Love basic automobiles? These are probably the most retro street journeys on Earth

Nothing beats hitting the open street. There’s one thing undeniably romantic about watching a vacation spot roll by — all by yourself schedule — and if you happen to’ve opted for a convertible, the age-old cliche of feeling ‘the wind in your hair’ can turn into an exhilarating actuality.

Trend experiences from the likes of Travelbag and Travel Tomorrow cite ‘slow travel’ as an everlasting pattern this yr, the place travellers take issues somewhat extra leisurely, specializing in the standard and depth of experiences moderately than ticking off an inventory. Road journeys are, maybe, the final word approach to decelerate and take all of it in, and what higher approach to do it than in a basic automobile?

According to Booking.com’s Travel Reinvented report for 2025, in the meantime, ‘vintage voyaging’ is on the up, whereby travellers ditch cookie-cutter experiences for extra genuine ones, sometimes with a retro edge. Think rolling by way of rural France in a classic Peugeot or touring the Highlands in an old-school Jaguar. Along with the pattern for ‘set-jetting’ — searching for out the locations of favorite books, movies and sequence — travelling in a classic set of wheels holds loads of nostalgic attraction.

So, whether or not it’s winding by way of the hills of Tuscany or cruising alongside the California coast, we’ve picked seven street journeys to encourage an journey of your personal.

1. Experience a contact of the Renaissance in Tuscany

Tuscany’s timeless landscapes dazzle with fantastic thing about a Michelangelo portray. Florence is the inevitable start line; the crucible of the Renaissance nonetheless glitters with cultural treasures, from the masterpieces that cling within the Uffizi to the hovering Fifteenth-century Duomo. From right here, Chianti spills out like a puddle of its namesake pink wine, a area of rolling hills dotted with wineries and agriturismi (farmstays), a lot of them inside straightforward attain of the good-looking city of Greve in Chianti.

Head south east to the underexplored gem of Arezzo, or twist south on the Via Chiantigiana to Siena, well-known for the Palio di Siena horse race, which thunders by way of the medieval streets twice every summer season. South of right here, the Val d’Orcia is Tuscany at its most painterly, all golden hills, cypress timber and spectacular hilltop cities like Montepulciano, Montalcino and Pienza, the final of these an UNESCO-listed instance of Renaissance city planning.

Rising to the north west is the hilltop city of San Gimignano, dominated by 14 towers as soon as constructed by medieval nobles to flaunt their wealth. Pisa, in direction of the rugged Tuscan coast, wants little introduction for its personal leaning tower, whereas the walled metropolis of Lucca is a spotlight of any Tuscan street journey, its rose-coloured piazzas the perfect spot to sip a glass of native lucchese wine. For literal immersion within the Tuscan countryside, nonetheless, drive north to Bagni di Lucca, a city famend for its thermal waters and spa retreats, hidden away in chestnut forests.

The automobile: Go for a slick ’50s Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider or an outdated Fiat 500 for timeless Italian vibes, though the trendy Fiat 500c convertible is a superb alternative. Alternatively, why not splash out on an Italian supercar — a Ferrari 296 or Lamborghini Aventador and the Tuscan tarmac are a match made in motoring heaven.

2. Live la dolce vita on the Bay of Naples

This is among the world’s most spectacular drives; even slate-faced Roman emperors fell for the charms of the Bay of Naples and made their luxurious retreats right here. A loop of the Sorrento Peninsula, simply south of Naples, will show the world has misplaced none of its cachet. Around each hairpin bend is surroundings so spectacular — lemon groves, turquoise seas and sprawling, pastel-hued palazzi turned five-star motels — you’ll assume you’d stumbled onto the set of a Fellini movie.

Start with a day’s discovery of Naples, an historic metropolis brimming with artwork and rugged magnificence — maybe with a go to to the Roman websites of Herculaneum or Pompeii, too — earlier than heading to the coast. The peninsula is a simple drive with well-maintained however tight coastal roads. The SS163 threads alongside the southern edge, with loads of choices for stopovers: the lemon-scented lanes of Positano; Ravello, the place high quality eating at Rossellinis comes with jaw-dropping views; Atrani, with its well-known seashore; and Amalfi, whose wonderful, wedding-cake cathedral towers above the picture-postcard city. Sorrento roughly marks a halfway level on the drive — and is the place boats depart for the glamorous isle of Capri, do you have to want to rub tanned shoulders with the wealthy and well-known — earlier than the SS145 loops again in direction of Naples, with the good cone of Vesuvius brooding within the distance.

