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. It features mountain roads, even the highest paved road in 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 in the European continent. 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 two stunning drives: the sensational road to Formentor Lighthouse and Sa Calobra, the Snake Road. Located on the island of Mallorca, 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 Islands, 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.

Puerto de Ibañeta is a classic road trip in northern Spain

Puerto de Ibañeta is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,063m (3,487ft) above sea level located in Navarra autonomous community, in Spain.

What are the most spectacular canyon roads and gorges in Spain?

Spain’s geography is defined by more than 1,800 rivers that have sculpted some of the deepest chasms in Europe. For the driver, this translates into a network of 44 world-class canyon roads—often narrow, carved directly into limestone walls, and featuring extreme vertical drops. From the legendary Picos de Europa to the hidden gorges of Andalusia, these routes are a technical challenge where precision is the only way to navigate the scale of the landscape.

Ruta Urdon-Tresviso is a challenging mule track

Ruta Urdón-Tresviso is the name of a mule track located in the Liebana zone, straddling the Autonomous Communities of Asturias and Cantabria, in Spain. The track is permanently closed to vehicles.

TF-436 is a challenging zigzag road on Canary Islands

TF-436 a short zig-zag road located in the island of Tenerife, on Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the most spectacular drives of Europe. It's one of the best roads on the Canary Islands.

Rat Penat is a brutal road with ramps up to 23% in Barcelona

Rat Penat is a mountain peak at an elevation of 593m (1,945ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, in Spain. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting a 23% maximum gradient through some of the ramps.

The Wild Road to Collado de Sahun

Collado de Sahún is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.998m (6,555ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, in Spain.

GC-210 is the Fast&Furious road on Canary Islands

Located on the Canary Islands, Spain, the challenging GC-210 road is a steep and hair-raising journey. It’s said to be the loneliest road on the island and one of the best roads in the Canary Islands.

Antonio Parietti, the creator of art road masterpieces

Antonio Parietti: The Engineer Behind Mallorca’s Most Dangerous Roads

Antonio Parietti Coll (1899–1979) was a Spanish highway engineer responsible for designing the most technically complex mountain routes on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. His career focused on adapting the steep topography of the Serra de Tramuntana range for motorized vehicles during the early and mid-20th century.

A winding road with steep slopes to Puerto de las Palomas

Puerto de las Palomas is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,190m (3,904ft) above sea level, located in the province of Cádiz, in Spain.

Col du Pourtalet: A Scenic Mountain Pass at the France-Spain Border

Col du Pourtalet is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.798m (5,898ft) above sea level, located on the border of Spain and France. The pass offers the most beautiful views of Ossau Valley.

The wild road to Picon del Fraile in northern Spain

Picón del Fraile is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,590m (5,216ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Cantabria and Castile and León, in Spain.

The inhumane climb to Alto de Carrascoy with 18% ramps

Alto de Carrascoy is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,062m (3,484ft) above sea level, located in the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community of Spain. The climb is brutal with sections up to 18%.

A brutally steep (28%) road to Cuitu Negru in Spain

Cuitu Negru is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.848m (6,062ft) above sea level, located in Spain. The wild, remote and steep road to the summit was paved in 2012 to be a final stage of Vuelta a España race.

N634 is one of the Spanish best coastal roads

Running along the Cantabrian Sea, in Spain, the scenic N634 Road is said to be one of the world's best coastal drives. It was recognized as one of the world's best roads of 2015.

Take An Unforgettable Drive to Puerto de Escullar in Andalusia

Puerto de Escúllar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.036m (6,679ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

A narrow road with a 15% slope to Turó de l'Home

Turó de l'Home is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.697m (5,567ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, Spain. It was the site of a Transair Douglas Dakota accident in 1959, resulting in 32 fatalities. The climb is quite challenging, with sections reaching up to 15%.

