Top 5 Driving Roads In Italy

Because the landscapes are stunning and variable, the roads are engineered with a level of historic influence and precision that lacks parallel throughout much of the world. Italy’s overall climate is also relatively moderate making road trips simply the best way to enjoy what the country has to offer.

We have put together our top five places to put rubber to the road on your next trip to Italy.

Amalfi Coast

There are those who say the Amalfi Coast isn’t fit for driving because the roads are small and crowded, but, for many, a drive along the Costiera Amalfitana is a definite bucket list item. It’s frequently cited as the best example of Mediterranean landscape, even being a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Skirting the southern edge of the Sorrento Peninsula, your drive can begin in the port city of Salerno on the A3. Following along the coastline to the SS163 in Vietri sul Mare, the kaleidoscope of colors that greet you as you slither south along the dramatic coastline are enough to be in love with. But when you reach Amalfi itself, we guarantee the landscape for this drive will have stolen your heart.

Salento Peninsula

Puglia might not be a destination that immediately springs to mind when you considering planning your Italian driving adventure, but there is something special about taking the trek further south than the other tourists. Rolling from Santa Maria di Leuca to Otranto, there is a less traveled road well worth taking. Choose SP172 for the countryside views and gentle curves, then follow SP82 through Diso and on to the stunning cliffs along SP358. Arriving in Otranto, you will have seen a jewel-toned microcosm of all Puglia has to offer.

Dolomite Roads

Iconic, inspiring and singularly Italian, the Dolomite Mountains are home to some of the best-executed passes ever paved. It can be difficult to pick and choose different areas, as the majority of the Dolomite roads are breathtaking in their own right, and there is little that better helps people realize their vision of driving in Italy than a jaunt up the Great Dolomite Road. Our recommendation is that you start at Bolzano and take the SS241 toward Cortina d’Ampezzo. The winding trail will lead you through the jagged peaks of the Dolomites, offering unmatched views of Italy’s lush green valleys.

Winding Wine Road

Dating from the 1700s, Via Chiantigiana will take you through Tuscany, from Florence to Siena through the heart one of Italy’s most prized, historic wine producing regions. Romantic rolling hills and rustic villages delight the eyes while the winding road offers a relaxing ramble through the region. Driving in Italy is about more than hairpin turns and white-knuckle ascents, you see, it is about being able to soak up the ambiance that is uniquely Italy.

Stelvio Pass

No list of ultimate destinations for driving in Italy could possibly be complete without a mention of the breathtaking Stelvio Pass. There are plenty of motoring enthusiasts that disagree, citing the road’s stressful sequence of 60 hairpin turns and popularity with tourists, but the truth is, Stelvio is stunning. As a piece of engineering it is astonishing. As a backdrop for memories it is nothing less than breathtaking. 

The options for delivery and return of your Peugeot rental are plentiful as we have two locations in Milan (Malpensa Airport and Linate Airport) as well as a location in Rome at Leonardo Da Vinci Fiumicino airport. Many of our seasoned long time clients enjoy combining locations and perhaps starting at a nearby location outside Italy, such as Nice or Geneva, and eventually returning the vehicle at a different location before departing back home to the states.