The automobile: A retro Fiat 500 provides fashion and substance: these compact automobiles are perfect for navigating each the backstreets of Naples and winding coastal roads. A contemporary Fiat 500c convertible or Fiat Panda makes a superb compromise. Consider an computerized, too, because the zigzagging coastal roads require loads of clutch management.

3. Pop by way of the Champagne area

Vines have flourished within the chalk hills east of Paris since Roman instances, and there’s no higher approach to discover than a languid drive alongside the Route Touristique du Champagne — a community of nation roads connecting storybook villages and prestigious wineries. The elegant metropolis of Reims makes a wonderful introduction; with high quality museums, bistros and a grand gothic cathedral, it deserves a day’s exploration. In the neighbourhood of Les Crayères, most of the world’s best marques have their homes, or maisons de champagne. Book forward for tastings and excursions on the likes of Ruinart, Taittinger and Piper-Heidsieck.

Further south — by way of the wine-growing districts of the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, the place hills are striped with vines of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — the charming Grand Cru villages make worthy pit stops, together with Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Oger, their streets bedecked with flowers. The city of Épernay glitters with stately maisons, principally alongside the Avenue de Champagne, the place connoisseurs can take excursions of the cellars at Moët & Chandon, maybe the grandest of all of them. History buffs, in the meantime, ought to detour to the village of Hautvilliers, the self-styled ‘cradle of Champagne’. It was inside the hallowed partitions of the abbey right here {that a} monk named Dom Pérignon pioneered the manufacturing of Champagne on the flip of the 18th century.

Alternatively, strike out alongside the Marne Valley, one other wine-growing district, for riverside picnics and walks by way of vineyards of Pinot Meunier, utilizing the gorgeous, spire-topped village of Aÿ-Champagne as a base.

The automobile: An opulent convertible feels becoming for a street journey exploring the world’s most prestigious tipple, so go for one thing grand just like the Jaguar F-type or Audi R8 Spyder. Or go classic with a Citroën 2CV or Peugeot 404 — when parked up beside a rolling winery, it’s basic France at its finest.

4. Cruise California’s iconic West Coast

The Golden State has sufficient selection for a lifetime, however California State Route 1 (SR-1) captures a few of the finest in a single journey, from lush vineyards to vibrant seashore cities, with loads of breathtaking coastal surroundings.

From the browsing hotspot of San Diego, the street heads north as Interstate 5, earlier than peeling away in direction of Huntington Beach, nicely value a cease for its iconic pier and breezy West Coast vibe. Traffic round Los Angeles is inevitable, however make time to discover Santa Monica and Venice Beach, or take a spin across the mid-century mansions of Beverly Hills earlier than curving north west to Santa Barbara, dubbed the ‘Californian Riviera’ for its balmy local weather and laid-back way of life. It’s additionally right here that the Santa Barbara Mission, a Franciscan monastery, has stood since 1786.

Also wealthy in 18th-century historical past is the city of San Luis Obispo, gateway to the glossy, fashionable wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley. It’s additionally a brief hop to Hearst Castle, a Nineteen Twenties-era, Mediterranean-inspired property filled with antiques and lavish interiors. As the street winds north in direction of Monterey, the stretch of coast generally known as Big Sur unfurls with jaw-dropping magnificence, its rugged cliffs scored with redwood-backed coves. Enjoy the ocean vistas on the ultimate leg to San Francisco, one in every of America’s most storied cities, famend for its Victorian structure and tram rides up hair-raisingly steep hills.

The automobile: Powerful and trendy, Ford Mustangs or Chevrolet Camaros are made for the Californian tarmac. Evoke the Hollywood Golden Age with a extra basic alternative, equivalent to a Cadillac Eldorado or a Chevrolet Impala, however take into account the distances between stops when driving (the above journey is round 600 miles in whole) – gas effectivity and luxury are vital.  

5. Drive Florida’s basic coast

The southernmost stretch of US Highway 1 (US 1) is Florida’s spine, a 545-mile strip linking most of the Sunshine State’s prime sights. Start on stylish Amelia Island, house to luxurious motels, golf programs and elegant Atlantic sunrises. It’s a simple drive from right here to St Augustine, the oldest constantly inhabited European metropolis within the US, wealthy with stately Spanish structure.

