I nearly turned back at Dover.

Standing in the queue for the ferry, watching my savings evaporate into diesel costs and toll charges I hadn’t budgeted for, wondering if these European Vanlife Adventures were brilliant or completely stupid.

Then I drove off the ferry in Calais. Turned right. Kept driving. And within six hours I was parked on a beach in Normandy watching the sun set over the Atlantic, drinking a cold beer, realizing this was exactly why I’d built a van in the first place.

You soon lose track of time as the days pass. In the end i made it to 15 countries. Made mistakes in seven different languages. Got lost in the Alps (and nearly ran out of fuel). Found secret beaches in Portugal. Fell in love with Slovenia. Got food poisoning in Morocco.

This is everything I learned about taking your UK van into Europe — the routes that work, the costs that hurt, the mistakes you’ll make, and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Join me on my European Vanlife Adventures as I share the routes, costs, and stories from the road.

Why Europe is Vanlife Paradise (Compared to UK)

Let’s be honest: the UK is getting harder for vanlifers. More restrictions. More enforcement. More expensive.

Europe? Different story.

What’s better in Europe:

Space — Endless countryside, coastal routes, mountains. Room to breathe.

Tolerance — Most countries are more accepting of campervans. It’s normal there.

Weather — Southern Europe in winter beats Scottish rain every time.

Infrastructure — Aires (free/cheap motorhome parking) everywhere in France, Spain, Portugal.

Cost — Outside Western Europe, it’s cheaper to live than UK.

Freedom — Wild camping is legal or tolerated in many areas.

Wine — €2-€4 bottles that’d cost £12 in UK. Personally these days i prefer a cuppa.

What’s worse:

Getting there — Ferry costs, fuel, tolls add up fast.

Language barriers — Communication can be challenging.

Breakdowns — Finding mechanics who speak English and understand right-hand-drive vans.

Distance from home — When things go wrong, you’re far from your support network.

Brexit complications — 90 days in 180 now (I’ll explain this nightmare).

Winter cold — Northern/Central Europe is brutal. You need to chase the sun.

The Brexit Reality Check (This Hurts)

Pre-Brexit, you could stay in Europe indefinitely. Those days are gone.

Current rules (as of 2025):

• UK citizens can stay in Schengen Area for 90 days in any 180-day period
• This is a rolling period (not calendar)
• Overstay and you face fines, bans, deportation
• No exceptions for “vanlifers” or “travelers”

What this means:

You can’t spend winter in Spain anymore unless you’re wealthy enough to get a visa or own property.

The 90/180 calculation:

Use a calculator (schengenvisacalculator.com). It’s complicated!

Countries NOT in Schengen (extra time available):

• Ireland (unlimited as UK citizen, thank god)
• Croatia (recently joined Schengen, was useful before)
• Romania, Bulgaria (not yet in Schengen)
• Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia (not EU, different rules)
• Turkey, Morocco (outside Schengen entirely)

My strategy: 3 months in Schengen (winter in Spain/Portugal), 3 months outside (Morocco, Balkans, UK), repeat.

The frustration: This ruins the spontaneous freedom that made European vanlife magical. Now you’re watching calendars like a criminal on parole.

Ferry Costs: The Expensive Gateway

Getting your van to Europe costs money. Lots of it.

Dover to Calais (shortest):

• P&O or DFDS
• £70-£180 depending on season/time
• 90 minutes crossing
• Most frequent service

Portsmouth to Northern Spain:

• Brittany Ferries
• £400-£800 for van + person
• 24-32 hours crossing
• Skips France entirely (useful for Schengen days)

Harwich to Hook of Holland:

• Stena Line
• £150-£300
• Overnight crossing
• Gets you to Netherlands/Germany

Plymouth to Roscoff/Santander:

• Brittany Ferries
• £300-£700
• Long crossings (6-24 hours)

Newhaven to Dieppe:

• DFDS
• £80-£200
• 4 hours
• Quieter route

My usual choice: Dover to Calais. Cheapest. Most flexible timing. Then drive wherever I want.

Money-saving tips:

• Book months ahead (can be 50% cheaper)
• Midweek crossings cheaper than weekends
• Winter crossings cheaper than summer
• Off-peak times (middle of night) cheapest
• Pet-friendly ferries cost more (worth knowing)

My record crossing costs: £48 Dover-Calais (January, 3am, booked 4 months ahead). My most expensive: £220 (August bank holiday, booked week before).

