What are the most spectacular roads in Italy?

Located in the southern part of Europe, Italy is a dream for drivers as it hosts the mountain passes (the Alps), coastal drives (Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Ligurian), and some of the most famous scenic routes in the world.

Choosing only a few roads to drive in the country is nearly impossible, as there are about 600 spectacular routes. Stelvio Pass is Europe's most famous road. At an elevation of 2,757m (9,045ft) above sea level, the pass is located in the northern part of the country. It's one of the highest roads in Europe. Featuring 48 hairpin turns, the road through the summit is a marvel of engineering.

If you prefer coastal drives, you must experience the breathtaking Amalfi Coast Road. The road follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno. The road has been featured in films since cameras started rolling at 24 frames per second. If you want to feel like James Bond, don’t skip Strada della Forra. A small car with a functioning horn is recommended. For skilled drivers only. The drive is known by motorcyclists from all over Europe, as it is impressive and not without danger in a few narrow and steep spots. If you prefer roads with a story, don’t miss the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a WWI military mule road. Built on the massif of Pasubio, it was constructed in this position to stay away from Austro-Hungarian artillery fire.

Monte Cimone

Monte Cimone is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.165m (7,103ft) above the sea level, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Travel guide to the top of Mont'Arrubiu

Monte Arrubiu (Mont'Arrubiu) is a peak at an elevation of 442m (1,450ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cagliari in the Italian region Sardinia.

An awe-inspiring road to Lago della Rovina

Lago della Rovina is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in Italy.

How to drive to Colle della Ciabra in Piedmont?

Colle della Ciabra is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,712m (5,616ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, in the Italian region of Piedmont.

Driving to Monte Colmo: A vertical climb above Edolo

Monte Colmo is a mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,933 meters (6,341 ft) above sea level, located in the Brescia province of Lombardy, Italy. Traversed by Via Monte Colmo, the paved mountain road climbs steeply out of the Camonica valley above the town of Edolo.

Croce Arcana Pass

Passo della Croce Arcana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.669m (5,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Italian province of Pistoia, in the Apennines range.

A classic road trip to Baite di Mezzeno

Baite di Mezzeno is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.609m (5,278ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo, in Italy.

Laghi delle Cime Bianche

Laghi delle Cime Bianche is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Breuil-Cervinia, an alpine resort in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy.

A scenic paved road to Colle di Joux

Colle di Joux is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.640m (5,380ft) above sea level, located in the Aosta Valley of Italy.

The steep private road to Monte Ray: An engineering feat in the Gesso Valley

Monte Ray is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,846m (6,056ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. Situated near the French border, the road to the summit offers a technical and incredibly steep ascent through the scenic Valle Gesso.

Road trip guide: Conquering Dil Pass

Passo del Dil is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.797m (5,895ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy, in Italy.

Roccaraso-Aremogna

Roccaraso-Aremogna is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.663m (5,456ft) above the sea level, located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Col de Pernante: Driving the historic military border between France and Italy

Situated in the heart of the Maritime Alps, Col de Pernante is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,898m (6,227ft) above sea level. Perched directly on the border between France and Italy, this pass is a key point along the strategic ridge that separates the Roya Valley in France from the Vermenagna Valley in Italy, offering a journey through both stunning Alpine scenery and European military history.

Road trip guide: Conquering Forcella Pecol

Forcella Pecol is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.787m (5,862ft) located in the province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto.

Driving the Polentin Pass: The border road between Austria and Italy

Polentin Pass (Passo Polentin in Italian) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,538 meters (5,045 ft) above sea level, located on the border between Austria and Italy. Crossing the Carnic Alps, the pass connects Stranig in Carinthia (Austria) with Paularo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy).

Travel guide to the top of Forcella di Pradazzo

Forcella di Pradazzo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.

Bocchetta di Campiglia

Bocchetta di Campiglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.216m (3,989ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy.

An awe-inspiring road to Rifugio Ciareido

Rifugio Ciareido is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.957m (6,420ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno (Cadore) in the Italian region of Veneto.

Driving to Lusia Pass: A high-altitude track in the Dolomites

Passo del Lusia is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,005m (6,578ft) above sea level, located in the Fassa Valley of Trentino, Italy. Set within the iconic Dolomites, the road to the summit—also known as Pas de Lujia—is a steep, unpaved track with a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.

Dibona Refuge

Rifugio Angelo Dibona is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.045m (6,709ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the southern Alps in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

Borcola Pass

Passo della Borcola is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.207m above the sea level, located on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto, in Italy.

Driving a Wild Paved Road to Majelletta in the Abruzzo

Majelletta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,897m (6,223ft) above sea level, located in the province of Chieti, in Italy. The road is very steep, hitting a maximum gradient of 15%.

How to get by car to Gobba di Rollin?

Gobba di Rollin is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.911m (12,831ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Sella Sondogna: Driving the 30 Hairpins of the Dogna Valley

At an elevation of 1,392m (4,566ft) above sea level, Sella Sondogna (also known as Sella di Sompdogna or Siele Sompdogne) is a high mountain pass in the Province of Udine, Italy. Located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, the road follows a strategic military route through the Julian Alps, connecting the Dogna Valley with the Val Saisera.

How steep is the road to Passo di Pradaccio in the Italian Apennines?

Passo di Pradaccio, also known as Passo del Lagadello, is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 1,617m (5,305ft) above sea level, situated on the rugged boundary between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna in central Italy. The road over the pass, the Strada Provinciale 71 (SP71), is a notorious climb that connects the Garfagnana region with the high ridges of the Apennines. Despite being asphalted, the route is feared by drivers for its narrow sections and some of the steepest ramps in Italy, making it a technical challenge for any vehicle's cooling system and brakes.

Campogrosso Pass

Passo di Campogrosso (Malga Campogrosso) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.464m (4,803ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto, in Italy. It’s a very steep climb with a maximum slope of 16%.

Gardeccia Refuge

Rifugio Gardeccia is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.950m (6,397ft) above the sea level, located in the middle of the Dolomites, in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

How to drive the unpaved road to Sillianer Hütte?

Sillianer Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.428m (7,965ft) above sea level, located on the border of Austria and Italy.

San Antonio Pass

Passo San Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Belluno, in the Italian region of Veneto.

Serra Sant'Antonio Pass

Passo Serra Sant'Antonio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.602m (5,255ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the Lazio and Abruzzo regions, in Italy.

How to drive the the hairpinned paved road to Lago Alpe del Cavalli

Lago Alpe del Cavalli is a high-mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.508m (4,947ft) above sea level, located in the Italian region Piedmont.

How to drive the hairpin turns to Presolana Pass in Bergamo?

Passo della Presolana is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.297m (4,255ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Bergamo, in Italy.

Col dei S'Cios: Driving the scenic Strada della Dorsale in Pordenone

Col dei S'Cios is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,342 meters (4,402 ft) above sea level, located in the Carnic Prealps within the Province of Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The pass is traversed by the unpaved Strada della Dorsale Interna del Cavallo, running along the ridge above the Venetian plains.