Europe is made up of lots of countries with multiple borders, which gives many opportunities to visit 3 countries in 1 day. Traveling with kids means that we often find fun ways to keep travel days interesting. One of these is taking pictures of the ‘Welcome to France’ signs, or seeing multiple countries in a day for the fun of it.
We always try to spend multiple days in each country during the trip, so this isn’t about ticking countries off a list. It is more just a novelty for us to be able to cross between countries with ease. Here are some of our favorite tri-border crossings, and some destinations to visit near each one.
Europe locations to visit 3 countries in 1 day
Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany
The Three Country Point between Belgium, Netherlands and Germany is called Drielandenpunt, near the town of Vaals in the Netherlands. This scenic 3-country monument is on top of Mount Vaalserberg, which is little more than a hill by our standards, but does offer wonderful views out over the countrysides of each country.
From here, you can explore the nearby towns and villages in each country, such as Aachen (Germany), Maastricht (Netherlands), and Liège (Belgium).
- In Belgium, don’t miss Brussels, Bruges, Ypres and Ghent
- In the Netherlands, we recommend visiting Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Kinderdijk and Utrecht
- In Germany, we have enjoyed Munich, Konigssee, and a Rhine Cruise
France, Germany, and Switzerland
The Three Countries Bridge crosses between Huningue, in the northwest of France and Weil am Rhein, Germany. A short walk from the bridge is Basel, Switzerland. This is one of the easiest and most fun because of the bridge over the Rhine.
We parked the car in at the underground carpark in Huningue, walked over the bridge for some lunch in Weil am Rhein, and then took a tram into the centre of Basel for dinner. So easy to have a day of country-hopping!
Nearby points of interest:
- Basel, Switzerland – we had a night in Basel and loved the position on the Rhine, the great food options and variety of architecture
- Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany – this gorgeous town has an amazing cathedral on a lively square
- Black Forest, Germany – eat Black Forest gateau in the actual black forest! Don’t forget to buy yourself a cuckoo clock.
- Alsace Wine Route – while in the area, take a trip up to the chocolate-box towns and wineries of the Alsace, France.
Payton and I did this three country hop during our road trip across Austria and Switzerland with Hannah & Roy from HH Lifestyle Travel. See more about this trip in these articles: 2 days in Vienna, a day trip to Wachau Valley, and taking the Eiger Express to the Top of Europe.
Luxembourg, Germany, and France (or do 4 countries in 1 day by adding Belgium)
Luxembourg, officially known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a small but affluent country bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. At only 2,586 square kilometers (998 square miles), it’s a great hub for visiting 4 countries in 1 day if you wish. Or you can pick one of the 3 tri-points around the country to enjoy:
- Tri-point B / F / L – Rue de Freihaut, 4814 Mont-Saint-Martin, Belgium
- Tri-point L / G / F – 5444 Schengen, Luxembourg (the tri-point is actually in the Moselle River, but there are monuments on the banks of the river on the Luxembourg side)
- Tri-point L / B / G – 4790 Burg-Reuland, Belgium (there is a small unassuming rock monument and a small pedestrian bridge over the Our river where the border is)
Luxembourg City is a great place to discover this multi-border country. Built on different levels along the Alzette River, Luxembourg City is a striking capital, with a very walkable center.
Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein
As with Luxembourg above, Liechtenstein provides another great hub for multi-country-hopping in Europe. You can do as we did and drive from Austria to the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, for lunch. Enjoy the afternoon in this cute city, try their national dish, Käsknöpfle, and visit a museum or castle. Then drive over the border to Switzerland to get your trifecta.
Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world, with an area of just 160 square kilometers (62 square miles), making it the sixth smallest country by area. So, as far as accessibility for the 3 countries in 1 day challenge, it’s a winner!
50 kilometres north of Liechtenstein, Lake Constance marks the border with Germany to the north, therefore making 4 countries possible too.
France, Andorra, and Spain
We recently drove from France, through Andorra and over the Pyrenees Mountains and into Spain on our most recent 3-country challenge. Starting in the mountain town of Foix in France, overlooked by a magnificent medieval fortified tower. We climbed into the mountains, where Andorra sits high above the cloud line. We drove across Andorra (with 2 shopping stops and some lunch in Andorra la Vella, the capital), and then drove out the other side to Spain.
Andorra is one of the smallest countries in the world, with an area of just 468 square kilometers (181 square miles). It is known for its luxury duty-free shopping and amazing skiing opportunities.
We had a great day shopping in Andorra, and adding this to our 3 countries in 1 day list!
Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia
From the Italian city of Trieste, it’s a short drive to the Slovenian border and the Croatian Istrian region. You can explore coastal towns in all three countries within a few hours. Call it an Adriatic Sea beach-crawl!
Leave Trieste and take the coast road through Muggia and across into Slovenia. Stop at the Debeli rtič/Punta grossa nature preserve for a picnic, before carrying on through the resort towns of Koper and Portorož. The Adriatic Coast is dreamy, so you will see why this area is all about hotels and stunning views. End your road trip at Kanegra Beach in Croatia. This 62 kilometer / 38 mile drive will only take a few hours with stops.
Stick around along these three countries on the Adriatic for a wonderfully relaxing break.
3 Countries in 1 Day
Our tradition of finding 3 countries to visit in 1 day started as a fun game to bring amusement to long European road trips, but has now become a favorite pastime on our travels. If you have dreams of road tripping in Europe, please contact us for planning and advice.
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