Driving in the land of la dolce vita can be intimidating. Honking horns, reckless overtaking and tailgating are all (unfortunately) part and parcel of an Italian road trip holiday. But as soon as you hit the road, you’ll forget all about these anxieties – there’s no better way to experience the country’s beauty than on a road trip. Read on for our pick of the ten best road trips in Italy, whether it’s snaking through the towering Dolomites, cruising across Sicily, or rolling along the glittering Amalfi Coast. Let’s hit the road…
- Rome to Terni: 62 miles
- The Amalfi Coast: 46 miles
- The Chiantigiana Road: 43 miles
- The Via Cassia: 86 miles
- The Great Dolomites Road: 86 miles
- Lake Garda: 98 miles
- Castelli to Chieti: 73 miles
- Sicily via the SS120: 133 miles
- Sardinia via the SS125: 220 miles
- The Stelvio Pass Road: 29 miles
1
Rome to Terni
Approximately 62 miles
The route from Rome to Terni may only take around one and a half hours, but you’d be missing out if you rush through this drive on your Italy holiday. This lovely 62-mile route winds through the Italian countryside in the Lazio region, passing beautiful scenery along the way. We recommend allotting a couple of days to the drive, so you can make plenty of stops, including in the Marcigliana nature reserve, the quaint town of Rieti and Monte Terminillo in the Apennines – the summit of which can be reached by taking a short detour (trust us, it’s worth it). Before rolling into Terni, the ‘city of lovers’, marvel at the lush Marmore Falls. As you pass through rustic villages, farmland, vineyards and olive groves, we’d recommend buying as much local olive oil and fresh produce as you can fit in your suitcase…
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2
The Amalfi Coast
Salerno to Sorrento, approximately 31 miles
Italian road trips don’t get more iconic (or romantic) than the Amalfi Coast. Boasting UNESCO World Heritage site status since 1997, this beautiful coastline is best experienced via its SS163 road. And while it’s no secret that driving along this famous stretch of tarmac can be a white-knuckle ride, the narrow, winding roads and sheer cliffs are well worth navigating for the breathtaking views you’ll encounter. Starting in Salerno, admire the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea as you cruise towards Vietri sul Mare, stop for lunch in ravishing Ravello, wander around Amalfi, and pause in the cliff-perched Positano. The route finishes in sun-kissed Sorrento on the northern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Our top tip? Avoid the traffic during the high season and stick to the shoulder months of April/May and September/October.
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3
The Chiantigiana Road
Florence to Siena, approximately 43 miles
The Chiantigiana Road – the SR 222 – is one of the best road trips in Italy for lovers of rolling hills, wine and ancient villages. Traversing the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Siena, this 43-mile route is not only beautiful but also a treat for the tastebuds; across the Chianti Classico wine region, you’ll pass numerous wineries and historic towns like Greve, Castellina and Radda in Chianti. Along the way, take in the spectacular views of sprawling vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can see, making plenty of pit stops to sample the produce (apologies to the designated driver…). We recommend driving this route in September, when wine festivals and grape harvests bring a festive atmosphere to the region's villages.
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4
The Via Cassia
Florence to Rome, approximately 86 miles
They say that all roads lead to Rome, but few are as beautiful as the Via Cassia. Driving along this road is like journeying back in time; the Via Cassia – the SS2 – was built by the Romans in 107 BC under Cassius (hence its name) to connect the two wonderful cities of Rome and Florence. For 86 miles of rolling hills, soak up the vineyards of the undulating Tuscan countryside, take a dip in the largest volcanic lake in Europe, Lake Bolsena, discover the hilltop-perched Medieval village of Montefiascone and the ramparts of Viterbo, before rolling into the outskirts of the Italian capital.
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5
The Great Dolomites Road
Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo, approximately 86 miles
Thanks to the Great Dolomites Road, the breathtaking Dolomites are more accessible than ever. Widely considered one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the world (and undoubtedly one of the best road trips in Italy), the route begins in Bolzano, the gateway to the mountains. Heading east, the Great Dolomites Road follows the steep canyons of the gorges of Val d'Ega to Karersee Lake. It then snakes through the Costalunga Pass and the striking rocky peaks famous among mountaineers: the Vajolet Towers. After passing through the charming village of Canazei, a highlight is the Pordoi Pass, which boasts stunning views of the Marmolada, Rosengarten and Sassolungo mountains. The road then descends into the heart of a valley thick with pine trees that become sparser as the road reaches Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 'Queen of the Dolomites'.
