After a year of using public transport, we finally purchased our own vehicle, and now we could go on a road trip! Our car would allow us to explore more of Europe, especially the smaller towns and villages away from the larger cities.
Maura had spent five days in Greifswald, North Germany, sorting out the paperwork and insurance for our BMW 320d Estate.
Now we were ready for the 2,600 km drive to our next house sit, driving 10 Countries in 10 Nights from Germany to Italy.
Our Europe Road Trip – Ten Countries in 10 Nights Map
This 10-country Europe road trip will take us to:
- Berlin (Germany)
- Wroclaw (Poland)
- Brno (Czechia)
- Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Kittsee (Austria)
- Hevis (Hungary)
- Zagreb (Croatia)
- Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- San Marino (San Marino) and finally to
- Moresco (Italy) is where our next house sit is located.
We will visit ten countries in ten nights for our road trip from north Germany to Italy. Here is our introduction video on YouTube.
Visiting Greifswald in Northern Germany
Greifswald in Northern Germany is worth a visit if you want to unwind, go fishing and enjoy long walks. Having the many inlets and islands to explore means fish from the Baltic Sea is always on the menu.
However, the surprise was finding thatched cottages in the picturesque village of Gristow near Greifswald.
The bonus was a climb to the top of the 13 century church tower with spectacular views. It was worth every step.
Terry had stayed behind in Water Orton near Birmingham to complete the house-sitting assignment. So, we were both pleased to reunite at Berlin Tegel airport on Tuesday morning after Maura had completed the 3-hour drive from Greifswald.
Road Trip Day One: Berlin to Rakotzbrüke, Germany
Our Day One plan was to head towards the Polish border to a town called Gablenz, with a stop in Luckau on the way.
Luckau is regarded as one of the prettiest towns in this part of Germany; it has been dubbed “the Pearl of Lower Lusatia”, and we did agree.
Our next stop and overnight stay was a two-kilometre trip from Gablenz to Rakotzbrüke to visit the stone bridge built in the 1880s. It is a unique bridge that creates a perfect circle in the reflection of the small lake where the bridge crosses.
Our GPS did a great job getting us to Gablenz, but we spent 90 minutes frustratingly searching the three roads leading out of town for the bridge.
The weird thing was that we couldn’t match any of the roads to what was showing on the GPS. Argh!!!
The first tip is don’t ask for help from the guy cleaning up the churchyard. He doesn’t speak English at all, and he is crazy!
The second tip is to see if two towns called Gablenz are only 23 km apart. Are you kidding? Why?
We had gone to Gablenz Brandenburg, not Gablenz Saxony!
The lady in the butcher shop was much more helpful and way less crazy than the guy in the churchyard, so we went for another half-hour drive to find this famous bridge.
We finally made it to Rakotzbruke around 5:30 pm, and the timing was perfect: the sun was coming from the right direction for taking photos.
Why is it called the Devil’s Bridge in Germany?
According to legend, it was built by the devil, and whoever crossed the bridge first belonged to him. It’s a little scary, and thankfully, no one is allowed to transverse the bridge.
The bridge is within the Kromlau Azalea and Rhododendron Park, with English gardens, lakes and ponds. It would be an amazing sight to see, particularly in spring.
The nearby village of Kromlau was our stop for the night. We had seen a campground and intended to use our newly purchased small tent, but the ground looked lumpy.
So when the owner pointed out that we could spend €10 for a tent site or €20 for a cabin with access to a kitchen, we chose the more comfortable option.
We aren’t in our 20s anymore, or even our 30s or 40s.
And we remembered to use the One Little Item We Never Travel Without.
Road Trip Day 2: Kromlau to Wroclaw, Poland
Terry had the best night’s sleep in a long time, so we were both awake at 8:45 a.m.
We would be leaving Germany and heading into Poland, our 42nd country. There are only 155 countries to go, lol.
As we crossed from Bad Muskau, Germany, into Lenica, Poland, we felt we were back in Asia.
It was a busy roadside market with lots of German residents buying goods for lower prices.
Wroclaw was our destination for Day 2 of the roadie, with a stop planned at Castle Ksiaz.
The drive would be around 3.5 hours.
But as you do on a road trip, you get distracted as we take a side road that leads to the small town of Roztoka.
At around 1.30 pm, we arrived at Ksiaz and walked through the park to the castle.
Ksiaz Castle is an impressive and well-preserved building constructed in 1288-92. It survived occupation by two foreign countries (Germany and Russia) in the 20th century.
We loved the entrance, which led through a gateway to a small path with cafes and bars lining each side. It was welcoming.
We then headed to Wroclaw, a city of 650,000 residents, for the next two nights.
We found the campsite on the city’s outskirts and again opted for the cabin rather than the tent. Was it because the cabin reminded us of Hobbiton, because we like some comfort, or because the nights here are a little colder?
We now have one full day in Wroclaw to explore the city, then head south to Brno.
Road Trip Day 3: Five Highlights of Wroclaw, Poland
We have chosen five highlights for the full day of exploring your Wroclaw.
Five Highlights of Wroclaw, Poland
We spent the first evening and most of the next day trying new foods while sightseeing at the old town square. Having some wonderful Polish friends, we had a menu to enjoy and a few odd things to discover.
Road Trip Day 4: Wroclaw to Bratislava, via Czechia
Our drive today would take us through Czechia to Slovakia.
Our first stop was the beautiful old city of Olomouc in Moravia, Czechia. The baroque style of buildings is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Two of the six baroque fountains (Hercules and Caesar) are also in the upper square.
