What are the most spectacular roads in Turkey?

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey is one the most exciting countries in the world to drive, and a must on any driver’s list. First on the list it must be the challenging D915 (Bayburt-Of) Road. It stands as one of the world's most challenging roads, nestled between the Black Sea and the Northeast Anatolia regions. The road is for experts only.

Covering an area of 783,356 square kilometers and sharing borders with eight countries, Turkey is home to about 200 of the most spectacular roads in the world. For the bravest drivers, the dangerous Kemaliye Stone Road above the Euphrates river, is one of the most extreme roads in the world. This handmade road is for drivers with strong nerves only, with drops of hundreds of meters unprotected by guardrails and 38 unlit tunnels. The construction of the road started in 1870 and was finished in 2002. And The road to Kus Yuvasi Pass will take your breath away. At 1,388m (4,553ft) above sea level, the pass is located in the Mediterranean Region of the country.

The Karabet Geçidi, at 2,994m (9,822ft) above sea level in Van Province, is one of Europe's highest paved roads, offers panoramic views. There are many construction companies established in Turkey that worked for building the new, better roads that attract many tourists each year.

If the previous roads are not enough, the country is home to Gök Dağ, one of the highest roads in Europe, climbing up to 3.417m (11,210ft) above sea level.

Kalkanlı Dağları is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.597m (8,520ft) above the sea level, located in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Pirreşit Dağı is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.086m (10,124ft) above the sea level, located in the Muradiye district of Van province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Göksu Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.344m (7,690ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Dadaş Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.357m (7,732ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Tekfur Tepesi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.075m (10,088ft) above the sea level, located in Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Kurubaş Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.236m (7,335ft) above the sea level, located in eastern Turkey's Van Province.

Located on the Black Sea region of Turkey, the Cide-Kastamonu road, part of the D010 road, is said to be one of the World’s Most Scenic Drives. The journey winds around the rocky hills and perfectly blue sea.

Seçedil Dağı is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.821m (9,255ft) above the sea level, located in the Artvin Province of Turkey. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Located in the Artvin Province, on the Black Sea coast in the northeastern corner of Turkey, the road from Olgunlar Yaylası to Hüngamek is not for the sissies. It’s recommended for drivers with strong nerves. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Artabil is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.891m (9,484ft) above the sea level, located in Gümüşhane Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Çakırbaba Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.407m (7,896ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Located on the boundary between Konya and Mersin provinces in southern Turkey, the road from Çamlıyayla to Delimahmutlu is one of the highest roads of Europe.

Büyükagara Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.688m (8,818ft) above the sea level, located in Artvin Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Located in the Erzurum Province of the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, a high mountain road from Zeyrek to Aşağı Özbağ tops out at 2.701m (8,861ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Ipek Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.025m (6,643ft) above the sea level, located in Ağrı Province, the easternmost district of Turkey, bordering Iran.

Kadırga Yaylası is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.414m (7,919ft) above the sea level, located in Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Palandöken Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.897m (9,504ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Erzurum, in Turkey. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Located on the border between Adana and Mersin provinces of Turkey, the road through the infamous Çakıt Vadisi is said to be one of the most terrifying roads in the world. 

Yukarıkent Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.423m (7,949ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Kars and Iğdır Provinces in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Limni Gölü is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.407m (7,896ft) above the sea level, located in Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Demirkapı-Ballıköy road is a high mountain drive located on the border of Trabzon and Rize Provinces on the eastern Black Sea, in northeast Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Kara Dağ is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.308m (10,853ft) above the sea level, located in Hakkâri province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Ilgaz Dağı is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.321m (7,614ft) above the sea level, located in Kastamonu Province, in Turkey.

Kovalık Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.439m (8,001ft) above the sea level, located in Gümüşhane Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Çatalören Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.363m (7,752ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum province, in eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

Tobamızga Lake (Tobamızga Gölü) is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.720m (8,923ft) above the sea level, located in the Ardeşen district of Rize Province, in the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Yalın Dağ is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.950m (9,678ft) above the sea level, located in Van province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Sağrak Gölü is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.659m (8,723ft) above the sea level, located in Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey.

Süvarihalil Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.442m (8,011ft) above the sea level, located in the Hakkâri Province of Turkey, a few kilometres away from the Iraq-Turkey border.

Boğatepe Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.353m (7,719ft) above the sea level, located in the central district of Kars Province, in Turkey.

Numanpaşa is a high mountain town at an elevation of 1.573m (5,160ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The average gradient is 9.71%.

İkizkaya Tepesi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.726m (8,943ft) above the sea level, located in Artvin Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Samistal is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2.838m (9,311ft) above the sea level, located in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize province, in Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads on Europe.

Kavakdağı Tepesi is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.428m (7,965ft) above the sea level, located in the Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Seyithan Gölü is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 3.298m (10,820ft), located in Hakkâri province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Located in the Rize Province of the Black Sea region of Turkey, the unpaved road from Palovit to Trovit is one of the highest roads of Europe.