ITALY PLUS
From la dolce vita to famous world heritage sites, Italy is rightly a cultural highlight of European Grand Tours and there are motorhome-friendly parking spots, aree di sosta (equivalent to the aires of France, Portugal the Netherlands and Belgium), within the precincts of most major cities. This includes Venice, where you can park up at Tronchetto (an artificial island to the west of the city). Beware though, while aree di sosta are free across much of the country, there is fierce competition for spots from Italians over weekends.
Croatia is not yet part of Schengen (though it will likely join the zone in 2024), so here your clock resets to 90 days’ stay: a generous time span in which to explore Croatian’s craggy and unspoiled Adriatic coastline, charming fishing villages and Unescolisted Porec and Dubrovnik. Be warned, however, that Croatia is unfriendly to wild camping, with police issuing large on-the-spot fines for parking infractions and there is no aire-like system, meaning campsites are your only option for overnight stays. You can scope these out using the Croatian
Rachel Stringer “Croatia is beautiful and the people are lovely.
I adored the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Punta Jerta campsite
in Pinezici, where I extended my stay so many times the owner asked if I was staying
for Christmas!” A 44-year-old events manager from London, Stringer travelled across Germany and Croatia in
her Iveco van in 2019 and is keen to see more
of eastern Europe.
Camping Union’s handy guide (camping.hr/best-camps).
Across the border in Montenegro, you’ll reset to another 90 days. You can use these to hike in Durmitor National Park, raft the Tara Canyon and pootle about chocolate-box towns such as Budva, Perast and Herceg Novi. Free standing is forbidden, though you can usually camp overnight in all paid-for car parks and campsites (pitchup.com).
British citizens can also enter and remain in Albania for a maximum of 90 days in every six-month period visafree. Closed to tourists for decades, the country has little tourist infrastructure, few campsites and is about as unpolished a travelling experience as you’ll get in Europe (meaning you should arrive well-stocked with supplies). However, the highlights are worth it and include the Ottoman city of Berat and a chain of handsome, walled castle fortresses dating back 2,000 years. With a three-course meal for two with wine coming in at £19, you can happily spin out your travel budget here.
See red route – 270 days