What are the most spectacular roads in Spain?
Tucked away on the Iberian Peninsula, in the southwestern part of Europe, the roads of Spain offer the best way to discover the country’s diverse topography that features mountain roads, even the highest paved road of Europe, as well as stunning coastal drives on the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
The country is home to Pico del Veleta, the highest paved road of Europe. Ending at 3,369m (11,053ft) above sea level, it's one of the highest roads in Europe. At an altitude of around 3,000m, road conditions become significantly worse. For those seeking mountain roads, Alto de l’Angliru is the Ultimate Cycling Ascent in Asturias. Climbing up to 1.558m (5,111ft) above sea level, it’s one of the hardest and most epic climbs you can ride on two wheels.
If you’re up for a drive on scenic roads, Mallorca hosts 2 stunning drives: The sensational road to Formentor Lighthouse, and Sa Calobra, the Snake Road. Located on the island of Mallorca, in Spain, Sa Calobra Road is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Imagine dropping a long piece of wet spaghetti on the floor. The pattern it makes looks something like what the road looks. If you really want a challenge, try tackling it by bike. On the Canary Island,GC-200 is an exhilarating road with 365 curves and spectacular views. The road has it all, from hairpin bends to sheer cliff-edge drops. It's one of the best roads on the Canary Islands.
So, rev up your engines and let Spain's spectacular routes guide you through a journey of soulful discoveries and unforgettable vistas. You will discover many treasures created by skilled workers employed by construction firms with tradition in Spain.
Pico del Teide Access Road
Pico del Teide is a volcano at an elevation of 2.743m (8,999ft) above the sea level, located in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It's one of the European highest roads.
The curvy road to Coll de Pimés
Coll de Pimés is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.136m (7,007ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Andorra (Sant Julià de Lòria) and Spain (Lleida).
Puerto de la Sia, a classic climb in the Cantabrian Mountains
Puerto de la Sia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.229m (4,032ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Cantabria and Castile and Leon regions, in northern Spain.
A delightful yet challenging road to Puerto de Piedrasluengas
Puerto de Piedrasluengas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.355m (4,445ft) above the sea level, located in Castile and León region, in northern Spain.
A paved road to Alto de la Pandera
Alto de la Pandera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.840m (6,036ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Jaén in the autonomous community of Andalusia in south-central Spain.
The breathtaking road to Salto de la Cabra
Salto de la Cabra is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.109m (3,638ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, in northern Spain. The climb is simply terrible, hitting an 18% of gradient.
Peñón del Muerto
Peñón del Muerto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.569m (8,428ft) above the sea level, located in Granada province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
A wild steep road to Alto de Hazallanas
Alto de Hazallanas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.679m (5,508ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, Spain. The climb includes gradients in double figures for long periods, and the inside of the hairpins are regularly over 20%.
The iconic Puente Nuevo of Ronda
The Puente Nuevo (New bridge) is a very iconic bridge located in the province of Málaga, about 40 miles west of the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world looking like something straight out of Game of Thrones.
Driving the road to Tetica de Bacares is not a piece of cake
Tetica de Bacares is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.050m (6,725ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Almería in eastern Andalusia, in southern Spain.
A paved road to Puerto de Tarna in Cordillera Cantábrica
Puerto de Tarna is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.492m (4,895ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León and the autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.
Puerto del Tremedal, an iconic Vuelta a España climb
Puerto del Tremedal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.642m (5,387ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, in Spain.
The steep road to Vallter 2000, the roof of Catalonia
Vallter 2000 is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.156m (7,073ft) above the sea level, located in Girona, Catalonia (northern Spain). It's one of the highest roads of the country.
Road trip guide: Conquering the Besurta Refuge
Refugio de la Besurta is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299 ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Ribagorza, province of Huesca, in northern Spain.
A wild unpaved road to Alto del Chorrillo
Alto del Chorrillo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.691m (8,828ft) above the sea level, located in the region of Andalucia, in the province of Granada, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Monte San Lorenzo
Monte San Lorenzo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level, located in La Rioja, an autonomous region of northern Spain. It's one of the highest roads of Spain.
A tricky scenic road to Alto de Trobaniello
Alto de Trobaniello is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.625m (5,331ft) above the sea level, located in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. The road is unsurfaced, but smooth enough for cars.
A memorable road trip to Puerto de Somiedo
Puerto de Somiedo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.485m (4,872ft) above the sea level, located in the Cordillera Cantábrica, a mountain range in northern Spain.
A paved road to the iconic La Mussara
La Mussara is a mountain pass at an elevation of 963m (3,159ft) above the sea level, located within the Prades mountain range, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain. The road to the summit is a classic stage on WRC championship and Volta a Catalunya bicycle race.