Toll Roads: The Hidden Expense

European toll roads will bankrupt you if you’re not careful.

France:

• Autoroutes (motorways) are tolled
• €0.08-€0.12 per km
• Paris to Spain: €80-€120
• Can’t avoid if you’re in a hurry

Spain:

• Some autopistas are tolled
• €0.08-€0.15 per km
• Many free alternatives (slower)

Italy:

• Autostrade are expensive
• Venice to Rome: €45-€60
• Beautiful country, expensive roads

Portugal:

• Electronic toll system (Via Verde)
• Registers your license plate
• Bill arrives later (or never)
• Confusing system

Switzerland:

• Annual vignette required: CHF 40 (about £35)
• Valid for calendar year
• Buy at border
• No tolls beyond this

Germany/Netherlands/Belgium:

• Free motorways (bless them)

Croatia/Slovenia:

• Vignettes (weekly/monthly/annual)
• Slovenia: €15 weekly, €30 monthly
• Croatia: Various rates

My total toll costs (18,000 miles across Europe): €890. That’s about £780. Not insignificant.

How to minimize:

• Use free routes (slower but cheaper)
• Plan routes avoiding toll roads
• Share costs if traveling with others
• Factor into daily budget

Reality: Sometimes toll roads are worth it. Saving three hours and €40 in diesel vs paying €30 in tolls? Pay the tolls.

The Routes That Actually Work

Everyone’s route is different, but here are the proven classics:

Route 1: The Iberian Winter Escape (3-4 months)

Path: UK → France → Spain → Portugal → Spain → Morocco (optional) → back

Why: Warm winter weather, cheap living, surf, culture

My route:

• Dover to Calais
• Blast through France (2 days)
• San Sebastian, Spain (1 week – incredible food)
• Down the coast to Lisbon (2 weeks)
• Algarve, Portugal (6 weeks – surf and sun)
• Morocco (3 weeks – culture shock, amazing)
• Back through Spain (2 months – exploring interior)

Total distance: 7,500 miles

Costs: €3,200 including ferry, fuel, food, everything

Highlights:

• Portuguese wild camping on cliffs
• Moroccan Atlas Mountains
• Spanish pueblos blancos
• Surfing in Ericeira

Lowlights:

• France is expensive to drive through
• Winter rain in Portugal (it happens)
• Morocco border chaos

Route 2: The Alpine Adventure (Summer)

Path: UK → France → Switzerland → Italy → Austria → Slovenia → Croatia → back

Why: Mountains, lakes, stunning landscapes, hiking

Distance: 5,000 miles

Timeline: 2-3 months

Costs: €4,200 (Switzerland is expensive)

Highlights:

• Swiss Alps (expensive but worth it)
• Italian Dolomites
• Slovenian caves and coast
• Croatian islands

Lowlights:

• Expensive everything in Switzerland
• Crowded in peak summer
• Mountain roads challenging for big vans

Route 3: The Eastern European Budget Tour

Path: UK → Netherlands → Germany → Poland → Czech Republic → Hungary → Romania → Bulgaria → back

Why: Cheap, uncrowded, underrated, fascinating history

Distance: 6,500 miles

Timeline: 3 months

Costs: €2,100 (cheapest trip I’ve done)

Highlights:

• Krakow, Poland (beautiful, cheap beer)
• Budapest, Hungary (incredible city)
• Romanian mountains and Transylvania
• Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Lowlights:

• Roads can be rough
• Language barriers harder
• Fewer vanlife-friendly facilities
• Some border crossings sketchy

Route 4: The Scandinavian Summer

Path: UK → Denmark → Sweden → Norway → back via ferry

Why: Midnight sun, incredible nature, safe, clean

Distance: 4,000 miles

Timeline: 6-8 weeks

Costs: €5,800 (most expensive per day)

Highlights:

• Norwegian fjords (otherworldly)
• Wild camping paradise
• Clean, safe, organized
• Midnight sun experience

Lowlights:

• Extortionately expensive (£10 for a coffee)
• Midges in summer
• Cold even in July
• Limited growing season means limited fresh food

Route 5: The French Meander

Path: UK → Normandy → Brittany → Loire Valley → Dordogne → Provence → Alps → back

Why: France has everything. Beaches, mountains, wine, cheese, culture.

