I plann to drive from Germany through Liechtenstein/ Switzerland into Italy. Any suggestions what maps I should use? There is the road Atlas, or the Rick Steves Planning book for Germany/Switzerland/Italy, or a plain Michelin Road map for each country? What works best?
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
425 posts
I mostly use Google maps to map the route. In 2010 I drove from Munich and Salzburg thru Liechtenstein/Switzerland to Colmar, France. In 2011 I drove from Munich to Venice and beyond using the same method. While returning from Tuscany to Munich, I stayed a couple or nights in Compatsch which is at the beginning of the Alpe di Suisi in the Dolomites. I printed the maps and directions from both Google and ViaMichelin and used the in car GPS to get from place to place.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Planning maps don't show enough detail for navigation. Software maps leave you in the dark if you get off a planned route. Michelin is the gold-standard for maps. All you need are the country (not sub- regional maps). Here's the numbers by country: Germany 718 Italy 735
Switzerland 729 All three are at a scale of about1:750,000. They'll stiff you about twelve bucks each. They can be picked up or ordered at any of the big bookstores. Lichenstein only has a couple of roads, follow the signs and don't buy a map. Also it might be on the Switzerland map, but I can't find mine. If you think you might go back and can handle the weight, Frommer's Road Atlas Europe covers the continent at a scale of 1:800,000 which is just fine.