🐾
🐾
Bon
Voyage
Voyage
2026
the crew ~
our big autumn adventure ~
The GrandEuropean Arc
Berlin to the Alps, down through Italy, along the French Riviera, into Spain — then Paris, London, and the long, slow way home. The two of us and the pup.
6 Sep – mid-Dec 2026
~100 days
7 phases · 6 countries
the shape of it
At a Glance
on the road
~100 days
Sun 6 Sep → mid-December. Home, unhurried, well before Christmas.
the long pause
30 nights
Valencia, ~20 Oct–19 Nov. One apartment that absorbs both Poland trips.
est. lodging · 2 + dog
€8–12.6k
Shoulder-season, mid-range, over ~108 nights. Full breakdown later.
driving rule
3–4 h/day, driven in the evenings on workdays. Longer legs saved for weekends, so the week stays workable.
the three fixed anchors
Everything flexes around three immovable dates: Kraków 25–27 Sep (fly from Genoa) · Kraków 25–28 Oct & Warsaw 16–19 Nov (both fly from Valencia, dog stays put).
The Grand European Arc02
before you book a thing
The thinking behind it
This plan is built backwards from your three fixed Poland dates — the only truly immovable points. The sightseeing flexes around them, not the other way round.
why it works
The Valencia month saves it
Both Poland trips fall inside the fixed 30-night stay. You fly out and back to the same apartment twice — and the dog never moves.
the improvement
Starting earlier killed the crunch
You reach London in late November and finish the drive home with ~2 weeks of buffer — no racing through December weather.
the one trade-off
Tuscany is tight, by choice
Trimmed to 2 nights, so Florence is a single-day highlights visit. A fair trade for a calmer, earlier back half.
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seven chapters, one arc
The Route at a Glance
the middle (Valencia) is intentionally slowthe start & the run home are the moving parts
1
Berlin → the AlpsLiechtenstein · Swiss mountains
6–12 Sep
6 nts
2
Lake Como & MilanVarenna · Bellagio · Milan
12–16 Sep
4 nts
3
Adriatic → Tuscany → Cinque Terre → Genoathe slow phase · Kraków trip 1
16–28 Sep
~12 nts
4
Genoa → the French Rivierareunited, heading west
~28 Sep
1 nt
5
French Riviera + holiday weekMenton · Monaco · Antibes · St-Tropez → Spain
late Sep–mid Oct
~18 nts
6
Andorra + the Valencia anchorthe heart · Kraków 2 + Warsaw fly from here
mid Oct–mid Nov
~33 nts
7
Paris → London → homerelaxed, with a buffer before Christmas
late Nov–mid Dec
~18 nts
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the most important passenger
Before You Go — the dog
You're Poland-resident — that's in your favour
- ✓EU Pet Passport — valid the whole trip, including UK entryBecause you reside in Poland (EU), you do not need the Animal Health Certificate that GB residents now require. Carry the passport at every border.
- ✓Rabies vaccination — current & recordedMust stay valid for the entire trip, including the return crossing into the EU.
- ✓Microchip number must match the passportThis is checked at the UK border — verify it lines up before you leave.
- !UK tapeworm treatment — the rule that catches everyone outA vet must give a praziquantel treatment 24–120 h (1–5 days) before UK arrival and record it. NexGard, Frontline & Advocate are not accepted. Do this at a French vet near Paris/Calais. No treatment needed for the return into the EU.
chief navigator 🐾
ready to roam
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the admin that pays off
Before You Go — road & bookings
🚗 Car & road
- €Swiss e-vignette — CHF 40 (~€43)Buy online before crossing. Annual, valid to 31 Jan 2027, covers Liechtenstein too.
- ⛰Great St Bernard Tunnel (CH→IT)A separate ~CHF 30–50 toll, only if you use it.
- 🛣FR & IT motorways — toll by distancePay as you go. Budget ~€150–250 across the Italian + French legs.
- 🚆LeShuttle · Calais → FolkestoneDog stays in the car, 35 min. Book once the tapeworm date is locked.
