Chasing the Sun: 3,000 km, 4 countries
From Swiss Prices to Italian Pizzas: Our Central European Adventure
5/29/20263 min read
Campervans are fun. No doubt about it. One vehicle that serves as your transportation, kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom? It's hard to beat that.
Beyond the complete freedom of movement, a campervan lets you experience completely different worlds in a matter of hours. And that's exactly what we did on our latest three-week road trip, moving from the flat plains of the Netherlands to the jagged peaks of the Alps, down to the Adriatic sea, and straight back to the mountains. Never stayed more than 3 nights at any single spot.
Our journey began in Germany by exploring a small part of the Black Forest and continued across the Swiss border, into Interlaken and the sun-soaked shores of Locarno.
The next phase of the trip found us in Italy, where we had a magical week uncovering its lakes, historic cities and mountain passes.
Saving some of the best alpine views for last, we spent a few of our final nights in Ehrwald, Austria, before meandering back north through Germany and home to the Netherlands.
All in all, we covered a bit over 3,000 kilometers. And somehow, with all this driving, we managed to outrun the rain almost entirely. We nearly burned through our supply of sunscreen during the warm, sunny days.
While every stop had its charm, the crown jewel of the trip was Italy. It was our first ever road trip through this country and we were pleasantly surprised. Especially after having just been to Switzerland. When the pizza and coffee are almost half the price in Italy compared to their Swiss counterparts, you quickly start loving your new surroundings. And I'm a foodie. Safe to say, I ate my bodyweight in carbs. Our campervan kitchen got a serious break.
But beyond the food, it was the Italian coffee culture that stood out for me. While I'm sure they exist, I haven't seen a single automatic espresso machine during our whole stay. Not in restaurants, cafes or even gas stations. Nowhere. The Italians love their coffee, and they make it the right way.
But it wasn't just our tastebuds that were getting spoiled; Italy turned out to be an absolute feast for the eyes too. Our route took us from swimming in the clear waters of Lake Garda and exploring its historical towns and castles, to navigating the narrow canals of Venice. Although I've seen plenty of canals in the Netherlands, there's something special and unique about Venice. It's definitely worth a return visit. Perhaps when the kids are older and we can explore more by foot. Or even better, without the kids.
Leaving the coast behind and heading north, we traded the sea for the high altitudes of the Dolomites. Up there, the fresh air, turquoise alpine lakes and towering peaks completely took our breath away, making for the ultimate finale to our Italian road trip.
Our final stretch through Austria made this whole experience that much more memorable. We kind of spoiled ourselves with the campsite we stayed at in Ehrwald, as it checked all of our boxes. It checked the wallet too, but it was great value for money. With tons of entertainment for the kids, luxury facilities, and uninterrupted, 360° mountain views, it was the perfect place to wrap up our adventure.
From there, we began our final drive, eventually crossing back over the Dutch border. Three weeks, four countries and over 3,000 kilometers later, we returned with a van full of unforgettable memories.
View from our campsite in Interlaken