With extensive public transport networks, walkable streets and tourist taxi ranks, having a hire car isn’t always a city break priority in Europe.
But, there are hilltop villages, forest trails and sparkling coastlines to be discovered – if you dare to drive on the other side of the road.
Think ancient Spanish ruins, countryside retreats in Turkey and laid-back beach towns an hour from Rome.
Not sure where to start? Skyscanner’s Europe road trip planner looks further afield, guiding motorists to charming corners of the continent as little as 30 minutes from city centres.
Here are the top road trip destinations from Italy to Istanbul for a drive beyond city borders.
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Sirmione, Italy
Drive time from Milan: 2 hours
Two hours from Milan’s metropolis, Sirmione on Lake Garda charms with medieval castles, lakeside promenades and thermal baths. Make things medieval with a visit to 13th-century Scaliger Castle for turret views of Italy’s famed lake, or hop on a boat to see Sirmione from the water before (passengers) savour a glass of the area’s white lugana wine.
Read more: The charming Lake Como town where Italians escape the summer crowds
Besalú, Spain
Drive time from Barcelona: 1 hour 40 minutes
Booked Barcelona and want a break from the crowded Catalonian capital? Just under two hours' drive north, Besalú is a step back in time, with a 12th-century Romanesque bridge, an ancient Jewish Quarter and traditional Catalonian cuisine. There’s also nearby access to hikes along the Fluvia River to stretch your legs after the journey.
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Polonezköy, Turkey
Drive time from Istanbul: 1 hour 10 minutes
Polonezköy offers a peaceful reprieve from the bustle of Turkey’s largest city. Originally a Polish village, the peaceful neighbourhood near Istanbul has a nature park primed for picnics, forest trails, a lake for boat rides and echoes of its Polish settlers in its church, cuisine and guesthouses.
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Anzio, Italy
Drive time from Rome: 1 hour 15 minutes
Travellers who find themselves overwhelmed by the ruckus of Rome can take a one-hour and 15-minute drive south to the laid-back beach town of Anzio. With its own World War II ruins, long sandy beaches and seaside staples from seafood to sunloungers, this road trip is a great way to combine a “don’t stop” city break with a fly and flop holiday.
Read more: Take the train to Certaldo for the perfect Tuscan getaway
You can find Skyscanner’s Europe road trip planner here.
Mafra, Portugal
Drive time from Lisbon: 1 hour
Get in the car in Lisbon and make for Mafra if a huge baroque National Palace, hiking trails and weekly Saturday markets are more your speed. Just 25 miles from the Portuguese capital, this town offers everything from forest hikes in the Tapada Nacional de Mafra to wine tasting with a side of pão de Mafra bread.
Read more: This little-known region is home to some of Portugal’s best beaches
Antequera, Spain
Drive time from Malaga: 1 hour
Steer away from Spanish hotspot Malaga to Antequera for hillside castles, El Torcal hiking trails and adventures on the Caminito del Rey walkway. Here you’ll also find a restored Moorish fortress, a Unesco-listed site of three megalithic monuments and a lively town centre an hour from the Malaga coastline.
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Sceaux, France
Drive time from Paris: 30 minutes
It may feel impossible to get grander than Paris, but for groomed gardens, shaped trees and a centrepiece château, Sceaux is well worth the 30-minute drive for a film-set worthy picnic. Get in the car to visit a cemetery of famous French figures, leisurely walk the canal and manger a croissant on Rue Houdan.
Read more: Bourgeois beverages and the best coffee: Where to drink in Paris
Glyfada, Greece
Drive time from Athens: 30 minutes
Athens has a habit of sweltering in summer, but fear not, a sea breeze is just 30 minutes away if you journey out of the Greek capital to Glyfada. The glitzy seaside resort features sandy stretches, chic cafes, high-end shopping and an 18-hole golf course with tavernas serving souvlaki and tzatziki, easy to stumble across after a long day at the beach.
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