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. 

Punta Estatón is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,108m (6,916ft) above sea level, located in the Huesca province of Aragón, in Spain.

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.

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%.

CV800 is a very scenic (and delightful) drive located in the southeast of Valencian Community, in Spain.

Congosto de Baldellou is a very scenic canyon located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

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%.

Adou del Bastareny is the powerful natural spring where the Bastareny River is born, located at an elevation of 1,013m (3,323ft) above sea level. Situated in the heart of the Berguedà region in Catalonia, this spot is a hidden gem within the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, known for its limestone cliffs and lush waterfalls.

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%.

Puerto de Piedrafita is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,687m (5,534ft) above sea level, located on the border between the province of León (Castile and León) and Asturias in northwest Spain. This pass is nestled in the heart of the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range, serving as a historic link for travelers crossing between the southern and northern slopes of the mountains.

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.

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

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.

Cerrada de la Magdalena is a high mountain track sitting in the heart of the Sierra de Castril Natural Park, on the boundary between the provinces of Granada and Jaén in southern Spain. This is not a drive for the faint-hearted; the road is a narrow, unpaved shelf carved into the limestone cliffs of the Sierra de Cazorla. Driving here means navigating a primitive gravel path where the vertical drops to the Castril river are unprotected and the margin for error is absolutely zero.

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%.

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.

Bellmunt is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.246m (4,088ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Osona, in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

The climb to the summit of Jabalcuz, rising to 1,610 meters (5,282ft) in the heart of the Montes de Jaén, is a short but brutal test of traction and cooling systems. Located in Andalusia, this mountain road transition from broken asphalt to steep concrete ramps and loose gravel as it nears the top. While the views over the city of Jaén are expansive, the real challenge for any driver is managing the constant vertical push and the shifting grip of the Sub-Baetic terrain.

Pista del Marroquí is the name of an abandoned cliff road located in Ourense, in the Galicia region of north-west Spain.

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.

Estanho de Vilac is a high mountain lake with an influence of Atlantic climate at an elevation of 1.642m (5,387ft) 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. The average gradient is 8.85%.

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.

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

Bujaruelo Valley Road is a very challenging drive, with concrete and gravel sections located in the northeastern part of Spain. It’s one of the best canyon roads in Spain.

This section of the N-340, Spain’s longest national road, is a scenic coastal route located in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It stretches 78.7 km (48.9 miles) between the towns of Nerja and La Rábita, offering spectacular views of the Mediterranean coast.

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.

Located in the northwest of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain, the tiny M618 road is nicknamed the Spanish Death Road. Better avoid it if you’re prone to car sickness.

Collado Ordes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.147m (3,763ft) above the sea level, located in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in region of Asturias, northern Spain. The average gradient is brutal: 14.64% with 31 hairpin turns.

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.

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.

This tunnel is located on the LP-3 road, on the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands, and is called the La Cumbre tunnel. Drivers are always surprised by what happens when they exit it.

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

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.

At an elevation of 1,467m (4,812ft) above sea level, Braña de Vega La Cueva (also known as Braña La Cueva) is a high mountain pass in the southern part of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Located in the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, this track climbs through the central Cantabrian Mountains toward a small glacial lake called Lagunas de Canchongo.

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.

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

Collado la Gitana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.714m (5,623ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain.

Puerto del Portillo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.250m (4,101ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, in Spain.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

Montduver is a mountain peak at an elevation of 831m (2,726ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of Safor in the Valencian Community, Spain.

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

Collada de les Tores is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.000m (6,561ft) above the sea level, located in the northwest of the comarca of Berguedà in Catalonia, Spain.

Located in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, the N-301 Road is home to the longest straight stretch of road in Spain.

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