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European Grand Tour: Dover to the Dolomites and Italy

A grand 18-day journey starting from the White Cliffs of Dover, crossing into France, traversing the Swiss Alps, and spending extensive time exploring the dramatic Dolomites and the cultural heart of Italy.

18days
46stops
2244km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Calais · Troyes · Basel · Lucerne · Chur · Merano · Ortisei · Cortina d'Ampezzo · Dobbiaco · Canazei · Alleghe · Belluno · Venice · Florence · Siena — start in Dover, end in Rome.

DAY01

White Cliffs of Dover → Port of Calais

98 km · 1h 45m driving · Overnight in Port of Calais
  1. 09:00
    White Cliffs of Dover· start
  2. 3.3 km · 6m
  3. 12:00
    Port of Dover
  4. 95 km · 1h 39m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Port of Calais· overnight
DAY02

Calais → Troyes

276 km · 2h 54m driving · Overnight in Troyes Old Town
  1. 09:00
    Calais City Center· start
  2. 5 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
  4. 272 km · 2h 44m
  5. 15:00
    Troyes Old Town· overnight
DAY03

Troyes → Basel

312 km · 3h 48m driving · Overnight in Basel Old Town
  1. 09:00
    Troyes· start
  2. 0.2 km · 3m
  3. 12:00
    Mulhouse
  4. 312 km · 3h 45m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Basel Old Town· overnight
DAY04

Basel → Lake Lucerne

104 km · 1h 29m driving · Overnight in Lake Lucerne
  1. 09:00
    Basel· start
  2. 3 km · 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Kapellbrücke
  4. 101 km · 1h 18m
  5. 15:00
    Lake Lucerne· overnight
DAY05

Lucerne → Chur

117 km · 1h 52m driving · Overnight in Chur Old Town
  1. 09:00
    Lucerne· start
  2. 23 km · 35m
  3. 12:00
    Walensee Viewpoint
  4. 94 km · 1h 17m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Chur Old Town· overnight
DAY06

Chur → Merano

123 km · 2h 19m driving · Overnight in Merano
  1. 09:00
    Chur· start
  2. 0.5 km · 2m
  3. 12:00
    Reschensee Bell Tower
  4. 123 km · 2h 17m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Merano· overnight
DAY07

Merano → Ortisei

111 km · 1h 51m driving · Overnight in Ortisei
  1. 09:00
    Merano· start
  2. 78 km · 1h 7m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Val di Funes
  4. 34 km · 44m
  5. 15:00
    Ortisei· overnight
DAY08

Ortisei → Cortina d'Ampezzo

110 km · 3h 3m driving · Overnight in Cortina d'Ampezzo
  1. 09:00
    Ortisei· start
  2. 16 km · 25m
  3. 11:42
    Passo Gardena
  4. 72 km · 1h 55m
  5. 14:2416:12
    ⭐ Tre Cime di Lavaredo
  6. 22 km · 43m
  7. 16:12
    Cortina d'Ampezzo· overnight
DAY09

Cortina d'Ampezzo → Dobbiaco

63 km · 1h 14m driving · Overnight in Dobbiaco
  1. 09:00
    Cortina d'Ampezzo· start
  2. 48 km · 55m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Lago di Braies
  4. 16 km · 19m
  5. 15:00
    Dobbiaco· overnight
DAY10

Dobbiaco → Canazei

90 km · 2h 6m driving · Overnight in Canazei
  1. 09:00
    Dobbiaco· start
  2. 78 km · 1h 45m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Passo Pordoi
  4. 12 km · 21m
  5. 15:00
    Canazei· overnight
DAY11

Canazei → Alleghe

37 km · 54m driving · Overnight in Alleghe
  1. 09:00
    Canazei· start
  2. 16 km · 24m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Lago di Fedaia
  4. 22 km · 30m
  5. 15:00
    Alleghe· overnight
DAY12

Alleghe → Belluno

113 km · 2h 31m driving · Overnight in Belluno
  1. 09:00
    Alleghe· start
  2. 52 km · 1h 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Pale di San Martino
  4. 61 km · 1h 20m
  5. 15:00
    Belluno· overnight
DAY13

Belluno → Venice

108 km · 1h 24m driving · Overnight in Venice Island
  1. 09:00
    Belluno· start
  2. 108 km · 1h 14m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Piazza San Marco
  5. 15:00
    Venice Island· overnight
DAY14

Venice → Florence

260 km · 2h 56m driving · Overnight in Florence Historic Center
  1. 09:00
    Venice· start
  2. 259 km · 2h 53m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Duomo di Firenze
  4. 0.6 km · 3m
  5. 15:00
    Florence Historic Center· overnight
DAY15

Florence → Siena

61 km · 1h 6m driving · Overnight in Siena
  1. 09:00
    Florence· start
  2. 0.3 km · 2m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ San Gimignano
  4. 61 km · 1h 4m
  5. 15:00
    Siena· overnight
DAY16

Siena → Rome

249 km · 3h 8m driving · Overnight in Rome Historic Center
  1. 09:00
    Siena· start
  2. 244 km · 2h 51m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Colosseum
  4. 4.6 km · 17m
  5. 15:00
    Rome Historic Center· overnight
DAY17

St. Peter's Basilica → Trastevere

5.1 km · 13m driving · Overnight in Trastevere
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ St. Peter's Basilica· start
  2. 5.1 km · 13m
  3. 12:00
    Trastevere· overnight
DAY18

Pantheon → Rome

6.8 km · 28m driving
  1. 09:00
    Pantheon· start
  2. 4.2 km · 15m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Trevi Fountain
  4. 2.6 km · 13m
  5. 15:00
    Rome City Center
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in Calais · Night 1
  2. Day 2Stay in Troyes · Night 2
  3. Day 3Stay in Basel · Night 3
  4. Day 4Stay in Lucerne · Night 4
  5. Day 5Stay in Chur · Night 5
  6. Days 6–7Stay in Merano / Ortisei · Nights 6-7
  7. Day 8Stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo · Night 8
  8. Day 9Stay in Dobbiaco · Night 9
Heads Up
  • Ensure you have a Swiss motorway vignette and an Italian 'Autostrade' payment method for tolls.
  • Book ferry crossings from Dover to Calais in advance, especially during peak summer months.
  • Many Dolomite mountain passes and high-altitude lakes like Lago di Braies have restricted vehicle access or require pre-booked parking in high season.
  • ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones) are strictly enforced in Italian cities like Florence and Rome; park outside the center or ensure your hotel registers your plate.