Distance: 3,500 miles

Timeline: 2-3 months

Costs: €3,400

Highlights:

• French Alps
• Provence lavender fields
• Dordogne villages
• Wine regions everywhere

Lowlights:

• Can be expensive
• French bureaucracy if things go wrong
• August is overcrowded everywhere

Country-by-Country Reality Check

France

Wild camping: Officially illegal but tolerated outside tourist season/areas. Park smart, be discreet.

Aires: Everywhere. €5-€15 per night usually. Fresh water, waste disposal, often free parking nearby.

Costs: €40-€60 per day including fuel, food, parking.

Language: Learn basic French. They appreciate the effort.

Best bit: Food, wine, diversity of landscapes.

Worst bit: Can be expensive, tolls add up.

Spain

Wild camping: Generally tolerated except popular coastal areas (Andalusia, Costa Brava).

Facilities: Increasing number of aire-style parking areas.

Costs: €35-€50 per day.

Language: Spanish essential. English less common than you’d think.

Best bit: Weather, food, people, cheaper than UK.

Worst bit: Summer coastal areas overcrowded with vans.

Portugal

Wild camping: Very tolerant traditionally. Cracking down in Algarve now.

Surfing: World-class. Everywhere.

Costs: €30-€45 per day (cheapest in Western Europe).

Language: Portuguese. Many speak English.

Best bit: Beaches, surf, cheap, friendly, sunny.

Worst bit: Weather isn’t perfect (it rains in winter).

Italy

Wild camping: Officially illegal, heavily enforced on coasts and tourist areas. More tolerated in mountains/rural areas.

Costs: €45-€70 per day (food is expensive).

Driving: Chaotic. Stressful in cities.

Best bit: Food, culture, landscapes, history.

Worst bit: Wild camping enforcement, expensive tolls.

Germany

Wild camping: Technically illegal. One night “rest stops” tolerated.

Stellplatz: Hundreds of designated motorhome parking areas. €10-€20.

Costs: €40-€60 per day.

Efficiency: Everything works. Clean. Organized.

Best bit: Stellplatz system, free motorways, great roads.

Worst bit: Can feel regulated. Less freedom than Southern Europe.

Switzerland

Wild camping: Tolerated in mountains, forbidden near towns/tourist areas.

Costs: €80-€120 per day (painfully expensive).

Beauty: Unmatched. Every view is a postcard.

Language: German/French/Italian depending on region.

Best bit: Stunning landscapes, wild camping in Alps.

Worst bit: You’ll hemorrhage money. Budget carefully.

Slovenia

Wild camping: Semi-tolerated. Use common sense.

Size: Tiny. You can see everything in 2 weeks.

Costs: €35-€50 per day.

Beauty: Disproportionately beautiful for its size.

Best bit: Alps, caves, coast, Lake Bled, cheap, underrated.

Worst bit: Small. You’ll run out of places quickly.

Croatia

Wild camping: Tolerated outside tourist season. Strict near coast in summer.

Costs: €40-€60 per day (tourist areas expensive).

Coast: Stunning. Adriatic islands are paradise.

Best bit: Islands, ancient towns, Adriatic sea.

Worst bit: Tourist areas packed in summer, expensive.

Greece

Wild camping: Generally tolerated, especially off-season.

Islands: Ferry with van is expensive (€100-€300).

Costs: €35-€55 per day.

Best bit: Islands, history, food, friendly people.

Worst bit: Summer heat intense, some areas very touristy.

Morocco

Wild camping: Tolerated almost everywhere. Feels very free.

Border: Tangier or Ceuta. Can be chaotic. Allow 2-4 hours.

Costs: €15-€25 per day (incredibly cheap).

Culture shock: Yes. But fascinating.

Best bit: Atlas Mountains, Sahara edges, cheap, adventure.

Worst bit: Hassle in cities, border stress, roads can be rough.

Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria)

Wild camping: Generally tolerated. Less enforcement.

Costs: €20-€40 per day (cheap).

Infrastructure: Improving but less developed than Western Europe.

Best bit: Cheap, uncrowded, fascinating, friendly.

Worst bit: Language barriers, fewer facilities, roads variable.

Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark)

Wild camping: Legal in Norway/Sweden (Allemansrätten). Paradise.

Costs: €70-€100 per day (expensive).

Nature: Pristine. Fjords, forests, mountains.

Best bit: Freedom to camp anywhere, nature, safety.

Worst bit: Eye-watering prices for everything.