The brutal road to Santa Maria de Montgrony
The road to Santuari de Santa Maria de Montgrony is stunning. Located in the municipality of Gombrèn, a village in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain, the road is 5,6km long.
The Most Scenic Drives in Tenerife
While most travellers will visit Tenerife to soak up its sun, sea, and sand, the picturesque island offers stunning scenery that’s just waiting to be explored by tourists. If you are planning to hire a car during your visit, you would be wise to embark on one of the many scenic drives the island has to offer.
Pico del Chullo
Pico del Chullo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.520m (8,267ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Granada and Almeria, in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It's one of the highest roads of Spain.
The inhumane climb to Collado Fancuaya with 16% ramps
Collado Fancuaya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.088m (3,569ft) above the sea level, located in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain.
Puerto de Navacerrada
Puerto de Navacerrada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.860m (6,102ft) above the sea level, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, on the border of Castile and Leon and Madrid, in central Spain.
Boca del Infierno is one of the world's top drives
Boca del Infierno (Mouth of Hell) is a defiant narrow road located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in northern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.
A journey on the legendary Coll d'Ares
Coll d'Ares is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.513m (4,964ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain.
Road trip guide: Conquering Puerto de Peña Hincada
Peña Hincada is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.414m (4,639ft) above the sea level, located in La Rioja, Spain.
Mirador Del Rio, a fabulous cliff top road with panoramic views
Mirador Del Rio is a very scenic viewpoint at an elevation of 473m (1,551ft) above the sea level, located in the northernmost part of the Canarian island of Lanzarote. It’s a fabulous cliff top road affording panoramic views.
Tossa d'Alp
Tossa d’Alp is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in Catalonia, in northern Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
The paved road to Central Hidroelectrica de Millares II
Located in the comarca of Canal de Navarrés in the Valencian Community, Spain, the road to reach the hydroelectric power station is asphalted but ends abruptly in a river.
Penedes Wine Road is well worth the time
Carretera del Vi (Wine Road) is a very scenic drive located in the Penedès zone, in Catalonia, Spain. This oeno-touristic attraction, with a high historical and cultural value, allows wine lovers to get acquainted with the ancient route that linked together the vineyards in the Penedès and the beaches of Garraf.
A wild road to Mirador de Juan León
Mirador de Juan León is a high mountain natural viewing point at an elevation of 1.733m (5,685ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Jaén, in Andalusia, Spain.
Mines de Liat
Mines de Liat is an abandoned mine located in the Val de Toran, in Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain.
Winston Churchill Avenue cuts directly across the runway of the Gibraltar airport
Winston Churchill Avenue is one of the busiest roads in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The avenue cuts directly across the runway of Gibraltar Airport. If having to be cautious of other drivers wasn't enough, on Gibraltar's Winston Churchill Avenue, you have to watch out for planes too.
Road GIP-6041
GIP-6041 is one of the most scenic roads on the Catalan Costa Brava, in Spain. The road inland offers lovely views of the region.
A paved road to the iconic Puerto de Ventana
Puerto de Ventana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.587m (5,206ft) above the sea level, located in the Cordillera Cantábrica, a mountain range in northern Spain.
Tossa del Pas dels Lladres
Tossa del Pas dels Lladres is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621m (8,599ft) in the Pyrenees, on the French-Spanish border. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.
Pic d'Espadà
Pic d'Espadà is a mountain pass at an elevation of 915m (3,001ft) above the sea level, located in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia.
Driving through the international Coll de Portilló
Col du Portillon/Coll de Portilló is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.293m (4,242ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a mountain range on the border between France and Spain.
Lagunas de Neila, an iconic Vuelta a España climb
Lagunas de Neila is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 1.873m (6,145ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in north-central Spain. The climb is very steep, with sections up to 17%.
Road trip guide: Conquering Corral del Niño
Corral del Niño is high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.305m (7,562ft) above the sea level, located in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of Spain.
Puerto del Escudo
Puerto del Escudo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.011m (3,317ft) above the sea level, located in the valley of Luena, between Cantabria and Castile, in Spain. It has several parts of double-digit gradients.
Driving the wild Vado del Río Eljas
Located on the border of Spain and Portugal, Vado del Río Eljas is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Road trip guide: Conquering Puerto del Connio
Puerto del Connio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.315m (4,314ft) above the sea level, located in Fuentes del Narcea, in the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain.
Here's How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Montaña Rajada
Montaña Rajada is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.463m (8,080ft) above the sea level, located in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of Spain.