9-Day European Road Trip: From Alpine Lakes to Mediterranean Glamour

The boot was packed, the playlist was ready, and my 13-year-old daughter and Hana, our ever-curious Shiba Inu, were comfortably wedged among snacks, jackets, and the random “just in case” items that always seem essential before you leave. This was going to be a 9-day European road trip across five countries — a route promising mountains, cities, and just enough coastline to smell the salt in the air.

Our first pause was Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city, where cobbled streets met the slow, shimmering Drava River. It wasn’t about ticking off sights — more about letting the pace shift, enjoying a late lunch of Slovenian flavors, and feeling that lovely moment when the journey truly begins. The road then carried us to Lake Bled, the alpine jewel I’d seen a hundred times in photos but still gasped at in person. We walked the lakeside path, each bend offering another postcard-perfect angle of the island church, while the air was cool and crisp enough to make us slow down, breathe deeper, and simply look.

Italy greeted us with the Dolomites rising like a stage backdrop as we wound our way into 3 Zinnen. Naturhotel Leitlhof became our home for two nights, with windows framing jagged peaks so close they felt like part of the room. Mornings were slow, breakfasts hearty, and short scenic hikes kept our legs moving while our minds unwound. In Folgaria, the pace shifted again — John Luxury Suites offered not just comfort, but an in-room Hydrosoft sauna, its gentle cedar-scented steam easing every bit of road weariness. Sometimes adventure is in the mountains, sometimes it’s in a quiet room with nowhere else to be.

From alpine trails, we dove into the buzz of Milan. Milano Verticale UNA Esperienze welcomed us with sleek lines, rooftop views, and the hum of Italy’s fashion capital drifting through the windows. We wandered past grand architecture, browsed boutiques, and soaked in a city that feels both timeless and electric. The next morning, Lake Como slowed the tempo again — pastel villas reflected in still waters, espresso cups clinking in lakeside cafés, the kind of scene that makes you linger longer than planned.

By afternoon, we’d crossed into Switzerland for Zermatt, chasing the Matterhorn. Without time (or enough energy) for long hikes, the Peak2Peak Pass gave us the views without the climbs, each lift revealing the mountain from a new, even more dramatic angle. Hana, unimpressed by its fame, was far more interested in sniffing her way through the alpine air, while my daughter and I soaked in the fact that this view — the one from the Toblerone bar — was right in front of us.

The road led us back into Italy’s countryside charm in Cremolino, where Hemanaire Casa Mana wrapped us in rustic elegance and the slow rhythm of village life. That peace was delicious, but the next morning Monaco called — a dazzling switch from vineyards to yachts, winding alleys to the Monte Carlo Casino’s gleam. The marina sparkled in the sun, luxury cars purred through the streets, and it was all as impossibly polished as I’d imagined. That night, back in Cremolino, the stillness felt even deeper, like the perfect final note before heading home.

Nine days, five countries, countless landscapes — Slovenia’s calm, Italy’s mix of mountains and city pulse, Switzerland’s alpine glory, and Monaco’s Mediterranean sparkle. It was proof that a well-planned European road trip doesn’t need months to feel full. Over the next weeks, I’ll be sharing each day in detail — the stays, the flavors, the small surprises — so you can follow the journey and maybe even plan your own.