QQ I’m considering riding over to Mandello for this years (2026) open house, new factory opening. Friom Manchester UK, does anyone have a rough idea how long I should give myself to get there? Appreciating there are a view variables, so I’m viewing this in days rather than the 20 hrs Google Maps suggests 
I’ve visited it twice, but both visits were part of motorcycle tours. If I was you, I’d allow myself a few days for out bound and return at least, if you’re retired no need to rush the trip. There’s so much to see on the way there, and take a different route back.
Have a great trip 
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Kool thanks for that. Unfortunately I’m not retired, hence time bound to return to work. Just trying to strike the balance between a nice scenic trip, not rushing down the motorways, but giving me a realistic timeframe. Thanks for your reply.
Hi,
So I go from Lytham St Annes - usually across to Hull, overnight ferry to Rotterdam, and same on the way back. So that’s two nights but you could go to the south coast and train/ferry across.
Quickest I did it from Rotterdam was one overnight stop (it was two long days in the saddle) and I would say not enjoyable but bearable. Stayed in Mulhouse down on the French/Swiss border.
Two nights on each leg is doable and not uncomfortable. Three luxurious and any more you are sightseeing.
Hope that helps.
SS
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A fellow member and myself did the trip last year from Hull. We took 3 days taking in TLM in Holland and the B500 through the black forest. @250 mile steady days, arriving at hotels mid to late afternoon. Using a mixture of motorways and A roads. We did take the San Bernadino tunnel and a fast route through Switzerland as it was torrential rain on the last day. We had planned a route via Lichtenstein over the passes. We spent 4 nights in Mandello and returned via the Voges Mountains in France, Luxembourg, Bastone in Belgium and then back to Europort in Holland taking another 3 days
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Great thanks for that, I was wondering about Hull as an option. That breakdown helps massively.
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Thank you, that helps and supports SS’s view. I can see another holiday request being lodged at work to extend my current one LOL
Definitely best going from Hull, probably more expensive, but it’s such a miserable ride south to the Tunnel or ferry ports. At least when you get on the ship in Hull you feel like you’re on holiday straight away. Back in the day I regularly went from Hull to Zeebrugge, and on the return trip home always had an overnight stop in lovely Bruges. I’ve family living in Rotterdam so have stayed with them on the last night. it takes the rush out of making the ferry in time.
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My last trip to Mandello was in July 2024 with a friend, we used the ferry from Harwich to Hook, it was an obvious choice as we live in Essex and went via Arnhem and then on to the Möhne dam on the first day. South from there to Barden Barden on the second day, through the Black Forest and the B500, and on to Austria on the third day and over the Stelvio pass and to Mandello on the fourth. Nice and laid back, mainly on A roads and twisties but with some motorways to keep the time down.
It was faster on the way back through Switzerland and France and through the Channel Tunnel. Taking it easy on the way down is a holiday, on the way back it is just a journey.
Have fun!
Best wishes Chris
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I live near Stafford and have ridden to Mandello twice, both times on my 1972 loop.
First time I did the 1000 miles in 3 days via the tunnel.
Second time was last year after I retired and I gave myself 4 days which was better. Similar route.
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I beginning to think the best advice is to retire LOL Maybe in 5 years. For now I’m planning on either going on my V7 850 Centenario Or Flying. I managed to squeeze my first visit in to a family holiday to Milan last year, now I want to see the new factory…
Sounds like you need to persuade the family they would like to Milan again . . . . .
Thanks all for the feedback, given time needed to enjoy the ride and trying to get more time off work, I’ve opted to fly over. Hope anyone else that’s going enjoys it.
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