Best Countries to Self-Drive as a Tourist in 2026 (+ IDP Requirements)
There is a particular kind of freedom that only comes when you pick up a rental car at the airport, pull out of the lot, and realize the entire country is yours to explore on your own schedule. No tour buses. No fixed stops. No rushing past the viewpoint because the group needs to be somewhere else by noon.
Self-drive travel is one of the richest ways to experience a foreign country — but getting your documentation wrong can end the trip before it starts. Show up at a rental counter in Thailand or Italy without an International Driving Permit alongside your license, and you will either be turned away or face a fine you did not budget for.
This guide covers the ten best countries in the world for self-drive tourism, exactly what roads to drive, and precisely what documents you need for each one.
What Makes a Country Great for Self-Drive Tourism?
Every destination on this list was chosen based on the same criteria: road quality, safety for foreign drivers, English or internationally recognized signage, scenic variety, and how much of the country is only reachable by car. The best self-drive destinations share one thing in common — the most memorable experiences are off the main tourist trail, and the only way to reach them is with your own wheels.
Most countries on this list require or strongly recommend an International Driving Permit alongside your domestic driver’s license. An IDP is an official multilingual translation of your license, recognized in 150+ countries under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Without one, local authorities and rental companies in many destinations cannot legally accept your credentials.
The 10 Best Countries to Self-Drive as a Tourist
1. Iceland
Iceland is the world’s greatest road trip country. Volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, and the Northern Lights are all connected by a single road — the Ring Road (Route 1), a 1,332 km loop around the entire island. There is genuinely nothing else like it on earth.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Excellent on the Ring Road; highland F-roads require a 4WD.
IDP required: Strongly recommended — most rental companies request one for non-EU license holders.
Best time: June to August for Midnight Sun; September to March for Northern Lights.
2. New Zealand
Two islands, virtually no traffic, and scenery that ranges from subtropical beaches to snow-capped Alps. New Zealand’s South Island in particular — State Highway 6 from Nelson down to Queenstown — is one of the great drives of the world, and almost no one is on the road.
Driving side: Left.
Road quality: Very good; some mountain passes need caution in winter.
IDP required: Yes — required for licenses not issued in English; strongly recommended for all foreign visitors.
Best time: November to April.
3. Italy
Tuscany’s cypress-lined backroads, the Amalfi Coast’s cliff-hugging SS163, and the Dolomites in the northeast — Italy is one of Europe’s most rewarding self-drive destinations for anyone willing to leave the motorway. The Amalfi Coast alone is worth flying across the world for.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Excellent on motorways; village roads are narrow.
IDP required: Yes — required for non-EU license holders. Both rental companies and police routinely check. Also be aware of ZTL restricted zones in city centers, which are camera-enforced and very expensive.
Best time: May, June, and September.
4. South Africa
The Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is one of Africa’s great drives — coastal cliffs, lagoons, forests, and wine country all within a few days of driving. South Africa has world-class roads on its major routes and the rental car infrastructure to match.
Driving side: Left.
Road quality: Excellent on major routes; variable on rural roads.
IDP required: Yes — required for all foreign drivers alongside your original license.
Best time: October to April. Avoid driving unfamiliar rural roads after dark.
5. Norway
Norway’s Scenic Routes are some of the most dramatic roads in Europe. The Trollstigen mountain road, the Atlantic Ocean Road crossing tiny islands over open sea, and the fjord roads of the west coast are all experiences that cannot be replicated any other way.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Excellent; some mountain roads close in winter.
IDP required: Recommended for non-European license holders.
Best time: June to September for mountain roads; winter for snow and Northern Lights. Note that toll roads are common — confirm your rental has an AutoPASS transponder.
6. United States
Four million miles of roads connecting deserts, redwood forests, the Rocky Mountains, and the Florida Keys. The Pacific Coast Highway alone — Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles hugging the Big Sur cliffs — belongs on every driver’s bucket list.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Excellent on Interstates; variable on rural backroads.
IDP required: Recommended — some states require one for non-English licenses, and car rental companies widely request it.
Best time: Varies by region; spring and fall are generally best across the country.
7. Australia
The Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide, the Red Centre around Uluru, and the Kimberley in Western Australia are all experiences built specifically for road travel. Australia is vast — distances are much larger than they look on a map — and that vastness is the entire point.
Driving side: Left.
Road quality: Excellent on highways; outback tracks require serious preparation including extra water and fuel.
IDP required: Yes — required for licenses not in English; strongly recommended for all foreign visitors. Best time: March to May and September to November.
8. Portugal
One of Europe’s most underrated self-drive destinations. Good roads, low traffic outside Lisbon, the dramatic Atlantic coastline of the Algarve, and wine country in the Douro Valley — all at prices significantly lower than France, Italy, or Spain. The road from Faro to Sagres along the southwestern tip of Europe is quietly one of the continent’s best coastal drives.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Very good; motorways are excellent.
IDP required: Yes for non-EU license holders. Note that some motorway tolls are electronic-only — confirm your rental car’s toll setup at pickup.
Best time: April to June and September to October.
9. Thailand — Northern Region
The Mae Hong Son Loop from Chiang Mai is 600 kilometers of mountain roads, hill tribe villages, Buddhist temples, and misty valleys. Northern Thailand by car is a completely different country from the beach resorts of the south, and it is spectacular.
Driving side: Left.
Road quality: Good on major routes; mountain roads require care.
IDP required: Yes — strictly enforced. Police checkpoints are frequent in northern Thailand and fines for driving without an IDP are actively issued to tourists.
Best time: November to February.
10. Morocco
Driving from Marrakech across the High Atlas Mountains, down through the Draa Valley, and into the Sahara at Merzouga is one of the most cinematic road trips on earth. Morocco’s main routes are in good shape and the country is well set up for self-drive tourism.
Driving side: Right.
Road quality: Good on main routes; mountain roads are narrow.
IDP required: Yes — required for all foreign visitors. An SUV is recommended if you plan to venture near desert areas.
Best time: March to May and September to November.
Quick IDP Reference by Country
| 国家 | IDP Required? | Driving Side |
| Iceland | Recommended | Right |
| New Zealand | Yes | Left |
| Italy | Yes | Right |
| South Africa | Yes | Left |
| Norway | Recommended | Right |
| USA | Recommended | Right |
| Australia | Yes | Left |
| 葡萄牙 | Yes (non-EU) | Right |
| 泰国 | Yes — strictly enforced | Left |
| Morocco | Yes | Right |
Always carry your original domestic license alongside your IDP. The IDP is never a standalone document — it is a translation, and it is only valid when presented with your original license.
Get Your IDP Before You Go
Whichever destination from this list you’re heading to, getting your IDP sorted before you leave home takes five minutes and removes a significant amount of stress from the trip. Apply at e-idpa.com, upload your license and photo, and your digital IDP arrives in your inbox within minutes. A printed physical booklet follows by post.
If you’re planning multiple trips over the next few years, a 3-year or 5-year IDP saves money and means you never need to think about it again before each trip.Get your IDP at e-idpa.com — accepted in 195+ countries, trusted by 180,000+ drivers worldwide, with a 100% money-back guarantee.