Ten car routes to enjoy with the family this summer 2026

After the Covid-19 health crisis, this summer looks different: with reduced mobility and air travel seen as an option for greater contagion, car trips and local tourism to less crowded areas are expected to prevail. For this reason, the Spanish automotive brand Seat offers us 10 car routes through some of the most special corners of Europe. In fact, these routes guarantee an unforgettable family experience on wheels while following social distancing rules.

1. Spain: limestone landscape

The Picos de Europa National Park, between the autonomous communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León, in Spain, is a point of natural interest throughout the world. High, pointed peaks, crystal-clear lakes and different shades of green are the distinctive features of this paradise on Earth. We propose to start the route in Riaño and travel the road to the Covadonga Lakes, passing through Soto de Sajambre and Cangas de Onís, and then travel to Potes and thus visit the three communities. Among its most striking attractions, the Leonese Fjords, the Beyos Gorge and numerous viewpoints. It is an ideal trip through nature to do with the family, so the Seat Tarraco, with its versatility and up to seven seats, is the ideal vehicle.

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2. Germany: a dream path

Germany's Romantische Strasse ("Romantic Highway") is one of the most special places in Europe to visit and drive. The rich landscape and the medieval monuments and castles of its towns are characteristic of this 460-kilometer route that runs from Füssen, on Germany's southern border with Austria, to Würzburg, between Frankfurt and Nuremberg. The entire path is marked with brown signs, so it is difficult to get lost to reach any of the 29 cities or towns that make up Romantische Strasse. The Seat Arona, due to its versatility, is a versatile option when choosing a car with which to travel kilometers of asphalt from city to city.

3. Portugal: from north to south by road

In Portugal there is one of the largest highways in the world, Estrada Nacional 2: 738 kilometers that cross the country from north to south passing through 11 districts, 8 provinces, 4 mountain ranges, 11 rivers and 32 municipalities, starting in Chaves and ending in Faro. Along the way, hot springs, sanctuaries, castles and viewpoints liven up a gray asphalt route that many rename as "Portuguese Route 66." On a road like this, driving pleasure, comfort and safety do not have to be at odds. The Ateca, with its 190 HP and a comfortable and spacious interior, is the synthesis of these qualities.

4. United Kingdom: from horses to surfboards

In the United Kingdom, a good car trip option starts in Horsham, a market town in the south of England famous for being a place of horse trading in the Middle Ages. Once you have seen its castle, the path continues through the impressive South Downs National Park to Winchester, where you can visit its great Cathedral and the Great Hall, on the walls of which is hung a replica of King Arthur's round table. From there, the renowned A303 road continues past the imposing megalithic monument of Stonehenge through Devon until reaching the Cornish village of Newquay. Located at the extreme western tip of England, the sea merges with the land and surfing is the sport par excellence. If you want to try this discipline, the roof rack of the Seat Tarraco is the ideal place to load your boards, and if you prefer other water sports, you can carry what you need in its trunk of up to 760 liters.

5. Italy: the sea of companion

Through Puglia, the heel of Italy, runs one of the most picturesque and unknown roads in the entire country, the SP 81, a 47-kilometer coastal route that goes from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In Otranto you can see the Castello Aragonese, the Cattedrale and the Basilica di San Pietro and then continue along the coast passing by the Punta Palascia lighthouse (the easternmost point of Italy), Porto Badisco and its turquoise waters, the centuries-old olive trees of Santa Cesarea Terme and the Zinzulusa grotto of Castro. Upon reaching Santa Maria di Leuca, in the south of the heel of Italy, all that remains is to approach its lighthouse and the Basilica Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae ("the end of the earth"), where the sea and the sky merge. For this very Mediterranean trip, the Seat Ibiza is postulated as the vehicle par excellence.

6. Switzerland: rural and welcoming spirit

The car is one of the most comfortable means of transport to get around Switzerland, as it allows you to stop and admire its bucolic landscapes at all times. Starting from the capital, Bern, after visiting its historic center surrounded by the waters of the Aar River, you can reach the green Grindelwald Valley, an alpine landscape with numerous trails and viewpoints. From here, passing through Interlaken, a commune that owes its name to the two lakes that surround it, we arrive at Lucerne, where there is the Spreuerbrücke, a century-old wooden bridge, the Lion Monument, carved in marble, and the entertaining Transport Museum. Finally, the route ends in the small town of Stein am Rhein and its medieval appearance, past the Rhine Falls. The Seat Ateca, due to its adaptability to both urban environments and more mountainous landscapes, is the perfect choice.

7. France: wonders of water and sand

In French Occitania, the route runs between the Lozère region and l'Aveyron. Leaving the town of Ispagnac and its 14th century bridge, we arrive at the medieval village of Gorges-du-Tarn-Causses, a mix of nature and history, and then travel to La Malène and the spectacular zigzagging and steep road from which you can see the valley of the Tarn River. Massegros-Causses-Gorges and Le Rozier are perfect spots to soak in their gorges. Finally, at the Millau Viaduct you can enjoy an unparalleled sunset. With the Seat Tarraco FR, sportiness and family space are not at odds, so you will adapt to the environment without difficulties.

8. Croatia: World Heritage Site

Starting in Varazdin, also known as "little Vienna" for its baroque and rococo buildings, we drive to the capital, Zagreb, a combination of tradition and modernity. Continuing south lies the Plitvice National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with its 16 lakes linked by waterfalls. Finally, the route ends in Sibenik, the city of fortresses, with labyrinthine streets and two main attractions: the Cathedral of St. James and the Fort of St. Nicholas, both also declared World Heritage Sites. To drive in a protected environment like this, the best option could be the mild-hybrid version of the new León, which offers 150 HP with low emissions figures, perfect for taking care of the environment.

9. Romania: curves, green and adrenaline

The Transfăgărășan highway (DN7C), in Romania, apart from an unpronounceable name, has 90 kilometers of curves and in some sections exceeds 2,000 meters in altitude. Summer is the best time to visit it, since until mid-June there may be snow on the pavement. Starting from the city of Sibiu, a cultural landmark with up to 12 museums, the road passes by the waterfall and Lake Balea in the form of zigzagging and uneven asphalt. A few kilometers further south is Lake Vidraru and Poineari Castle, which belonged to the real Vlad Tepes (on whom Bram Stoker's Dracula character is based) and at the end of the route we reach Curtea de Arges, one of the oldest cities in the country, with a peculiarly shaped monastery and garden surroundings. For this uneven route, the new León's adaptive chassis control system with DCC Slider, which automatically adjusts the suspension, is the right vehicle.

10. Norway: the path of the Trolls

The Trollstigen route (meaning "the path of the Trolls") is a 106-kilometre road that runs through western Norway, passing through steep slopes, steep slopes, waterfalls and green valleys. Due to the complicated weather conditions in the region, you can only travel through it in the summer months. With 18 180º curves, it enters the Norwegian fjords and has a viewpoint at its highest point. The new León Sportstourer, with its 4-Drive all-wheel drive, is the perfect car to adapt to the bends in the road.