📌 Book these early
- ★Valencia apartment — 30 nights, dog-friendlyThe single most important booking. Lock it months ahead at the monthly rate.
- ✈Genoa → Kraków (Wizz, direct, ~2 h, ~€40–110, only ~3×/week — match the schedule) for 25–27 Sep.
- ✈Valencia → Kraków & Valencia → Warsaw25–28 Oct (~€120–220) and 16–19 Nov (~€150–280). Pricier & less frequent — book early.
- 🖼The Last Supper, MilanIf either of you wants it, it sells out months in advance.
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1
PHASE
green meadows, crystal water, epic views
Berlin to the Alps
6–12 Sep6 nights~1,050 km
Sun 6 Sep · ~4.5 h
Berlin → Nuremberg
Your one big opening leg, done on a quiet Sunday while you're fresh. Walkable and dog-easy for an overnight.
Mon 7 Sep · ~3.5 h, evening
Lake Constance / Bodensee
Work the day, drive the evening. Clear water, Alpine foothills, dog-friendly promenades — a soft landing.
Tue 8 Sep · ~2 h · 1 night
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
A genuine half-day country: castle viewpoint, the main street, a vineyard walk — ticked properly.
Wed 9 – Sat 12 Sep · 3 nights
Swiss mountains · Lauterbrunnen
Staubbach falls, the emerald valley floor, Jungfrau views and turquoise lakes (Oeschinensee, Blausee).
Does it do it justice?
Lauterbrunnen is a 2–3 h detour off the Como line — eat it. It's the one stop that fully matches "green meadows, crystal water, epic views." Skipping it for efficiency is the kind of thing you'd regret.
🐾Villages (Wengen, Mürren) are car-free — park in the valley, use dog-friendly mountain trains. Confirm each lift allows dogs.
€800–1,150
Phase 1 lodging · 2 + dog
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2
PHASE
lakes, ferries & one aperitivo
Lake Como & Milan
12–16 Sep4 nights
Sat 12 Sep · ~3.5 h
Lauterbrunnen → Lake Como · base Varenna
Cross via the Gotthard or San Bernardino. Varenna over Como town — quieter, prettier, the ferry hub.
Sun 13 – Mon 14 Sep · 2 nights
Como
Varenna, a ferry to Bellagio (dogs allowed), lakeside walks. Easy, scenic workdays with good cafés.
Tue 15 Sep · 1 night only
Milan
Duomo exterior, a Brera wander, an aperitivo — then move on. The weakest dog city on the list.
Wed 16 Sep · ~2 h
Bologna / Parma
Position for Tuscany. Dog-friendly porticoes and superb food break the drive to the coast.
Does it do it justice?
Como earns 2 nights comfortably. Milan at 1 is correct — arguably the max. Its highlights (museums, the Last Supper) you can't bring a dog into, so don't give it two.
⛴Dogs ride the Como ferries — Varenna ↔ Bellagio ↔ Menaggio is a lovely no-car day.
€530–810
Phase 2 lodging · 2 + dog
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3
PHASE
the slow phase · around the Kraków anchor
Adriatic → Tuscany → Cinque Terre → Genoa
16–28 Sep~12 nightsKraków trip 1
Thu 17 – Sat 19 Sep
San Marino + Conero coast · base Sirolo · 2 nts
San Marino's three towers as a half-day; then cliffs, turquoise water and dog beaches south of Ancona.
Sun 20 – Mon 21 Sep · 2 nights
Tuscany · base Lucca
One focused day on Florence (rotate or use a sitter for museums), one on Lucca / Siena / Chianti.
Tue 22 Sep · one full day
Livorno + Pisa
Venezia Nuova canals & a cacciucco lunch, then the Field of Miracles — ~20 min apart, one satisfying day.
Wed 23 – Thu 24 Sep · 2 nights
Cinque Terre · Portovenere / Levanto
Five villages without cramming — car-free, by the dog-friendly train. No backtracking: it's on the way to Genoa.
Fri 25 Sep · ~1.5 h · 3-night base
Genoa
A proper base, not a lunch stop — Europe's largest medieval old town, the harbour, painted palazzi.
