Scenic Italian Driving Routes
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Latest page update: 12 January 2025
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By Dion Protani
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Whether you're renting a car or bringing your own vehicle with you to the country, driving in Italy offers some of the best opportunities for sightseeing. Incorporating beautiful landscapes and amazing places to stop along the way, this collection of Scenic Italian Driving Routes has been chosen from a long list of contenders.
Just about every type of landscape that Italy offers has been captured within these routes which range from stunning coastlines to mountain passes and everything in between. They've each been designed to provide not only pretty scenery that you can enjoy from behind the wheel, but some wonderful stops in between where you can rest and admire the historic towns and villages. |
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
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The first in our series of Scenic Italian Driving Routes finds us in the Campania region of southern Italy. When devising this page, the first route that sprang to mind was the incredible Amalfi Coast Drive with its stunning scenery. On one side of the road is a dramatic cliff that reaches up to the heavens while on the opposite side, colourful cliffside buildings cascade down to the turquoise sea below.
For the full itinerary and more photos just click the Amalfi Coast Drive title in green above.
For the full itinerary and more photos just click the Amalfi Coast Drive title in green above.
The Stelvio Pass is one of the most famous stretches of road in Italy. A favourite with motorcyclists and motorists alike, its stand out feature is a series of around 70 hairpin turns that wind their way around this Alpine pass.
This is one of the shorter routes on the list and requires no more than half a day and just an hour of actual driving. It starts at the ski resort of Bormio in Lombardy and finishes at the pretty town of Glorenza on the Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol side of the Alps.
This is one of the shorter routes on the list and requires no more than half a day and just an hour of actual driving. It starts at the ski resort of Bormio in Lombardy and finishes at the pretty town of Glorenza on the Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol side of the Alps.
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Regions: Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol
From: Bormio To: Glorenza Via: Trafoi Distance: 53 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour |
The Stelvio Pass
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Lake Como is Italy's third largest lake but arguably the most beautiful of all. This two day itinerary takes you the whole way around the lake, allowing time to visit the major sights. There are options to visit four amazing landscaped gardens, explore the signature towns like Varenna and Bellagio, or to skip some areas and take a short cut across the lake.
Absolutely nothing is missed on this route and it represents the perfect way to discover the lake area from the comfort of your own car.
Absolutely nothing is missed on this route and it represents the perfect way to discover the lake area from the comfort of your own car.
The Piedmont vineyards of Langhe and Monferrato by road
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Region: Piedmont
From: Asti To: Barolo Via: Costigliole d'Asti, Nizza Monferrato, Canelli, Barbaresco Distance: 101 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 2 hours |
Barbaresco, Piedmont
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Lys Valley driving route from Pont-Saint-Martin to Gressoney-Saint-Jean
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Region: Valle d'Aosta
From: Pont-Saint-Martin To: Gressoney-Saint-Jean Via: Lillianes, Fontainemore, Issime, Gaby Distance: 27 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 40 minutes |
Lillianes, Valle d'Aosta
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The Gargano Coast of Puglia by road
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Region: Puglia
From: Torre Mileto To: Manfredonia Via: Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste, Baia delle Zagare, Mattinata Distance: 124 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 2 hours 45 minutes |
Vieste, Puglia
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The Monti Sibillini mountains by car: from Cascia to Castelluccio
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Region: Umbria
From: Cascia To: Castelluccio Via: Norcia Distance: 48 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour |
Castelluccio, Umbria
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Lake Garda: the full circuit by road
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Regions: Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol, Veneto
From: Sirmione To: Peschiera del Garda Via: Salò, Limone sul Garda, Riva del Garda, Malcesine Distance: 139 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 3 hours 45 minutes |
Riva del Garda
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Sicily's Val di Noto by road
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Region: Sicily
From: Syracuse To: Ragusa Via: Fontane Bianche, Noto, Cava d'Ispica, Scicli, Modica Distance: 105 km Driving time (without stops): 2 hours 30 minutes |
Noto Cathedral, Sicily
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The Dolomites and Val Gardena by car
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Region: Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol, Veneto
From: Brunico To: Ortisei Via: Lake Dobbiaco, Lake Misurina, Cortina, Passo Gardena Distance: 127 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 3 hours |
Passo Gardena, Trentino Alto Adige South Tyrol
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The scenic Salento coast by car: from San Foca to Santa Caterina
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Region: Puglia
From: San Foca To: Santa Maria di Leuca Via: Otranto, Castro, Marina Serra, Gallipoli, Santa Maria al Bagno Distance: 135 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 2 hours 50 minutes |
Gallipoli, Puglia
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Tuscany's Val d'Orcia by car
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Region: Tuscany
From: Pienza To: Volterra Via: San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena, Crete Senesi, Monteriggioni Distance: 106 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour 50 minutes |
Val d'Orcia, Tuscany
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Lake Maggiore: the full circuit by road
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Regions/countries: Piedmont, Lombardy, Switzerland
From: Verbania To: Verbania Via: Cannobio, Locarno (SWI), Luino, Sesto Calende, Stresa Distance: 165 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 3 hours 30 minutes |
Lake Maggiore
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Vineyards and medieval towns of Veneto by road: Valdobbiadene to Castelfranco Veneto
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Region: Veneto
From: Valdobbiadene To: Castelfranco Veneto Via: Tempio Canoviano, Bassano del Grappa, Marostica, Cittadella Distance: 90 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 2 hours |
Bassano del Grappa, Veneto
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A drive through the Chianti hills of Tuscany
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Region: Tuscany
From: Florence To: Siena Via: Impruneta, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti Distance: 79 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 2 hours |
Chianti, Tuscany
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The island of Elba: coast to coast by car
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Region: Tuscany
From: Capoliveri To: Capoliveri Via: Lacona, Cavoli Beach, Marciana Marina, Bagnaia Beach, Cavo Distance: 107 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 3 hours 10 minutes |
Elba, Tuscany
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Marche hill towns and vineyards by car: from Ascoli Piceno to Fermo
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Region: Marche
From: Ascoli Piceno To: Fermo Via: Offida, Ripatransone, Montefiore dell'Aso, Moresco Distance: 79 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour 45 minutes |
Vineyards in Marche
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Campania's Cilento Coast by car
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Regions: Campania, Basilicata
From: Paestum To: Maratea Via: Agropoli, Castellabate, Marina di Camerota, Sapri Distance: 150 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 4 hours 14 minutes |
Marina di Camerota, Cilento Coast
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Piedmont's Val di Susa and the Milky Way by car
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Region: Piedmont
From: Fenestrelle To: Bardonecchia Via: Usseaux, Sestriere, Cesana Torinese Distance: 54 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour |
Val di Susa, Piedmont
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A drive through the Abruzzo National Park
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Region: Abruzzo
From: Barrea To: Anversa degli Abruzzi Via: Civitella Alfedena, Scanno, Villalago Distance: 48 kilometres Driving time (without stops): 1 hour 15 minutes |
Barrea, Abruzzo
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