Planning a driving trip across Europe this year? Whether you’re chasing open roads, warm weather and cheap fuel, or the buzz of a race weekend, the country you choose makes a big difference.
We’ve scored European countries across eight metrics to find out which offer the best conditions for car enthusiasts on the road.
- Average hours of sunshine per day
- Quality of roads
- Average cost of fuel per litre (€)
- Number of toll roads and bridges
- Number of emission zones
- Race tracks
- FIA racing events
- Road network size
See which countries make the top 10 below.
The best European countries to visit for car enthusiasts
1. Spain
Spain tops the ranking, and the numbers make a strong case. With an average of 7.5 hours of sunshine per day and fuel at just €1.45 per litre (joint-cheapest on the list alongside Sweden), the basics are already working in your favour before you’ve turned a wheel.
Road quality scores 8.04 out of 10, and with 538,577 km of road network stretching from the Pyrenean mountain passes to the coastal roads of Andalusia, there’s no shortage of routes to fill. Spain also hosts more FIA events than any other European country in 2026 (12 in total), so there’s a race weekend on the table if you want one, spread across 15 circuits nationwide.
With 62 emission zones to navigate, it’s not entirely frictionless, but the combination of sunshine, road quality, and fuel cost gives Spain a lead the rest of the top 10 can’t quite close.
2. Portugal
Portugal’s case rests on three things: the best road quality in the top 10 (8.64 out of 10), the most sunshine (7.7 hours per day on average), and just five emission zones to deal with across the whole country. Fuel sits at €1.68 per litre, reasonable by European standards.
The Atlantic coastline and the open stretches of the Alentejo give you scenery to go with the conditions. Portugal also hosts 10 FIA events in 2026, joint-second in Europe, so there’s motorsport on offer if the schedule fits.
3. Sweden
Sweden earns its place through strong fundamentals rather than headline numbers. Fuel at €1.45 per litre matches Spain for the cheapest on the list, road quality scores 7.96 out of 10, and with just four toll roads across the whole country and 11 emission zones, you can concentrate on the driving rather than the admin.
The 215,690 km road network takes you through forests and past lakes that make for some of the most memorable driving in northern Europe. Sweden has 15 circuits too, and the rally and touring car scene means there’s always something happening if you look for it.
4. France
France brings scale. Over 1.1 million km of road network, 18 race circuits (the most of any country in the top 10), and road quality scoring 8.51 out of 10. Sunshine averages 6.2 hours per day, and fuel sits at €1.69 per litre.
The trade-off is complexity. With 84 emission zones and 90 toll roads, France rewards enthusiasts who plan ahead. Do your research, and few countries in Europe can match what’s on offer.
5. Austria
Austria’s consistency across every metric is what puts it in fifth place. Road quality at 8.41 out of 10, fuel at €1.48 per litre, and just six emission zones make it one of the more relaxed countries to drive through in the top 10. Sunshine averages 5.2 hours per day. It’s not southern Europe, but the Alpine scenery more than compensates.
With four FIA racing events in 2026, including the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, there’s a proper motorsport weekend available if you want one. The 128,267 km road network covers some of the finest mountain roads on the continent.
A closer look at the top 10 countries
To see how each of the top 10 countries earned their place in the ranking, we’ve broken down the scores to understand how they performed across each of the different categories.
Notable mentions that miss out on the top 10
Three countries that won’t surprise any car enthusiast finish just outside the top 10, each for different reasons.
The UK – 16th overall, total score 41.30
The UK has more race circuits than any other European country in the index (33) and road quality scores 7.39 out of 10. But sunshine averages just 4.2 hours per day (the lowest in the dataset), and at €1.51 per litre fuel is mid-table. With 29 toll roads and 17 emission zones, it’s a country that holds itself back on the conditions that are weighted most heavily. That said, as a base for motorsport culture, with its tracks, events, manufacturers, and automotive history, it remains hard to beat.
Germany – 13th overall, total score 43.09
Germany has the best road network in Europe after France (829,530 km), with excellent road quality at 7.8 out of 10. The Nordschleife, the Hockenheimring, and a calendar packed with automotive events make it a natural motoring destination. Fuel at €1.75 per litre and an average of 4.5 hours of sunshine per day hold it back in the index, as do 118 emission zones. But no serious European road trip itinerary ignores Germany.
Switzerland – 12th overall, total score 43.84
Switzerland has the highest road quality score in the entire index at 9.09 out of 10 and zero toll roads, which makes it an easy country to drive through. Fuel at €1.82 per litre is among the most expensive on the list, sunshine averages just 4.3 hours per day, and the country has relatively few circuits and FIA events. For driving roads and infrastructure quality, though, Switzerland is exceptional; the Alpine passes alone justify the trip.
So, if you’re planning a road trip this year with fellow car enthusiasts and you’re looking for a new country to visit, perhaps Spain, Portugal or Sweden should be near the top of your list. You’ll find the perfect balance between historic racing circuits, open roads and great driving conditions to give you an added thrill.
Hagerty UK’s Managing Director Mark Roper commented: At Hagerty we always encourage our members to drive, and have designed a range of events, tours and experiences to help inspire them to do just that. Our latest research tells drivers where to go and why, offering some great places to get out and drive to…particularly useful as we approach the summer holiday season. But if driving overseas is a little too far for you, let’s not forget the great driving roads on offer in England too – venture North and you will be treated to some of the finest roads in the world. Wales and Scotland also offers stunning scenery, dramatic mountains and sweeping bends. Wherever you decide to go, we hope you feel inspired to explore some of our suggestions.
If you’re looking for cover for your pride and joy, why not consider Hagerty UK? Not only are we classic car insurance specialists, but we are enthusiasts at heart. Call us for a quote on 0333 323 1138.
Methodology
To analyse the countries leading the way in car culture across Europe, we began with a seed list of 20 European countries. We collected data across eight key indicators: race tracks, FIA racing events, road quality, average fuel cost, average hours of sunshine per day, road network size, number of toll roads and bridges, and number of emission zones. The final index was calculated using a weighted scoring system based on how valuable each metric was considered to be: sunshine hours (25%), road quality (20%), fuel cost (20%), toll roads (10%), emission zones (10%), race tracks (5%), FIA events (5%), road network size (5%).
For fuel cost, toll roads and emission zones, scoring was inverted so that lower values returned a higher score. Road quality reflects perceived infrastructure quality from a logistics and network perspective, rather than specific surface conditions or driving experience. For Hungary, the vignette system was treated as equivalent to a low-toll-road country rather than toll-free, reflecting that motorway use does carry a cost.
Each metric was scored using percentile ranking, then multiplied by its weighting to produce a contribution to the final score.
Sources: Racing Circuits, The Fast-Lane, FIA, World population review, The Global Economy, Global petrol prices, Tyre Map, Tolls.eu
