The top 10 countries for traveling by car have been selected. Poland ranks high.

Several factors contribute to a truly enjoyable long-distance road trip . Primarily, the quality of the road itself, but also all sorts of amenities that ensure a comfortable journey, such as frequent gas stations and parking lots.

DiscoverCars.com ranked the 10 most enjoyable European countries to travel in, ranking them across four categories. The highest points were awarded to countries that spent more money per capita on developing and maintaining their road networks. Additional points were also awarded for the number of road signs , which facilitate easier navigation and better orientation. Fewer cars on the road also played a role in awarding points, as did the number of accessible gas stations and parking lots. A maximum of 130 points was possible, with 26 points in each category. So where is the best place to drive?

Spain - the best country to travel by car

This may come as a surprise to some, as Spain has a significant amount of traffic. However, this didn't stop it from taking the top spot in the rankings. Its high position was built on road investments of €230 per capita, a large number of gas stations (16,431), and low tolls. Of course, when analyzing Spain as a whole, there are regions that are quite congested (e.g., the Madrid area) and less comfortable, so it's worth checking out less-traveled routes, such as those through the Montes Universales mountain range. It will be much quieter, while still offering the same level of comfort. Spain scored 95 points.

France - the perfect country for a car trip

France is also among the countries with relatively high traffic volume (39 million cars on the roads, which is 5 million more than in Spain!), but the quality of its roads, rated 8.4/10, significantly improves France's overall rating. The country also invests more than Spain in infrastructure, allocating €345 per capita. While it has fewer gas stations than Spain, 10,806, it also boasts a significant 8,233 parking lots. When traveling by car in France, it's worth choosing more relaxed routes. DiscoverCars.com recommends the Loire Valley and the surrounding UNESCO World Heritage Sites. France received an 86-point score.

Norwegia - tu podróżuje się bezpiecznie samochodem

Rounding out the top three is Norway, which boasts the highest amounts allocated to infrastructure development. Per capita, Norwegians spend a staggering €928 per person, and the condition of their roads is truly poor. The only downside is the mountainous terrain, which is not always easy to navigate. Therefore, Norwegians issue the highest speeding fines in Europe, ensuring road safety. The low number of cars on Norwegian roads contributes to the comfort of driving in Norway, with only 2.8 million. Norway also has relatively few public parking lots, just 1,200, and 2,091 gas stations. Popular routes include the one between Oslo and Trondheim, which received 82 points.

Travelling by car - Great Britain

The UK is just outside the top tier, but boasts an impressive 36,950 public car parks ! This is complemented by 8,353 petrol stations. The country itself has a similar number of cars on the road to France and Spain, with 34 million. Britons also spend €213 per capita on infrastructure development. Of course, the peak traffic and high traffic volumes are concentrated around major cities, including London, but it's worth considering driving in Scotland and Wales, where the routes are much quieter and more scenic. The UK scored 79 points.

Traveling by car - The Netherlands

The Netherlands tied for fourth place, offering very comfortable travel conditions . Road conditions are in excellent condition, and the Dutch spend €450 per capita on infrastructure development. The number of cars on the roads is relatively small compared to other countries, at "only" 9.4 million. There are 2,618 parking lots and 6,045 gas stations along the roads. The hilly Zuid-Limburg region, which stands out in the relatively flat country, is worth seeing. The Netherlands scored 79 points.

Traveling by car - Finland

Finland scored exactly the same number of points as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom . The country invests €374 per capita in road development. Driving on Finnish roads is a true pleasure . The number of vehicles is similar to that of Norway, 3.2 million, and there are also 1,212 parking lots (the same as Norway) and 1,943 gas stations. Finland's West Coast is worth driving along.

Traveling by car - Austria

And we have fifth place. Austria took this spot, scoring 78 points, one point less than the previous three. Austria spends quite a bit on road development, at €761 per capita. Furthermore, Austria has a relatively small number of vehicles – 5.2 million. Drivers have access to 1,800 parking lots and 2,763 gas stations. The winding mountainous terrain, while beautiful, can also affect driving comfort. The Danube River route from Vienna to Salzburg is worth a visit.

Traveling by car - Serbia

Serbia ranked sixth in the ranking. The country spends €292 per capita on road development. Serbia offers very few public parking lots, just 143, while providing access to 1,529 gas stations. Driving comfort may be affected by the low number of cars on the road (2.7 million). Serbia scored 76 points.

Traveling by car - Portugal

In Portugal , parking is somewhat more manageable, with drivers having access to 1,069 public rest areas. Additionally, there are 3,274 gas stations. Furthermore, the Portuguese spend €211 per capita on infrastructure development, and 6.5 million cars drive on Portuguese roads. Portugal ranked 7th with 74 points.

Traveling by car - Poland

Poland also ranked seventh. Poland allocates almost the least funds for infrastructure development (second only to Italy), at just €114 per capita. Furthermore, there are 34 million vehicles on Polish roads. Of course, we boast a good number of parking lots, with 6,865 and 7,915 gas stations. Poland scored 74 points in the ranking.

Traveling by car - Sweden

Eighth place goes to Sweden, with 4.7 million cars. Residents invest €290 per person in infrastructure development. Only 678 parking lots and 2,898 gas stations are available. Sweden scored 73 points.

Traveling by car - Germany

Germany came in ninth place, which might seem surprising considering the relatively well-connected country's road network. However, Germany spends €210 per capita on infrastructure development. However, it boasts an impressive number of gas stations – 14,452 – and a significantly smaller number of parking lots – 2,933. Germany, however, leads the way in terms of the number of cars on the roads, with 49 million vehicles! Germany scored 72 points.

Traveling by car - Croatia

Croatia also ranked ninth, with a surprisingly large number of vehicles on its roads . There are only 2 million of them! Croatia also has 311 public parking lots and 1,122 gas stations. In terms of infrastructure investment per capita, the figure is €190. Croatia scored 72 points.

Travel by car - Italy

Italy (almost) rounds out the top ten. Although 41.3 million vehicles travel on Italian roads, the country invests only €63 per capita in infrastructure development. Italians, however, don't skimp on gasoline, offering a staggering 22,700 gas stations (the most in the ranking) and 3,233 public parking lots. Italy scored 71 points.

Travel by car - Switzerland

Switzerland, tied with Italy in tenth place, spends a similar amount on infrastructure development, spending €540 per capita. There are 4.8 million vehicles on Swiss roads. The Swiss have 500 public parking lots and 3,379 gas stations. Switzerland scored 71 points.