1453 words, 8 minutes read time.
If you have ever dreamed of spending your days wandering through colorful coastal villages, cruising down storybook canals, standing beneath towering waterfalls, or enjoying gelato by sparkling lakes, this trip delivers it all. Ten days, three countries, and one unforgettable adventure. From the charm of Amsterdam’s canals to the jaw-dropping mountains of Switzerland and the postcard-perfect towns of Northern Italy, this journey was a mix of spontaneous detours, picture-perfect moments, and just the right amount of pasta. Whether you are planning your own European escape or just here for a little travel inspiration, here’s how a 10 day European road trip unfolded.
Itinerary
- Layover in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 2 days in Lake Como
- 3 days in Switzerland
- 4 days in Italian Riviera
Layover in Amsterdam
We had an extended layover in Amsterdam so we made the most of it! Let me say this – landing in Amsterdam early in the morning is no joke, but nothing a little pofferges and some caffeine + a little adventure can’t fix. Amsterdam is such a walkable city with so many views literally everywhere. Just beware of the bikes!
We even visited the TKMaxx (Europe’s version of TJMaxx) because we were unprepared for the rain we were experiencing!
First stop was the Ten Katemarkt, a local neighborhood flea market that has everything from vintage treasures to the best street food. Bonus: it’s right next to De Hallen, a cool space with a cinema, library, and indoor food court.
If you have time, jump on an Amsterdam canal cruise. It’s touristy but totally worth it to see the city from the water. If you have even MORE time and foresight, go see the Anne Frank House. We did not book tickets in advance and they were sold out!
2 days in Lake Como, Italy
Then, it was back to the airport to catch a flight to Milan. Our flight from Amsterdam to Milan was quick. We completely skipped Milan, grabbed our rental car, and made the 1.5-hour drive straight to Lake Como. and headed out of town. If you want to spend a few days in Milan, more power to you. I have been previously and as a smaller city kind of girl, I just felt “meh” about it. But you do you!
Lake Como is even prettier in person. We booked a lovely place in Bellaggio that was a little out of town but with us having a rental car, we needed parking. It ended up being just perfect. We liked that we could walk into town but we also enjoyed the views and peacefulness.
We unfortunately had very high winds when we were there so the ferries were not running but if you can, utilize them and visit other cities on the lake like Varenna and Menaggio!
3 days of Switzerland Adventures
If you are looking for snowcapped mountains, green grass, and lush flowers – Switzerland is that girl. Towns such as Lugano, Lucerne, Thun, Interlaken, and Lauterbrunnen to name a few. I will be sharing each places highlights and will let the pictures really just show you the beauty of Switzerland.
Lake Lugano
Parking was next to impossible here so we just grabbed a photo by the lake as we were driving by. Since it was just a pass through, we were not too upset.
Lucerne
Highly recommend a stop here and a browse around the old town. The famous Chapel Bridge is definitely worth the hype to see and walk across even with all of the tourists. The views are top notch.
Lake Blausee
Thun
Another Swiss bridge with flowers, a gorgeous old town, and a castle? Sign me up!
Lauterbrunnen
This is my second visit to Lauterbrunnen and I am still just as enchanted with this valley as the first time. It’s one of those breathtaking places you cannot truly comprehend the beauty even from the photos. Waterfalls galore, lushness, and the charm of cows with bells. What more can you ask for?? Definitely walk from the train station as far as you can to experience the natural beauty outside of town. Work up an appetite for some food truck grub and grab a hot coffee at the local coffee show to warm up!
Interlaken
We found that staying in a more central place and taking day trips was best and Interlaken was the perfect place for our stay. It was very walkable with lots of food options! And the train station was conveniently located when we didn’t want to drive to places such as Lauterbrunnen due to lack of parking!
Be prepared to see LOTS of cliff jumpers in Interlaken. I am not an adrenaline junky and it was a big NO for me, but consider it if you are in the area!
4-5 Days in the Italian Riviera
We left Switzerland and headed south toward Italy. Depending on your interests, there are a few great stops along the way:
- Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile near Turin for car lovers
- Truffle hunt with Gianfranco Calvi (65 euros per person)
- Visit the medieval town of Neive
- Check out Cascina Barroero, a hazelnut farm
- Walk through Monforte d’Alba, known for its natural amphitheater and historic sites
Orta San Giulio
My mom really wanted to visit Cinque Terre so we made the trek down to the mother country. It was quite a trek so we broke the trip up by staying the night in Orta San Giulio, a ridiculously charming lakeside town. You can take a boat to Isola San Giulio, visit the hillside chapels at Sacro Monte di Orta, and relax in the Villa Bossi public gardens. We got so lucky that our visit coincided with their market in their main Piazza and it was incredible. I cannot emphasize enough that you need to visit when they have their market.
Cinque Terre
Upon arrival at Cinque Terre, which translates to 5 towns, we parked the car for our duration because parking is a nightmare and the streets are not meant for American tourist drivers. Trust me on that. Exploring the colorful towns of Cinque Terre by train was the best way to do it. Each town has its own vibe, but they all share those jaw-dropping cliffside views and amazing food.
You can also walk between the cities if you wish! We did the Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ lane) between Riomaggiore and Manarola and it was an easy, flat, one-way pathway. Most of the pathways between the cities are not this way though!
Riomaggiore
We based our stay in Riomaggiore but I have previously stayed in Vernazza and it was equally as wonderful with restaurants nearby. You can find the perfect village based on your preferences! If you are really wanting the beach, consider Monterosso al Mare!
The stairs in Cinque Terre are no joke. If you are not very confident in your climbing skills, I would recommend you find a place with elevator access (which is VERY rare!) But aside from that, Riomaggiore was definitely a favorite of mine and the sunset views CANNOT be beat.
Manarola
This town was perfect for a little visit via the train. I have previously visited Manarola when I studied abroad in 2011 and it was just a magical as it was on this visit.
Vernazza
The last city we visited of the day was Vernazza which is known for it’s cute fishing harbor. Again, we browsed the shops but they started to run together in our minds. And we were running on fumes from a packed week plus of adventures!
Piacenza
We left the gorgeous coastline and their miniscule curvy roads and headed back towards Milan for our flight back home. But not without one more stop – Piacenza – to break up the trek back inland. This was definitely a quick google search kind of stop where we had no clue what was in the city, but boy, were we glad we stopped and visited! Not only did we get to stretch our legs, I got to see a Salumeria (salami shop, below!).
This 10 day European road trip was proof that the best memories are made when you mix a little bit of planning with a whole lot of curiosity. Every place offered something completely unique, from the calm of a lakeside morning to the buzz of city streets and the awe of standing in the shadow of the Alps. If this adventure taught me anything, it’s to leave space for detours, eat the local food, and always pack an extra memory card. Europe, you were magic.
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The cool aunt. Plant novice who loves to travel to cool places, eat unadventurous food, and take pretty photos.
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