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6
Lake Garda
Approximately 98 miles
With a perimeter of 98 miles, Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. A road trip around this small inland sea allows visitors to discover it all, from the lake's narrow northern section, where mountain streams pour in, to the calmer, wider south, and a plethora of picturesque villages like Sirmione and Garda in between. The narrow Strada della Forra – considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world – winds through a dramatic ravine alongside the lake. It’s a must-drive for 007 fans, as it was the location for the car chase scene from the James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. After you’ve (safely) recreated this scene, take the road from Pieve for a mountainside loop past gorges and waterfalls.
Image by Francesco Riccardo Lacomino / Getty Images
7
Castelli to Chieti
Approximately 73 miles
Next up on our list of the best road trips in Italy is in Abruzzo – one of the country’s lesser-visited regions, tucked between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. On the 73-mile drive between Castelli and Chieti (via the charming city of Teramo), you’ll encounter some of the best features of the Italian landscape: think beaches, pine forests, mountains, lakes, caves and even religious hermitages. Must-visit stops include Gran Sasso National Park, the stunning Stiffe caves (reached via a short detour from the main route), and the pine forest-fringed beach in the coastal resort of Pineto. Here, you can admire the trabocchi, a ramshackle pier on stilts used for fishing.
Image by David Candeloro / 500px / Getty Images
8
Sicily via the SS120
Taormina to Termini Imerese, approximately 133 miles
Sicily is sensational road trip country. But if we had to pick one route, it’s the glorious SS120, connecting Taormina in the east to Termini Imerese on the north-west coast. This Sicilian road trip first passes through the Etna Park, where visitors can enjoy a funicular ride to the top of the famous volcano for incredible crater views. Next, the SS120 continues through steep mountains, green valleys and picturesque towns, including Nicosia in the mountains, and Cerda, famous for its artichokes (and well worth a lunch stop). Finally, the SS120 snakes towards the sea and catches up with the SS113, which leads west to the energetic capital of Palermo, just under an hour away.
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9
Sardinia via the SS125
Quartucciu to Palau, approximately 220 miles
Craving sea views on your drive? Enter the coastal queen of Italian road trips, Sardinia’s SS125, which traces up the east coast of Italia’s idyllic island, from Quartucciu in the south to Palau in the north. Beach lovers are seriously spoilt for choice – from the pebble-strewn cove of Cala Mariolu to the glittering waters of Del Dottore and the tree-framed shores of Cala Fuili, each beach is accessible via winding paths that meander down to the sea. Along the way, cities like Arbatax, with its beautiful bay and red granite-lined Rocce Rosse beach, or Orosei, with its small harbour and rich Medieval past, are well worth exploring. Another – slightly quirky – must-visit is the ghost town of Gairo Vecchio, which its inhabitants abandoned after a flood in the mid-1900s.
Image by Martina Amaro / Pexels.com
10
The Stelvio Pass Road
Bormio to Prato allo Stelvio, approximately 29 miles
Last up on our list of the best road trips in Italy is one for the thrill seekers. Once crowned the ‘greatest driving road in the world’ by Top Gear, the Stelvio Pass, or SS38, is the second-highest road in Europe. Punctuated by twists and turns, the road climbs up 9,045ft to the pass before dropping down again; from south to north, it connects Bormio in Sondrio province to Prato allo Stelvio in South Tyrol. The 16-mile northern section of the SS38 is the most dizzying and dramatic, with a whopping 48 hairpin bends to navigate (gulp). Watch out for two-wheeled vehicles: the Stelvio Pass is a top destination for bikers and cyclists. It's also important to remember that, due to the altitude, the pass is only open from June to September, so plan your road trip accordingly.
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Written by Hannah Whitehall | Header image by Terence Connors
