The Best Coastal Routes to Drive on a Road Trip Holiday

The French Riviera can be a hectic place especially during the summer months, so escape the crowds and spend an afternoon exploring these winding coastal roads.

Les Corniches are a trio of routes that hug the cliffs between Nice and Menton. Each spanning around 32 kilometres, they all provide stunning views over the undulating coastline of the Côte D'Azur.

The Grande Corniche is the highest of the three roads, carved into the mountainside it rises approximately 457 metres above sea level. One on side cliffs cascade down to the turquoise waters and on the other, gentle hills blanketed in thick pine forests are dotted with rustic villas.

The middle road, The Moyenne Corniche, is less hair-raising but offers equally stunning views. The road winds up to the hilltop village of Èze, which stands on a dome of rock jutting out from the cliffs. Perched above the village is the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, the best place to see spectacular views over the hills and the Mediterranean below.

The Basse Corniche weaves along the coast and past the iconic coastal resorts of the Riviera. It’s the busiest of the three roads but the twinkling periwinkle blue water below and the dramatic cliffs still make it a beautiful drive.

If you’re planning on spending a few days exploring Corsica by superyacht, the D81 coastal road through the Calanches de Piana is a must for the brave. The single track road runs along the side of the mountain, presenting a striking landscape of red granite cliffs and vicious looking outlines caused by centuries of erosion.

Piana itself is a stunning village that looks out over the Gulf of Porto and faces the Scandola and Senino peninsulas. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the area including the Calaches of Piana, the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Nature Reserve offer unrivalled views and truly excellent (if hair-raising) driving opportunities.

Girolata Bay is also one of the best superyacht anchorages in Corsica, so why not tender to the little village of Girolata and enjoy the beauty of the D81 while driving over to Piana?

Sometimes know as the Adriatic Highway, Jadranska Magistrala twists and turns along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Covering nearly 400 miles the road connects the towns and cities of Rijeka , Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Makarska, Ploce and Dubrovnik. With serpentine twists and sheer drops into the sea, the drive is not for the faint hearted. However, those who do take to the tarmac will be rewarded with stunning views across the sparkling sea and some of Croatia's hidden gems.

It would be easy to enjoy some of this road as part of a private cruise or luxury yacht charter in Croatia. The drive is just one incredible thing to do while visiting Croatia on a luxury yacht.

If you are looking for a driving experience Down Under then the Great Ocean Road should be top of your list. Starting near Melbourne the road offers more than 150 miles of twists and turns.

As well as the spectacular views the road also passes the iconic landmark of the 12 apostles.

If you want to drive the Great Ocean Road visiting the country is now easier as Australia is offering temporary superyacht charter licenses for foreign yachts.

The Amalfi coast is one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic coastal destinations and offers a stunning driving experience.

One of the most beautiful drives is starting at Positano and then heading east. If you are planning on enjoying the area by car it is worth bearing in mind that the roads can be busy during the peak summer months.

Enjoying these beautiful roads can easily be included as part of a private cruise or luxury yacht charter on the Amalfi Coast.