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. 

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.

El Retamar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,100m (6,889ft) above sea level, located on the Canary Islands, in Spain. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Col d’Artzatey is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 662m (2,171ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

Coll de Jou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,637m (5,370ft) above sea level, located in the province of Girona, in Spain.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.260m (4,133ft) above the sea level, located in Cantabria, in northern Spain.

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.

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.

MP-203 is an unused highway located two miles south-east of Mejorada del Campo – a small satellite town of Madrid, in Spain.

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.

Coll de Pimés is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,136m (7,007ft) above sea level, located on the border of Andorra and Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

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.

T-704 is a paved mountain road located in the province of Tarragona, southern Catalonia in Spain. The road features more than 30 hairpin turns and has been used in the WRC Rally Catalunya.

Cerro del Moro is a mountain peak at an elevation of 914m (2,998ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, on the South-Eastern coast of Spain.

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%.

Refugio de Biadós is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.779m (5,836ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the comarca of Ribagorza, province of Huesca, in Spain.

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.

Puerto de Vegarada is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.555m (5,101ft) above the sea level, situated between Asturias and León province, in north-western Spain.

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.

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