7 Best European Road Trips Under €50 (Using Campervan Relocations)

The cheapest road trips in Europe are hiding in plain sight

Imagine driving a campervan through the Swiss Alps, along the French Riviera, or across the rolling hills of Tuscany — and paying less than €50 for the entire van rental. Not per day. Total.

This isn't a fantasy. It's how campervan relocations work. Rental companies constantly need vehicles moved between depots across Europe. Instead of hiring drivers, they offer the vans to travellers for €1–15 per day. You get a fully insured campervan, a bed on wheels, and a deadline to deliver it to another city. The rest — the route, the stops, the detours — is entirely up to you.

We track these deals daily on Relocamp, and some routes pop up again and again. Here are the 7 best ones — all under €50 for the van, with enough time to turn a simple delivery into an unforgettable road trip.

1. Munich → Barcelona

This route is an absolute banger. You start in Munich, drive south through the Austrian Alps (or cut through Switzerland if tolls don't scare you), then sweep across the south of France before dropping down into Catalonia. The highlight? That stretch along the Côte d'Azur where the mountains meet the sea.

Must-stop spots: Innsbruck for Alpine views, Lake Annecy for a swim, Montpellier for cheap wine and street food, and the coastal road into Barcelona itself. Park up at a campsite near Nice or Narbonne for the night — you'll wake up to ridiculous views.

2. Amsterdam → Lisbon

Amsterdam to Lisbon is one of the most popular relocation routes in Europe, which means it pops up regularly and the prices are absurdly low — sometimes literally one euro for the entire rental. You've got 4–5 days to cover the distance, which gives you proper time to enjoy the ride through France, cross into Spain, and eventually roll into Portugal.

Must-stop spots: Bordeaux for pastries and wine, San Sebastián for pintxos and surf, Porto for port wine cellars and riverside sunsets. The final stretch from Porto to Lisbon along the coast is gorgeous — stop at Nazaré to watch insane waves crash on the beach.

3. Paris → Rome

Paris to Rome sounds like a luxury trip, but with a relocation deal it's cheaper than a budget flight. Head south from Paris through Burgundy wine country, cross into Italy via the Mont Blanc tunnel or along the Ligurian coast, then wind your way through Tuscany to Rome. The food alone makes this route legendary.

Must-stop spots: Dijon for mustard and medieval architecture, the Italian Riviera around Cinque Terre (park the van and hike the coastal trail), Florence for a day of art and gelato, and Orvieto — a hilltop town that looks like something from a film set.

4. Berlin → Barcelona

Berlin to Barcelona gives you 4–5 days to cross half the continent. Head west through Germany into France, then south through the Rhône Valley and over the Pyrenees into Spain. With nearly 2,000 km to cover, you'll want to keep moving, but there's still time for great stops along the way.

Must-stop spots: Strasbourg for Alsatian food and half-timbered houses, Lyon for what might be the best food city in France, Carcassonne for its medieval walled city, and Girona as a final stop before Barcelona. If you're a city explorer, Barcelona itself deserves at least two days after you drop off the van.

5. London → Edinburgh

This is a shorter one, but don't underestimate it. The drive from London to Edinburgh takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain. Skip the motorway and take the scenic route through the Cotswolds, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Lake District. By the time you cross into Scotland, you'll feel like you've been driving through a postcard for two days straight.

Must-stop spots: The Cotswolds for honey-stone villages, the Lake District for hiking and wild camping, the Yorkshire Dales for dramatic valleys, and the Scottish Borders for rolling green hills. Arrive in Edinburgh in time for the evening — the castle lit up at night is something else.

6. Hamburg → Munich

Hamburg to Munich is perfect if you want a quick road trip without the commitment of a week-long drive. It's about 800 km through the heart of Germany, and with 2 days you can take the scenic route rather than blasting down the Autobahn (though that's an option too — no speed limits on some stretches, if that's your thing).

Must-stop spots: Hanover for the Royal Gardens, the Harz Mountains for hiking and fairy-tale forests, Nuremberg for bratwurst and the medieval old town, and the Romantic Road south of Würzburg for castle-dotted countryside. Drop the van in Munich and reward yourself with a beer garden.

7. Barcelona → Lisbon

The Iberian coast route is pure sunshine. Head south from Barcelona along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, cut inland through Andalusia or stay coastal through Valencia, then cross into Portugal's stunning Algarve region before heading north to Lisbon. This is the road trip for people who want beaches, tapas, and zero stress.

Must-stop spots: Valencia for paella on the beach, Granada for the Alhambra (seriously, don't skip this), Seville for flamenco and orange trees, and the Algarve coast for some of the best beaches in Europe. The drive into Lisbon over the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge is a proper arrival moment.

How to actually book these trips

All of these routes regularly appear as relocation deals on Relocamp. Here's how to grab one:

1. Check the trip planner. Head to the Relocamp trip planner and browse current deals. New routes get added daily as rental companies post their relocation needs.
2. Be flexible on dates. Relocation deals usually appear 1–4 weeks before the move date. If you can travel on short notice, you'll find the best prices and the most options.
3. Travel in spring or autumn. April–May and September–October are peak relocation season. That's when rental companies reposition their fleets, which means more routes, cheaper prices, and perfect driving weather.
4. Bring a friend. The van cost is per trip, not per person. Split fuel with a travel buddy and your per-person cost drops dramatically. Some vans sleep 2–4 people comfortably.

Why this beats a regular road trip rental

Let's be real for a second. A normal campervan rental in Europe costs €80–150 per day. For a 4-day road trip, that's €320–600 just for the van. A relocation deal covering the same distance? Under €50. Often under €10.

You get the same van, the same insurance, the same freedom. The only difference is you have a specific drop-off city and a time window. For most travellers, that's not a limitation — it's a feature. It gives your trip a destination and a deadline, which is exactly the kind of structure that turns a vague idea into an actual adventure.

Plus, you're helping a rental company solve a logistics problem. They save money, you get an almost-free road trip. Everyone wins.

Ready to hit the road?

These 7 routes are just the beginning. New relocation deals pop up every week across Europe, connecting dozens of cities for almost nothing. Whether you want Alpine passes, Mediterranean coastlines, or rolling countryside, there's a cheap campervan waiting to take you there.

Check the latest deals on Relocamp and start planning your next road trip. Your wallet will thank you.