The Costs: My Actual Spending

Three months in Spain/Portugal/Morocco:

• Ferry: £140 (return, off-peak)
• Fuel: €1,200 (diesel averaged €1.40/L)
• Food: €1,100 (€12 per day)
• Campsites: €280 (occasional paid spots)
• Tolls: €180
• Activities: €150 (museums, etc)
• Repairs: €150 (puncture, oil change)
• Total: €3,200 (£2,800)

Daily average: €35

Comparison to UK: Living in UK (parking, food, fuel) was costing me £40-£50 per day. Europe was cheaper.

Two months in Eastern Europe:

• Ferry: £120
• Fuel: €600
• Food: €720 (€12 per day)
• Campsites: €120
• Tolls: €80
• Border bribes: €20 (yes, really)
• Total: €2,100 (£1,850)

Daily average: €28

Most expensive: Norway for 3 weeks: €2,100. Daily average: €100.

Cheapest: Bulgaria for 2 weeks: €220. Daily average: €16.

What to Sort Before You Go

Insurance

Your UK campervan insurance needs to cover Europe. Check:

• How many days per year (usually 90-180)
• Which countries (some exclude Eastern Europe/Morocco)
• Breakdown cover in Europe (essential)
• Green Card (proof of insurance, required at some borders)

My insurance (Comfort): Covers 180 days in Europe including Morocco. Costs extra £60 per year.

Breakdown Cover

AA/RAC European cover: £150-£300 per year. Worth it.

Includes:

• Recovery anywhere in Europe
• Repatriation if van can’t be fixed
• Accommodation if waiting for repairs

I’ve used it twice. Once in France (alternator), once in Spain (gearbox). Would’ve cost thousands without cover.

Documentation

Essential:

• Passport (obvious)
• Driving license (UK license valid in Europe)
• V5C (vehicle registration document)
• Insurance certificate and Green Card
• MOT certificate
• Vehicle service history (useful at borders)

Recommended:

• European Accident Statement form (from insurer)
• Contact details for breakdown cover
• Copies of everything (digital and physical)

For some countries:

• International Driving Permit (£5.50, lasts 3 years, needed in some countries)
• Breathalyser kit (required in France, €5)
• Warning triangles (required in many countries, £10)
• Hi-vis vests (required in many countries, £5)
• First aid kit (required in some countries, £15)
• Fire extinguisher (recommended, £15)

I carry all of this. Never been asked for most of it. But the one time you need it…

Vehicle Prep

Service before you go:

• Oil change
• Check brakes, tyres, fluids
• Fix any known issues

Breaking down in Europe is expensive and stressful. Start with a reliable van.

Spares to carry:

• Spare bulbs (legal requirement some countries)
• Spare fuses
• Spare fan belt
• Engine oil (1L)
• Basic tools

Modifications:

• Headlight beam deflectors (your lights are aimed for left-side driving, £5)
• GB sticker (required, £2)
• Consider sat nav with Europe maps

Border Crossings: The Reality

Within Schengen (France, Spain, Germany, etc): No checks. Just drive across. Amazing.

Into Schengen from UK: Passport check at ferry. That’s it.

Non-Schengen borders (Croatia, Romania, etc): Passport checks, sometimes vehicle checks. Usually 10-30 minutes.

Morocco: Chaos. Vehicle gets checked. Customs paperwork. Allow 2-4 hours. Be patient.

My worst border experience: Bulgaria to Turkey. Four hours. Vehicle search. Bribe demanded (we refused, they eventually gave up). Exhausting.

My easiest: Driving France to Spain. Didn’t even realize I’d crossed until the signs changed.

Meeting Other Vanlifers

Where you’ll find community:

Popular wild camping spots: Other vans gravitate to same places. Park4Night shows you where.

Campsites in winter: Southern Spain/Portugal in winter is full of European vanlifers escaping cold.

Festivals and gatherings:

• Campervan gatherings in Spain (winter)
• Surfing communities in Portugal
• Climbing areas in France/Spain

Apps and groups:

• Park4Night (shows you where vans are)
• iOverlander (similar)
• Facebook groups (Vanlife Europe, country-specific groups)

My experience: Made more vanlife friends in 3 months in Europe than 2 years in UK. The international community is huge, friendly, helpful.

Met a German couple who’d been traveling 4 years. A French family with three kids. A Dutch solo female vanlifer who’d done 40+ countries. An Australian couple on a 2-year world trip.

The community is diverse, welcoming, and usually up for sharing beers and stories around a campfire.

