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

Canchal Negro

Canchal Negro

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.

Reajo Capon

Reajo Capon

Reajo Capon is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.088m (6,850ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous community of Madrid in central Spain. 

Refugio del Puntal

Puntal Refuge

Refugio del Puntal is a private mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.242m (7,355ft) above the sea level, located in the region of Andalucia, in the province of Granada, in Spain.

Alto de Barajas

Alto de Barajas

Alto de Barajas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.764m (5,787ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain.

Refugio de Labasar

Labasar Refuge

Refugio de Labasar is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.949m (6,394ft) above the sea level, located in the Sobrarbe comarca, province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain.

Coll Tancalaporta

Coll Tancalaporta

Coll Tancalaporta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.106m (6,909ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. 

Coll Midós

Coll Midós

Coll Midós is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.193m (7,194ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Cerdanya, province of Lleida, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border. 

Cruz de Barreiros

Cruz de Barreiros

Cruz de Barreiros is a mountain pass at an elevation of 889m (2,916ft) above the sea level, located in the Galician province of Lugo, in Spain.

Guatizalema Canyon

A memorable road trip through Guatizalema Canyon

Cañón del Rio Guatizalema is a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in Huesca province, in the Spanish autonomous community of Aragón. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Picón de Jérez

Picón de Jérez

Picón de Jérez is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain. 

Pico de la Estrella

Pico de la Estrella

Pico de la Estrella is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.975m (6,479ft) above the sea level, located in Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

Congosto De Las Devotas

Take the Scenic Route and Discover Congosto De Las Devotas

Congosto De Las Devotas is a very scenic canyon located in the province of Huesca, in Aragon, an autonomous community of Spain.  It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain. 

Refugio de la Trapa

Trapa Refuge

Refugio de la Trapa is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1.739m (5,705ft) above the sea level, located in Spain, in the north of Huesca province, in Aragon.

Pico del Buitre

Pico del Buitre

Pico del Buitre is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.926m (6,318ft) above the sea level, located in the Sierra de Javalambre, on the border of Aragon and Valencia, in Spain.

Hoces de Bejo

A sensational drive through Hoces de Bejo

Hoces de Bejo is the name of a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, in Northern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Valdevaqueros dune

A sandy road through Valdevaqueros dune

Duna de Valdevaqueros is an extensive dune located in the Province of Cadiz, Andalusia in southern Spain.

LP-301 Road

LP-301, a volcanic road in Canary Islands

Located on the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands, the LP-301 is a very scenic drive that enables you to admire the scenic diversity of the island.

Ibón de Truchas

Ibón de Truchas: Driving the 4x4 chairlift road in Astún

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees in northeast Spain, Ibón de Truchas is a stunning high mountain lake reaching an elevation of 2,146m (7,040ft) above sea level. Situated in the province of Huesca, Aragon, and just a stone's throw from the French border, the route to this alpine lake is a demanding off-road journey through the high-altitude landscapes of the Valle de Astún.

Mirador del Gresolet

Mirador del Gresolet

Mirador del Gresolet is a high mountain natural lookout at an elevation of 1.575m (5,167ft) above the sea level, located in the Pre-Pyrenees, in the comarca of Berguedà, in Catalonia, northern Spain.

Canencia Pass

A paved mountain road to Canencia Pass in Madrid

Puerto de Canencia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.511m (4,957ft) above sea level, located in the northern area of the autonomous Community of Madrid, in central Spain.

Puerto de los Pilones

How to drive the unpaved road to Puerto de los Pilones in Malaga?

Puerto de los Pilones is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.784m (5,853ft) above sea level, located in the heart of Spain’s Malaga province.

Port de la Creu de Perves

Port de la Creu de Perves

Port de la Creu de Perves is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.335m (4,379ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Alta Ribagorça, in the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain.

Driving the 10 most haunted roads of Spain

What are the 10 most haunted roads of Spain?

The Spanish road network is full of 'cursed' sections of road that drivers prefer not to go through... under pain of suffering a terrifying encounter.

Ibón de Piedrafita

Driving the mountain track to Ibón de Piedrafita in the Pyrenees

The track to Ibón de Piedrafita is a high-altitude mountain road that climbs deep into the Tena Valley in the Pyrenees. Reaching an elevation of 1,622 meters, this dirt path leads to a glacial lake sitting right at the foot of the massive Peña Telera limestone walls. Although currently restricted to authorized traffic and maintenance vehicles, the road remains a brutal test of traction and clearance. The surface is a mix of loose shale and hard-packed soil that can become a muddy trap during the spring thaw or after a heavy Pyrenean storm.

Alto de San Isidro

Alto de San Isidro

Alto de San Isidro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.523m (4,996ft) above the sea level, located on the Asturias and Castile and Leon border, in northern Spain. The climb is pretty steep, with sections up to 11.4%.

