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.

What are the best roads in Canary Islands? Top 7

Exploring the Canary Islands by road unveils a driving enthusiast's paradise, where each twist and turn leads to breathtaking landscapes and exhilarating experiences. Nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, this Spanish archipelago boasts a network of roads that wind through diverse terrains, from volcanic landscapes to coastal wonders. Join us on a journey through the best driving roads in the Canary Islands, where the thrill of the open road meets the stunning beauty of these enchanting islands.

Montau

Montau is a mountain peak at an elevation of 654m (2,145ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Garraf, in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. The summit offers stunning views.

Puigsou

Puigsou is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 989m (3,244ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain. It has been used by some of the world’s best cyclists as a test climb.

Road CV700

Carretera CV700 is a challenging mountain road located in the Valencian Community, Spain. The road is asphalted. It’s 66.9 km long and links the towns of El Verger (on the AP-7 highway) and Bocairent, on the CV-81 road.

Peña Telera

Peña Telera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.791m (5,875ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, in northeastern Spain close to the border with France.

Alto de Cazorla

Alto de Cazorla is a mountain pass at an elevation of 930m (3,051ft) above the sea level located in the province of Jaén in Spain's autonomous community of Andalusia.

Take An Unforgettable Drive to Mirador del Naranjo de Bulnes

Mirador del Naranjo de Bulnes is a viewpoint at an elevation of 462m (1,515ft) above the sea level, located in the Principality of Asturias, a region of northwest Spain.

Monte Roldan: a military road to the summit

Monte Roldan is a mountain peak at an elevation of 468m (1,535ft) above the sea level, located in the Murcia region of southeast Spain. The road offers stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline of Murcia.

Cap de la Peulla

Cap de la Peulla is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.322m (7,618ft) above the sea level, located in the Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Driving the 4x4 track to Punta d’Icún: A 9.6% climb in Huesca

Located in the heart of the Aragonese Pyrenees, the ascent to Punta d’Icún (also known as Cerro de las Canales) is one of the most technical and sustained unpaved climbs in the province of Huesca. Reaching an elevation of 2,069m (6,788ft) above sea level, the track starts at the isolated village of Yosa de Sobremonte. It is a route defined by extreme verticality, where the vehicle is pushed to its mechanical limits on a surface that offers zero stability and constant exposure to the high mountain elements.

Pico Almadén, a tough and stunning road to the summit

Pico Almadén is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.031m (6,663ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Jaen, autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain

Driving to Coll de Pradell: The 2,135m unpaved pass in Serra d'Ensija

Located in the heart of the Serra d'Ensija, in the Berguedà region of Barcelona, the ascent to Coll de Pradell is a high-altitude journey reaching 2,135m (7,004ft) above sea level. This pass, situated at coordinates 42.19404, 1.64757, should not be confused with the paved pass of the same name located further east. This is a raw, high-mountain environment where the asphalt disappears to give way to a technical track that demands respect from both the driver and the vehicle's mechanics.

Driving the Templar track to Castillo de Montalbán: 2km of rock and history

Located in the province of Toledo, in the heart of Castile-La Mancha, the Castillo de Montalbán is a massive 12th-century fortress built by the Knights Templar. While the history of the site is legendary, the approach to the castle is a logistical test for your vehicle's suspension. Reaching the gates requires driving a short but technical track that leaves the main road behind, transitioning from modern asphalt to a surface that feels as old as the stone walls of the fortress.

Playa de Argaga, one of the gnarliest roads of Canary Islands

Playa de Argaga is a black volcanic sand and pebble beach located in the western part of the island La Gomera, in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Canary Islands, Spain. Be aware of falling rocks.

Laguna de Valdeazores

Laguna de Valdeazores is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.289m (4,229ft) above the sea level, located in Jaén, a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia.

Is the road to Tuc de Salana in the Aran Valley difficult to drive?

Reaching the Tuc de Salana is a journey to the high-altitude heart of the Pyrenees. At 2,143m (7,030ft) above sea level, this peak dominates the landscape of the Aran Valley in Catalonia. The route, known as the Camin de Pruedo, is a spectacular but demanding mountain loop that connects Salardú and Arties. It’s a road that takes you deep into the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, where the jagged peaks and glacial lakes make you feel very small, very quickly.

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Foces del Rio Somiedo

Foces del Rio Somiedo is the name of a very scenic drive located in the autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Cap de la Fesa

Cap de la Fesa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.356m (7,729ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Alt Urgell, Lleida, Catalonia, in northern Spain, near the French border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Collada de Montaner: Driving the 9.6% 4x4 border track to Andorra

Reaching an elevation of 2,079m (6,820ft) above sea level, Collada de Montaner is an international high mountain pass situated on the ridgeline of the Pyrenees, marking the border between Spain and Andorra. This high-altitude crossing is a legendary route for off-roaders, linking the Spanish enclave of Os de Civís with the Andorran parish of La Massana.

