A road trip with a hire car is pure freedom. You stop wherever it is beautiful, discover villages away from the guidebooks and sleep somewhere new every second or third night. For the trip to stay relaxed and not become a drive from hotel to hotel, good planning is what counts.
Planning the route
The most common mistake is a route that is too long. Less is more. On the map the distances look small, but country roads, mountain routes and driving through towns take time. Plan no more than three to four hours of actual driving on a travel day. That leaves time for breaks, a detour and the evening in your new place.
Stay at least two nights in each place. Then you have a whole day without the car, for sightseeing, walking or swimming. If you drive on every day, your holiday is mostly packing and unpacking.
A road trip with an open-jaw flight saves the journey back. You land in one city and fly home from another. The one-way rental for the hire car often costs extra, though, so weigh one against the other.
Regions that are especially suitable
| Region | Length | Typical stops |
|---|---|---|
| Andalusia | 10 to 14 days | Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, the coast |
| Portugal | 10 to 14 days | Lisbon, Alentejo, Algarve or Porto |
| Crete | 7 to 14 days | Chania, Rethymno, the south coast, the east |
| Sicily | 10 to 14 days | Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Etna, Taormina |
| Scotland | 10 to 14 days | Edinburgh, the Highlands, Isle of Skye |
| Iceland | 10 to 14 days | Ring Road with waterfalls and glaciers |
Booking places to stay
In high season, book your accommodation in advance, especially in small places with little choice. In the low season you can stay more flexible and decide spontaneously where to spend the night. A good middle way is to book the first and last nights firmly and the rest with free cancellation.
Pay attention to parking. In old towns, parking is often difficult and expensive. Places on the edge of town with their own car park and a good bus connection to the centre are often the better choice.
The checklist before you set off
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On the road
Drive the longer stages in the morning. Then you arrive in the early afternoon and have time to explore. Fill up in good time, as petrol stations can be far apart in rural areas. And leave room for the unexpected, because the best moments of a road trip are often the unplanned ones: a village festival, a cove round the next bend or a chat with the owner of a little roadside taverna.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
