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.
Driving the challenging paved TF-24 Road on Canary Islands
Located in Tenerife, on the Canary Islands, Spain, the gorgeous TF-24 Road is said to be one of the most exciting drives on the island. It’s one of the highest roads in Spain.
A scenic drive to Cap de Creus Lighthouse, an inspiration to Dali
Far del Cap de Creus is a lighthouse located in the province of Girona, Spain. Nature has created a marvelous and other-worldly scenery here. The road pierces through crazily tilted rocks and narrows to a single lane leading across a narrow isthmus.
A brutally steep road to Cumbre del Sol in Alicante
Cumbre del Sol is a mountain peak at an elevation of 413m (1,354ft) above sea level, located in the province of Alicante, Spain. The climb is terribly steep, with the steepest section reaching 19%.
Dare to drive the dangerous road to Peña Horadada in the Sierra Nevada
Peña Horadada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,350m (7,709ft) above sea level, located in Almería province, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
A narrow paved road to the summit of Col de Mehatche
Col de Méhatché is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 716m (2,349ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
A brutally steep (20%) unpaved track to Puig Falcó in the Pyrenees
Puig Falcó is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,754m (9,035 ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, Spain. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.
The road to Estany Llong in Lleida: be ready to make room for oncoming vehicles
Estany Llong is a glacial lake at an elevation of 2,012m (6,601ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.
La Constitución de 1812 Bridge, one of the tallest in the world
The Puente de la Constitución de 1812 is a cable-stayed bridge located in Cadiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
The road to Portillo de Lunada is not recommended for people afraid of heights
Portillo de Lunada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,360 m (4,461 ft) above sea level, located on the boundary of Cantabria and Castile and León, in Spain. The road is not recommended for people afraid of heights, especially when driving on the cliff side.
A breathtaking hike through the Cares Gorge: Ruta del Cares
Ruta del Cares, also known as Senda del Cares, is one of the most breathtaking trekking trails in Europe. Located within the Picos de Europa mountain range in northern Spain, the trail takes you through dramatic landscapes along a narrow path carved directly into the rock of the Cares Canyon, also known as The Divine Gorge. This trail is not suitable for vehicles, as it is completely closed to any kind of motor transport. Only hikers can enjoy the stunning views along the route.
Driving the Stunning Pista de Ruego to Minas de Liena
Pista de Ruego is the name of a stunning track climbing up to the abandoned Minas de Liena, in Aragon, an autonomous community of Spain. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.
Driving One of the Steepest Roads in Europe to Llano de las Animas
Llano de las Ánimas is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 2,036m (6,679ft) above sea level, located in the Canary Islands. The climb is simply brutal, with sections reaching up to 20%.
The Road to Collado del Ampriu in the Pyrenees Has It All
Collado del Ampriu is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,261m (7,417ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Spain. It's one of the highest roads in the country.
Travel guide to the summit of Cim de Coma Morera
Cim de Coma Morera is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,205m (7,234ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.
Road Trip Guide: Conquering Llauset Lake in Aragon
Lago de Llauset is a high mountain reservoir located in the Province of Huesca, Spain, at an elevation of 2,250m (7,381ft) above sea level. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.
The Inhumane Climb to Coll de Pradell in Catalonia, with 23% Ramps
Coll de Pradell is an extreme high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,732m (5,682ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, Spain. The climb is brutal, with 23% gradient sections.
The Wild Road to Tuc de la Llança
Tuc de la Llança is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,503m (8,211ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
The breathtaking road to Peña Ubiña
Peña Ubiña is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.754m (5,754ft) above the sea level, located in the province of León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in north-central Spain.
An iconic road to El Retamar in the Canary Islands
El Retamar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.100m (6,889ft) above the sea level, located in the south-central part of the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, in Spain.
A mule track to Col d’Artzatey in the Pyrenees
Col d’Artzatey is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 662m (2,171ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
The road to Coll de Jou, a chillout in high mountains
Coll de Jou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.637m (5,370ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, in northern Spain.
A narrow paved road to Ortzanzurieta
Ortzanzurieta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.570m (5,150ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain. The pass is traversed by the NA-2033 road.
Road trip guide: Conquering La Villuerca
La Villuerca is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.603m (5,259ft) above the sea level, located in Las Villuercas comarca, Cáceres Province, in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain.
Driving the wild Peñon Velez de la Gomera
Located in the west of the Mediterranean Sea, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is a Spanish rock connected to the Moroccan shore. It is one of seven Spanish enclaves on the northern coast of Morocco, which claims sovereignty over all of them.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Villavientos Refuge
Refugio Villavientos, also known as Refugio Pillavientos, is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.094m (10,150ft) 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 Europe.
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.
A brutally steep road to Alto de Aitana
Alto de Aitana is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.543m (5,062ft) above the sea level located in the province of Alicante, in the southern part of the Valencian Community in eastern Spain. The summit is placed within the boundaries of a Spanish army facility.
Travel Guide to Torreta de l'Orri
Torreta de l'Orri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.439m (8,001ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Pallars Sobirà, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, in the country of Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
The breathtaking road to Playa Veneguera
Located in Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, off northwestern Africa, Playa Veneguera is a 370-metre-long beach, one of the few genuinely untouched beaches remaining in Gran Canaria.
Travel guide to Haza del Lino
Haza del Lino is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.280m (4,199ft) above the sea level, located in Granada, a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Piedra de San Martín is a drive worth taking
Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin (Piedra de San Martín) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,760 m (5,774 ft) above sea level, located on the French-Spanish border. It’s one of only five roads with pigtails (nudo de corbata) in Spain.
A defiant road through Hoces de Vegacervera canyon
Hoces de Vegacervera is an amazing gorge located in the Province of León, in the community autonomous of Castile and León, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of 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 brutally steep road to Monte Oiz
Monte Oiz is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.026m (3,366ft) above the sea level, located in Biscay in the Basque Country (Spain). The climb is simply terrible, going up to 20% gradients. The climb is known for its half-asphalt, half-concrete surface and irregular ramps.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Collado de Orgambide
Col d'Orgambide-Collado de Orgambide is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 992m (3,254ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
Pont sobre el riu Segre: a concrete bridge
Located in the Lleida province, in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region, the bridge over the Segre river is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
The Wild Road to Collado de Basibé
Collado de Basibé is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.353m (7,719ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in northeastern Spain. It's one of the highest roads of the country.
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.
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 curvy paved road to Puerto de Pandetrave
Puerto de Pandetrave is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.562m (5,124ft) above the sea level, located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain.
Puerto de Palombera, an absolute must for road lovers
Puerto de Palombera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.260m (4,133ft) above the sea level, located in Cantabria, in northern Spain.
Puerto de la Cubilla: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Puerto de la Cubilla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.692m (5,551ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the province of León, Castile and León and the Principality of Asturias, a region of northwest Spain. The climb is known as the Spanish Galibier.
Alto de la Farrapona is a cycling must
Alto de la Farrapona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.708m (5,603ft) above the sea level, located on the border between the Principality of Asturias and the province of León, in Castile and León, in northwest Spain. The pass has already made a name for itself.
Road MP-203, a never finished ghostly construction
MP-203 is an unused highway located two miles south-east of Mejorada del Campo – a small satellite town of Madrid, in Spain.
Road trip guide: Conquering Collado El Lobo
Collado El Lobo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.115m (10,219ft) 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 Europe.