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. 

Carretera LP-4, locally known as Carretera del Roque, is a breathtaking road located in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.

Coll de Pal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,109m (6,919ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Berguedà, in Spain.

Saut deth Pish is a spectacular waterfall at an elevation of 1,553 m (5,095 ft) above sea level, located in Val d'Aran, Spain.

La Rinconada de Nigüelas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,174m (7,132ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.

Located in the Canary Islands, Ruta de los Volcanes is an extraordinary and unforgettable journey, where you will enjoy awe-inspiring views over volcanic cones, look down into craters, see dunes of picón or lapilli, and have a glance into lava tubes. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Casielles is a small ghost town at an elevation of 809m (2,654ft) above sea level, located in the Asturian council of Ponga, in Spain. Be careful: this narrow road is difficult, with 23 hairpin turns.

Antigua Carretera N-320 is a cliff road located in Sacedón, in the province of Guadalajara, Spain. The road was bypassed by a new highway but is still in use. It can be impassable at any time due to stone collapses and landslides. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads in Spain.

Calar Alto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,168m (7,113ft) above sea level, located in the province of Almería, in Spain. It's one of the highest roads in Spain.

C31 is a coastal corniche road located in Spain's Catalonia region. The exciting road, nicknamed Costes del Garraf, is not suitable for those who get dizzy.

Bardenas Reales is a desert natural region located in southeast Navarre, in Spain. It’s one of the few deserts in Europe and is definitely the most impressive of them all.

Col de Caralps is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,501m (8,205ft) above sea level, located on the French-Spanish border. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Coll de la Creueta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,880m (6,167ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona in Spain.

Jito de Escarandi (also known as Alto de Sotres) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,308m (4,291ft) above sea level, located in the Picos de Europa mountain range of Spain. The road features sections with a gradient of up to 21%.

Observatorio del Pico Veleta is a high mountain observatory at an elevation of 2.856m (9,370ft) above sea level, located in the region of Andalusia, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Alto del Moncalvillo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,480m (4,855ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain.

La Covatilla is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,962m (6,437ft) above sea level, located in the south of the Province of Salamanca, in Spain. It is one of the hardest climbs in the area.

Santuari de la Mare de Déu de l'Abellera is a mountain shrine at an elevation of 1.008m (3,307ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Baix Camp, in southern Catalonia, Spain.

Puerto de Ancares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,670m (5,479ft) above sea level, located on the border between Galicia and Castile and León autonomous regions, in Spain.

Puerto de la Fuenfría is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,796m (5,892ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Castile and León region, in Spain.

Port de Boucharo-Puerto de Bujaruelo is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,278 m (7,473 ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border. The last part of the road to the summit is blocked to vehicles by large rocks.

Refugio Vivac de la Caldera is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.053m (10,016ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Located in El Hierro, the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary Islands in Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, HI-500 is a scenic coastal road with dangerous drop-offs.

Llano de las Ovejas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,961m (6,433ft) above sea level, located in the province of León, in Spain.

Collado de Carihuela is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,209m (10,528ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

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.

GC-606 is a mountain road located in Las Palmas Province, in the Canary Islands of Spain. It’s one of the most challenging roads on the island—spectacular or terrifying, depending on how you handle heights.

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.

Puerto de Peñanegra is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,909m (6,263 ft) above sea level, located in the Spanish province of Ávila.

Alto Fonte da Cova is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,850m (6,069ft) above sea level, located on the border between Galicia and Castile and León, in Spain. It is an impressive climb by any standards.

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%.

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.

Col de Méhatché is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 716m (2,349ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peña Ubiña is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,754m (5,754ft) above sea level, located in Spain.

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