Epic 2 Week UK to Italy Road Trip: Iconic Lakes & Mountains

A UK to Italy road trip may seem like a long journey, and while you will have a hefty bit of driving to do, it’s completely achievable. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the getting to Italy, the road trip route and also provide useful tips to make your Italy road trip as smooth.

1. Preparing to hit the road 

I know, I know, you want to dive straight into the awesome locations but first we must go over the important preparation your Italy road trip. Driving in Europe with a UK vehicle and license is relatively simple, but there are still a few things you need to take care of to ensure you meet all requirements and have a hassle-free experience:

• Driving License: You’re completely eligible to drive in Italy and the rest of the EU with your UK driving license.
• V5 Registration Document: This proves your ownership of the vehicle and is required for legal driving, some border crossings will ask for proof of this.
• Car Insurance: Make sure your car insurance covers driving abroad. All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third party cover to drive in the EU but you might want a more comprehensive cover if you’re driving your tiny home. 
• Breakdown Cover: Consider getting breakdown cover for peace of mind in case of vehicle issues during your journey.
• Visa: If you’re from the UK, you won’t need a visa for short stays in Europe, but do keep in mind the 90-day Schengen rule if you’re planning to do this Italy road trip as part of a longer trip.
• Travel Insurance: Make sure to get comprehensive travel insurance that includes coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen circumstances.
• Roadside emergency kit: To drive in Italy you need a roadside emergency kit that at a minimum includes a reflective vest, warning triangle, UK sticker, headlamp converters, first aid kit and an emergency bulb kit. You can easily buy these from places like Halfords and Amazon. 

2. Beginning Your Journey: UK to Italy road trip

We recommend taking Le Shuttle or a ferry to Calais as your starting point for your Italy road trip. From there, the drive to Lake Como, your first stop in Italy, takes about 11 hours.

For more detailed information on getting from the UK to Europe, check out our blog below.

👉 Helpful tips for driving from the UK to Europe

Once you’re in Calais, you’ll have a couple of options depending on whether you want to make stops along the way or get to Italy quickly:

1. Through the French Alps: You can take the scenic route through the French Alps, visiting places like Chamonix and Annecy, before heading to the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The tunnel is a bit on the pricey side at €50 one way for a car, but it’s a shortcut that will lead you to the beautiful Aosta Valley in Italy.
2. Through Switzerland: If you prefer a faster route, you can bypass the French Alps and drive through Switzerland, heading straight to Lake Como, and skip the Aosta Valley. You could still break up the drive on this route by stopping around Lucerne and the stunning Swiss lakes here. 

3. Italy Road Trip Itinerary

We don’t provide exact timeframes for our road trip routes, as everyone has different preferences. For example, we personally spent more time in the Dolomites because we love the mountains, but you may prefer to spend more time sightseeing in the cities. Here’s a suggested itinerary that you can tailor to fit your own pace, with enough variety to keep you entertained for around two weeks:

1. Aosta Valley
2. Northern Lakes
3. Optional Detour: Milan/Verona
4. Stelvio Pass/Lake Garda
5. Dolomites
6. Venice

Aosta Valley

The first stop destination in Italy is the Aosta Valley, a good alternative to Zermatt in Switzerland. It’s a cheaper destination where you can still catch glimpses of the iconic toblerone mountain: the Matterhorn. One of the highlights of the valley is Lac Bleu, a serene and picturesque lake where, on clear days, you can see the Matterhorn in the background. For a more adventurous experience, you can also hike higher up into the valley, for example to Lago de Goillet.

Northern Lakes

Next up, make your way to Lake Como, a famous destination known for its stunning lakeside villages and dramatic Alpine backdrops. Whether you visit Lake Como or Lake Garda, either is a must visit on an Italy road trip.

Popular spots around the lake include Oridio di Nesso, where you can have a very picturesque dip in the lake, Bellagio, Menaggio, and Como. If you’re after fewer crowds, consider skipping Bellagio, as it’s one of the most famous villages, but here is a reason for this as it is stunning. Ferries across the lake are easily accessible, just queue up and buy your ticket. 

We also loved exploring quieter lakes like Orta San Giulio, which has a similar charm to the villages around Lake Como but with fewer tourists and much cleaner waters since there are no ferries crossing the lake.

Optional Detour: Milan/Verona

At this point on your road trip through Italy, you could take a detour to Milan or Verona if you want to explore some bigger Italian cities. We chose to skip them due to our preference for the mountains. If you do visit, be sure to check out the stunning architecture and rich history in both cities.

Stelvio Pass or Lake Garda

From here, you have a choice: either continue on an epic scenic drive along the Stelvio Pass, known for its 60 hairpin bends, or head to Lake Garda for a more relaxing and wild lake experience.

We chose Stelvio Pass, but it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. As the mountain pass with the most amount of hairpin bends in Europe, it felt like a must for us to drive this scenic route on our road trip through Italy.

Along the way, there are beautiful hikes, waterfalls and hidden gems that make the challenging drive worth it.

The Dolomites

For us, the Dolomites were the highlight of our Italy road trip. This mountain range is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers, offering some of Europe’s most stunning and unique mountains. We spent a lot of our time here, and it’s a place where you can easily spend two weeks, especially if you’re into outdoor activities. 

Unmissable Locations in the Dolomites:

• Tre Cime - the iconic Three Peaks, be sure to add on a detour to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint here. Also enjoy a leisurely stroll around Lago Antorno the glacial lake below Tre Cime. 
• Lago di Sorapis - a turquoise lake with an incredible backdrop of the Sorapiss mountain range. 
• Lago di Braies - a spectacular natural lake in the Dolomites with options to walk around it, hike above it or take a rowing boat out into the middle of it. This is unmissable spot best visited earlier or later in the day to get the most peaceful experience.

Venice

Finally, end your road trip in Venice, a city that everyone should visit at least once. Wander the narrow alleys, admire the gondolas along the canals, and soak in the sights and sounds of Piazza San Marco. Venice is car-free, so you’ll need to park your vehicle somewhere secure and take a ferry to reach the heart of the city.

4. Taking your pet along on your Italy road trip

If you’re planning to bring your dog along, Italy is quite pet-friendly. The key to bringing your dog into Italy is meeting the EU pet travel requirements. Your dog will need:

• A rabies vaccination
• A microchip
• Either a UK Health Certificate or an EU Pet Passport

We personally recommend Le Shuttle for traveling with your dog, as it’s the shortest journey and you can stay with your pet in the vehicle. When you depart the UK, simply check your pet in with the required documentation.

Italy is generally welcoming to dogs, and you’ll find that many restaurants with outdoor seating allow pets. In the Dolomites, most hikes are dog-friendly, though keep in mind that peak seasons can get crowded, so you may want to visit off-season.

For more tips on traveling with a pet, be sure to check out our blog below.

👉 Essential tips for road tripping with your dog 

There you have it, an epic 2 week road trip from the UK to Italy, including stunning lakes, majestic mountains and iconic cities. It’s a journey you won’t forget!