Driving through Vielha Tunnel in Spain's Pyrenees

Tunel de Vielha is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1,635m (5,364ft) above sea level, located in Catalonia's north-western corner, in Spain,

Facing the most challenging drives of Mallorca

The mountain roads of Mallorca, specifically the MA-10 and the MA-2141, are technical routes that put heavy stress on a vehicle's mechanical systems. These are not standard coastal drives; the Serra de Tramuntana is a terrain of narrow asphalt, constant gear changes, and steep drops where any mechanical failure is critical.

Driving the classic Puerto de Pajares, a must do in Spain

Puerto de Pajares is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.381m (4,530ft) above sea level, located in the northern part of Spain. For many years it was the main route in and out of Asturias.

MA-1131 is a narrow high shelf road in Mallorca

Carretera MA-1131 is one of the most exciting drives in the world. Located on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, this tortuous route runs from the Tramuntana Sierra to the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a very narrow high shelf road intimidating to beginners, or those not fond of heights. Some buses have to try twice to make some of the turns. It’s one of the best roads in Mallorca.

A wild road (14.2%) to Alto de San Miguel de Aralar

Alto de San Miguel de Aralar is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.233m (4,045ft) above sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, in Spain.

Driving the paved road to Somport Pass in the Pyrenees

Puerto de Somport-Col du Somport is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.637m (5,370ft) above sea level, on the border of France and Spain.

GC-500 is a cliffside road on Gran Canaria island

Located in the Province of Las Palmas, on the south of Gran Canaria island, in Spain, the picturesque GC-500 is a cliffside road with stunning coastal scenery.

A 5-star road to Port de la Bonaigua in the Pyrenees

Port de la Bonaigua is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.080m (6,824ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Lleida, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia, in Spain.

The brutally steep (23%) paved road to Bola del Mundo

Bola del Mundo (Ball of the World) is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.265m (7,431ft) above sea level, located on the edge of the Spanish provinces of Madrid and Segovia.

ALP-822 in Almeria is not your road if you don't like heights

ALP-822 is a very scenic yet defiant road located in the eastern part of the province of Almería, in Andalusia, Spain. This is not your road if you have passengers that don't like heights. It's spectacular or terrifying, depending on how you handle heights.

Driving a paved mountain road to San Glorio Pass in Picos de Europa

Puerto de San Glorio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,604m (5,262ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Cantabria and Castile and León autonomous communities in Spain.

An epic road to Roque de los Muchachos on the Canary Islands

Roque de los Muchachos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.423m (7,949ft) above sea level, located on the island of La Palma on the Canary Islands in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Driving the Thrilling Puerto del Ponton in Spain's Cantabrian Mountains

Puerto del Pontón is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.298m (4,258ft) above sea level, located in the Province of León, in Spain.

How to get by car to Desfiladero de La Hermida?

Desfiladero de La Hermida is a gorge straddling the Cantabria and Asturias autonomous regions on Spain’s north coast. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

FV30 road on Canary Islands will either delight or terrify

FV-30 is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Located on the island of Fuerteventura, in Spain’s Canary Islands, the road will either delight or terrify.

A Narrow Paved Road to Puerto de la Ragua, Offering Stunning Views of Andalusia

Puerto de la Ragua is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.046m (6,712ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain.

Calle Monroy is one of the steepest streets in the world

Located in Tenerife, on the Canary Islands of Spain, Calle Monroy is one of the steepest streets in the world with an average gradient of 28.1%.

Driving the paved road to the Haunted Laguna Negra

Laguna Negra de Urbión (Black Lagoon of Urbión) is a glacial lake situated at an elevation of 1,731m (5,679ft) above sea level. It's located in the northern part of the province of Soria, in Spain. Many believe that the lagoon is haunted.

Driving the scenic road to Puerto de las Señales in the Cantabrian Mountains

Puerto de las Señales is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.629m (5,344ft) above sea level, located in the province of Leon, in Spain.

Traveling the scenic Carretera de la Cabra (Road A-4050)

Located in the province of Granada, in Spain, the A-4050 is one of the most scenic drives in the southern part of the country. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin turns. This is the old road from the coast to Granada city, locally named Carretera de la Cabra or The Goat's Path.