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. 

Puntal de la Buitrera is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Jaén, in Andalusia, Spain.

The Vuelta a España is more than a bicycle race; it is a legendary battle against gravity. Established in 1935 to rival the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, the "Vuelta" has evolved into one of the most grueling events on the UCI World Tour calendar. While it started with only 50 riders, today it is a three-week odyssey through some of the steepest and highest paved roads in Europe.

Hoz de Beteta is a picturesque canyon located in the province of Cuenca, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Puerto de Rañadoiro is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.178m (3,864ft) above the sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain. The road to the summit was bypassed by a tunnel.

Pico del Relojero is a mountain peak at an elevation of 600m (1,968ft) above the sea level, located in the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community of Spain. The climb is brutal, with sections up to 15%.

Located in the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Sant Mamet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,391m (4,564ft) above sea level. Situated within the Montsec Range, a mountain system of the Pre-Pyrenees in Catalonia, Spain, the summit is reached via a demanding unpaved track that requires specific vehicle capabilities.

Carretera TE-V-2001 is a very exciting mountain road located at the southern end of Aragon, bordering the Valencian Community, in Spain.

Pico el Puntal is a prominent mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,286m (4,219ft) above sea level, located in the Almería province of Andalusia, southern Spain. The summit is situated within the Sierra Alhamilla Natural Park, bordering the Tabernas Desert, which is known as the driest and warmest region in the country.

Puig Drau is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.345m (4,413ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Osona, in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Esglesia de Sant Jaume de Montagut is a mountain church at an elevation of 862m (2,828ft) above the sea level, located in Tarragona province, in northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region. It’s one of the most demanding roads of Spain due its narrowness and steepness.

El Coscollet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.609m (5,278ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Alt Urgell, in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. The summit offers stunning views.

Located in the province of León, in the northwest of Spain, Collado del Muñón is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,768m (5,800ft) above sea level. Situated within the rugged Somiedo Natural Park in the Cantabrian Mountains, the road to the summit is a short but brutal test of traction and low-range gearing.

Mirador del Rey (King´s viewpoint) is a natural viewpoint  at an elevation of 1.081m (3,546ft) above the sea level, located in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in region of Asturias, northern Spain.

Pico El Morrón is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.593m (5,226ft) above the sea level, located in the westernmost area of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain. 

Located in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain, MA-126 road is a very scenic drive.

Cap del Verd is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.285m (7,496ft) above the sea level, located in the northwest of the comarca of Berguedà in Catalonia, northern Spain.

Alt del Miserat is a mountain peak at an elevation of 754m (2,473ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community of Spain.

Collada Fonda is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.911m (6,269ft) above sea level, located in Girona, in Spain.

Sierra de la Guillimona is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. Situated near the border with Albacete, this climb takes you through a rugged and isolated landscape in the northern part of the province.

Llano de los Infantes is a high mountain plateau topping out at an elevation of 2.315m (7,595ft) above the sea level, located in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of Spain.

Coma d'Auran is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) 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. 

Collado de la Mina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,024m (6,640ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. Situated within the Parque Natural Sierra de Baza, in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the access is via a technical unpaved route. Historically, the road functioned as a specialized industrial mine road, and today it remains a demanding track for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles.

MA-1101 is a very challenging mountain road located in the western part of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain.

Puerto de Navalmoral is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.517m (4,977ft) above the sea level, located in the central part of the province of Ávila, in Castile and León autonomous community, in north-western Spain.

Peña Caballera is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.187m (7,175ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain. 

Puig de Sant Salvador is a mountain peak at an elevation of 468m (1,535ft) above the sea level, located on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

La Merica is a breathtaking natural viewpoint situated at an elevation of 817m (2,680ft) above sea level on the western coast of La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, Spain. Perched high above the Valle Gran Rey, the track offers one of the most dramatic coastal driving experiences in the archipelago.

Pico Bandama is a volcanic cinder cone adjacent to Bandama Caldera, at an elevation of 566 meters (1856 feet) above sea level, located in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Estrecho del Infierno is a narrow stretch of trail through some interesting rock formations located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, in Spain.

Reaching an elevation of 1,977m (6,486ft) above sea level, Pico Telégrafo is a prominent high mountain peak located in the province of Granada, Andalusia. Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Arana (also known as Sierra Harana), this summit is a hidden gem for off-road enthusiasts, offering one of the most challenging and rewarding unpaved climbs in southern Spain.

Refugio Vivac Piedra Negra is a high mountain shelter at an elevation of 2.059m (6,755ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Almería, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain.

Carretera CV705 is a short mountain road located in the Valencian Community, Spain. The road is paved all the way.

Sobrón Alto is a small village located in Álava province, in the Basque Country, in northern Spain.

Running through the natural beauty of La Rioja, a Spanish autonomous community, Ruta de los Tres Valles (Route of the Three Valleys) is the name of one of the most intense yet scenic drives in the country.

Estany Closell is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border. The average gradient is 7.16%.

Nestled in the heart of León province lies the Hoz de Llánaves, a picturesque canyon situated in the northwestern region of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain and promises drivers an unforgettable experience.

Mina Margalida is an abandoned zinc mine located in the valley of Barradòs, in the Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain.

Located in the Somiedo Natural Park in Asturias, Northern Spain, Alto del Muñón is a challenging mountain pass at an elevation of 1,789m (5,869ft) above sea level. This rugged track in the Cantabrian Mountains is a legendary destination for off-road drivers, offering deep immersion into one of Spain's most protected and wild landscapes.

Mirador César Manrique is an observation deck at an elevation of 705m (2,312ft) above the sea level, located in the western part of the island La Gomera, in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Canary Islands, Spain.

Reaching Cap de Vaques is a short but brutal climb into the high peaks of the Alta Ribagorça. At 2,312m (7,585ft) above sea level, this summit sits at the top of the Boí Taüll ski resort in the Catalan Pyrenees. This isn't a mountain pass for tourists; it’s a rugged, unpaved service track that tests your traction and your nerves. If you're looking for a smooth drive, stay in the parking lot—once you leave the asphalt at the resort base, the mountain takes over. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Sant Benet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.150m (3,772ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of La Selva, in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Laguna de Sobia (Sobia's Lake) is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.363m (4,471ft) above the sea level, located on the South of the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain. The climb is brutal: 21.13% of average gradient.

Mirador de Piedra Lobera is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 1.696m (5,564ft) above the sea level, located in Almería province of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain.

M541 is a very narrow mountain road located in the southwesternmost end of the Community of Madrid in Spain. The drive is pretty challenging and a paradise for bikers.

Hoz de Valeria 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.

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