3 Road Trips in Beautiful Italy

Whether you plan a road trip in Italy for 1 week or for your whole summer holidays, there is an incredible amount to see and experience in beautiful Italy. On a camping holiday in Italy you can expect some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, great mountain panoramas and of course good wine and delicious food, in addition to historical art and cultural treasures. We’ll help you plan and show you the local spots on these 3 road trips in beautiful Italy.

Campsites
5 days in South Tyrol
7 days Lake Garda
8 days Puglia
Cost of travel
How to get there

The best campsites in Italy

Want to go on a camping holiday in Italy but no idea where to stay? Don’t fuss, our Top Spots in Italy will help guide you! Discover our carefully selected campsites that are guaranteed to make your camping experience unforgettable. What’s so special about the Top Spots? They offer everything a roadsurfer’s heart desires: top facilities, nice hosts, a fantastic view over the most beautiful parts of Italy and cool extras to sweeten your stay. Book your spot now and see for yourself!

The best campervan tours through beautiful Italy

5 days with a campervan through South Tyrol

If you want to drive through South Tyrol with your campervan, you can do it comfortably via the Brenner freeway. You can expect gorgeous mountain scenery, smashing cuisine and eclectic historic villages in South Tyrol. If the road trip leaves you wanting more after our route, it is worth spending a few extra days on the Alpe di Siusi or in the Dolomites.

Day 1 – Vinschgau

Check out the tower on Lake Reschen – maybe even from the water, because the lake is perfect for kitesurfing and sailing!
Pay respect to “King Ortler” on the Ortler High Mountain Trail. To complete the entire distance from Vinschgau to Veltlin you need a week and good conditions!
Taste “Vinschger Ur-Paarl”, the most famous bread of the region.

→ Discover the most beautiful spots in the Vinschgau Valley

Day 2 – Merano

Visit the Texelgruppe Nature Park House where you can learn everything about the park on a small scale if you don’t have time to explore the whole nature park.
Take a trip to the Parcines Waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the Alps – especially when the sun is shining, it offers a great colour spectacle.
Soak up the Merano sun in the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, which recreate over 80 landscapes from around the world.

→ Camp overnight at these spots in Merano

Day 3 – Bolzano

Say hello to Ötzi, the famous glacier mummy at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Hiking and wine drinking are on the agenda in Eppan on the Wine Road.
Take the cable car to Jenesien, the so-called sun terrace above Bolzano for sunshine galore while hiking and biking.

→ Find your dream campsite in Bolzano

Day 4 – Bressanone/Brixen

Try to count all 33 types of marble in the magnificent Bressanone Cathedral.
In the “valley of paths,” the Eisacktal, you’ll find a variety of themed trails and hikes for the whole family.
The wine of the Eisack Valley is considered one of the best in the country. After your hike, you should definitely fill up your cooler with it before continuing your trip.

→ Favourite spots in Bressanone/Brixen.

Day 5 – Alpe di Siusi

Climb the landmark of South Tyrol, the Schlern. You can see all the way to the Dolomites from Petz peak.
Cool off in the Völser Weiher afterwards – a nature swim hardly gets more idyllic!
Wellness in the mountains is on the agenda with a hay bath, a treatment that has long been practised on the Alpe di Siusi.

→ Stunning camping spots at the Alpe di Siusi

7 days with a camper near Lake Garda

What’s better than a campervan road trip to Lake Garda in the summertime? A visit to Lake Garda PLUS stop overs in some of the coolest cities in Italy! This route also includes stops in Milan, Bergamo and Verona before finally arriving in Venice. Once you’ve arrived at Lake Garda in your campervan, you’ll want to take a few days to explore the area. We recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days on site.

Day 1 – Milan

We start in Milan, where you can rent one of our colourful campervans directly at our station. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to get from Milan to Lake Garda without paying a toll, but we think it’s well worth the drive and money.

Day 2 – Bergamo

Art lovers must visit the Accademia Carrara which has the best collection of Italian Renaissance artists in Europe.
Be sure to try the casoncelli bergamaschi! These are small, stuffed pastas that are the staple dish of Bergamo and are over 630 years old.
Hike through chestnut forests and olive groves in the Parco Regionale dei Colli di Bergamo, a massive protected natural area.

