Route recommendations please, for UK to Modena

[general_piffle]

So, next year probably mid May 2024 the plan is to drive the Ghibli from the UK to France (via the Eurostar) then on to Italy, Modena. To visit the Maserati factory, the Panini Motor Museum and spend a few nights in Modena, before driving back.

It'll be a relaxed tour, probably 3 days to get there, spend 3 days in Modena, then 3 days driving back, staying at hotels for a night along the way.

I'd be keen to hear from people who've done the trip before on best (most scenic) routes to take and what to watch out for?! Recommendations welcome, thank you.

 

[conaero]

The SM Autumn Euro tours have been all over. I would suggest Lyon night 1, Camogli (Portofino) night 2 then on to Modena then go back via Como.

Lyon you can do route Napoleon and lunch in Castellena then the Como you can do Stelvio/Davos and the passes via Switzerland on the way back, Mulhouse as a night stop then on up to the ferry and home.

I have excellent hotels if you want them.

 

[safrane]

My usual route is UK to Etoge in the champagne region, then to Grenoble. Nice/Monaco/Canne via Route Napoleon, then Rapalo.

Very similar to Matts suggestions, but I stay at each point longer.

 

[RoaryRati]

We were going to do some Alps early mid-May but snow fall put pay to it - some of the passes, especially higher and more fun ones, may still be shut/require winter tyres, etc - there are some website that give guidance on that if you would like some links. And in three days is not what we'd call relaxed, especially if you're avoiding motorways like we do. But there are millions of inspiring options.

 

[general_piffle]

The SM Autumn Euro tours have been all over. I would suggest Lyon night 1, Camogli (Portofino) night 2 then on to Modena then go back via Como.

Lyon you can do route Napoleon and lunch in Castellena then the Como you can do Stelvio/Davos and the passes via Switzerland on the way back, Mulhouse as a night stop then on up to the ferry and home.

I have excellent hotels if you want them.

Thanks Conaero, I'll PM you for details of those hotels!

 

[general_piffle]

We were going to do some Alps early mid-May but snow fall put pay to it - some of the passes, especially higher and more fun ones, may still be shut/require winter tyres, etc - there are some website that give guidance on that if you would like some links. And in three days is not what we'd call relaxed, especially if you're avoiding motorways like we do. But there are millions of inspiring options.

Good info on the Alps, I won't be on winter tyres so probably better to play it safe. Some links would be really helpful.

Also, you're right about the time - from looking over maps again, 3 nights and 4 days would be a lot more easy going.

 

[HenrysDad]

Thanks Conaero, I'll PM you for details of those hotels!

Mulhouse has the Schlumpf brothers collection too. A gobsmacking place.

 

[conaero]

Mulhouse has the Schlumpf brothers collection too. A gobsmacking place.

It is, took hours and hours to go round

 

[conaero]

Thanks Conaero, I'll PM you for details of those hotels!

Done

 

[Scaf]

Good info on the Alps, I won't be on winter tyres so probably better to play it safe. Some links would be really helpful.

Also, you're right about the time - from looking over maps again, 3 nights and 4 days would be a lot more easy going.

I went through the Alps in June 2017 and although open, still snow on the ground on the higher routes.

 

[general_piffle]

I went through the Alps in June 2017 and although open, still snow on the ground on the higher routes.

So, basically just take it really slowly/carefully I guess. I’ll just be on ‘general use’ tyres as most driving is in mixed conditions, but no snow. Never drive it on snow here in the UK for example.

 

[allandwf]

When I drove back I went via Lake Garda, Austria, Germany the black forest, up to Luxembourg, Belgium and Brugge with an overnight or so in each one. Then Zeebrugge to Hull .

 

[midlifecrisisbob]

I'm planning on doing something similar in my Giancabrio next June (when the weather is better and before the kids holidays push prices up). I got as far as the Alps this year coming down from Zeebrugge, through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, blackforest, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria back via Stuttgart for the Porsche and Mercedes museum. With a detour to nuburgring (didn't take the Maserati around!). Took 7 days (and 7 countries). Since I live in the north I will probably do ferry to zeebrugge through Germany and call in Luxembourg (Vianden) it's a nice village ad some nice roads to get there. Then on to the Alps before heading in to Italy. Haven't planned the route through Italy yet or the route back. I've booked three weeks off work so no rush. Might drive around Italy or get a ferry across the Adriatic to Croatia just for something different!

