2026 - Czechia, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

We know we will need a rental car when we return to Italy but the prices have increased exponentially as summer approaches and the cheapest we can find now is 25 euros a day for a monthly rental, so it’s back to the drawing board. We look at other countries as it is Europe after all, and find a very cheap car, 6 euros a day for a month plus 50 euros for border crossing, in Prague, Czech Republic. We do the maths, and even with all the costs, it’s still cheaper or at least breaks even and of course we’ll get two road trips out of it. If you follow us, you’ll know it’s just too irresistible. So we buy the airfares, book the car rental and start planning our road trip back to Italy via Prague. We take the bus from Piraeus to Athens Airport (5.50 euros for a 1.40 minutes trip) and then catch our Skyexpress (68 euros) 2 hour flight from Athens to Prague. We’ve been to Prague before and really would like to see it again but when it’s not so packed with tourists and not so hot, this time it’s just business. So we pick up the HUGE, awesome, automatic car (a Skorda Farouq) from Prague Airport and drive to Munich, Germany. On the way we stop for lunch at the famous “U Mansfelde” restaurant in the city of Pilsen still in the Czech Republic. We have a delicious pork knuckle, a shopska salad, and of course, two massive glasses of the renowned Pilsner Urquell. We check in at the Rimedya Hotel (58 euros), in the outskirts of Munich just to be told they are having a problem with the hot water, they’re really sorry and comp us for a full hotel breakfast next morning, welcome to German efficiency, DANKE! We stop at a supermarket for some supplies, pick up some cartons of local beer to take back to Italy and fold for the day. Next morning we take a lovely drive through the Austrian countryside, following pretty pastel coloured villages and spired churches, drive back to the hotel, leave the car and catch a bus and the metro to see Munich Old Town. The tickets are 18 euros for a day pass, 10 trips. Munich Old Town does not disappoint, it’s stunning, vibrant and it has a second to none Beer Garden, Viktualienmarkt, packed with both tourists and locals. The bakeries and butcher shops around it offer an array of snacks, from hot dogs, to beef burgers to cold cut sandwiches, but be prepared as it’s a cash only experience. When driving in Germany you need to be aware of some Environmental Zones, areas where only low emission registered cars can circulate, as the fines can be up to 100 euros if you get caught, the Via Michelin App can help you navigate it.

Munich (8)

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Pilzen (1)

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Next day we wake up at 3.30am and leave Germany, crossing the stunning Austrian countryside and 3.5 hours later, reach the gorgeous Principality of Liechtenstein, our 85th country visited. Liechtenstein is set in a fairy tale situation, amidst snowy mountains and gorgeous valleys, it’s breathtaking and totally worth the detour. We walk around the pretty Old Town of Valduz, take a quick visit to the incredible Vaduz Castle, then it’s back on the road. We then cross into the picture perfect countryside of Switzerland, make sure you select “no tolls” on your GPS otherwise you are required to buy a vignette (44 euros for a year). Also if you avoid tools you will be in for one of the prettiest road trips ever, passing by colourful villages and churches set amongst incredible mountains, lakes and valleys. Then it’s time for the highlight of this road trip, crossing the Alps from Switzerland into Italy, the drive can only be described as magnificent. Snowy imposing mountains, canyons, valleys, enchanting villages, it’s some of the most picturesque scenery we’ve ever seen, and we crossed the Himalayas from Nepal to Tibet by four wheel drive in 2010. There are two passes to choose from and we choose to cross at the Passo dello Spluga, 2,117mts, and the descent on the Italian side is hair raising in some spots, but the views certainly make up for it. The road goes for hours following the pretty (and massive) Lago di Como in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, famous for it’s dramatic scenery set against the foothills of the Alps. We are back in Italy so of course we stop for pizza & beer, this time at La Fabbrica in Pedavena, a historical brewery founded in 1897, now it’s a chain and can be found in many cities in Northern Italy. Then we check in at a road side hotel in the outskirts of Milan and rest for the day as it’s been a long and exciting one with a total of 10 hours driving time through 5 countries, only in Europe!!

Liechtenstein Vaduz (6)

Liechtenstein Vaduz (4)

Liechtenstein Vaduz (5)

Liechtenstein Vaduz (7)

Liechtenstein Vaduz (2)

Passo dello Spluga (10)

Passo dello Spluga (9)

Passo dello Spluga (14)

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Passo dello Spluga (7)

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Talking about long drives, the following day is also unbelievably long, we leave at around 7 in the morning and arrive back in Schiavonea, Calabria at around 5 in the afternoon, we are deliriously tired but still have the energy for a pit stop at the supermarket for some essentials, then another pizza & beer session, this time at our local favourite, Il Portico Pizzeria, then back to our rental apartment for a well deserved rest, what an amazing, unforgettable road trip, check out our photos. Thanks for following our travels and till the next story.