The Most Romantic Roads in the World

February is the month of love. So to help you out, we've put together a list of some of the most romantic road trips you can take, from roads shaped like hearts, to ones that run the length of an entire country, there's something for every couple in this list, just see for yourself:

Romantische Straße - Germany

We really couldn’t get through this list (or even begin it) without thinking of the actual “Romantic Road’ in Germany. This 350km long behemoth joins the cities of Würzburg and Füssen. The road pretty much extends the length of the Black forest, right the way through Germany’s most beautiful region, Bavaria. If hills, lakes and the odd castle are your thing, then this is the road for you.

Make sure you stop off at one of the picturesque lakes that are dotted throughout the Bavarian hills south of Munich. I can heartily recommend the small Spa town of Bad Wiessee on the shores of the "Tegernsee" lake. The town is famed for it's healing sulphur fountain (It's better than it sounds) which was discovered by an explorer whilst drilling for oil over a century ago. The peaceful surrounds of the town make it a popular retreat for Germans looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Munich, and treat themselves to some spa treatments.

Herzerl Straße - Slovenia

Tucked away in the vineyards that line the Austrian and Slovenian border is a tiny but perfectly formed heart-shaped road. Just a short drive from the village of Špičnik moments from what’s known locally as the “Wein Straße” and you’ll come across the road that has been named as the “most Instagrammable road in the world.” For the best view of the road, you’ll want to head to a specific location: “Turistična kmetija Dreisiebner”. Now, this is actually a family’s homestead (they do have a small café there for visitors) but bear in mind you’ll be on their property. Park up and walk through their grounds until you reach the little viewing point – it’s here that you’ll have the best view of the ‘Heart Road.’

La Route des Grandes Alpes - France

A classic road for you now, and one that would be absolutely incredible in mid-February. The snowy peaks of the Alps and the promise of delectable French wine and pâté are surely enough to warrant a cheeky romantic road-trip across the channel. You can make your way to the trusty D902 (its more formal, but less romantic sounding name) from Lyon or Mâcon, but the best way is to probably start across the border in Geneva. Head east from the swiss city along the D907 until you hit the sleepy French commune of Taninges. Here the D907 turns into La Route des Grandes Alpes and your romantic adventure can begin.

Here the road begins to wind its way through the increasingly impressive peaks, look out for the aptly named 'Mont Chery' amongst the towering mountains (always a good one to point out to your partner). Make sure you stop by the small commune of Les Gets, (either overnight or just for some food) a village in the valley of several peaks is a perfect place to stop and admire the view. For more adventurous couples, hop on a chairlift and head further up a mountain for some breathtaking views across the alps, and of course a spot of skiing.

The road culminates in the town of Thonon-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva and is a great place to stay the night and take in the views of the lake with the peaks that you've just conquered behind you.

Route 1 - Iceland

A less well-known route here, but one you absolutely have to experience. A road-trip like no other will see you skirt around the entire island of Iceland. From dormant volcanoes to waterfalls, geysers, glacial plains and luxury geo-thermal spas; this road literally has everything. After landing in Keflavik, drive north to the capital, Reykjavik and here you'll find the start of the route. You can begin by either driving north or east, though the weather often dictates how accessible the road is. The route itself is 828 miles long, so few people complete the circuit, and so it's best to maybe choose a small section of it to do, and try and find as many interesting things to do along the way, because believe me there are LOADS.

If you begin north from the capital, the first sizeable town (relatively speaking) you'll come across is Borgarnes, a cluster of homes on an impressive peninsula offering fantastic, uninterrupted views of the Borgarfjörður fjord and is just a short trip away from the entrance to the Snæfellsjökull national park, home some of Iceland's most impressive volcanoes and glaciers; making this a great place to stay along the way.

If you decide to head east on Route 1, you'll still be spoilt with choices for what to stop and take a look at. Two of Iceland's best known waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss lie close to the route, and are absolutely stunning, not to mention the Jökulsárlón glacier, countless geysers, beaches, volcanoes and national parks. Personally, I would head east first, but in truth, take two weeks and do the whole route, by the end of it you would have seen it all, and not regretted a thing.

The Basque Circuit (Biarritz to Bilbao) - France/Spain

Spain, like France has its roots deeply entrenched in the idea of Romance, and roads that adorn the Basque Country are no exception. Beginning in the French town of Biarritz head west into Spain, following the northern coast to explore one of the least spoilt coastlines in all of Europe. With so many interesting geographical and historical places to stop at and take in along the way, you could easily spend a week or two along this route.

One must-see location is the 'Escalinatas de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe' a few miles east of Bilbao. It's not for the faint-hearted but this islet is home to a hermitage dedicated to John the Baptist that dates back to the 10th century. Now the downside: there are roughly 230 steps that lead up to the peak of Gaztelugatxe making it a pretty gruesome climb. But the pay off is unbelievable and uninterrupted views across the Bay of Biscay, making the terrifying and knee-knocking climb totally worth it.

After this, head on to bustling city of Bilbao for some well earned cerveza, sangria and fresh seafood paella.

The Bourton - Broadway Loop - UK

Last but not least, it's the token UK entry (I couldn't not, I'm sorry). But this gorgeous little route can be done in an afternoon, and with time to spare.

In the heart of the Cotswolds there's a fantastic loop between the villages of Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water that feels like you're driving through chapters of a Jane Austen novel. Beginning in Bourton (which is a beautiful enough village - you can spend more time here on your return journey), head north along the road just off the A429 and wind your way through the woods and hamlets. On the way, be sure to stop off at the National Trust Snowshill Manor and Garden - a great spot to stretch your legs and wander through the pristine gardens and homes.

Continue all the way to Broadway, another quintessentially English village, full of antique shops, cafes, and independent boutiques. Just south of the village make sure you visit the famous Broadway Tower an imposing, but spectacular structure on the hillside; you can pop in here for a visit and a bite to eat in its cafe/restaurant. Head back down to Bourton and finish up in a classic Cotswold pub by a roaring log fire with a glass of Gin and Tonic, and book yourself into a B&B for the night.

Wherever you end up on your travels, make sure you get breakdown cover. Take a look at our european breakdown cover to see if we're right for you. If you're hiring a car, then our car hire excess insurance will reimburse your excess in the event of charges for accidental damage.