Language Barriers

English works in:

• Netherlands (they speak English better than I do)
• Scandinavia (excellent English everywhere)
• Germany (very good, especially younger people)
• Austria (good)

English sometimes works in:

• France (more in tourist areas, less rural)
• Spain (cities yes, rural no)
• Italy (tourist areas only)

English rarely works in:

• Portugal (though they’re patient with attempts)
• Eastern Europe (learn basics)
• Morocco (French or Arabic)

My solution:

• Google Translate app (download offline language packs)
• Learn basic phrases (hello, thank you, sorry, how much, where is…)
• Pointing and smiling gets you surprisingly far
• Patience

Phrases I use constantly:

• “Sorry, I don’t speak [language]”
• “Do you speak English?”
• “How much?”
• “Where is…?”
• “Thank you”

Real story: Got lost in rural Romania. Zero English. Used Google Translate to ask for directions. Ended up being invited for dinner by a family who didn’t speak a word of English. We communicated through translation apps and gestures. One of the best nights of my trip.

The Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)

Mistake 1: Not understanding Schengen rules

Overstayed by 4 days without realizing. Got a stern talking-to at Dover on return. Could’ve been fined or banned. Now I track it obsessively.

Mistake 2: Driving through Switzerland without vignette

Didn’t know I needed one. Got pulled over. €200 fine on the spot. Expensive lesson.

Mistake 3: Not budgeting for tolls

First trip to Spain via France: €120 in unexpected tolls. Killed my budget for a week.

Mistake 4: Assuming everywhere is like UK

Wild camped on a beach in Italy. Got moved on aggressively at 2am. Different countries, different tolerance levels.

Mistake 5: No backup plan for breakdowns

Alternator died in rural France. No breakdown cover. Took 3 days to sort. Cost €450. Now I have AA European cover.

Mistake 6: Not winterising properly before Norway

Summer trip to Norway. Didn’t expect it to drop below freezing in July. Water pipes froze. Had to thaw everything out.

Mistake 7: Trusting Google Maps in mountains

Routed me up a “road” in the Alps that was a 4×4 track. Van barely made it. Terrifying. Now I check routes properly.

The Moments That Made It Worth It

Midnight in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco:

Parked on a mountain pass. Clear sky. No light pollution. Saw the Milky Way so clearly I could see its structure. Shooting stars every few minutes. Just me, the van, the desert below, and the universe above.

Free. Awe-inspiring. Unforgettable.

Meeting Luca in Slovenia:

Parked next to an Italian van at Lake Bohinj. Luca invited me for coffee. We spent three days hiking together. He taught me some Italian. I taught him some Essex slang. We’re still in touch.

Human connection in unexpected places.

Porto sunset, Portugal:

Parked on the coast. Made dinner. Watched the sun set over the Atlantic while drinking a beer and eating fresh bread. Realized I was living exactly the life I’d built the van for.

The kindness in rural Poland:

Broke down. Farmer stopped. Didn’t speak any English. Understood my problem. Towed me to his farm. Let me camp there for 3 days while waiting for parts. Fed me. Refused payment.

Faith in humanity restored.

Wild camping Norway:

Parked by a fjord under the midnight sun. No one around for miles. The view was unreal. Felt completely free and alive.

These moments don’t make the Instagram posts. They’re too personal, too internal. But they’re why you do this.

Practical Daily Life in Europe

Where to get water:

• Campsites (ask nicely, often free)
• Aires (usually have water points)
• Petrol stations (sometimes)
• Cemeteries (always have taps, be respectful)
• Asking locals (success rate: 70%)

Where to empty waste:

• Campsites (€5-€10)
• Aires (often free)
• Public waste points (France, Spain, Germany have them)

Where to do laundry:

• Launderettes in towns (€8-€12 per load)
• Campsites (expensive, €6-€10)
• Handwashing (free but tedious)

Where to shower:

• Campsites (€3-€6 for non-guests)
• Gyms (day pass €10-€15)
• Public beaches (free, cold)
• Your van (if you have a system)

Where to work (if remote):

• Libraries (free WiFi)
• Cafes (buy something, use WiFi)
• Campsites (often have WiFi)
• Mobile data (works but expensive roaming post-Brexit)

Where to shop:

• Supermarkets: Lidl and Aldi everywhere (cheap, familiar)
• Local markets (better produce, cultural experience)
• Hypermarkets for big shops (France has huge ones)

When to Go Where

Spain/Portugal: October-April (escape UK winter)