→ Our favourite spots in Bergamo

Day 3 & 4 – Riva del Garda

Depending on your mood and fitness level, you can walk the entire lake on one of the three GardaTreks.
If you are travelling with children, you should definitely make a detour to Gardaland, Italy’s version of Disneyland.
Zip across Lake Garda on a high-speed catamaran. Pure adrenaline rush and a great view from the water await you!
Head to Omkafe for a proper espresso tasting.

→ Gorgeous campsites in Riva del Garda

Day 5 – Monte Bondone

Climbing, rappelling, and balancing across a Tibetan bridge – you can experience all this and more at Monte Bondone Adventure Park.
Lago di Cavedine is a great place to swim and picnic. Fill up your cooler with prosciutto and Grana Padano beforehand, because there is no restaurant at the lake.
Young and old can shimmy over the Via Ferrata Jurassic, where skill and endurance are required.

Day 6 – Verona

Pay a visit to the bronze statue of Juliet at La Casa di Guilietta.
The Verona Opera is a once in a lifetime experience during the summer months.
The best pizza in town can be had in true style at the church San Matteo Church.

→ Beautiful places to stay in Verona

Day 7 – Venice

If you love modern art, we recommend a visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, preferably early in the morning when it’s not too crowded yet.
Park your roadsurfer! Sightseeing in Venice is done from the water on the vaporetto, the city’s public transportation system.
Treat yourself to an aperitif at the Riva Lodge at Gritti Palace. Prices are pretty steep but the location right on the Grand Canal is aces.

→ Book a unique camping experience at these campsites in Venice

8 days with your campervan to Puglia

Puglia, which is also called “Le Puglie”, is located way down south in the heel of the boot and is very suitable for a road trip in southern Italy.

First, drive to Rome with your campervan or rent a roadsurfer at our station location in Rome. From Rome it’s about 400 km southeast to the Gargano peninsula, where your campervan tour to Puglia begins.

Our tip: Add a stopover in Naples at the coast to eat the best pizza in the world!

Day 1 – Gargano

Walk in the shady mixed forest or climb Monte Gargano in Gargano National Park.
Take a ride from Rodi Garganico to the Tremiti Islands, which have brilliant beaches.
Visit the Pizzomunno on the south beach of Vieste. It’s a 20m high rock in the water and the symbol of the town.

→ Our favourite spots in Gargano

Stopover:

If you’re driving to Puglia, a stop at the Hohenstaufen Castle Castel del Monte on the way south is not to be missed. It was built in the 13th century by Frederick II and is considered a medieval architectural wonder.

Day 2 – Bari

Walk through the charming old town of Città Vecchia in Bari.
Learn how the traditional orecchiette are freshly prepared on Strada Arco Basso.
Take a trip to Alberobello to see the “Trulli”! These unique, ancient stone houses are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

→ The most amazing campsites in Bari

Day 3 – Lecce

Cool off at one of the most brilliant beaches in Puglia, Torre Guaceto, on your way to Lecce.

Lecce is also called the Florence of the South and inspired the “Leccese Baroque”. The buildings made of tuff stone characterise the cityscape and provide a playful mixture. Don’t forget your camera, because whether you find the houses kitschy or architecturally exciting, they are definitely unique in Italy.

→ Find the perfect camping spot in Lecce

Day 4 – Otranto

On the way to Otranto, it’s worth taking a detour to the Alimini Lakes, where you can swim, surf and chill.
Check out the cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata! In August, the bones of 800 martyrs buried here are venerated at the great festival “Beati Martiri d’Otranto”.
You can immerse yourself in the history of the region during a visit to the Castello Aragonese.

→ Find great campsites or pitches in Otranto

Day 5 – Santa Maria di Leuca

If the temperature spikes in the summer, you can cool off in the grottos in the area. But beware: demons are said to still live in the Diavolo and Drago Grottoes.
Take a look at the impressive Faro Santa Maria di Leuca, a 47m high lighthouse.
Hiking is best in the Parco Naturale Regionale Santa Maria di Leuca nature reserve.

→ The best spots in Santa Maria di Leuca

Day 6 – Gallipoli

Walk around the beautiful old town, Centro Storico, and visit the Basilica concattedrale di Sant’Agata!
Gallipoli celebrates all year round with the processions during Holy Week being particularly exciting.

