Nothing is better than leaving all your worries behind, explore new places and make memories along the way. Grab a friend, your favourite playlists, some comfy cloths and jump in your car. Today we are going to share some of the places we visited on our road trip trough the alps, places you should definitely not miss on your trip!
We picked up our car at Venice Airport at the Sixt Counter, the Staff was very friendly and helpful. We were allowed to choose from 3 different vehicles from the category we booked. We decided to go for a BMW because of its space and smooth driving.
We started our journey heading into one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the alps, the Dolomites. After a three hour drive through it we finally reached our first destination. The first place on our list was Alpe di Siusi. It’s the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe famous for the stunning Sasso Lungo and its high number of cabins. That morning we were very lucky with the conditions, a low morning fog covered the lush grass fields and we witnessed a beautiful sunrise. To reach this spot you simply follow the road from Siusi that leads up to Alpe di Siusi. You can park your car at the Compatsch parking lot and then walk for 30 minutes to reach the view. It’s definitely worth getting up early to see the sunrise!
Later that day we decided to take the route from Alpe di Siusi and continue exploring the dolomites. We decided to visit a iconic and beautiful mountain lake, Lago di Carezza. It definitely is one of the prettiest lakes in South Tyrol and it is famous for its iconic view on the Latemar and the unique color of the water. The lake is located directly on the road and you can park your car right next to it. Beautiful place to not miss.
Another spot not top miss when you are visiting the Dolomites is the Val di Funes. It is famous for two little mountain churches in a beautiful alpine setting. They both are very easily to reach by car and on a beautiful clear day you are able to see the Geisler mountains in the background.
Our last spot in the Italian alps was our favourite stop. We visited the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We decided to do the hike before sunrise and so we spent the night sleeping in our car at the beginning of the trail. Around 3.30 in the morning we started hiking towards the Tre Cime. We didn’t want to miss the first rays of sun poking through the mountains, so we made sure we got up very early. The hike takes about 2 hours and is actually a really easy and enjoyable walk. Like a lot of places in the Dolomites, it can get very busy during the day. We highly recommend starting early. You should aim for the Rifugio Antonio Locatelli where you will have the best view.
After all the beauty we experienced in the Italian alps we were ready to head to our next destination, the German alps. The first spot we visited in Germany was Geroldsee. It is funny how fast the landscapes can change when you are driving from Italy to Austria, and then to Germany. We arrived just in time for the sunset and got to enjoy our evening by the lake.
The next day we decided to take it slow and spend our morning in a cafe in a city close to Geroldsee – Garmisch Patenkirchen. It’s a cute little town with a Bavarian touch to it. Later that day we drove towards our next spot, Plansee, where we decided to go for a swim in the lake. The water was freezing cold but it was very refreshing.
Later we got back to Germany to see one of the most iconic castles there is, the Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace. It’s on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany.
After Austria we started heading to Switzerland, we love the landscapes and the food in Switzerland. We drove through stormy weather that day and had a few stops in little towns before reaching our final destination, Interlaken. There is so much to see and do here. We decided to do a hike up to Augstmatthorn, a two hour journey that will take you to the top of a mountain ridge. We got very lucky with the weather and it was the perfect spot to finish our road trip. Just look for yourself. Definitely our favourite moment of the whole trip.
Finally it was time to head back to Venice airport. We were exhausted from all the exploring but happy with all the amazing experiences and memories we made during our trip. Traveling by car is such an great way to travel mostly due to the flexibility it allows. You get to travel to many destinations with some amazing scenic drives, so it’s rarely boring. Traveling by car is for this trip is definitely the way to go.
Once we arrived back in Venice we got welcomed by the Sixt staff and they helped us with our bags and gave us directions. The drop off was fast and easy. We can’t wait to travel with Sixt again.
Thanks a lot for your time, your truly Giulia & Yann. For more you can find us @giuligartner and @yann__b on Instagram.
