Help me drive through Europe

October 9, 2008 5:45 AM

Need help with driving directions in Europe, from Zaragosa to Berlin. Any route-planning software or general advice for me?

We need to drive a van full of shit from Zaragosa to La Seu d'Urgell, where we pick up more shit, then to Zürich to pick up even more, then to Munich, then Berlin. The Zürich stop is optional but it looks like it's on the way. Munich is also optional but we can stay overnight there for free. Is there any route-planning website for Europe that would tell me estimated times and toll-costs for different routes? Is making a detour through Switzerland a good idea, or is it better for some reason to stick to France? Any other advice is appreciated.

We're tentatively planning to stay overnight in La Seu d'Urgell, drive as far as we can towards Switzerland and then stop at some motel in France/Switzerland for the second night, stop briefly in Zürich the third day, and make it to Munich by the third night. I don't need any help with Munich-Berlin, I've driven it several times.

posted by creasy boy to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Try www.map24.com. It is a most excellent website and does everything you want. Don't know about the France/Switzerland choice, though.
posted by Skyanth at 6:10 AM on October 9, 2008

Meh. http://www.map24.com.
posted by Skyanth at 6:10 AM on October 9, 2008

You'll need to buy a vignette in order to be allowed drive on the Swiss and Austrian highways. And you'll better buy them before you enter the country.

The Austrian one is € 9 [last year] for 10 days. The Swiss one you buy for a year, and costs € 28 [again last year prices]
posted by ijsbrand at 6:22 AM on October 9, 2008

Sweet. The vignette seems to cost about 25 Euros for Switzerland.

Does anyone know if this is a good deal compared to France? I keep hearing about how the tolls in France are going to bleed the life out of me.

Also: is the highway in Switzerland mountanous, or (faint hope) did they manage to make it relatively flat?

Thank you for all the help so far.
posted by creasy boy at 6:32 AM on October 9, 2008

map24 is good but doesn't seem to give me toll information.
posted by creasy boy at 6:42 AM on October 9, 2008

The best European road trip planner I've used is Via Michelin
posted by vacapinta at 6:48 AM on October 9, 2008

If you go through Geneva, then Zürich and over to Münich the Swiss part will be all flat. (Well, not a mountain road at least.) Here's a google map as well, you can even click and drag the route.
posted by sebas at 6:54 AM on October 9, 2008

You can also use Google Maps. Just add all your destinations, like this: Zaragoza to Berlin via La Seu d'Urgell, Zürich and München. Or go ahead and enter the exact addresses. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell you the tolls you'll have to pay, but I guess they depend on which kind of vehicle you're driving, at least in some countries.
There are some links to tolls in the Wikipedia article on toll roads in Europe, for example autoroutes.fr.
posted by amf at 7:02 AM on October 9, 2008

I meant to add that, yes, Via Michelin includes the tolls (total amount + all toll entrance and exits)!
It also gives an estimate of your gas costs for each route.
posted by vacapinta at 7:09 AM on October 9, 2008

Via Michelin is pretty sweet, thanks.
posted by creasy boy at 7:30 AM on October 9, 2008

amf: "You can also use Google Maps. Just add all your destinations, like this: Zaragoza to Berlin via La Seu d'Urgell, Zürich and München.."

Don't got over La Seu and through Puigcerda - you'll double the length of your whole journey! Follow the A-2, go around Barcelona and take the AP-7 up to the frontier and onto Perpignan...
posted by benzo8 at 7:36 AM on October 9, 2008