→ Dreamy overnight stays in Gallipoli

Day 7 – Altamura

If you want to explore Italy on a road trip, then you should head to Altamura on the way to Castel del Monte in Puglia. The “crown of Puglia” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Piazza Duomo, the central square in downtown Altamura, you can enjoy a coffee or nut brandy while in a lively atmosphere.
From Altamura you can go to the cave town of Matera, which is not far away. It is one of the first and oldest cities in the world and incredibly fascinating.

→ Discover unique camping spots in Altamura

Day 8 – Foggia

Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Icona Vetere, beautifully restored after an earthquake in the 18th century.
You can hike in the Parco Naturale Regionale Bosco Incoronata outside Foggia. There are numerous trails for every taste and fitness level.

→ Beautiful camping locations in Foggia

Costs of a campervan road trip through Italy

Unfortunately, camping in Italy does not come cheap when comparing countries in Europe. On average, you have to expect 36 euros per night for campsites. Avoid travelling during popular holidays or the peak season in summer. Holidays such as Easter and Holy Week are also celebrated in many parts of the country and are a tourist magnet – this drives up prices.

Those travelling on a budget should also avoid the popular tourist areas and coastal stretches. Since wild camping is officially forbidden in Italy, you should save money by choosing smaller campsites inland or one of our roadsurfer spots. On roadsurfer spots you will find individual pitches and campsites according to your taste, which you can easily book online, on the road or in advance.

If you want to save money on food, avoid expensive restaurants and rent a campervan with a kitchen so you can cook for yourself. Throughout Italy there are many regional markets and stores where you can stock up for cheap, and pasta with pesto from the supermarket is always a delicious and cheap option!

When planning your route and budget for camping trips in Italy, you must also take into account the tolls that are charged for highways and are calculated per kilometre. This can be paid in cash, by credit card or with Telepass, an automatic payment system.

If you want to tour Italy by car, Tuscany, Sardinia and Sicily should of course be considered. Sights like Pisa and Florence must be experienced.

How can you travel to Italy by campervan?

There are several possibilities to travel to Italy. From Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia you can reach Italy by campervan. However, in winter you must be aware that the tunnels leading to Italy – the Mont Blanc Tunnel, the Great St. Bernard Tunnel and the Brenner Pass – can often be closed due to snowfall. Also, on all these routes, it is not possible to get to Italy without paying for toll roads.

So, what’s the fastest way to get there? That depends on where you live and where you want to go. If you have plenty of time, you can tack on a few extra travel destinations by renting your roadsurfer in some of our other European locations, exploring neighbouring countries and from there continuing your road trip to Italy. Otherwise, you can fly to Italy and rent a roadsurfer at one of our three locations: Milan, Rome or Turin.

>> Hire a roadsurfer in Italy!

What to pay attention to while driving in Italy

The speed limit in Italy is 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h in cities, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on highways.

The blood alcohol limit is 0.5. Drivers who have had their licence for less than three years are absolutely forbidden to drink.

Out of town, you must also drive with dipped headlights or daytime running lights during the day.

Talking on the phone at the wheel is a no-go, unless you use a hands-free system.

Children under 12 years of age or smaller than 150 cm must ride in an appropriate child seat.

When looking for parking spaces, you must pay attention to the markings on the ground: white lines indicate free spaces, yellow lines indicate reserved spaces, and blue lines indicate parking spaces for which you must purchase a parking ticket.

When wintering in Italy with a motorhome, be aware that winter tyres are compulsory on many roads. The regulations vary depending on the municipality, road and weather conditions. Find out in advance, when you have arranged your route through Italy, if and where you need winter tyres.

Italy is quite strict about fines and violations and they can be expensive. However, if you pay your fine within 5 days, you can sometimes get a 30% discount.

More Campsite inspirations!

Campsites by the Lake

Lago di Como, Lago di Garda, or Lago di Braies. You can swim, SUP or hike with beautiful views of mountain panoramas at the lakes in Italy. These are the most beautiful campsites directly on the lake.

Check out the Spots

Campsites by the Sea

Wake up to the fresh sea breeze! Spend the night right on the beach at these beautiful campsites in Italy.