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. 

Ermita de Santa Lucia is a small church at an elevation of 312m (1,023ft) above the sea level, located in Castelló, a province in the northern part of the Valencian Community, Spain. The climb is simply brutal, with sections up to 20%.

Puerto del Pinar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.660m (5,446ft) above the sea level,  located in the province of Granada, Spain.

Refugi Malniu is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 2.131m (6,991ft) above the sea level, located in the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain. 

El Travieso is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.858m (6,095ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.

Pleta de Comabella is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.148m (7,047ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Berguedà, in Catalonia, Spain. 

Puerto de Fortanete is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.809m (5,935ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain.

Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada range, in the province of Granada, the ascent to Collado de las Yeguas is a journey to the limits of vehicle performance. Reaching an elevation of 2,859m (9,379ft) above sea level, this mountain pass is one of the highest navigable points in the country. It is a functional service road for the ski resort, where the extreme altitude and the raw terrain of the high peaks create a driving environment that offers no room for error.

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.

Les Marmotes is a high-altitude destination at an elevation of 2,502m (8,208ft) above sea level, located in the heart of the Pyrenees in the province of Girona, Catalonia. Reaching this point, situated within the Camprodon Valley, requires navigating a brutal service road that climbs through the Vallter 2000 ski resort. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Hoz del Júcar is the name of a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in Albacete province, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, in central Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Congosto de Olvena is the name of a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in Huesca province, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Portal de Picos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.854m (6,082ft) above the sea level located in Northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. At the summit there are several facilities and buildings.

Valdezcaray is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.553m (5,095ft) above the sea level, located in the southwest La Rioja, an autonomous region of northern Spain. The maximum slope is 14 %.

Puntal de la Misa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.754m (5,754ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Jaén, in Andalusia, Spain. A 4WD vehicle with high clearance and an experienced driver are required. The road is very steep, with sections up to 20%. It’s one of the wildest drives in the country.

Muntanya dels Estanyets is a high-altitude peak reaching 2,334m (7,657ft) above sea level in the Pallars Sobirà region of Catalonia, Spain. Located on the edge of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the track to the summit is one of the highest and steepest drives in the Pyrenees. Originally built as a service road for the Espot Esquí resort chairlifts, it is a brutal unpaved climb that demands total focus and a vehicle prepared for extreme gradients on loose ground.

Located in the Valencian Community, the CV-794 road is said to be one of the most beautiful drives in the country. It is very busy by motorists on weekends, as it has some curves without excessive traffic.

Tossal d'Engrilló is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.072m (3,517ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Terra Alta, in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Carretera CV-200 is a very challenging road located in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia.

Located on the international border between France (Pyrénées-Orientales) and Spain (Girona), Puig Neulós is the highest peak of the Albera Range, reaching an elevation of 1,251m (4,104ft). The summit is accessible via a narrow asphalted road on the French side, serving as a technical ascent for maintenance crews and logistics personnel headed to the high-power telecommunications antennas situated at the peak.

Refugio Ventura is an abandoned mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.105m (6,906ft) above the sea level, located in Granada province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. 

Alto Mirador de Veixia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 600m (1,968ft) above the sea level located in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain.

Cim Fontcalda is a mountain pass at an elevation of 488m (1,601ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Tarragona, southern Catalonia, in northern Spain.

Located in the northern reaches of the Community of Madrid, the Puerto de la Puebla is a high mountain pass that stands at an elevation of 1,636m (5,367ft) above sea level. Situated within the Sierra del Lobosillo mountain range, this pass is one of the most secluded and authentic driving experiences in Central Spain, far from the crowded routes of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Puerto de Vegarada-Riopinos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.658m (5,439ft) above the sea level, located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain.

Estany de Sallente is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.765m (5,790ft) above the sea level, located in La Vall Fosca, in Lleida, Spain.

Punta Malacara is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,137m (7,011ft) above sea level, located in the heart of the Pyrenees in the province of Huesca, Spain. Technically, the access route is a specialized service road for the Astún ski resort chairlifts. Navigating this 4.8 km track requires a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle, as the road is engineered for industrial mountain maintenance rather than standard vehicular transit.

Puerto de la Bobia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.103m (3,618ft) above the sea level, located  in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. The climb is brutal, with sections up to 20%.

Located in the heart of the Sierra de Gúdar, in the province of Teruel, Puerto de Cabigordo is a high mountain pass that serves as a vital link between the capital and the high plateaus of Cedrillas. Reaching an elevation of 1,602m (5,255ft) above sea level, the road—officially the A-226—offers a mix of modern high-speed asphalt and a hidden historical track that takes you back decades in time. It is a drive where the cold, dry air of Aragon meets the silent remains of the Spanish Civil War.

Montcaubó is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.293m (7,522ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of the Pallars Sobirà in Catalonia, Spain. 

The Camino de Santiago is one of the oldest and most complex road networks in Europe. Originally designed for pilgrims on foot, these routes now cross modern highways, rural tracks, and mountain passes. Managing the logistics of a journey here—whether as a walker or a support vehicle driver—requires a deep understanding of the terrain and the specific safety protocols for shared roads. This guide analyzes the infrastructure and the logistical preparation needed to navigate these iconic Spanish and European routes.

Collet de Les Barraques is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.900m (6,233ft) above the sea level, located in Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Alto El Rey is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.858m (6,095ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

Pico de las Tres Güegas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.240m (7,349ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Aragón, in northeast Spain, near the French border. 

Nuevo Mundo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.115m (6,938ft) above the sea level, located in Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. 

Pitarque canyon road is a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, in eastern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Refugi de Prat Aguiló "Cèsar August Torras" is a mountain hut at an elevation of 2.000m (6,561ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Cerdanya, Catalonia, in northern Spain near the French border.

Puerto del Boyar is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.107m (3,631ft) above the sea level, located in the northeastern part of the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain.

Pico Javalambre is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.010m (6,594ft) above the sea level, located in the Sierra de Javalambre, on the border of Aragon and Valencia, in Spain.

Located in the heart of the Ribagorza county, within the province of Huesca, Pico Cervín is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,620m (5,314ft) above sea level. Also known among locals as Tozal de la Rasa, this summit in the Aragon region of northern Spain is a formidable challenge for off-road drivers due to its relentless incline and rugged terrain.

Hoz del Huécar Tourist Route is a very scenic drive located in Cuenca province, in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, in central Spain.

Sant Alís is the highest peak in the Serra del Montsec d'Ares, sitting at 1,676m (5,499ft) above sea level. This dirt track in Lleida is the only way to reach the summit, a place where everyone goes to fly. It’s not a long route, but the terrain and the local traffic mean you can’t let your guard down for a second.

Refugi Claus is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.031m (6,663ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Girona, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border.

Puerto de San Rafael is a lonely sentinel in the heart of the Iberian System. At an elevation of 1,560m (5,118ft) above sea level, this pass in the province of Teruel is a far cry from the smooth, high-speed highways of the plains. The A-228 road, which crosses this summit, offers a raw driving experience through one of the most depopulated and rugged regions of Aragon. It is a route where the silence of the mountains is only broken by the sound of tires struggling against aging asphalt.

Carretera A-1604 is a very exciting road in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in Spain. The road is very scenic running along the Guarga River.

Canchal Negro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.268m (7,440ft) above the sea level, located in the south of Salamanca province in Castilla y León, Spain.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.