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.

The paved road to Central Hidroelectrica de Millares II

Located in the comarca of Canal de Navarrés in the Valencian Community, Spain, the road to reach the hydroelectric power station is asphalted but ends abruptly in a river.

Road GIP-6041

GIP-6041 is one of the most scenic roads on the Catalan Costa Brava, in Spain. The road inland offers lovely views of the region.

Lagunas de Neila, an iconic Vuelta a España climb

Lagunas de Neila is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 1.873m (6,145ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in north-central Spain. The climb is very steep, with sections up to 17%.

Cerro Gatón: Driving the steep 4x4 track in Sierra de la Demanda

Reaching an elevation of 1,911m (6,269ft) above sea level, Cerro Gatón is one of the most prominent peaks in the Sierra de la Demanda, located in the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. The road to the summit is a demanding mountain track that offers a wild, high-altitude experience, far removed from the paved regional networks.

A paved road to the iconic Puerto de Ventana

Puerto de Ventana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.587m (5,206ft) above the sea level, located in the Cordillera Cantábrica, a mountain range in northern Spain.

Puerto del Escudo

Puerto del Escudo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.011m (3,317ft) above the sea level, located in the valley of Luena, between Cantabria and Castile, in Spain. It has several parts of double-digit gradients.

Puerto El Madroño

Puerto El Madroño is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.063m (3,487ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain.

Ruta Jubierre: offroad in the Monegros Desert

Ruta Jubierre is a very scenic offroad experience in the Monegros comarca province of Huesca, Aragon, in northeastern Spain.

How to get by car to Alto de la Cruz in Leon?

Alto de la Cruz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.475m (4,839ft) above sea level, located in the province of León, in Spain.

Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda

Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.855m (6,085ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Castile and León and La Rioja regions, in northwestern Spain.

Puerto de la Morcuera

Puerto de la Morcuera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.796m (5,892ft) above the sea level, located in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid, in central Spain.

Obarra Canyon: a Spanish balcony road

Located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in northern Spain, Congosto de Obarra is a narrow canyon formed by the Isabena River. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Laguna Seca

Laguna Seca is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.283m (7,490ft) above the sea level located in Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Southern Spain.

How to drive the unpaved Coll del Cintó?

Coll del Cintó is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,889m (6,197ft) above sea level, located in the Lleida province of Catalonia, Spain. Situated within the central Pyrenees range, the road through the pass is a 20.2 km unpaved corridor that links the villages of Bescaran and Arcavell. Logistically, this route serves as a high-altitude connection near the border with Andorra, requiring specialized 4WD vehicles to navigate the 27 hairpin turns and the loose rocky surface characteristic of the Pyrenean axis.

Driving the historic Collada de Conflent: The Smugglers' Route in the Pyrenees

Collada de Conflent (also known as Coll de Conglens) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,177m (7,142ft) above sea level, located in the central Pyrenees, in Catalonia, Spain. This pass is a key point on the legendary Ruta dels Contrabandistes (Smugglers' Route), a track that historically allowed locals to travel between Os de Civís and the rest of the Alt Urgell region without entering Andorran territory.

Puerto de Los Cotos

Puerto de Los Cotos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.830m (6,003ft) above the sea level, located in the mountain range of Guadarrama, on the border of Castile Leon and Madrid, Spain.

A scenic drive through the narrow Congosto de Ventamillo

Located in the county of Ribagorza, in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in northern Spain, Congosto de Ventamillo is a limestone canyon. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

The road to Coll d’Honor is a hidden gem in Mallorca

Coll d’Honor is a mountain pass at an elevation of 565m (1,853ft) above sea level, located on the northern part of the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, in Spain.

Puerto de Cotefablo

Puerto de Cotefablo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.423m (4,668ft) above the sea level, located in northeastern Spain in the province of Huesca, near the Pyrenees and the border with France

Collado de las Sabinas

Collado de las Sabinas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.136m (7,007ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the province of Granada, Spain.

Sil Canyon Road

Sil Canyon Road is a loop drive located in the Province of Ourense, in the heart of the region of Galicia in northern Spain. The road runs along the Sil River and Santo Estevo dam.

Estany de la Coma d'Amitges

Estany de la Coma d'Amitges is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.382m (7,814ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, in Catalonia, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Sobrón Canyon road, a Spanish hidden gem

Sobrón Canyon road is a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape, on the boundary between the Basque Country and the province of Burgos, an autonomous community of Castile and León, in northwestern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Driving the unpaved track to La Polarda: 2,143m in Sierra Nevada

Located in the eastern section of the Sierra Nevada National Park, in the province of Almería, the ascent to La Polarda is one of the highest and most isolated unpaved transits in Southern Spain. Reaching an elevation of 2,143m (7,030ft) above sea level, the track follows the high ridges of the mountain range, offering a raw driving experience where the desert-like heat of Almería meets the thin, freezing air of the summits. It is a route for those looking to test their vehicle's endurance on a long, sustained climb far from any paved civilization.

