Best route to Italy?

[Jim Schush]

This week we set off for an 8 week trip to Northern Italy (starting from Rotterdam) and I am looking for some advice with regards to the best route to take.
Our van is Euro 6 and as a maximum weight at 3.85t. Originally I had planned to travel via Austria but now after reading a few negative experiences of the “ Go box” experience I am considering that maybe Switzerland may be a less complicated and a less stressful route.
During our planning we have managed to obtain the German low emission sticker (not sure I need it) and I have managed to obtain original copies of the vehicles certificate of conformity.
We want to visit Venice (after Easter), besides this we have no definite bookings so we are free to roam.
Any advice from Funsters who have experience of this area would be welcomed.

 

[Lenny HB]

We are over 3. 5t aways go through Austria we don't use the toll roads.

 

[MichaelT]

We are over 3. 5t aways go through Austria we don't use the toll roads.

I've heard of cases where the non toll road gets shut and you are pushed onto a toll road.

 

[lorger]

Been a few years since we did it but we went via Austria, we paid the toll at the Brennan pass (not sure that’s correct name).

 

[Lenny HB]

I've heard of cases where the non toll road gets shut and you are pushed onto a toll road.

It does happen, happened to us in Slovenia but got away with it. Just make sure you plot a route away from Autobhans.

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[WESTY66]

I've heard of cases where the non toll road gets shut and you are pushed onto a toll road.

It does happen, happened to us at Innsbruck (well known to happen there) but we was on bikes and had a vignette, but there was cops at the next exit checking for vignettes

Just don’t use the roads parallel with the motorway

 

[Bill-H]

If I had 8 weeks to travel, I'd go through the Frejus tunnel at Modane and just travel down through France to get to Italy. Might be an extra few hours, but when I'm on holiday I'm not in a rush.

 

[Brains]

Like you we are 3.85kg
Like you, our MoHo has a conventional 'van' front end
Like you, the standard German version of our van is sold as 3500kg

We have gone through Austria 6 times since 2022
Each time we have simply bought a standard 'car' Vignette at the last fuel station in Germany on the way down or Slovenia or Italy on the way back. You can usually also buy them at the first fuel station into Austria. 'Corner shops' also sell them.

We have found as long as your MoHo looks like the tens of thousands of German ones crossing the border every day, no one cares.
Obviously if you have a 4+ ton, 8m+, tag axle, A class, then you will need a GoBox.

 

[Brains]

This is our typical type of route.

By sticking to the Autobahns you could go faster.
But southern Germany has a lot to see.
You could follow the 'Romantic Route' south from Wurtzburg.
Rothenburg aT, and Salzburg are worth at least a day (Stay one of the stunning campsites on the lakes to the east).

You could cross Austria via the Gross Glockner pass, the views are stunning.
Return via the Timmerjoch pass and Konstanz

You may find, as we did, that Bavaria and Austria are more interesting than northern Italy.

 

[Funnymunny]

Down through Luxembourg and Basle, stop at the border and pop into the office and fill in a simple form and pay whatever it is these days , was 28 euros last time we did it. Easy run all the way down to Venice or wherever you want to go

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