France: May-June or September (avoid August crowds)

Italy: Spring (April-May) or Autumn (September-October)

Greece: April-June or September-October

Scandinavia: June-August only (winter is dark and brutal)

Eastern Europe: May-September (shoulder seasons best)

Alps: Summer (July-August) for hiking, winter (December-March) for skiing

Morocco: November-March (summer is too hot)

The Freedom vs The Reality

What Instagram shows:

• Permanent adventure
• Beautiful locations
• Happy couples
• Perfect weather
• No stress

The reality:

• Long driving days
• Boring service station car parks
• Mechanical problems
• Weather doesn’t cooperate
• Loneliness sometimes
• Admin (border crossings, insurance, finding facilities)
• Brexit restrictions
• Money stress

But also:

• Genuine freedom
• Cultural immersion
• Meeting incredible people
• Seeing places tourists don’t
• Living on your terms
• Adventures you’ll never forget
• Stories you’ll tell forever

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. But go in with realistic expectations. It’s not Instagram. It’s better and worse and more complicated and more rewarding than any social media can show.

My Top Tips for First-Timers

1. Start small: Do 2-4 weeks before committing to longer. Europe will still be there.
2. Budget more than you think: Add 30% to your estimate. You’ll spend it.
3. Learn basics of languages: “Thank you” goes a long way.
4. Download offline maps: Google Maps, Maps.me, Park4Night all have offline options.
5. Join Facebook groups before you go: Get current info on spots, rules, changes.
6. Service your van properly: Breakdowns abroad are expensive and stressful.
7. Get proper insurance: Cheapest option will bite you when you need it.
8. Be flexible: Best experiences come from unplanned detours.
9. Talk to other vanlifers: They know where to go, what to avoid, current local situations.
10. Track your Schengen days: Use a calculator. Don’t guess.
11. Carry cash: Some countries are still cash-based. Keep €200-€300 in small notes.
12. Backup your photos: You’ll take thousands. Back them up regularly.

The Routes I’ll Do Next

Balkans deep dive: Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia. Underrated, cheap, fascinating.

Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. Never been. Summer 2026 planned.

Morocco extended: Last time was rushed. Want to go deeper. Sahara edges. Atlas Mountains properly.

Iceland: Expensive but bucket list. Need to save properly.

Turkey: Outside Schengen, fascinating culture, affordable. Spring 2026.

Final Thoughts

That moment in the ferry queue at Dover when I nearly turned back?

I’m so glad I didn’t.

Europe changed my vanlife. Opened it up. Made it bigger. Showed me that the UK, as much as I love it, is tiny and increasingly restrictive.

The freedom to wake up in France, decide over coffee to head to Spain, and be there by evening. The ability to follow good weather, interesting people, or just your curiosity. The immersion in different cultures while still having your home with you.

This is what vanlife was meant to be.

Yes, Brexit ruined some of it. The 90-day limit stings. But 90 days is still a lot of time if you use it well.

Yes, it’s expensive to get there. But living there can be cheaper than UK.

Yes, there are challenges. Language barriers, border crossings, mechanical issues in foreign countries.

But the rewards:

Standing on a Portuguese cliff watching waves you’ll never surf in UK. Drinking wine that costs less than water while watching sunset over the Mediterranean. Meeting people from all over Europe united by the same nomadic spirit. Seeing the Milky Way from a Moroccan mountain. Swimming in a Norwegian fjord at midnight under the midnight sun.

These aren’t Instagram moments. They’re life moments. The kind you’ll remember when you’re old and wondering if you lived properly.

You did. You are. You will.

Europe is waiting. Your ferry is booked. Your van is ready.

Go.

Useful Resources

Ferry bookings:

• directferries.com — comparison site for all routes
• Book directly with operators for best prices

Route planning:

• Rome2Rio — shows all transport options
• ViaMichelin — includes toll costs
• Park4Night — essential for parking spots

Border/visa info:

• gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice — UK government info by country
• schengenvisacalculator.com — track your days

Community:

• Facebook: “Vanlife Europe”, country-specific groups
• Instagram: #vanlifeeurope (but take with salt)

Apps:

• Park4Night (parking spots)
• iOverlander (similar, more world-focused)
• Maps.me (offline maps)
• Google Translate (offline language packs)

Insurance:

• Shop around. Specialist campervan insurers offer best European cover.

The road is open. The continent is huge. The adventure is real.

See you out there.