Kraków trip 1
Genoa has a direct Wizz Air flight to Kraków (~1 h 55). You fly out and back from Genoa — the dog never moves.
YouGOA → KRK, 25–27 Sep
Her + dogStay in Genoa, 3 nights
CatchRuns ~3×/wk — match days
€1,050–1,650
Phase 3 lodging · Kraków extra, your own
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4
PHASE
reunited, heading west
Genoa → the French Riviera
~28 Sep1 transit night
~Sun 28 Sep · ~3 h up the coast
Back from Kraków → San Remo / Ventimiglia
You fly into Genoa, rejoin, and drive west toward the French border. Overnight on the Italian Riviera (cheaper than France, dog-friendly) to break the drive before Menton.
Why this is now cleaner: putting Cinque Terre before Kraków removed the old southward dip out of Genoa. Everything from here flows straight west — no backtracking. Good call.
A breather leg
Just one night — a comma between the slow Italian phase and the Riviera. Use it to reset before the coast opens up.
🌅San Remo's old town (La Pigna) and the seafront promenade make a gentle evening stop.
€90–130
Phase 4 lodging · 2 + dog
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5
PHASE
the coast, then a week of standing still
French Riviera + the holiday week
late Sep – mid Oct~18 nightsyour week off → into Spain
Sat 3 Oct · ~1 h
Menton / Roquebrune · gateway to Monaco
The warmest corner of France, lovely into October — base here, 10 min from a car-unfriendly Monaco.
Sun 4 – Tue 6 Oct · 3 nights
Monaco & around
Monte Carlo, the casino square, Èze hilltop, Cap Ferrat coastal walks (superb with a dog).
Wed 7 – Fri 9 Oct · 3 nights
Antibes (over Cannes)
More dog- and human-livable — old town, ramparts, the market. Cannes is glossier, less practical.
~12–20 Oct · the holiday week
St-Tropez · Cassis · Aix-en-Provence
St-Tropez is calm in October. Pick one base and stop moving — Calanques de Cassis, elegant Aix.
The pivot point
Kraków 2 now flies from Valencia — so you must be installed in Valencia before 25 Oct (~20 Oct). Andorra + the descent happen in the ~10–18 Oct window.
💶Valencia→Kraków is pricier/less frequent than Nice or Barcelona would have been. You accepted that for the comfort of being settled. Book early.
€1,700–2,650
Phase 5 lodging · a weekly rate cuts it
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6
PHASE
the heart of the trip
Andorra + the Valencia anchor
mid Oct – mid Nov~33 nightsAndorra + a fixed 30 in Valencia
~10–18 Oct · 1–2 nights
Andorra · ~3 h Pyrenees climb
Worth the detour for the dramatic drive and tax-free shopping. The drive is the highlight — see it, descend.
split the ~5 h descent
Tarragona / Costa Daurada → Valencia
Break the drive on the coast, aim to be installed by ~20 Oct.
~20 Oct – 19 Nov · 30 nights
Valencia · Ruzafa or Malvarrosa
One of Europe's most dog-friendly, livable and affordable cities, with a mild autumn. Book monthly — far cheaper than nightly. Rest, work properly, settle in.
Both Poland trips fly from here
The smartest structural choice in the whole trip — and the dog never moves.
Kraków 225–28 Oct · VLC→KRK
Warsaw16–19 Nov · VLC→WAW
Her + dogStay in the apartment, both times
€1,820–2,960
Phase 6 · Valencia month ≈ €55–90/nt
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7
PHASE
one indulgent stop, one full week, then home
Paris → London → home
late Nov – mid Dec~18 nights~2 weeks' buffer before Christmas
~20–22 Nov · ~10 h, two days
Valencia → Paris · overnight Lyon
A transit stretch — one overnight only, around Lyon or Clermont-Ferrand (~5 h each leg).
~22–25 Nov · 3 nights
Paris
The right "indulgent single stop" on the way up. Dog-friendly if you skip the museums.
~26 Nov · ~3 h + tunnel
Paris → Calais → LeShuttle → London
Dog stays in the car for the 35-min crossing.
