Self Drive Tours & Trips in Mediterranean
What if you could drive the Mediterranean at your own pace? Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, Italian Riviera, Greek islands with ferries, southern France between Nice and Monaco. Stop when you want, skip tourist traps, find beaches locals actually use. Amalfi Coast's crowded but those cliff roads are mind-blowing. Mediterranean self-drives beat tours because you control everything including when stopping for lunch overlooking the sea.
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Amanda • traveled in July
Overall, we had a very nice trip. The itinerary is arranged well and includes good recommendations for places to stop and points of interest to visit. The hotels are all owned by the same company called Vila Gale, and are all about what I expected for the price point – nice and comfortable with basic rooms – the one outlier was the Vila Gale Collection Alter Real, which was stunning! The one hiccup we had was that the car booked for us on arrival was a manual car, which none of us were able to drive. Apparently manual cars are much more common in Europe than in the U.S, and the only automatic cars available required an upgrade, which cost us another $1,400. JUST BE AWARE THAT THE DEFAULT CAR RESERVATION IS FOR AN ECONOMY SIZE, MANUAL CAR. Request an upgrade ahead of time if you need it. Pros of this trip: - Comfortable hotels - Nice itinerary with good suggestions on places to see (don't skip Evora, Tomar or Aveiro – Porto was our absolute favorite) - Independence (by self-driving, we avoided visiting points of interest with 40+ people getting off a tour bus together at the same time) Cons of the trip: - Hiccup with the manual car, no clear description of what kind of car was provided ahead of the trip outside of "category Y" - Hotels don't have shampoo/conditioner – only one "multi-purpose soap," which would have been good to know ahead of time so I could have brought my own - There are two separate nights in Coimbra, which our family felt was not the most interesting town. It helps break up the drive but is not nearly as scenic or interesting as Porto, Lisbon or even some of the smaller and quaint towns along the way. We had a very nice trip to Portugal overall.
Portugal Discovery, Self-drive - R
REINA • traveled in October
It was very easy to book this trip myself. Very good communication between the parties involved. Finally the time came to start our 11days self drive tour of Croatia We got a nearly new car delivered to our hotel in Zagreb. and off we went , wow what an amazing country and the people are very friendly and helpful.
Best of Croatia 11 Days, Self-Drive - G
G • traveled in October
I maybe should have thought about this more. I assumed there might be other folks on this tour and we'd have someone suggesting where to go. Instead, I was on my own and traveling alone. That was okay. I had the itinerary and the hotel for suggestions and I had a great time (except when I thought I'd lost my cards and spent all my time at Rethymnon dealing with that, but that was not the fault of the tour.) The hotels were good except that finding them was not always easy and the one at Agios Nikolaou had some stairs (and google sent me the wrong way down a one way street to get there.) They all had balconies and good to great breakfasts. My biggest complaint was that the rental company gave me a black car. They said I should have ordered a nonblack car. But I didn't order it and who would bring a black car to Crete? It was hot at 9:30 in the morning in September. I was warned it would be a standard, which wasn't a problem for me. But it had 6 gears plus reverse. Going into or over the mountains required a lot of up and down shifting, I had been warned by a taxi driver in Athens about Crete drivers, but it was the motorcycle drivers that had death wishes. This is a tour for the adventurous and self-directive. I made it to both Elafonissi Beach and the Cave of Zeus, which I highly recommend, though they mean negotiating the aforementioned mountain roads with hairpin turns on narrow roads.
Discovering Crete, Self-drive
10 best Self Drive Mediterranean tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaMediterranean travel expert at TourRadar
- Adventures Along the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro & Bosnia, Self-Drive
- Portugal Discovery, Self-drive
- Albania comprehensive - self-drive tour
- Heart of Spain, Self-drive
- Best of Croatia 11 Days, Self-Drive
- Discovering Crete, Self-drive
- Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Hydra: 11-Day Greek Island Adventure
- Portugal Meets Spain, Self-drive (Multi country)
- Classical Greece, Self-drive
- Portugal North and South, Self-drive
Adventures Along the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro & Bosnia, Self-Drive
1 Review by TourRadar travelers
The Mediterranean coastlines unfold before you in an Opel Astra, from Dubrovnik to Split via Kotor. Hidden beaches, historic towns, and natural wonders like Krka waterfalls await. Carefully selected accommodations include Hotel Astoria and Hotel Tragos.
Duration 8 days Destinations Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gulliver Travel From $1,019
15% Off- US$866You save $153
Portugal Discovery, Self-drive
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Hotels were quite nice with breakfast included. Highways in Portugal may be the best in the world.”
Ted, traveled in October
A VW Polo carries you from Lisbon's historic quarters to Porto's wine region. Charming fishing villages, medieval towns, and UNESCO sites reveal themselves at your pace. Nights are spent at 4-star Vila Galé properties.
Duration 8 days Destinations Lisbon, Evora, Alter do Chão Municipality, Castelo De Vide, Tomar, Coimbra, Porto, Guimaraes, Espinho, OvarSee all destinations Age Range Ages 10+ Operator Destination Services Portugal From $1,168
10% Off- US$1,051You save $117
The coastal path leads from Durres to Ksamil. Ancient ruins, pristine beaches, and mountain passes highlight the journey, supported by reliable transportation and pre-arranged stays.
