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.

How to drive the 31 hairpin turns to Collado Ordes in Asturias?

Collado Ordes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.147m (3,763ft) above sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain. The average gradient is brutal: 14.64% with 31 hairpin turns.

The road to Sobrón Alto is not for the sissies

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

If you love to drive, you will love the road to Puerto del Cubillo

Puerto del Cubillo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

Adventure Along the Wild Road to Mirador de Piedra Lobera

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.

How to drive the steep paved road to Santuari de Bellmunt?

Santuari de Bellmunt is a mountain sanctuary at an elevation of 1,246m (4,088ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Collado del Álamo: A steep gravel climb in Sierra Nevada

Collado del Álamo is a demanding high-mountain track located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada National Park. Reaching an elevation of 1,729m (5,672ft) above sea level in the province of Granada, this unpaved route serves as a balcony over the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the technical nature of the climb and the extreme gradients make it a road where mechanical reliability and tire traction are far more important than the surrounding scenery.

Puerto de Navaluenga

Puerto de Navaluenga is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.804m (5,918ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. It’s 12’5% with some sections up to 37%.

Sant Benet

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.

Mirador de Sierra Alta

Mirador de Sierra Alta is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 1.840m (6,036ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain.

How to drive the unpaved road to Barratge de Romedo de Baix

Barratge de Romedo de Baix is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.018m (6,620ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, in Spain.

The unpaved road through Garganta del rio Tajo in Guadalajara

Garganta del Rio Tajo is a scenic canyon located in the province of Guadalajara in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

How to drive the wild unpaved road to Monte Aquiana in Leon?

Monte Aquiana is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.819m (5,967ft) above sea level, located in the province of León, in Spain.

Puig Castellar

Puig Castellar is a mountain pass at an elevation of 943m (3,093ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Alt Penedès and Anoia regions, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The climb is very steep, with sections up to 12%.

Pico Cascuerres

Pico Cascuerres is a high mountain peak, at an elevation of 1.598m (5,242ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, in northern Spain. The average gradient is 13.93%.

Exploring the majestic road through Desfiladero de la Estrechura in Asturias

Desfiladero de la Estrechura is a very scenic canyon located in the autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

AL-4200 Road: Experience the Coastal Beauty of Almeria

Discover the breathtaking AL-4200, a captivating coastal road nestled in the eastern part of the picturesque province of Almería, within the enchanting autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

Road Beniarres-Vilallonga

Carretera Beniarres-Vilallonga is a short mountain road located in the Valencian Community of Spain. The road is asphalted. It’s 22.7 km long.

Puerto de la Mata, an epic road in Andalusia

Puerto de la Mata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.670m (5,479ft) above the sea level, located in Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain. The road to the summit is steep, hitting an 18%.

Mola del Guerxet

Mola del Guerxet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.109m (3,638ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Monte Faro is an awe-inspiring drive in Galicia

Monte Faro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.181m (3,874ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lugo and Pontevedra provinces, in Galicia, Spain.

An unforgettable road to Coll de Caralt in the Pyrenees

Coll de Caralt is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2100m (6,889ft) above sea level, located in Lleida province, in Spain.

Cueva del Agua, a road recommended for drivers with strong nerves

Cueva del Agua ('Water Cave’) is a natural cave at an elevation of 1.748m (5,734ft) above the sea level, located in the municipality of Deifontes, in the province of Granada, autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain.

Road trip guide: Conquering Estany de la Gola in the Pyrenees

Estany de la Gola is a glacial lake at an elevation of 1.997m (6,551ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Lleida, in Spain.

How difficult is the unpaved road to Puerto de la Acebeda in Spain?

Puerto de la Acebeda is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 1,690m (5,544ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Community of Madrid and the province of Segovia, in Castile and León. Sitting in the central sector of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the pass is crossed by a wide but brutal unpaved track. This is a high-altitude balcony where the road surface is a constant battle between loose granite gravel and deep ruts carved by the harsh Castilian winters, requiring a vehicle with high clearance and a driver who respects the unpredictable nature of the mountains.

Collado de la Espina is like riding up a wall

Collado de la Espina is a mountain pass at an elevation of 968m (3,175ft) above the sea level, located in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, in northern Spain. It’s one of the steepest roads that a Spanish bike race has ever tackled where you directly ride against uphill over a huge rock. The climb is brutal: up to 31%.

How to drive the unpaved Pista de Boumort in the Pre-Pyrenees?

The Refugi de Boumort is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1,886m (6,187ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, Catalonia. Situated within the Serra de Boumort National Hunting Reserve, the access is via the Pista de Boumort, a technical unpaved artery that remains the only unrestricted transit for non-authorized vehicles in this high-altitude sector of the Pre-Pyrenees.

How to drive the unpaved road to Punta Alvarosa in Huesca?

Punta Alvarosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.023m (6,637ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, in Spain.

An Explorer's Guide to Mina de Ventana

Mina de Ventana (Window Mine) is an old mine at an elevation of 1.699m (5,574ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Principado de Asturias and Castilla y León, in northern Spain.

A Most Tricky Road to Alto de Calabazosa and Lago de la Cueva Viewpoint in Asturias

Alto de Calabazosa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.691m (5,547ft) above sea level, located on the south of the Principality of Asturias, in Spain.

The road to Alto de Despiernacaballos is a hidden gem

Alto de Despiernacaballos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.580m (5,183ft) above sea level, located in the province of Jaén, in Spain.

Driving the coastal Carretera del Cañarete is not easy due to the rockslides

Carretera del Cañarete is a very scenic, yet defiant, coastal road located in the southeastern part of Spain. The road is extremely defiant due to the high risk of rockslides.

Alto de Gredos

Alto de Gredos is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.768m (5,800ft) above the sea level, located in the south of the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain.

How to drive the unpaved road to Pico Patana in Asturias

Pico Patana is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.526m (5,006ft) above sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain.

A wild road to El Doctor Refuge, in southern Spain

Refugio-Vivac el Doctor is a high mountain shelter at an elevation of 2.025m (6,643ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Almería, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain.

How to get by car to Puerto de Arcones?

Puerto de Arcones is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,747m (5,731ft) above sea level, located in Spain.

Road trip guide: Conquering Puerto de Cienfuegos

Puerto de Cienfuegos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.674m (5,492ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of the province and autonomous community of Asturias and Leon province, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in northern Spain.

Cerro de la Escusa

Cerro de la Escusa is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.952m (6,404ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain.

The inhumane climb to Escart with 21% ramps

Escart is a mountain town at an elevation of 1.188m (3,897ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of the Pallars Sobirà, in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, in northern Spain.

Camí de la Cabroa in Montsec is a thrilling off road experience

Camí de la Cabroa is the name of a defiant wild cliff road located in the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.

How to drive the 4x4 road to Pedras Blancas in Aragon?

Pedras Blancas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,359m (7,736ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. The unpaved mountain track leading to the summit is famous for being one of the highest drivable routes in the Pyrenees.