~26 Nov – 3 Dec · a full week
London
Plenty for the city — and starting earlier means the drive home is no longer a race.
from ~3 Dec · ~5–6 days
The drive home · Lille → Köln → Berlin → Poznań
~1,600 km at your pace. Home comfortably before ~12–15 Dec — or linger and still beat Christmas.
Critical dog action
Before London, book a French vet near Paris/Calais for the praziquantel tapeworm treatment — given 1–5 days before your UK arrival. Don't book the crossing until the window is confirmed.
↩The return into the EU is simpler — passport + current rabies, but no tapeworm treatment needed.
€2,050–3,250
Phase 7 · London is the priciest base
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the honest numbers
What It Costs
planning estimates, not quotes2 adults + dog · shoulder-season · mid-range
#
Region
Nights
Lodging €
1
Berlin → Alps
6
800 – 1,150
2
Como & Milan
4
530 – 810
3
Adriatic → Cinque Terre → Genoa
~12
1,050 – 1,650
4
Genoa → Riviera
1
90 – 130
5
French Riviera + holiday week
~18
1,700 – 2,650
6
Andorra + Valencia
~33
1,820 – 2,960
7
Paris, London, drive home
~18
2,050 – 3,250
Total lodging
~108
8,040 – 12,600
Other major costs
Fuel · ~6,500 km€1,200–1,800
Tolls + Swiss vignette€250–400
Channel crossing (return)€200–400
Poland flights ×3€340–620
Vet · UK tapeworm€40–80
Bottom line · lodging + fixed travel
≈ €10k – 15.8k
across ~108 days. Biggest levers: book Valencia & the October slack monthly, book all flights + the London week early.
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a blunt scorecard, so you can rebalance
Does each stop earn its time?
Liechtenstein
½ day + 1 night
Right-sized — a half-day country
Swiss mountains
3 nights
The scenic core of the trip
Lake Como
2 nights
Good balance
Milan
1 night
Correct — arguably the max
San Marino
½ day
Right — no overnight needed
Conero coast
2 nights
A well-judged seaside pause
Florence / Tuscany
2 nights
Trimmed — a 1-day highlights visit
Livorno + Pisa
1 full day
One shared day covers both
Genoa
4 nights (base)
Earns its nights as the Kraków base
Cinque Terre
2 nights
Rewards the time
Monaco
via 3-night base
½ day; the base fills the rest
Cannes / St-Tropez
4–5 nights
Fine off-peak; trim if budget bites
Andorra
1–2 nights
Right — the drive is the highlight
Valencia
1 month (fixed)
The anchor — solves both Poland trips
Paris
3 nights
Right for a transit indulgence
London
7 nights
Plenty; the drive home is the cost
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what to lock now, what to leave loose
The Booking Plan
Sun 6 Sep
Depart Berlin
6 – ~24 Sep
Berlin → Alps → Italy → Cinque Terre
25–27 Sep · fly from Genoa
Kraków 1 + Genoa apartment (3 nts)
~28 Sep – mid Oct
Riviera → holiday week → into Spain
~20 Oct – 19 Nov · 30 nights
Valencia — the fixed anchor
25–28 Oct & 16–19 Nov · from Valencia
Kraków 2 & Warsaw (dog stays)
~22 Nov – 3 Dec
Paris (+ vet) → London week + LeShuttle
from ~3 Dec
Drive home · Lille → Köln → Poznań
Book now — they sell out or spike
- Valencia apartment30 nights, monthly rate, dog-friendly.
- Three flight pairsGenoa→KRK (Sep, direct Wizz), Valencia→KRK (Oct), Valencia→WAW (Nov).
- London week + LeShuttleDecember prices climb steadily.
- French vet appointmentNear Paris/Calais, timed to the UK crossing.
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see you at the car ~
so... what do you think?
Pack the dog.
We leave 6 September.
A hundred slow days, six countries, and one ridiculously well-travelled pup — built so the only thing we ever rush is nothing at all.
Te quiero · à bientôt · do zobaczenia ✦