Duration 15 days Destinations Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Operator Ventus Touristik GmbH From
10% Off- US$2,484
Heart of Spain, Self-drive
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The hotel accommodations were excellent. The whole trip was seemless.”
Jeanne, traveled in February
UNESCO-listed treasures abound from Cáceres medieval walls to Mérida's Roman amphitheater. Your route through Extremadura reveals Salamanca's Plaza Mayor and Segovia's fairy-tale Alcazar castle. Madrid's Royal Palace with 3,000 opulent rooms and Reina Sofia Museum housing Picasso's Guernica complete the journey.
Duration 9 days Destinations Madrid, Caceres, Merida, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Spain From $1,324
15% Off- US$1,126You save $199
Best of Croatia 11 Days, Self-Drive
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The Country is beautiful and the people very receptive. The hotels selected were very good.”
Barbara, traveled in September
Croatia's beauty unfolds from Zagreb to Dubrovnik in an Opel Astra. Plitvice's waterfalls, Zadar's Sea Organs, and Split's ancient streets await discovery. Ten nights at selected hotels include daily breakfast.
Duration 11 days Destinations Zagreb, Opatija, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Gulliver Travel From $1,577
15% Off- US$1,341You save $237
Discovering Crete, Self-drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The car was ideal to suit our needs, and the hotels were lovely. There is excellent value for money, and I would use this operator again.”
Renee, traveled in April
The roads from Heraklion's ancient sites to Elafonissi's pink beaches tell stories of Crete. Chania's Venetian harbor and historic Spinalonga island complement stays at comfortable 3-star hotels like Hotel Arkadi and Hotel Olympic Palladium.
Duration 8 days Destinations Heraklion, Knossos, Chania, Elafonisi, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga, Sitia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Greece From $627
10% Off- US$564You save $63
Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Hydra: 11-Day Greek Island Adventure
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything was well planned, clearly communicated and superbly executed.”
Martin, traveled in October
The Greek islands beckon with this self-guided Mediterranean adventure. Well-planned logistics include flights between islands, ferry connections, and private transfers. Ancient sites and coastal beauty await your independent spirit.
Duration 11 days Destinations Athens, Piraeus, Santorini, Nea Kameni Island, Akrotiri, Oia, Heraklion, Knossos, Crete, RethymnonSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Private Tours Greece From $4,418
25% Off- US$3,314You save $1,105
What our customers ask about Self Drive Tours & Trips in Mediterranean
When is the best time to do a Self Drive tour in the Mediterranean region?
May through September offers the most reliable weather for Mediterranean Self Drive tours. Along Croatia's coast Split and Dubrovnik see temperatures of 75-85°F (24-29°C) making it comfortable for driving and exploring historic sites. Southern Spain's cities like Seville and Granada are better experienced in spring (April-May) or fall (September-October) before the intense summer heat arrives. A TourRadar traveler noted about their September trip: "The weather was perfect for driving and exploring the beautiful countryside with lots to explore in each town as well as along the drive."
What's the typical driving distance per day on Mediterranean Self Drive tours?
Most routes cover 100-250km per day taking 2-4 hours of driving time. The Croatian coastal route from Split to Dubrovnik spans 230km with stops possible at Trogir and Makarska. In Spain the Andalusian route connecting Seville to Granada extends about 250km with time for exploring Cordoba. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Loved our self-drive tour driving distances were very manageable with lots of interesting places to stop along the way. Especially enjoyed the stretch between Split and Dubrovnik."
What kind of accommodation can I expect on Mediterranean Self Drive tours?
The routes feature 4-5 star hotels placed at convenient stopping points. Croatia's accommodations include the 5-star SUPERIOR Sacher Salzburg Hotel and the Amabilis Hotel on the Adriatic Coast. Sicily offers stays at the Hotel Villa Angela in Taormina and Hotel Baglio della Luna in Agrigento. As one TourRadar traveler noted "The hotels picked for us were so great and the locations put us in the middle of the best areas."
What's the best route for a first-time Mediterranean Self Drive tour?
The Spain Andalusia route stands out for beginners starting in Malaga then moving through Granada Cordoba and Seville with stays at hotels like Don Pedro and Silken Al-Andalus. Another good choice is Croatia's coastal route from Zagreb to Dubrovnik via Split. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Starting from Hotel Don Pedro in Malaga and following the route through Andalusia was perfect for our first self-drive experience."
What documents do I need for a Mediterranean Self Drive tour?
Essential documents include a valid driver's license (minimum 1 year) passport international driving permit for non-EU drivers and a credit card for vehicle deposit. Spain and Croatia require drivers to be between 25-75 years old and carry both original and international licenses. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The car rental process at the Silken Puerta de Madrid was smooth - just make sure to have all documents ready and your credit card for the deposit."
What are the must-see highlights on a Mediterranean Self Drive tour?
The routes include major UNESCO sites such as Dubrovnik's Old Town walls Split's Diocletian's Palace and the Alhambra in Granada. Natural attractions include Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and scenic Adriatic coastal drives. Cultural stops feature the Great Mosque in Cordoba and Kotor's medieval architecture. A TourRadar traveler commented: "Our recent road trip through Southern Spain was unforgettable. Each place surprised us more than the last and every corner of Andalusia is worth seeing."
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