Cerro Almirez: The brutal 31-hairpin 4x4 track in Almería

Cerro Almirez is a massive mountain summit at an elevation of 2,350 meters (7,709 ft) above sea level, located in the Almería sector of the Sierra Nevada National Park. The road to the summit is a raw forest track carved into crumbling slate and shale, standing as one of the highest roads in Spain. The physical reality of driving this route involves managing 31 sharp hairpin turns on a narrow, unpaved ledge where the low-range gearing of a 4x4 is mandatory to handle the vertical gain and the lack of oxygen at the summit.

How to drive the unpaved road to Cerro El Buitre in Almeria?

Cerro El Buitre is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.466m (8,090ft) above sea level located in Almería province, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

The Road to Pico Gallinero is a High Mountain Challenge in the Pyrenees

Pico Gallinero is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,613m (8,572ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Spain. It features one of the highest roads in the country.

Road DP-2205

Located in the province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain, Road DP-2205 (nicknamed ‘The Cliff Road’) is a very scenic drive. Not recommended if you have passengers that don't like heights.

What are the best roads in Mallorca? Top 5

Beyond its famous beaches, Mallorca hides some of the most technical and scenic mountain roads in the Mediterranean. The Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, acts as a cathedral for driving enthusiasts, offering a mix of high-altitude engineering, dizzying coastal drops, and perfect asphalt. From the iconic "Tie Knot" to the wild northern cliffs, here is the ultimate selection for your Mallorcan road trip.

Calar de Santa Bárbara: Driving the high-altitude mine track in Sierra de Baza

Calar de Santa Bárbara is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,218 meters (7,276 ft) above sea level, located in the Sierra de Baza Natural Park in the province of Granada, Andalusia. The road to the summit is an old, unpaved mining track that scales the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The physical reality of this route involves managing a raw, rocky surface through abandoned mining sectors, where the high altitude and steep hairpins near the end test the vehicle's traction and cooling capacity under sustained load.

Driving the cracked road to Alto del Morredero in Castile and Leon

Alto del Morredero is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.762m (5,780ft) above sea level, located in the province of León, in Spain.

Road trip guide: Conquering Puerto del Connio

Puerto del Connio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.315m (4,314ft) above the sea level, located in Fuentes del Narcea, in the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain.

Conquering the iconic road to Rasos de Peguera

Rasos de Peguera is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.897m (6,223ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, in Spain. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time.

La Ruta del Silencio: Is the A-1702 the Most Spectacular Panoramic Road in Spain?

The A-1702, widely known as "The Silent Route," is an asphalt wrinkle that runs through a land marked by mystery and solitude. Spanning 63 kilometers between the Venta de la Pintada (Gargallo) and the Puerto de Cuarto Pelado (Cantavieja) in Teruel, this road offers a captivating journey through a landscape that remains almost untouched by time. It is a territory of solitary farmhouses (masías), narrow paths carved in stone, and villages that cling to cliffs in impossible positions.

Peña del Altar: A high-altitude service road in Jaén

Peña del Altar is a high-altitude mountain refuge located at 1,791m (5,875ft) above sea level in the Jaén province of Andalusia, Spain. Situated within the Sierra de la Pandera mountain range, the route to the refuge offers some of the most dramatic views in the south-central part of the country.

Estanys de la Pera, one of the highest roads of Spain

Estanys de la Pera is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.363m (7,752ft) above sea level located in Catalonia, in northern Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Coll d'Ares: The steep and degraded road in the Montsec d'Ares

Coll d'Ares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,536 meters (5,039 ft) above sea level, located in the Serra del Montsec, within the La Noguera comarca in Catalonia, in Spain. The narrow road to the pass climbs the raw limestone walls of the Montsec d'Ares, starting from the valley floor near Àger.

A scenic drive through Hoces del río Mesa

Located in the Province of Zaragoza, in the community autonomous of Aragón, in Spain, the road through Mesa Canyon is a very scenic drive. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Puerto de Montenegro

Puerto de Montenegro, also known as Puerto de las Viniegras, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.582m (5,190ft) above the sea level, located in the midst of the Iberian System mountains, on the border between the provinces of La Rioja and Soria, in Spain.

Puerto de Malagosto

Puerto de Malagosto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.931m (6,335ft) above the sea level, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama (mountain range of the Central System), on the edge of the Spanish provinces of Madrid and Segovia, in the central part of the country.