 4-star hotels with parking, three nights in central Munich.
From €1,299 per person
Our designers’ take
01A road trip is the right tool for the parts of Europe where the villages are the destination and the train does not stop: the Dordogne, the Alsace Wine Route, inland Provence, the Romantic Road and the Bavarian Alps. We plan them so you drive between regions, never inside cities, with an automatic car waiting at the airport, hotels with parking, and a day-by-day route sheet with the stops that matter and the ones to skip.
In France, the Bordeaux and Dordogne Road Trip in 7 Days starts with three nights in Bordeaux: a gourmet walk in the Chartrons district, Saint-Émilion by e-bike with two château tastings and a hot-air balloon at dusk, an oyster harvest on the Bay of Arcachon and paragliding over the Dune du Pilat. Then three nights in Sarlat-la-Canéda for the Saturday market, the gardens of Marqueyssac, Rocamadour and the Padirac chasm, Lascaux IV and a canoe past the castles of the Dordogne. From 1,499 € per person including the rental car and breakfast. The drive from Bordeaux to Sarlat is about 2 h 30.
In Germany, the Germany Road Trip in 7 Days picks up the car at Frankfurt airport for Heidelberg (castle and old town with a guide), Rothenburg ob der Tauber on the Romantic Road, Nuremberg, three nights in Munich with a beer and Oktoberfest museum evening and a skip-the-line day at Neuschwanstein, from 1,299 € per person in 4* hotels. Autobahn legs are short and the Romantic Road is the slow, pretty part.
Routes we build to order: the Alsace Wine Route from Strasbourg to Colmar with the Christmas markets or the harvest, the Loire castles with a night in a château, the Luberon and Alpilles in Provence, the Black Forest linking Germany to Basel and Alsace, and the Bavarian Alps from Munich to Berchtesgaden and Salzburg. Where a region is better without a car (Paris, the Riviera, Switzerland), we say so. See France and Germany for seasons and driving notes; Lucie and Lucas design the road trips and send a priced proposal within 48 hours.
Barcelona to Nice along the Mediterranean
We had a wonderful time making the journey along the Mediterranean coast. Starting in Barcelona we were able to visit the newly opened Sagrada de Familia with a wonderful guide - one of the highlights our trip. We had an early entry so the crowds were easily managed and we were able to enjoy both inside and out. The next day we had another great guide who showed us the Jewish history and historical presence in Barcel…
We had a wonderful time making the journey along the Mediterranean coast. Starting in Barcelona we were able to visit the newly opened Sagrada de Familia with a wonderful guide - one of the highlights our trip. We had an early entry so the crowds were easily managed and we were able to enjoy both inside and out. The next day we had another great guide who showed us the Jewish history and historical presence in Barcelona. After Barcelona, we went to Girona, which was a wonderful surprise. We stayed at a lovely hotel in the old town that was a converted palace. Our tour here of the old town focusing on Jewish history was incredible. The next day we had an all day small group tour of Dali's house and museum - both well worth the travel including the incredible views along the Costa Brava. Travelling by car along the southern coast of France was relatively easily finding great things to see - Pone du Gard, Baux de Provence town and castle, St. Paul de Vence and finally Nice. An electric bike ride in Nice was also wonderful.
Wonderful trip, handled expertly by Mathilde
Wonderful trip! Everything was handled expertly by Mathilda! Our guides in Nuremberg, Justina, and Munich, Renata, were absolutely fantastic. We had a fantastic time, enjoyed every place we visited. Hotels and arrangements were hassle free. Overall beautiful and care free experience. Will most assuredly do again!!
An educational journey across Germany
Our trip to Germany was very educational. We visited Berlin, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Munich, and Wiesbaden. We also went to the Dachau concentration camp. The food tour guide in Berlin, Anna, was simply excellent. She chose simple but delicious foods such as currywurst and doner kebabs that had a particular meaning to Berlin. She also provided historical information as we walked from location to location…
Our trip to Germany was very educational. We visited Berlin, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Munich, and Wiesbaden. We also went to the Dachau concentration camp. The food tour guide in Berlin, Anna, was simply excellent. She chose simple but delicious foods such as currywurst and doner kebabs that had a particular meaning to Berlin. She also provided historical information as we walked from location to location that were meaningful and educational. Max, Niklas, Amir, and Connie were also very good and knowledgeable guides. We learned a lot from all of them. Amir was particularly accommodating as well as being a good driver.
France in May 2027: our favorite month. Real temperatures by region, the May holidays and bridge days, Cannes and Roland-Garros dates, and where to go.
France in October: autumn colors in the vineyards, the last warm days on the Riviera, events, All Saints' holidays and what closes for winter on November 1.
France in September: grape harvest timing by region, the warmest sea of the year, Heritage Days, Mediterranean storms and real temperatures by region.
US and Canadian licenses are accepted for rentals in both countries. France officially recommends an International Driving Permit alongside your license, and it costs little from AAA or CAA, so we suggest getting one. Germany does not require it for short stays. Bring a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit.
Yes, but they are the minority in Europe and sell out in summer, so we reserve an automatic as soon as your dates are set. Expect a compact or mid-size; large SUVs are impractical in Dordogne villages and medieval centers. Child seats and a second driver are added on request.
French autoroutes are tolled (Bordeaux to Sarlat about 15 €), German Autobahns are free. Fuel is roughly twice the US price per gallon. Our hotels have parking, and we tell you where to leave the car outside pedestrian centers such as Sarlat and Rothenburg. Fuel, tolls and parking outside hotels are not included.
Train for cities and Switzerland; car for rural regions. Our road trips are built so you only drive between countryside bases, with guided days arranged so nobody drives after a tasting. If you would rather not drive at all, every route on this page can be done with a private driver for a higher price.
Three to four months for the car, especially an automatic in July or August, and for the balloon and paragliding slots in Bordeaux, which depend on weather and fill up. Neuschwanstein tickets with a timed entry should be reserved as soon as dates are fixed. Shoulder-season trips can be arranged in six weeks.
Two minutes, three steps. Free and without obligation.
Scenic train itineraries across Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and France: Glacier Express, Bernina, GoldenPass, Gornergrat, ICE and TGV. From 1,999 € pp.
Christmas market itineraries in Germany and Alsace: Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden and Berlin by train, or Colmar, Lyon and Val d'Isère skiing. From 2,099 €
Tailor-made honeymoons in France, Switzerland and Italy: Paris to Provence in 5* hotels, the Riviera by yacht, Italian lakes and Swiss Alps. From 1,899 €
Family vacations in France, Switzerland and Germany: Normandy and Disneyland, a Chamonix adventure week, a Bavaria road trip. From 1,099 € per person.
Wheelchair accessible trips to Paris and the French Riviera: adapted transfers, accessible 4* hotels, step-free boats, priority entry. Specialist designer.
Food and wine itineraries in France, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium: Cognac, Saint-Émilion, Burgundy Grands Crus, Lavaux, Swiss cheese, Belgian beer.
Two- and three-country Europe itineraries by train, run by one DMC in France: Belgium to Switzerland, Switzerland to Italy, Alps and lakes. From 2,999 €.
Mountain and lake itineraries by Alpine-born experts: Zermatt, Jungfraujoch, Lucerne, Chamonix, Annecy, Lake Como and Maggiore, Val d'Isère. From 1,299 €
