Traveling by car to Liguria?? Take the scenic route.

A road trip from northern Germany to Liguria via the Splügen Pass and Lake Como offers one of the most beautiful and varied driving routes in Europe.

All photos/video: André Van Ingelgem

Through Northern and Southern Germany

The journey often begins on the open motorways of northern Germany, where the landscape gradually shifts from flat fields to more rolling terrain. As you reach the south, the first Alps appear on the horizon—a preview of what’s to come.

Toward the Alps and the old villages of southern Bavaria

As you approach the Swiss border, you drive through charming Bavarian towns with half-timbered houses, alpine meadows, and views of steep mountainsides. If you take short detours, you’ll find castles, breweries, and mountain hikes.

Into Switzerland and up toward the Splügen Pass

When you cross into Switzerland, the mountains grow steeper and the valleys narrower. The road to the Splügen Pass is narrow, winding, and dramatic—a classic scenic route.

Crossing into Italy, both the landscape and the atmosphere change immediately: the vegetation becomes lusher, the air milder, and the architecture distinctly Italian.

On the way up the pass you may encounter:

• old stone bridges and hairpin bends

• sheer mountainsides and roaring waterfalls

• small alpine villages where time seems to have stood still

• views over green valleys and barren peaks

The pass itself lies at over 2,100 meters and offers sweeping vistas that feel almost otherworldly.

Down into Italy and along Lake Como

Crossing into Italy, both the landscape and the atmosphere change immediately: the vegetation becomes lusher, the air milder, and the architecture distinctly Italian.

Driving along Lake Como is an experience in its own right:

• roads winding along steep mountainsides

• views of shimmering water, pastel-colored villas, and small villages

• opportunities to stop in places like Chiavenna, Menaggio, Varenna, or Bellagio

• outdoor cafés, gelato, and the unmistakable Italian holiday vibe

Here you can pause by the lakeside, enjoy a cappuccino, or take a short ferry ride to see the lake from the water.

Toward the Mediterranean and Liguria

Leaving Lake Como and heading south, you’ll notice how the landscape becomes increasingly Mediterranean. Vineyards, olive groves, and cypress trees appear along the way.

Then—suddenly—the horizon opens and you see the dramatic coastline of Liguria, with colorful houses wedged between mountains and sea.

In short – a journey full of contrasts

In a single day, you can experience:

• German plains

• Swiss Alps

• Italian lakes

• Mediterranean coastline

A journey that combines nature, culture, food, and a fantastic driving experience—and one that often becomes as memorable as the stay in Liguria itself.

If you like, I can also create a detailed itinerary, suggest places to stay, or tailor the trip for family travel, food, hiking, or culture.

Apricale’s real beauty lies in its rhythm — watching the light shift over the valley, sharing a meal on a terrace, listening to the bells echo through the hills. It’s a place to pause, breathe, and feel the essence of Ligurian life.