Vortex Gaming

· Euro Truck Simulator 2 has consistently updated and grown for over 13 years since its release in 2012.
· Developed by Czech studio SCS Software, this game maintains a top spot in daily active users on Steam and is highly popular on PC platforms.
· Currently, ETS2 boasts vast content, offering 10 map DLCs, 7 cargo DLCs, 8 trailer DLCs, and various tuning packs.
· This guide specifically focuses on map DLCs to help beginners make wise choices.

· The ETS2 base game map includes all of Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
· It also includes Western Poland, Western Czech Republic, Eastern France, Bratislava in Slovakia, and four cities in Northern Italy: Turin, Milan, Verona, and Venice.
· Driving from Brno to Paris takes approximately 1150km, about 50 minutes in real-time, and from Aberdeen in Northern UK to Brno is 2305km, taking over 50 minutes.
· Recommended drive routes on the base map include the Grossglockner High Alpine Road from Klagenfurt to Innsbruck, along Mont Blanc from Geneva to Turin, and the mountain section from Bern to Milan.

· ETS2 has currently expanded to allow exploration of almost all of Europe through 10 map DLCs.
· The main map DLCs are: Going East, Scandinavia, Vive la France!, Italia, Beyond the Baltic Sea, Road to the Black Sea, Iberia, West Balkans, Greece, and the latest, Nordic Horizons.

· This DLC is the first in ETS2's history, released over 10 years ago, and many parts are graphically outdated.
· It completes the maps of Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, providing routes to 15 new cities.
· The recommended route is Road 59 in the Tatra Mountains, connecting Banská Bystrica to Krakow.
· It does not meet the current visual standards of the game and offers no special content, making it a map in urgent need of a rework.

· Although it's the second oldest DLC, it received a complete rework at the end of 2025, gaining a new look and assets.
· It adds Southern Norway and Southern Sweden, including 27 cities, 12 ferry terminals, and 2 container ports.
· The iconic route follows Road 16 from Oslo to Bergen, passing through Norwegian fjords and long tunnels.
· After the rework, it is considered one of the best maps, offering an enjoyable driving experience.

· This DLC completes the entire map of France, in addition to the Eastern French cities included in the base game.
· As an older expansion, it's starting to fall behind graphically, but it's suitable for long-distance highway driving.
· It offers over 20,000km of roads, one of the most dense highway networks in the game, and detailed nuclear power plants.
· Driving along the T20 and T30 roads from Ajaccio in Corsica is great for testing your driving skills with narrow, winding roads and steep cliffs.
· It's a large and beautiful map, but many parts will soon need a rework.

· This expands the Northern Italian region to include the Southern Apennine Peninsula and the entire island of Sicily.
· It features a typical Mediterranean climate and is one of the visually well-implemented maps.
· It adds 19 new cities and approximately 12,000km of roads and highways.
· We recommend visiting the industrial complex in Taranto, Southern Italy, and the iconic marble quarries of Carrara, branching off the Genoa-Livorno A12 highway.
· It's less monotonous than the France map, allowing you to cover long distances while discovering interesting places.

· This is the first DLC not directly connected to the base map, including the Baltic Sea countries of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Southern Finland.
· It is the only DLC where you can visit the Kaliningrad region of Russia and offers HCT (High Cargo Transport) options.
· It includes 24 new cities, 13,000km of new roads (mostly narrow Baltic regional roads), numerous railway crossings, and massive border checkpoints at the Russian border.
· The iconic route is crossing the strictly guarded border to St. Petersburg.
· Due to many secondary roads, exploration takes a long time, and travel in this region is not fast, so it may not be suitable for all players.

· This adds the European parts of Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, opening the eastern gateway to Europe and, in the future, the road to Asia.
· It offers diverse landscapes, from the forested passes of the Carpathian Mountains to rural areas and Istanbul, Europe's largest city.
· It includes over 10,000km of roads, 20 new major cities, the strictest border checkpoints with X-ray inspections, and numerous ferry terminals across the Danube River.
· We recommend visiting the massive quarry in Pirdop.
· Exploring the locations in this DLC is enjoyable, and you can experience a long-haul drive of 3818km from Aberdeen to Istanbul.

· This DLC adds the entire Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), making it the second-largest map DLC in the current game.
· It offers diverse vegetation, from arid southern regions to mountainous areas near the French border.
· Suitable for players who prefer long-distance high-speed driving, it includes over 30 new cities, more than 28,000km of roads and highways, massive bridges, and wind and solar power plants.
· With many highways and beautiful scenery, it's ideal for long-haul driving and could be called 'France 2.0'.
· A drawback is that it's not directly connected to the base map, requiring the France DLC for access.

· This DLC is unique for its immense diversity and can be considered the most colorful DLC in the game.
· The scenery changes rapidly, from dry limestone mountains to deep green canyons and sunny coastlines.
· It includes over 30 border checkpoints across 8 countries and is a map full of hills and surprises.
· It offers over 30 settlements, including 14 major cities, more than 10,000km of all types of roads, 3 industrial river ports on the Danube, vast farmlands, and many interesting viewpoints.
· The drive along the coastline from Rijeka to Zadar, enjoying cliffs, viaducts, tunnels, and beautiful scenery, is iconic.
· While there's plenty to see throughout the drive, the terrain often requires constant braking, so it might not suit all players.

· Released in late 2024, this expansion adds mainland Greece and Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Lesbos, and Chios.
· The playstyle changes, with more time spent on ferries and driving winding island roads instead of endless highways.
· It's not directly connected to the base game, so it's better to purchase it later.
· It offers 15 new cities, the bustling port of Piraeus, unique Greek historical sites, drives around Mount Olympus, numerous ferries between islands, and winding rural roads along the coast.
· Its remote location makes it less accessible and might not appeal to all players.

· This is a monumental expansion extending to the far north of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, beyond the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Ocean.
· It is the largest DLC released to date and includes visually and gameplay-wise very unique and successful elements.
· For the first time in ETS2 history, it offers a full-fledged Arctic environment, allowing you to experience long, narrow, winding roads and endless daylight beyond the Arctic Circle.
· The scenery changes dramatically from dense Finnish forests and tundra to steep Norwegian fjords.
· It provides 40 new major cities, including Trondheim and Oulu, over 20,000km of all types of roads, beautiful views of the untamed Nordic landscape, and realistic daylight cycles based on geographical latitude.
· The massive underground mine in Kiruna and North Cape, the northernmost settlement on the European mainland, are must-visit locations.
· It's a very diverse and large map, one of the best contents the current game offers, and a must-experience for all players.
· The only drawback is that it's not directly connected to the base map.

· If you're just starting ETS2, the first 10-15 contracts are sufficient with the base map.
· Discounts repeat periodically, so there's no need to rush your purchase; it's best to enjoy the game sufficiently first and then choose the DLCs that suit you.
· Here are the top 3 recommended DLCs for beginners:
· Scandinavia (Scandinavia): After its 2025 rework, it's one of the most beautiful maps in the game. It offers both highways and winding regional roads between fjords, allowing for diverse driving experiences in a sufficiently large area.
· Iberia (Iberia): Although it had a rating of 3, it's great for beginners to hone their driving skills and enjoy the highway atmosphere. It's ideal for gaining experience through long-haul drives.
· Nordic Horizons (Nordic Horizons): This is the latest DLC, considered the pinnacle of the current game. Together with the Scandinavia DLC, you can explore the vast Nordic region.