At Daytona Beach, an indication modestly welcomes travellers to the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’, although the times of motor racing on the sands at the moment are an oil-slicked reminiscence. The unspoilt seashores of Canaveral National Seashore, in the meantime, are a pure paradise, house to family-friendly swimming spots in addition to mossy islets and mangrove forests at Mosquito Lagoon. The Kennedy Space Center looms giant right here, too; few fail to be awed by the dimensions of towering duplicate rockets, glittering IMAX movies and reveals on the historical past and way forward for area exploration.

Miami sizzles within the state’s south east, a hotspot for artwork and fusion delicacies. After absorbing the neon-splashed vibes at Miami Beach, decide up the US 1 by way of the Florida Keys, a series of islands touching the tropics that’s all laid-back seashore bars and coral reefs. Key West marks the southernmost tip of the ‘Lower 48’ states, and no journey right here is full with out a piece of its namesake key lime pie.

The automobile: A ’60s Ford Mustang is an iconic alternative for American street journey — its chiselled chassis sparkles within the Florida sunshine — whereas the glossy Ford Falcon or Chevrolet Corvair are additionally some basic American ‘pony cars’. Modern Mustangs are clean and highly effective drives and supply extra boot area and fashionable comforts such air con, which isn’t all the time a given within the earlier generations.

6. Take a wild journey in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

From otherworldly desertscapes to lush mountain gorges, Morocco rewards adventurous travellers, however it will be remiss to not uncover Marrakech — an online of tranquil gardens, palaces and bustling, spice-scented souks make this one of many world’s most beguiling cities. From right here, the N9 threads into the ochre foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and the drama of the Moroccan panorama reveals itself.

After Ait Ourir, the street snakes by way of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, a route of plunging valleys and argan tree forests. Head east on the P1506 in direction of Telouet for the Glaoui Kasbah, a crumbling Nineteenth-century fortress that evokes Telouet’s former days as an important Saharan buying and selling publish. Refuel on conventional tagine on the city’s restaurant-auberge earlier than winding on to Ait Ben Haddou, an historic Berber ksar (fortified metropolis) that rises on a rocky outcrop like a mirage. Film followers will recognise it as a backdrop from the likes of Gladiator and Game of Thrones, and a brief drive away is the very ‘capital’ of Morocco’s movie trade, Ouarzazate, house to studio excursions in addition to the rambling Taourirt Kasbah.

Head north east to take the R704 because it runs by way of the Dadès Gorges, a ribbon of dramatic, rocky canyons topped with fortresses. Birdwatching and scenic hikes are on the playing cards right here; in any other case the village of Merzouga beckons to the east. Home to luxurious tented camps and the ‘sand sea’ of Erg Chebbi, it guarantees camel treks and unforgettable, violet sunsets over the dunes.

The automobile: While a basic Jeep appears and feels the half for this rugged, sand-swept journey, it’s usually simpler to supply a contemporary 4WD, equivalent to a Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen T-Roc R or Dacia Duster, that are nicely suited to each city routes and rougher roads in additional rural areas. 

7. Roll by way of Scotland in a Highland basic

Scotland guarantees a few of Europe’s most epic landscapes, and its soothing palettes of greens, purples and earthy browns make an ideal foil to the bustle of its cities. Soak up the economic and inventive heritage of Glasgow earlier than taking the A82 north, skirting the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, the place eagles and ospreys wheel overhead. Luss, a picture-perfect village on the shores of the loch, is the perfect spot for lunch with a view, earlier than a detour west to Inveraray Castle, one of many best nation piles within the land.

Further north, beneath the brooding peak of Ben Nevis, is Fort William, its shops and outfitters excellent for selecting up provides for hikes, cycles and watersports close by. Head in direction of Mallaig for the ferry to the magnificent Isle of Skye, passing the enduring Glenfinnan Viaduct alongside the way in which, or take the sinuous A87 as an alternative. A panoramic drive, it winds previous silent lochs, extensive valleys and a scattering of ruined castles.

Back on the mainland, head east throughout the heather-flushed braes (hillsides) and pine forests of the Cairngorms National Park. This huge wilderness is the essence of Scotland: pebble-strewn rivers teeming with salmon, whisky distilleries and the rustle of a pink stag on the moors. Take it gradual and admire the surroundings on the journey south to Edinburgh, Scotland’s good-looking, lamplit capital, the place royals, writers and rebels have formed the streets for hundreds of years.

The automobile: For undisputed British magnificence, go for a sporty Jaguar — the basic E-type, or a more moderen XK — or an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, or DB6 for retro glamour. A Range Rover Evoque makes a superb alternative, too, as a lot for its potential to deal with difficult terrain as for its uncompromised fashion and luxury.