Along the way, you’ll enjoy Europe’s most famous mountain passes and godforsaken roads, make constant stops to take in the romantic scenery, savour the premium gastronomy and treat your body to a well-deserved rest at several spa resorts. So off we go!

Vaduz

The capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein lies on the right bank of the Rhine and covers just 17.3 km2. With less than 5,700 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, just as Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world and a popular tax haven.

Vaduz, which is pronounced fadúc in German, offers many historical sights. The symbol of the town is Vaduz Castle, which used to serve as a medieval castle built on a rock above the village. Don’t forget to visit another landmark, the Cathedral of St. Florin, and to also take a walk through the narrow historic streets.

 

 

Must-see sights include The Liechtenstein Princely Collections, a gallery with paintings by Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rubens, Brueghel and da Vinci, the National Museum and Jewellery Hall with Fabergé eggs, the Landesbibliothek and the Landesarchiv charting the country’s history.

From the Sonnenhof Hotel of the Relais & Chateau chain, you will have the capital Vaduz in the palm of your hand. Panoramic views of the surrounding area can be enjoyed either from your hotel room or from the on-site restaurant over a first-class dinner at sunset.

Flüela Pass

One of Switzerland’s most scenic passes was made famous by a report by the original trio of anchormen Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May from the renowned motoring show Top Gear, where they declared the Flüela Pass the best road in Europe.

 

 

The road was built as early as 1867 to facilitate the transport for local farmers and horse-drawn mail wagons. Today, 27 km of perfect asphalt leads from Davos to Susch, winding through picturesque scenery. Since the construction of the Vereina tunnel in 1999, the road has lost its importance and is usually closed during the winter season, but this makes it popular with motoring enthusiasts in the summer months.

Restaurant Tip: Restaurant La Stüvetta

Renowned gourmet restaurant near St. Morice. The mountain peaks of the National Park are practically within reach from the restaurant terrace.

St. Moritz, Livigno, Bormio

On the way from the Flüela Pass, you can stop by St. Moritz, one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. Thanks to the ideal climate of the Engadin Valley, the sun shines there over 300 days a year. The resort is popular not only in winter, but also in summer. In addition to perfect skiing, it also offers mineral iron springs. St. Moritz also made history by hosting the Winter Olympic Games twice, in 1928 and 1948.

From St. Moritz, you will head to another popular ski resort, Livigno. The town is accessed by the stunning Munt La Schera tunnel, which has a single lane with alternating traffic, followed by a road with perfect scenery along the Lago di Livigno reservoir. The reservoir was built in 1960 on the Aqua Granda river. In Livigno, you can ski or drive your own car in the local snow arena, and in summer you can go hiking.

From Livigno, we continue to Bormio, another famous ski resort, famous for its regular Alpine Ski World Cup races. In addition to the many perfect slopes, Bormio also offers hot thermal springs concentrated in the Terme di Bormio, Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi spas.

 

 

Hotel Tip: Grand Hotel Terme Bagni Nuovi

The iconic hotel with thermal baths above Bormio offers the perfect relaxation for the mind. This charming 19th-century hotel boasts an impressive hall, beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and excellent cuisine.

Passo Stelvio

With its iconic curves, the Stelvio is one of the most famous driving roads in the world. Everyone knows the photo with the view of the series of hairpin turns and thanks to that, many car enthusiasts want to go there at least once in their lifetime.

The original road was built in 1825 and connected Lombardy with the rest of Austria-Hungary. Before the First World War, it also formed the border between the then Kingdom of Italy and Austria-Hungary. With its highest point at 2,757 m above sea level, it is one of the second highest roads in the Alps.

 

 

In addition to driving, the road is also popular with cyclists, and the Stelvio is often included in the programme of the famous Giro d’Italia cycling race. One mustn’t forget Stelvio National Park, the largest in the Italian Alps, which was established in 1935. It is home to deer, chamois, ibex and wolves. Hiking can be done along several marked trails.

Restaurant Tip: Gourmet Restaurant Prezioso

The incredible restaurant of the Fragsburg Hotel offers even more incredible views. Enjoy an extraordinary lunch with a breathtaking view of the valleys and vineyards of the Merano region, a region promised to sparkling prosecco.

Tegernsee

This popular holiday resort is located 50 km south of Munich. The spa town and its eponymous lake are surrounded by the Alpine landscape of Upper Bavaria. In the town you will find the former Benedictine monastery, the Tegernsee Abbey, which was founded by the brothers Adlbert and Ottokar of the noble Huosi family as early as 746.

In the north wing of the abbey is the brewery that produces the famous Tegernsee lager beer. By the way, the name Tegernsee comes from the Old High German “tegarin seo”, which means “big lake”.

The 6.5 km long and 1.4 km