Micro Country Road Trip
April 2025
A couple of months ago, I took a 10-day road trip with my dad across Europe—starting in Munich and ending in Lyon. Here’s the full itinerary. Yay.
April 10 — Munich
Arrived at Munich Central Bus Station in the evening after a 4.5-hour FlixBus ride from Prague—surprisingly comfy, with Wi-Fi and charging ports. After meeting my dad, we wandered around old town and got a massive veggie kebab from Ali’s SUPERFOOD (portions are big back approved).
April 11 — Road Trip Begins: Munich to Feldkirch
Picked up our one-way rental car, booked through Expedia.
Drove to Lindau for lunch (2–3h)
Lindau is a town on Bodensee in Bavaria, Germany, where the Nobel Peace Prize winners are chosen. The harbor has a large lion statue and a stone lighthouse with views of the lake.
We ate at STREET KHAZANA, an Indian joint with delicious dal makhani (stewed black lentil dish).
Continued to Feldkirch, Austria (1 hour drive from Lindau), and finished with an evening walk around the main square.
Accommodation suggestion: Hotel Garni Bären
April 12 — Day Trip to Liechtenstein
Our journey continued with a day trip to Liechtenstein. Nestled between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein has high prices ($$$). To navigate this, we grabbed breakfast and lunch supplies from a SPAR supermarket just a short walk from our hotel.
In Liechtenstein, our stops included:
Vaduz Castle: Perched on a hill overlooking the capital, this is the private residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein, so you can’t go inside. However, the views from the parking area above and the walk down offer cool photo opportunities.
Liechtenstein Postal Museum: A museum showcasing the country’s unique postage stamps.
Old Rhine Bridge: A historic covered wooden bridge connecting Liechtenstein and Switzerland. If you like horses, riding tours use this route.
Prince of Liechtenstein Winery: We didn’t have time for a tasting, but it’s worth noting for wine enthusiasts.
*Pro tip: don’t forget your passport! While the border crossing from Austria wasn’t heavily patrolled, it’s always best to be prepared. And if you’re driving, make sure you’ve purchased your Austrian “vignette” (toll sticker) in advance, as you’ll need it when you re-enter Austria on your way back out. These can be purchased from any Austrian gas station.
April 13 — Lucerne, Bern, Switzerland
The next day, we drove through Switzerland, with our final destination being Fribourg.
Our three-hour drive included several stops along the way:
Zug: Explored the town, which is known for its historic aviaries.
Lucerne: Visited the famous Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution.
Bern: Visited the Swiss capital. The UNESCO old town has a medieval layout, and we stopped at the Bärengraben (bear pits with actual bears)—home to the city’s symbolic animals.
Our accommodation for the night was the Ibis Fribourg.
April 14 — Gruyères, Giger, and Italy
We started our day with cheese-making at La Maison du Gruyère, where we witnessed the traditional process (9–11 AM) and enjoyed a tasting of the Gruyère cheese.
By mid-morning, we ventured up the hill to the Giger Museum. It features the surreal artwork of HR Giger, the designer behind the Oscar-winning film “Alien.” For a local beer, visit the Giger Bar next to the museum.
Afternoon: Drive to Turin, Italy (approx. 3.5 hours). Our route included a stop in Montreux on Lake Geneva, a glimpse of some Roman ruins, and a gas stop before crossing the Swiss-Italian border.
Hotel Option: Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano in Turin.
*Pro tip: The toll to cross into Switzerland via the St. Bernard Tunnel costs 31 euros.
Overall thoughts
Consider using public transit instead of renting a car—especially in well-connected areas. It’s often cheaper and less stressful.
If you’re planning to drive through France, be sure to order a Crit’Air sticker in advance (it can take a week or more) and get an International Driver’s Permit. Let’s keep it legal, folks.
Use euro toll calculators to estimate costs ahead of time—some French toll roads can get pricey, and surprise fines are the worst kind of souvenir. I used TollGuru. If you have an additional two to three hours to add to your route, you can use Google Maps’ “no tolls” feature to avoid these.
April 15 — Explore Turin
Turin is a city in northern Italy known for its architecture and grand boulevards. We spent the full day walking around looking for pizza and gelato (as you do).
Savoy Palace: A historic residence showcasing the former royal family of Italy.
Plana’s Perpetual Calendar: A mechanical calendar created in the 1800s that still tracks time.
April 16 — Coastal Drive to Nice
Drove the coast to Nice, France (approx. 3.5 hours). Our accommodation was an Airbnb in Nice, a city on the French Riviera. We ended the day with an evening walk along the Promenade des Anglais.
April 17 — Antibes & Cannes
Antibes: Walked the old town and harbor. If you have time, stop by the Picasso Museum, housed in the Grimaldi Castle.
Cannes: Checked out La Croisette and posed for a photo on the Palme d’Or steps before heading back to Nice for the evening.
April 18 — Monaco
A quick visit to Monaco, known for its casino, luxury yachts, and the Formula One Grand Prix.
Prince Jacques Promenade: Take a stroll here. If you see colorful symbols along the cement wall, peek inside—they hide small, quirky exhibits that are easy to miss. They are located inside Mareterra Monaco (a new building complex), past the casino.
*Pro tip: Grab lunch at a grocery store and people/yacht watch along the main harbor.
April 19 — Avignon
Drove 4 hours from Nice to Avignon, France, a city in the Provence region famous for its Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes).
Accommodation suggestion: Regina Hotel (perfectly located for exploring the old papal city center).
April 20 — Onward to Lyon
Drove 3 hours from Avignon to Lyon. This city is known for its culinary scene and its hidden traboules (passageways). I recommend soaking up the sun alongside the Rhône River.
April 21 — Adios
Early bird gets the worm! I had a morning flight and said bye to my dad as he prepared to continue his trip up north to Paris. The airport was empty, and it took less than 20 minutes to get through.
*Pro tip: Bring your own snacks, as airport options are limited.
Overall thoughts
Consider using public transit instead of renting a car—especially in well-connected areas. It’s often cheaper and less stressful.
If you’re planning to drive through France, be sure to order a Crit’Air sticker in advance (it can take a week or more) and get an International Driver’s Permit. Let’s keep it legal, folks.
Use euro toll calculators to estimate costs ahead of time—some French toll roads can get pricey, and surprise fines are the worst kind of souvenir. I used TollGuru. If you have an additional two to three hours to add to your route, you can use Google Maps’ “no tolls” feature to avoid these.
