The ultimate campervan European road trip
Pack in as much as you can into a 2-week road trip around Europe in your campervan or motorhome.
Taking a campervan to Europe is on the bucket list of many people, but having enough time available is often an issue. Here’s an idea for a 2-week road trip that takes in some of Europe’s most fascinating cities and landscapes, starting and finishing with your crossing on LeShuttle.
Your 2-week campervan Europe itinerary
If time is tight and you have to pack a campervan European road trip into just a fortnight, you can still do it. With this 2 week itinerary, you can tick off six countries and see some amazing sights, from the art galleries and canals of Amsterdam to the lakes and mountains of Switzerland! In putting this schedule together we have tried to ensure that driving times are kept to a minimum, and you usually spend at least one full day in each new location.
Day 1-2 Calais to Antwerp
Driving time: 2 hours 30 mins
First stop on your campervan trip to Europe is the beautiful Belgian city of Antwerp. It always surprises people how quickly you can drive to Belgium from Calais. Bruges is under an hour and a half away, which might be a tempting stop, but if you want to crack on with your journey we suggest Antwerp. It’s a classic Belgian city, full of stunning Gothic architecture, fashionable shops and cosy bars and restaurants. We don’t recommend taking your van onto the cobbled streets in the centre of the old town – there is also a low emission zone in force – but find a campsite on the outskirts and take a train, tram or bus into the city.
Grote Markt, Antwerp
Day 3-4 Antwerp to Amsterdam
Driving time: 2 ¼ hours
On day 3 of your Europe itinerary it’s time to head north, through Flanders and into the Netherlands. You won’t notice too much difference as you cross the border, but you should be aware that driving in the Netherlands the speed limit is 100 km/h between 6am and 7pm on the motorways, and only increases to 130 km/h outside of daytime hours. To get to Amsterdam just use the E19, A58, A27, A15 and A2 motorways – it’s a simple fast flowing route, taking you via Breda and Utrecht. There are a huge range of sites to pitch up for a couple of nights while you explore the delights of Amsterdam – those in the Amsterdam Forest to the south of the city are popular, close to public transport links (some hire out bicycles).
Day 5-6 Amsterdam to Cologne
Driving time: 2 ½ hours
Once you’ve had your fill of herring and bitterballen, take your leave of the Dutch capital and head south-east to the border with Germany. Your journey down through the Rhineland is just a morning’s drive, taking you past the cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf on the autobahn A3 to Cologne. Why not use one of the campsites along the Rhine in the city itself, and reduce the time spent on public transport? There is so much in Cologne to explore, from the Kölner Dom to the Chocolate Museum, and it’s a city that loves to party, especially during the Carnival period in January and February.
Day 7 Cologne to Luxembourg
Driving time: 2 ¼ hours
Europe, this is Luxembourg calling! It may be one of the smallest countries on the continent, but there is plenty to love about the Grand Duchy – the Ardennes forest, Moselle river and its UNESCO-listed capital city, perched on cliffs with dramatic fortifications. There is a good choice of campsites near Luxembourg City, or why not unwind in the countryside? This may be a good moment to just chill out for a while, after the string of cities on your Europe itinerary. This is just an overnight stop in Luxembourg, remember.
Day 8-9 Luxembourg to Strasbourg
Driving time: 2 ¾ hours
As you start the second week of your campervan trip around Europe, it’s time to pop back into France. Driving in the Alsace towards Strasbourg is a joy – full of fairytale-like towns and villages, half-timbered houses and plenty of places to stop off and enjoy a vineyard tour. You drive through the Vosges national park, with its forests and wetlands. Strasbourg itself is incredibly cosmopolitan, and is often called ‘Europe’s capital’ because it is close to so many borders. German and Swiss influences are very strong, especially in the food and drink, and make sure you visit the stunning medieval cathedral, which was the world’s tallest building for well over 200 years.
