Toll roads, bridges, and tunnels around Europe

Now that we're all getting back to our 'new normal' and jetting off to foreign countries, we can finally relax and enjoy new cultures.

Renting a car abroad is a great way to do just that.

Cruising along coastlines and trundling down country roads gives you an insight into how a country really experiences life - not to mention fantastic photo opportunities.

But, whilst you're enjoying a relaxing drive on your holidays, sometimes nasty surprises can get in the way of seeing the sights.

Naturally, you'll need to get used to driving a different way. Understanding foreign road signs, and sometimes driving on the other side of the road, can be quite stressful.

Yet, once you've got your head around the roads and you're confident to whip around the streets, other obstacles can appear just as quickly.

Toll roads appear across plenty of roads around Europe. Constructed and used in a variety of different forms, they all have one thing in common - they cost you money.

Whether it's a one-off payment to cross a bridge or tunnel or an amount that's charged depending on how far you travel, being prepared is key to preserving your holiday relaxation.

To make sure your travels are a smooth ride, we dug into the details to find every toll road you could come across on your next trip.

Analyzing our findings, we can also reveal the countries with the most toll roads as well as the most expensive. So, if you're on a strict budget, you know where in Europe you'll need some extra cash to avoid any awkward moments.

Italy is a popular tourist destination, especially for those on the lookout for delicious cuisine and rich history.

It's also the location with the most toll roads, with 35 roads across the country requiring motorists to pay a fee to use them.

These include a variety of roads, from major motorways between huge cities to smaller roads that locals will depend on.

We found that whilst across the countries some roads are charged per use, whilst others cost per kilometer traveled.

In Italy, the average cost along tolled roads that are 'per use' is €0.7 per kilometer, converting to 5p or 8 cents.

However, the average overall cost across these roads totals €27.76, converting to $32.11 or £23.55.

Our analysis found Ireland to be the country in second place, being home to 10 roads that charge drivers.

The average cost along roads that charge per use is €0.06 per kilometer, converting to 5p or 7 cents. Whilst, drivers can expect to pay an average overall cost being around €1.50 - converting to £1.24 or $1.29.

Taking the third spot is Greece, not far behind Ireland with 7 toll roads in the country. If you're visiting the sunseeker hotspot, you can expect to be charged an average cost of €0.05, converting to 4p or 6 cents.

Drivers can expect to pay an average overall cost of around €11.35, converting to $13.13 or £9.63.

Other countries we found having more toll roads than usual include Spain with 6, France with 5, and Croatia with 4.

But not every country charges their drivers to use their roads through standard tolls, as we found vignettes are quite common across Europe.

A vignette is a form of road pricing charged to vehicles based on how long they may be using the roads for. They're often used in place of tolls that are often charged based on how far the vehicle has traveled.

Austria, Romania, Moldova and Czech Republic both have vignettes for all road users on all roads. However, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland, Belarus, Bulgaria and Slovakia all impose a vignette on people using motorways.

If you're vacationing in the UK, be aware that bridges may cost you a pretty penny as the island is home to 14 bridges. If you're driving at peak time, the Humber Bridge on the A15 will cost you £1.50, converting to €1.74 or $2.03. Most bridges across the UK cost similar amounts, rarely going over the £1.50 mark.

However, be careful, as some will charge more depending on the size and weight of your vehicle!

Norwegian roads are known for their tolls, and their bridges are no different. The country is home to the second-largest number of toll bridges in Europe - totaling 11 overall. Their prices usually range between 1.50 and 4 kroner, depending on what type of fuel you use. That converts to just £0.17 or €0.20!

We found France to be the country with the third most bridges that drivers have to pay to use, with five bridges charging an average of €5.17 - or £4.40 and $5.96.

Of course, these aren't the only countries that are home to toll bridges - although the others do not have nearly as many as the UK.

Sweden has just four toll bridges across the country, and Denmark has three. Meanwhile, Ireland and Croatia have just one bridge each.

Two countries both took the top spot, as the country with the most tunnels that drivers have to pay to use.

We found Austria to be home to six tolled tunnels, alongside France, totalling to another six paid tunnels for road users to be aware of.

Norway is known for its stunning fjords, Viking history and love of skiing - but not as much for its costly tunnels.

Cutting through mountain ranges and diving below the depths, Norwegian maps have the third most toll tunnels in Europe, with four.

Toll roads have funded road maintenance and construction for years in Norway, and the AutoPASS system will simply automatically collect your payment so you don't have to stop.

However, you can expect to be charged between 1.50 and 4 kroner, depending on what type of fuel you use. That converts to between €1.74 or $2.03 and €4.64 or $5.42.

We did find some countries that had a much smaller number of tolled tunnels, so if you're visiting you don't have to be on the lookout as much.

Italy is home to four tolled tunnels, and the UK has just three tunnels that charge drivers, followed by Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands with two.

Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia, Belgium, Andorra, and Iceland all have just one tunnel for drivers to be aware of if they're running low on cash.

Of course, the toll charges do help these popular tourist destinations maintain their road networks and improve the systems.

But despite this, we know it can be difficult to prepare and irritating to be caught out at the last second. No one wants to be digging around for spare change, nevermind with a different currency when you're trying to relax!

With our findings, we hope your travels are much smoother, and you don't have any nasty surprises whilst enjoying your journey