Frequently Asked Questions

Whichever way you want to! What do you feel like this year? Ride the ETR on your motorcycle? Alone or with some other riders? With your club? Maybe try it in the car, or in a van with friends? Or a combination of van + 5-6 motorcycles? Or maybe you want to explore ETR in Winter on Snowmobiles? Or on the water in RIB Boats? Combine motorcycles, snowmobiles, RIB's and dog sled tours? The possibilities are (nearly) endless!

The ETR concept is for people that like to take the time to slow down and get under the skin of the local areas and regions, and not just skim over the top as fast as possible. The main route is not meant to be used as an Autobahn to get from Spain to Norway, which is exactly why it is composed primarily of slow country roads and backroads, stretching from one end of Europe to the other.

The only integrated stretch of motorway (at time of writing) is the Øresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö, connecting Denmark and Sweden by road and rail. Otherwise, you should think in terms of ‘Slow Travel’ when you’re enjoying The ETR, so you don’t deprive yourself of the millions of great experiences you find when you’re not racing around Europe like a mindless lunatic :) Slow down, chill out, enjoy more!

You should! We have seen large groups of riders on all Stages of the route. Just plan ahead and book hotels well in advance so you are sure to get the number of rooms you want, in the type of accommodation you prefer for any season. Restaurants also. And always tank-up the night before wherever possible, so your motorcycles are ready the next morning, and you don’t have to start the day queuing for petrol along with all the locals!

The main ETR Route is divided into 60 Stages which are strong and individual experiences in themselves. Each stage covers a different and unique set of cultural, historic, heritage, topographic, landscape and geographic experiences. Each stage contains hundreds of great roads, routes, destinations and experiences, in a radius of 100km of the route. You can ride each stage in a day, or better still, take a week to explore a stage in detail, and go off the beaten track. ETR Stages can take as long as you want, and you don't have to stick to the route - just get out there and discover!

The 60 stages are designed with Stage 1 at the very North and Stage 60 in the southern end, so if you want to ride it chronologically you start up north. Otherwise, ride it in reverse :)

Yes, the route is designed to be enjoyed in any direction - also East-West. When you have finished riding the 12,638 kilometers of great country roads from Nordkapp to Cadiz, and you still feel like more hairpins and switchbacks, great coastal roads, tunnels, spectacular bridges and high mountain passes, just point your vehicle in the other direction and head north again - the end of one adventure, is always the start of the next one!

The main ETR route is developed as a touring backbone through Europe, and contains a lot of the great roads, rides, attractions and experiences that you can find in Europe, baked into one large route. There are currently 9 countries along the central route, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain.

Feel free to include other countries in your experience of the ETR - we also encourage visitors to get off the main track and explore the smaller backroads, towns and villages within a 100km radius each side of the route, before continuing north or south on the main route again. It's all about finding those unique experiences for yourself, and maybe sharing them with others, - if you want to :)

Yes, we'll add more regions in detail as time goes on, including as many great destinations, experiences, locations, attractions, that riders and travellers like you want to experience on your 'Great Quest' through Europe.

You can ride it in any season, and some even go all the way north in the depths of Winter, but it’s definitely more pleasant in the Arctic regions in the summer. You could start down south in late Winter, early Spring and arrive up north in Summer, for example. Or the other way around, start from the north in late Summer and arrive down south in Autumn sometime.

Anywhere you like! It makes no difference where you start the ETR, the main idea is to enjoy it, where you’re coming from and heading back to, afterwards. You can cut in anywhere along the route, and head north or south, depending on which types of experiences you want to start with. Each country and region offers a host of different experiences, events, festivals and happenings at different parts of the year, so you are sure to catch some great memories whichever direction you decide to start in. Both are good!

A lot of ETR Riders & Drivers take a few days in Alta, Northern Norway before making the final run along ETR Stage 1 to Nordkapp and back, so they get the best weather conditions. It’s a 207km ride in each direction, and perfect for a same-day ride up and back, leaving you with enough good hours to relax at Nordkapp before riding back to Alta, for a great night out!