Collet de la Gralla

Collet de la Gralla

Collet de la Gralla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.961m (6,433ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Ripollès in the province of Girona, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border.

Cares Canyon

Driving the scenic Cares Canyon Road in Asturias

Cañon del Rio Cares is a very scenic canyon located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Collado La Magdalena

Collado La Magdalena

Collado La Magdalena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.183m (7,162ft) above the sea level, located in the Aragón Valley of north-eastern Spain.

Montanha deth Dossau

How steep is the 4x4 track to Montanha deth Dossau in the Pyrenees?

Montanha deth Dossau, also known as Tuc deth Dossau, is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,515m (8,251ft) above sea level in the Aran Valley, Catalonia. Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, the road to the summit is a raw, unpaved service track for the Baqueira-Beret ski resort. This is one of the highest roads in the country, but its access is strictly limited to a very narrow window at the end of August, when the snow finally clears and the ground is dry enough to attempt one of the steepest climbs in the region.

Coll de Baretja

How to drive the unpaved road to Coll de Baretja?

Coll de Baretja, also known as Còth de Baretja, is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,753m (5,751ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Spain and France. Located in the Aran Valley (Lleida), the pass is reached via a technical unpaved road that starts from the paved Col du Portillon. The 6.5 km route is characterized by its steep gradients and high-altitude exposure, requiring 4x4 vehicles to manage the loose surface and the 12 sharp hairpin turns leading to the summit.

Talaia d'Albercutx

Driving the tricky road to Albercutx Watchtower in Mallorca

Talaia d'Albercutx is an old surveillance tower, built to spot pirates and corsairs, at an elevation of 355m (1,164ft) above sea level located in Mallorca, Spain. The drive up there can be a bit tricky, as the road is very narrow and not in great condition.

Refugi de Saboredo

Refugi de Saboredo

Refugi de Saboredo is a high mountain refuge located in the province of Lleida, autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Collado de la Quesera

Collado de la Quesera

Collado de la Quesera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.745m (5,725ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

Castillo de Zafra

Castillo de Zafra, a Game of Thrones location

Castillo de Zafra is a castle situated atop a large rock at an elevation of 1.400m (4,600ft) above the sea level, located in the northeastern corner of the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It’s known from Game of Thrones.

Collado de Urdiceto

Collado de Urdiceto: Driving the 11.10% Piste in the Aragonese Pyrenees

Reaching an elevation of 2,330m (7,644ft) above sea level, Collado de Urdiceto (also known as Collado de Ordizeto) is a high mountain pass located in the comarca of Sobrarbe, in the Huesca province of northern Spain. Situated in the Pyrenees, it is recognized as one of the highest roads in the country.

Morrón del Hornillo

Morrón del Hornillo

Morrón del Hornillo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.378m (7,801ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Puerto Collado

Puerto Collado

Puerto Collado is a mountain pass at an elevation of 914m (2,998ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Axarquía, and province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain.

Mirador d’Arànser

Mirador d’Arànser

Mirador d’Arànser, also known as Mirador de Aransa, is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 2.143m (7,030ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca Alt Urgell, Lleida, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border. 

Foz de Viboli

Foz de Viboli is a drive you'll never forget

Foz de Viboli is the name of a very scenic canyon located in the Principality of Asturias, a region of Spain. The drive deems too dangerous due to rock falls. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Puerto de Mijares

Puerto de Mijares, an absolute must for road lovers

Puerto de Mijares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.575m (5,167ft) above the sea level, located in the south of the province of Ávila, in Castile and León autonomous community, in north-western Spain.

TV-7411

Road TV-7411

Carretera TV-7411 is a very scenic road located in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in southern Catalonia, near the Aragon region, in northern Spain.

Camino Llano de Tauce

Camino Llano de Tauce: Ultimate 4wd destination

Camino Llano de Tauce is a very scenic high mountain road located on the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands. 

Tuca Urmella

Tuca Urmella

Tuca Urmella is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.333m (7,654ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Ribagorza, province of Huesca, in Aragon, Spain. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

El Yelmo

Driving the steep and narrow road to El Yelmo in Jaén

El Yelmo is one of the most iconic peaks in the Sierra de Segura, standing at 1,785 meters above sea level in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. This is a high-altitude lookout that dominates the Natural Park Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas. While the road to the summit is asphalted, do not expect a smooth highway; it is a narrow, twisting ribbon of weathered pavement that climbs aggressively through dense pine forests. It is a technical drive where the wind, the steepness, and the lack of space make it a real challenge for anyone heading toward the communication towers at the top.

Old Terradets Canyon Road

Adventure along the wild Old Terradets Canyon Road

Old Terradets Canyon Road is the name of a very challenging drive located in the comarca of Pallars Jussà, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, in northern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.