 

[general_piffle]

This is how the route is shaping up, thanks to your suggestions. I've decided we'll spend 4 days driving down to make it a bit more chilled:

• Day 1, Home to Reims (approx. 5 hours 40 mins)
• Day 2, Reims to Lyon (approx. 5 hours 14 mins)
• Day 3, Lyon to Turin (approx. 4 hours)
• Day 4, Turin to Modena (approx. 3 hours 20 mins)

Then 5 days in Modena where I'm tempted to put the car through Classiche Certification, I'm in conversation with the team there and they've said 5 working days is all they need.

Then 4 days driving back a different route, via Lake Como and taking in some of Switzerland but not the Alps as this will be mid May and it looks like a lot of the mountain passes will be closed due to snow.

So far I've got:

• Day 10, Modena to Lake Como (approx. 3 hours 30 mins)
• Day 11, Lake Como to Mulhouse (via Naturpark Beverin and around the mountains past Zürich, approx. 5 hours)
• Day 12, Mulhouse to Laon (approx. 5 hours 28 mins)
• Day 13, Laon to Home (approx. 5 hours 39 mins)

It's not written in stone, but a good start.

 

[Hurricane52]

This is how the route is shaping up, thanks to your suggestions. I've decided we'll spend 4 days driving down to make it a bit more chilled:

• Day 1, Home to Reims (approx. 5 hours 40 mins)
• Day 2, Reims to Lyon (approx. 5 hours 14 mins)
• Day 3, Lyon to Turin (approx. 4 hours)
• Day 4, Turin to Modena (approx. 3 hours 20 mins)

Then 5 days in Modena where I'm tempted to put the car through Classiche Certification, I'm in conversation with the team there and they've said 5 working days is all they need.

Then 4 days driving back a different route, via Lake Como and taking in some of Switzerland but not the Alps as this will be mid May and it looks like a lot of the mountain passes will be closed due to snow.

So far I've got:

• Day 10, Modena to Lake Como (approx. 3 hours 30 mins)
• Day 11, Lake Como to Mulhouse (via Naturpark Beverin and around the mountains past Zürich, approx. 5 hours)
• Day 12, Mulhouse to Laon (approx. 5 hours 28 mins)
• Day 13, Laon to Home (approx. 5 hours 39 mins)

It's not written in stone, but a good start.

I’d highly recommend the National Motor Museum in Turin and the Lingotto.

 

[P R]

I'm planning on doing something similar in my Giancabrio next June (when the weather is better and before the kids holidays push prices up). I got as far as the Alps this year coming down from Zeebrugge, through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, blackforest, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria back via Stuttgart for the Porsche and Mercedes museum. With a detour to nuburgring (didn't take the Maserati around!). Took 7 days (and 7 countries). Since I live in the north I will probably do ferry to zeebrugge through Germany and call in Luxembourg (Vianden) it's a nice village ad some nice roads to get there. Then on to the Alps before heading in to Italy. Haven't planned the route through Italy yet or the route back. I've booked three weeks off work so no rush. Might drive around Italy or get a ferry across the Adriatic to Croatia just for something different!

There is no Hull to Zeebrugge ferry anymore. There is the Hull to Rotterdam which is ok, and the difference in distance is negligable..

 

[Devonboy]

I did, Calais, Mannheim, Lake Maggiore Modena and on the way back via the Black Forest and then Aachen and Calais. This was mid COVID and France was closed and
Switzerland closed on the way back so no stopping or it was quarantine

 

[RoaryRati]

I went through the Alps in June 2017 and although open, still snow on the ground on the higher routes.

Something like June 10 we did Julier pass (Switzerland) - 2degC and snowing (and we've got normal tyres) - travelled on to Maloja pass which was just grey - two days later Julier pass was perfect - weather conditions can change really quickly.

 

[RoaryRati]

https://www.drive-alive.co.uk/driving/alpine-passes.htm has a link to a Dutch site that lists some of the open passes as does https://www.alpen-paesse.ch/ for Switzerland and for the south Tirol I used this https://www.suedtirol.com/verkehr/berg-paesse. If you don't want to stay in Mulhouse we found a wonderful hotel near Altkirch about 10 miles away and the Voges is great fun.

 

[general_piffle]

https://www.drive-alive.co.uk/driving/alpine-passes.htm has a link to a Dutch site that lists some of the open passes as does https://www.alpen-paesse.ch/ for Switzerland and for the south Tirol I used this https://www.suedtirol.com/verkehr/berg-paesse. If you don't want to stay in Mulhouse we found a wonderful hotel near Altkirch about 10 miles away and the Voges is great fun.

Thanks RR, this is ideal as it would be good to cut through Switzerland more, rather than drive around the Alps. For example, it would be great to experience the Bernina Pass, which looks like it's open pretty much all the time - but avoid the very high passes that will no doubt be closed due to snow in mid May.