If you enjoy driving and want to take a break during which you have total freedom and the chance to flex your itinerary to suit your mood, a self-drive holiday can be a great choice. There are lots of wonderful self-drive destinations to discover in Europe, but let’s look at six of our favourites:

1. The Opal Coast in France

This beautiful part of the French coast is often overlooked by tourists, despite having 26 miles of beautiful blue coastline and a quiet nature. Discover family-run seafood restaurants, beautiful coves, and sandy beaches along the way. Remember to sort your car hire excess insurance beforehand through a trusted provider such as www.moneymaxim.co.uk/car-hire-excess-insurance.

2. Normandy’s beaches

The run between Calais and Deauville is a must-see in France. It is idyllic, fashionable, and wonderfully fresh and green without the incredible heat of the south.

  1. The Italian Lakes

    Lake Como is a stunning lake and easy to reach from the UK. Use it to link up to Paris, Milan or Geneva for a wonderful driving holiday that includes plenty of exciting winding roads.

    4. Cantabrian Coast in Spain

    Easy to get to via Plymouth and Portsmouth by ferry, land at Santander and admire the gorgeous beach before driving through Solares and on to Bilbao. The road maps the coastline, taking in beautiful small towns and stunning scenery.

    5. German castles

    The Romantic Route is a very well-known German driving tour that links ancient towns on an Old Roman road, starting from Wurzburg and linking to Bruges, Cologne, Brussels, and Frankfurt. It is a great full-week tour that includes the foothills of the Alps for incredible views, castles, and ancient cathedrals, all with a fairytale feel.

  1. Belgian weekend

    This is a great spot for a short motoring weekend. Bruges is the top destination, easily reached by ferry or Eurotunnel. Bruges is a beautiful mediaeval town with plenty of activities for tourists and perfect for a self-drive break.

    Which European self-drive holiday are you inspired to try this summer when the open road beckons?