Five cities, one rented car, and a loop that starts and ends in Dresden. This is the honest shape of a 9-day Central Europe road trip — what worked, what we’d change, and everything needed to plan your own.
We drove Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Naples, and Tuscany — four people, our own car, peak summer — and tracked every euro. Here’s what an Italy road trip actually costs, broken down by category so you can plan yours honestly.
We stopped on the way back from southern Italy — the Val d’Orcia, Pienza, and a half-day in Florence — and that unhurried detour became one of the better memories of the whole trip. Here’s what’s actually worth stopping for on the drive through Tuscany.
Mid-range overnight on the Amalfi Coast costs €150–250. A well-planned day trip costs €40–65. Here’s exactly how to do it — entry point, parking, timing, and what you honestly give up.
Two to three hours walking a city frozen in 79 AD, then 25 kilometres north to the loudest, most alive city in Italy — this is the southern loop day that makes everything else on the road trip make sense.
An honest guide to driving the Amalfi Coast — what the road actually feels like, how to plan the day, where to stop, and whether driving is worth it at all.
A first-hand drive through southern Italy — Rome on foot, the Amalfi Coast road, Pompeii ruins, Naples pizza, and Tuscany on the way home. The honest itinerary.
Six cities, one unforgettable southern Spain route — a calm, practical guide to planning an Andalusia summer road trip through Málaga, Ronda, Cádiz, Seville, Córdoba, and Granada.
From Málaga’s Roman ruins to Granada’s Alhambra — a complete guide to Andalusia’s six best cities, the best route between them, and what to book before you arrive.