We parked near St Wenceslas Cathedral and walked down the upper square to visit the famous Holy Trinity Column and the astronomical clock.
How to get from Olomouc to Prague?
From Prague, you can take a train for the 2.5-hour journey if you want a day trip to see more of Czechia. Or if you
From Oloumac, we drove south for an hour to Brno, our next in Czechia.
Brno is another beautiful city between Prague and Vienna. While many people visit for gastronomy, we walk the old town to Špilberk Castle. The views back over the city showed the strategic vantage point in past centuries.
And as most people mention in blogs, the coffee was so good.
We summed up our Road Trip Day Four, including a 15-minute drive into Kittsee, Austria.
We wanted to visit the Schloss Kittsee and enjoy one more delicious apple strudel.
The bonus was finding the Schokoladenfabrik Franz Hauswirth for some yummy chocolate.
Driving Eastern Europe to Four Countries in One Day
Road Trip Day 5: Bratislava, Slovakia
Our first visit to Bratislava was back in 1987, when it was part of the Iron Curtain. Our road trip back then was monitored, and our hotel was allocated by a higher authority, which also issued us with restaurant vouchers.
But we did have fun reminiscing about the hotel and the restaurant where the staff added an enormous tip, thinking we were millionaires.
Our full day in Bratislava started with a good coffee and a local breaded roll of walnut and poppy seed. We then visited many sights, including Bratislava Castle overlooking the famous UFO Bridge (Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising).
– Bratislava Old Town 9 Highlights to Visit
Road Trip Day 6: Bratislava to Zagreb, Croatia via Lake Heviz, Hungary
When we arrived at the border to Hungary, we paid our road tolls and continued along the quiet, straight road surrounded by flat terrain. Seeing so many dried-up fields of sunflowers made the area look barren.
Once again, we had an unplanned stop at a roadside market. We couldn’t resist buying the largest watermelons we have ever seen. This area grows local produce, and the fruit and vegetables are flavoursome.
Swim at Lake Heviz, Hungary
A friend from our London house-sit suggested we stop at Lake Heviz in her home country, Hungary. What we found was a typical little resort town.
And we discovered it was the second-largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Echo in New Zealand is the largest).
As a result, we were a little overwhelmed with the number of bathers bobbing about with their floatation devices. Of course, we hadn’t thought of that.
While the water is naturally replenished every 72 hours, the green algae, giving therapeutic relief to swimmers, can be a little off-putting.
With the air temperature at 35 degrees, the lake was refreshing at a lower temperature. It was a welcomed break on our drive to Zagreb.
10 Places to Visit in Zagreb, Croatia
We knew we would be short on time when we got to Zagreb. Consequently, we chose ten must-see sights in Zagreb during the afternoon/evening of our arrival.
We roamed the lower town first with its beautiful art, nouveau architecture, and green leafy parks. We stopped at the famous 1880 Zagreb Cathedral with its108 metres spire. The original spire collapsed in the 1880 earthquake.
Our favourite place to visit in the afternoon and evening was Strossmartre. But for food and drinks, head to Tkalciceva.
– 10 Must-See Sights of Zagreb, The Ultimate Guide to Croatia’s Capital
Road Trip Day 7: Zagreb to Ljubljana, Slovenia
After a night in Zagreb, we drove the 140 kms to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where we would stay two nights.
Unfortunately, our road trip today was soured by a $250 fine for not organising a toll card.
Thankfully, we found a lovely Airbnb with a great host. We pitched the tent for the first time under a magnificent walnut tree. Luckily, we did, as the heavens opened that night, and the tent survived.
Our host gave us great tips for visiting Ljubljana, even where to park for free.
We had a great day visiting landmarks, the local market, and Ljubljana Castle (built by the Hapsburg empire), which has city views.
– How to Spend a Day in the Friendly City of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Road Trip Day 8: Lake Bled, Slovenia
Coming from New Zealand, the beauty of Slovenia reminded us of home when driving to Lake Bled, a lovely drive to this picturesque town.
The backdrop of the Julian Alps, the beauty of an emerald lake and the 17th-century chapel on the lake is a stunning landscape.
We spent the whole day enjoying all aspects of Lake Bled.
– The Beauty of Lake Bled – It Will Steal Your Heart
Road Trip Day 9: Ljubljana to Padua, Italy
A refreshing day trip from Venice is the vibrant city of Padua with Italy’s second-oldest university, founded in 1222.
We loved wandering along the cafes and shops underneath the porticos.
But what got our attention was the Byzantine Domes and the Turkish Minaret of the Basilica of St Anthony.
– Experiencing Some Lesser Known Northern Italian Towns
Road Trip Day 10: Padua to San Marino
San Marino is a small republic that sits 749m above sea level. The winding road is steep, so the funicular is a better option for this fairy-tale location.
Wandering the cobblestone lanes with boutique shops and cafes without the crowds is perfect. And the views from many of the restaurants are a small luxury.
– Why the Republic of San Marino is the Perfect Romantic Getaway
Road Trip Day 11: San Marino to Moresco, Italy
After our 10th night, we were finally on our way to our next house-sit in Moresco, Italy.
We would spend two weeks in the village of Moresco looking after three dogs and two cats. Moresco is in the Marche region, and our village was in a fruit bowl of produce, including local wines.
But before returning for another five-week house-sit, we had a six-week road trip to Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Sicily.
Hi Priti, we love being on the road, but our next roadie we will stay longer in each place. The cabin was very cosy, and a bit more room than our small tent or the back of the wagon 🙂
Really enjoyed the blog and the pictures too. What a beaut part of the world
Thanks Joe – it was good to travel a less touristy route to find some unexpected gems