Why go: The Alentejo is Portugal’s rustic, lesser-trodden region and driving here is like travelling to a bygone era. For long stretches, only the copper-hued trunks of cork oaks lean into the road to greet you. After the coastal areas near Lisbon, which feel lively and glitzy in comparison, it seems like time has stood still in the region’s sleepy hamlets and hilltop villages. Peace reigns supreme here, as it does on the seemingly endless sandy stretches further south, where Atlantic rollers pummel beaches bereft of crowds.

When to go: spring or autumn; during the summer, there are breezes along the coast but the interior sizzles with heatwaves

Start/Finish: Lisbon/Odeceixe Distance: 564 km (360 miles) Duration: 10-12 days

Why go: Albania’s Riviera, which runs south of Tirana as far as Greece and faces the heel of Italy’s boot, is one of Europe’s last remaining secrets. On a drive along this underappreciated coast, you’ll discover a Roman amphitheatre, Cold-War era bunkers and a string of pristine beaches lapped by the crystal-clear Ionian sea. And that’s all without mentioning the mountains, lagoons and forests. Hit the Riviera before the word gets out.

When to go: late spring to early autumn, for the clearest views and best road conditions

Start/End: Durrës/ Ksamil Distance: 269 km (168 miles) Duration: 5–7 days

Why go: An exquisite expression of what happens when engineering genius meets show-stopping natural beauty, the Atlantic Road is an unforgettable drive through a dramatic archipelago on Norway's windswept northern coast. Eagle-eyed Bond fans will recognise the route from 007’s car chase in No Time to Die and these views certainly are cinematic. The drive is awash with silvery fjords bound by soaring mountains, emerald forests wreathed in mist, quaint fishing villages of red clapboard houses and the rusting hulks of shipwrecks sinking into the sea.

When to go: spring, when the wildflowers bloom.

Start/End: Kvernes/Bud Distance: 53 km (33 miles) Duration: 3-6 hours

Why go: To some, it’s a dictator’s folly. To others, it’s the most beautiful road in the world. Either way, Romania’s Transfăgărășan Highway makes for a spectacular journey into the country’s stretch of the Carpathian Mountains. The road is narrow and by no means straight. Viewed from above, it seems like an Expressionist artist has been busy at work across the hilly landscape. It’s a delightful and continuous squiggle that swoops up and down on a whimsical journey through the area’s rocky formations.

When to go: the summer months; avoid November to mid-June, when the road is usually impassable.

Start/End: Curtea de Argeș/Cârțișoara Distance: 128 km (80 miles) Duration: 1 day

Why go: This central sweep of Turkey sees you traversing one of the great crossroads of ancient civilisations. In its rich history, Anatolia has been ruled by the Hittites, Romans and Byzantines. It has survived a string of invasions by the Arabs and Mongols, and was conquered by the Ottomans in the 15th century. The drive crosses unearthly landscapes to sun-baked Cappadocia, where hot air balloons drift lazily above “fairy chimney” rock formations.

When to go: late spring and early autumn, when temperatures cool and there are fewer tourists at major sights

Start/End: Ankara (circular route) Distance: 985 km (612 miles) Duration: 5-7 days

There’s no better way to see the continent than from behind the wheel. Buckle up for the stuff of road trip dreams with our brand new book Road Trips in Europe, coming April 17!

Road Trips in Europe

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