Route advice from Denmark to Greece

[Johnny Be Good]

Looking for some advice on a trip for later this Autumn, leaving end of August and stay away close to 10-12 weeks is the plan.

We live in Norway and last year did the country length up to the Russian border and North Cape, this year summer will be around the fjords of south western Norway. But we have a chance to meet some family in Greece later in the year.

We have an old Georgie Boy Pursuit dual fuel so not the cheapest of RV’s, but runs fine despite the 27 years of being used constantly. We are 7 tonne max.

Plan is basically ferry to northern Denmark and so drive initially down to Germany, I have looked at several route planners but we have never taken the RV below southern Germany on the eastern side, we also have been advised that we could return up through Italy to change the scenery and route.

Any personal advice please, or any places we can read reliable up to date information would be grateful, and of course toll road information.

We are of course interested in some scenic routes but anyone with a bigger motor home who can definitely advise on routes to steer clear of with a RV.

Wife has added a few places of interest going up or coming back which are a,
1. stopover in Croatia. 2. some days along the Rhine. 3. visit some people in Holland on the way back.

 

[nicholsong]

Looking for some advice on a trip for later this Autumn, leaving end of August and stay away close to 10-12 weeks is the plan.

We live in Norway and last year did the country length up to the Russian border and North Cape, this year summer will be around the fjords of south western Norway. But we have a chance to meet some family in Greece later in the year.

We have an old Georgie Boy Pursuit dual fuel so not the cheapest of RV’s, but runs fine despite the 27 years of being used constantly. We are 7 tonne max.

Plan is basically ferry to northern Denmark and so drive initially down to Germany, I have looked at several route planners but we have never taken the RV below southern Germany on the eastern side, we also have been advised that we could return up through Italy to change the scenery and route.

Any personal advice please, or any places we can read reliable up to date information would be grateful, and of course toll road information.

We are of course interested in some scenic routes but anyone with a bigger motor home who can definitely advise on routes to steer clear of with a RV.

Wife has added a few places of interest going up or coming back which are a,
1. stopover in Croatia. 2. some days along the Rhine. 3. visit some people in Holland on the way back.

Are you concerned about toll costs?

You say 'could return up through Italy', so do you intend to drive all the way down, without ferries? We drove last year from Poland to Greece with ferry Ancona Patras.

Where are you heading for in Greece?

Bit more info needed.

Geoff

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Yes and no, in Norway and Scandinavia we can register the vehicle for the toll charge system, in Norway this gives up to 40% discount on tolls and up to 50% discount on most fjord crossings by ferry and toll bridges, was wondering if this was an option in the places I'd heard of issues in Europe. Mainly been told that in Italy, Austria and Switzerland anything over 3.5t gets a very heavy charge on main roads.

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Hello Geoff. Seems some of your message I did not see.

We plan to drive down from Hirtshals in Denmark to Germany, from there head through Austria for Croatia. Route guide then sends me through Albania into Greece. From some neighbors who traveled earlier I was warned about going through Albania and Bosnia Herz. They said they had issues with police and seemed quite alarmed about retuning to these countries, they advised me to drive out to Serbia and north Macedonia into Greece.

The return we looked at was a ferry over to Italy, then drive up and go through Switzerland into Germany and so follow the rivers up, or go through France and up to Holland. From Holland back to Norway there is the drive via Germany and Denmark, or the new ferry starting shortly will take us direct to Kristiansand.

Hence my question ref toll roads and our vehicle which is 7 tonne. On Austrian, Swiss and Italian roads are there any specific charges for heavy vehicles. In Norway as I wrote earlier all MH's and RV's are classed as 3,5t on toll roads.

 

[nicholsong]

Hello Geoff. Seems some of your message I did not see.

We plan to drive down from Hirtshals in Denmark to Germany, from there head through Austria for Croatia. Route guide then sends me through Albania into Greece. From some neighbors who traveled earlier I was warned about going through Albania and Bosnia Herz. They said they had issues with police and seemed quite alarmed about retuning to these countries, they advised me to drive out to Serbia and north Macedonia into Greece.

The return we looked at was a ferry over to Italy, then drive up and go through Switzerland into Germany and so follow the rivers up, or go through France and up to Holland. From Holland back to Norway there is the drive via Germany and Denmark, or the new ferry starting shortly will take us direct to Kristiansand.

Hence my question ref toll roads and our vehicle which is 7 tonne. On Austrian, Swiss and Italian roads are there any specific charges for heavy vehicles. In Norway as I wrote earlier all MH's and RV's are classed as 3,5t on toll roads.

Sorry my post came in two bits because I later edited it.

Re the land route through any of the Balkan countries, be aware of the restrictions on your insurance policy: some will offer no cover at all: some Third Party(Public Liability) only. If there is no cover Third Party can be bought at the border through brokers, but expensive for just a few days.

That return route you listed is easily doable.

Now tolls: the answer for each country you list is different. Let's start with the worst - Austria: at over 3.5t for motorways you have to buy a GO box and load minimum of €75(?) credit; this box records kms travelled from electronic 'pings' from gantries. The charges are high. It is possible to negotiate Austria off-motorways but you have to be careful.

Switzerland is different as they charge over 3.5t on a card which can be bought for 10/20/30/ days in the country, whether driving or stationary. I think 10 days is €30 or SF equivalent. Any days unused are valid for a year, so if you transitted Switzerland southbound in 3 days you would still have 7 days left for northbound.

Italy tolls are quite cheap and not of concern. Same with Greece, but not a lot of toll roads.

Geoff

Where are you heading to in Greece and what other areas there do you want to tour? I may be able to help or point you to some sources of info.

Geoff

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[Johnny Be Good]

Evening Geoff and thanks for the info. In Greece the only place I know we will be close to is Athens, at present the family have not received the complete address where to meet.