Strasbourg feels as much a German or Swiss city as French
Day 10 Strasbourg to Lucerne
Driving time: 2 hours 40 mins
Get your smartphone ready, because this is surely the most Insta-friendly leg of your road trip! Switzerland will be your sixth country, with its alpine landscapes, shimmering lakes and mountain meadows. Lucerne is a lovely city right in the heart of the country, surrounded by peaks and dominated by the wooden covered bridge that spans Lake Lucerne. While you are in Lucerne take a boat cruise through the city and glory in the charming waterfront buildings and the dramatic scenery. Driving in Switzerland is pretty incredible, so this might be the moment you decide to throw the itinerary away and head for the Alps!
Day 11 Lucerne to Lyon
Driving time: 4 hours 40 mins
If you stick with the schedule, today’s leg is long but rewarding! Your route takes you past Bern, the delightful Swiss capital, then Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Geneva, with stunning views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks. Lyon is one of France’s great cities – a mecca for gastronomy, art, culture and outdoor adventure. It’s a shame you’re here only for one night, but that’s up to you!
Day 12-13 Lyon to Paris
Driving time: 5 hours
It’s almost time to start heading home, but not before you’ve made the pilgrimage to Paris. The quickest way north from Lyon is on the A6 motorway, via Beaune and Auxerre, but you will have to pay tolls on this route (around €40). Once you’ve found a campsite, and there are plenty close to Metro and overground train links, you’ll have a whole day to tick off some Parisian sights – so perhaps pick a few of your must-sees from our whistlestop guide, maybe starting with the sunrise behind the Eiffel Tower? The roads will certainly be quieter then, so if you dare to take your van into the city, here’s a few tips for driving in Paris.
There are some things worth driving into Paris for
Day 14 Paris to Calais
Driving time: 3 ½ hours
All great trips must come to an end, but as you make your way to the LeShuttle terminal at Calais you’ll have amazing memories of your European road trip. If you have a few hours to spare before your boarding time, we suggest parking up and making the most of Calais while you can. Stock up on all those tipples you have tasted during your trip at Carrefour Cité Europe, or grab a bite to eat at Histoire Ancienne.
Alternative routes
Obviously this is just one of many campervan itineraries you can take. One of the joys of having a van is that you have the freedom of the open road. You could choose to spend more time in each of your stops, so you could cut out the northern and southern parts of this particular schedule. There’s lots of fun to be had creating your own 2-week Europe itinerary.
People love the freedom of campervanning
European road rules
Make sure you are aware of the rules for driving in Europe before you leave. There may be subtle variations between countries, but the basics are the same. The most important things you will need are your driving licence, motor insurance certificate, V5 logbook, UK windscreen sticker, warning triangle, hi-vis jacket, first aid kit and headlamp converters. Here are our guides to driving in the following countries:
Where to stay
The best campervan sites in Europe
Travelling around Europe you’ll have no shortage of choices about where to stay. Look on websites like Campspace or Roadsurfer for their recommendations. It’s advisable to book up campsites in Europe in advance, but in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany there are overnight parking spots all over the country that you can just pitch up at. In France these are called aires, and stellplatz in Germany. These can be very basic, however, and some might only have a service point for water and waste. Others might have full campsite facilities.
A typical French aire
Wild camping
Like in the UK, most European countries do not allow people to ‘wild camp’ – eg. pitching a tent anywhere they like, even if it is not on private land. Wild camping does not just apply to tents – you are still wild camping if you are in a campervan or motorhome and decide to park up and spend the night outside of a campsite or designated camping area. You should not need to wild camp in your van because of the number of aires in Europe, and make sure you don’t do it in Switzerland, because the fine could be as much as €10,000. Norway, Sweden and Spain have no wild camping laws.
Frequently asked questions
How many European countries can you do in 2 weeks?
You can do as many as you like, within reason, but five or six is probably manageable within a 2 week European road trip.
Can I park my campervan anywhere in Europe?
No, wild camping is an offence in most European countries. In France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany there is a network of free parking areas called ‘aires’, which do not need to be booked in advance.
Is it easy to travel around Europe in a campervan?
Yes, driving around Europe in a campervan is fairly straightforward if you already have some experience of driving on the continent. It is a great experience too, as is planning your trip!
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