In part two of our guide to the best European Car Road Trips we continue our rundown of some of the very best drives in Europe, kicking off with the island of Madeira.

Madeira

Although it may be an island in the Atlantic it is actually part of Portugal and for such a tiny island (it is 30 miles long and 13 miles wide) it is absolutely packed with stunning scenery and fantastic roads that wind through lush forest and mountains.

And even though this European car trip may only last a day you can easily lengthen your trip by stopping off at one of many quaint villages or explore Funchal, the cosmopolitan capital city.

From there it is best to take your car and drive counter clockwise, up the southern coast on a breathtaking mountain route to the northwestern tip at Porto Moniz. Believe us when we say it is one of the best European car road trips you could take, especially if you like your birds too as the island is full of them.

San Bernardino Pass, Switzerland

If you like driving and you are a real car fan then the San Bernardino Pass is the ultimate European car trip destination.  Situated in the south east of the country the pass winds spectacularly down the mountains past churches, castles and gorges. This is not a place to be caught out with a breakdown, however, so our specialist European breakdown cover is an essential companion if you fancy it.

Because you are conquering the Alps you will need all the help you can get but it is also massively rewarding as you fly through long tunnels and high bridges, past mountain villages like Splügen, beyond the picturesque towns of Grono and Roveredo to the bottom of the valley to Bellinzona.

Germany’s Romantic Road

Our final European car trip destination is not one you may expect as Germany is usually a place to drive through on the way to somewhere more spectacular but take exit A-7 off the Autobahn and it feels like you are in another time.

The motorway is replaced by medieval towns, walled cities, aged churches with carved wooden altars, Bavarian beer halls and gothic cathedrals with the Alps as a backdrop.

For advice on what to pack and how to get the right European breakdown cover for your trip talk to us direct on 0800 0199519 and to read part one of our European car trip guide follow this link