Driving the TV-2443: The WRC legendary stage in Alt Camp

The TV-2443 is a hidden gem in the Alt Camp region of Catalonia, Spain. This 17.4 km paved route connects the town of Vila-rodona with the small village of Aiguaviva (El Montmell). While it may look like a quiet country road, it is a high-speed technical challenge carved through pine forests and almond groves, demanding absolute precision from anyone behind the wheel.

Driving through the infamous Taibilla Canyon

Cañón de Rio Taibilla is a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located in Albacete province, in the Spanish autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

How to drive the unpaved road to Pico del Nevero?

Pico del Nevero is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.211m (7,257ft) above sea level, located in Spain.

The cracked LE-CV-192/21 is a mountain road in Castile and Leon

Carretera LE-CV-192/21 is a very scenic high mountain road located in the province of León, in Spain.

Driving the curvy road to Alto de La Nava Grande in the Sierra de Guadarrama

Alto de La Nava Grande is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,963m (6,440ft) above sea level, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid. Known locally as Alto de La Nava, this summit offers one of the most technical and scenic unpaved climbs in central Spain.

Driving Carretera de l’Arrabassada, one of the most dangerous roads in Barcelona

Located in Barcelona, on the northeastern coast of Spain, Carretera de l’Arrabassada is said to be the most stunning yet dangerous road in the city’s area.

Driving the 4x4 track to Braña de Murias Chongas: 1,650m in Somiedo

Located in the heart of the Somiedo Natural Park, in Asturias, the ascent to Braña de Murias Chongas is a test of pure traction and clearance. Reaching an elevation of 1,650m (5,413ft) above sea level, the track—officially part of the PR AS-15.1—connects the village of Valle de Lago with the high summer pastures. It is a route defined by deep water erosion and a surface that is constantly changing due to the harsh weather of the Cantabrian Mountains, where the limestone rock and the mud create a technical challenge for any vehicle.

Driving the scenic Estrecho de Priego

Estrecho de Priego is the name of a very scenic canyon located in the heart of Cuenca province in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

How to drive the paved road to Puerto de San Lorenzo?

Puerto de San Lorenzo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.348m (4,422ft) above sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain. Long and steep (with some parts up to 18%) brutal describes the climb but it is worth it as the scenery is spectacular.

Driving the abandoned curves of Puerto de Contreras: The ghost of the N-III

The Puerto de Contreras, also known as the Cuestas de Contreras, is a ghost of Spanish engineering. Located on the border between the Valencian Community and Castile-La Mancha, this 17-kilometer stretch was once the main artery between Madrid and Valencia. Today, following the opening of the A-3 highway, it has reverted to a narrow, technical, and partially restricted route that remains a brutal test for those looking to understand how traffic used to flow across the Cabriel river gorge.

Driving the unpaved track to Pico Zapatero in Avila

Pico Zapatero, also known as Cuchillar del Zapatero, is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,914m (6,279ft) above sea level, located in the province of Avila, Castile and León. Situated in the heart of the Sierra de la Paramera, the road to the summit is a long, unpaved high-altitude track that serves as a vital corridor for telecommunications and mountain grazing management.

Tunel de Cotefablo

Tunel de Cotefablo is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1.423m (4,668ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Huesca, in northeastern Spain close to the border with France.

Road trip guide: Hoces de Valdeteja

Hoces de Valdeteja is a very scenic drive running through an incredible landscape located north of León province, in Castile and León, Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Tuc de Saumet

Tuc de Saumet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.609m (8,559ft) above the sea level, located in the Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Puerto de Honduras

Puerto de Honduras is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.433m (4,701ft) above the sea level, located in the north of the province of Cáceres, in Spain.

El Filo

El Filo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.347m (7,700ft) above the sea level, located in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of Spain.

Driving the 27 hairpins to El Moixer: The 1,441m wall of Roc del Comptador

Located on the border between Spain and France, the ascent to El Moixer (also known as Roc del Comptador) is the highest and most technical drive in the Serra de l'Albera. Reaching an elevation of 1,441m (4,727ft) above sea level, the track towers over Maçanet de Cabrenys. It is a route built for the maintenance of the telecommunication towers at the summit, meaning the road is a raw, functional path where the Tramuntana wind and the steepness of the Pyrenees define the driving experience.

Driving the scenic road to Pla de la Feixa

Pla de la Feixa is a high mountain plateau situated at an elevation of 2,212m (7,257ft) above sea level. It is located in the comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia. This plateau sits in the heart of the Pyrenees mountain range, near the French border, between the picturesque towns of Meranges and Guils de Cerdanya.