Stay at Canyon Hotell >>
Eat at Restaurant Stakeriet >>
Eat at Alattio Pizza e Pasta >>
Enjoy drinks at Gabo Bar >>
Experience unforgettable adventures with Æventyr >>

Not all Alpine Passes are open continuously all year round, so you should always check whether the passes you want to include in your ride are open or closed before you set off that morning. In late Spring, sudden snowfall can close a pass that had been open for weeks beforehand. There are some local info websites that can tell you which passes are open/closed and for how long.

Prepare for all types of weather up north, and if you’re riding to Nordkapp on anything without a roof and heating system, it’s a good idea to have heated vests, jacket, pants, boots, gloves and grips, as it can get cold up there, even in Summer. Warm, woolen thermals, waterproof and breathable outer layers, waterproof boots, heated hand protectors (attached to the handlebars) are a good idea, and maybe a waterproof outer poncho if you plan to ride on rainy days. Bring sunscreen also!

Not at all, in fact, the idea is that you use the route as a guide or backbone for exploring the 60 Stages in detail. There’s no right way or wrong way to ride the route - everyone’s experience is unique and all will be different - but we do recommend that you take your time, slow down and enjoy it at a calmer pace - it’s not a race, and there are no prizes for being the fastest!

The core route itself is meant to be used as a backbone to explore the great roads and regions contained in the 60 Stages. The ‘diameter’ of the route is around 200 km, which gathers in and includes all of the interesting destinations, events and experiences you can find within a couple of hours riding in any direction. Then, when you want to move on, make your way back to the main route and head towards the next stage, and take a drift around that region.

Not any more, but there are many good motorcycle touring companies that run tours at different stages of the route. The best way, however, is just gather a group of friends together, pack your bags and just get out there. And don’t just stick to the route, explore the side roads also!

For experienced riders that have tried riding in harsh conditions, yes. As always, hardcore and risk-filled rides are at your own responsibility, and we don't recommend riding to Nordkapp in Winter for inexperienced riders, so take care out there! Don't just do it as a TikTok challenge or just to get idiotic Instagram pictures. Riding in the Arctic in Winter is serious business, and your life relies fully on the strength of your equipment and depth of your riding experience. You can take it in stages and judge the weather before setting out on the next stage. Always bring a backup supply of petrol/diesel and food/water on each stage, and plan your rides so you know you’ll make it from one petrol station to the next. It’s also recommended to ride in groups, and not as a solo rider. And tell people where you’re heading to next, in case they have any local or recent information that you need to be aware of.

ETR is for everyone to enjoy on any type of vehicle - even on foot. We have seen cyclists starting out in southern Spain to arrive at Nordkapp a few months later. Walkers and hikers also. And if you need to carry more equipment with you, then your choice of vehicle changes also, from bicycles, to mopeds, all types of motorcycle and sidecar rigs, trikes, slingshots, 4-wheeled 1-person vehicles, cars, pickups, SUV’s, vans, campervans, overland trucks, busses, and of course, large groups of motorcyclists. Ride the ETR your own way!

That is entirely up to personal taste, and what you feel comfortable with. And whether you like being warm, cold, wet or dry. Maybe you want to sleep in your vehicle, or bring your pets along for a great adventure?

Central and southern Euurope have more motorcycle rental locations than Scandinavia, and we have heard good things about MotorBikeTrip, based on the French Riviera. From there you can ride the ETR north, south or any other direction!

Nope, we don’t handle any bookings on your behalf, but we can direct you to where you can make your own bookings, and build your dream trip that way.

Along the route, or within a 20 km ride in any direction, you will find comfortable and good-quality hotels, hostels, campsites, cabins, guest houses, and once you get far enough away from ‘civilisation’, you’ll find an unending supply of beautiful wild camping locations, if you prefer to bring your own accommodation on your motorcycle.

Yes, take a look through the Stories section of the website, and you’ll come across some of our favorite hotels and reliable hotel partners that we recommend to travelers, where they can get everything they need at a reasonable price. Check out the STORIES section to read more about ETR Accommodation, or browse the map and find them there!