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. 

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.

Miradoiro do Limo is a spectacular viewpoint located at an elevation of 373m (1,223ft) above sea level in A Coruña, Galicia. Perched on the Serra de l'A Capelada, the road leads to one of the most rugged and vertical coastlines in Spain.

Situated in the rugged Montsec mountain range, within the Ribagorza region of Huesca (Aragon), Alberg de Montfalcó is a mountain refuge at an elevation of 785m (2,575ft) above sea level. This destination has become famous as the starting point for the spectacular stairs of Montfalcó and the nearby Congost de Mont-rebei, but reaching it requires navigating a road that is as scenic as it is technical.

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.

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

On a section of the road that connects the town of Ronda with Gaucín, in southern Spain, there is a gravitational anomaly that experts have not been able to explain, continuing to baffle drivers.

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.

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.

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.

El Maigmó is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.192m (3,910ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of L'Alcoià, in the province of Alicante, Spain.

Coll de Caralt is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.065m (6,774ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca Alt Urgell, Lleida, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, near the French border.

Alto de la Magdalena is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.565m (5,134ft) above the sea level, located on the South of the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain.

Estany de la Gola is a glacial lake at an elevation of 1.997m (6,551ft) above the sea level, located in the comarca of the Pallars Sobirà, Province of Lleida, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Pico Mirandiella is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,570m (5,150ft) above sea level, located on the border between the municipalities of Teverga and Somiedo in the Asturias region of northern Spain. The climb is notorious among locals for being "simply brutal," with an average gradient of 11.68%.

Peñón del Toro is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.857m (6,092ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Andalusia, Spain.

Túnel del Molinar is the name of a 3km long tunnel located in Albacete, in Castilla–La Mancha autonomous community of Spain.

CV-827 is the name of a pleasant ride located in the comarca of Vinalopó Mitjà, in the province of Alicante of the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain.

Located in the province of Jaén, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain, JF-7038 is a very scenic road running through the Segura valley.

Coll de Mola is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.821m (5,974ft) above the sea level, located in the northwest of the comarca of Berguedà in Catalonia, Spain.

Barranco de Guayadeque is a stunning ravine with great views located in the eastern part of the island of Gran Canaria, in Spain. The road through the ravine is worth the drive.

Alto del Mirlo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.767m (5,797ft) above the sea level, located in Ávila, in the autonomous community Castile and León, near the border of Madrid, in central Spain.

Collado de los Cadavales is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.351m (4,432ft) above the sea level, located in the autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.

Sant Bartomeu de Dorve is a high-altitude location at an elevation of 1,393m (4,570ft) above sea level, situated in the Pallars Sobirà comarca of Catalonia, Spain. While the site is known for its 16th-century Romanesque architecture, the primary technical interest lies in the high-gradient access road that climbs from the Noguera Pallaresa river valley. Driving this route requires precise throttle control and high-performance braking systems to manage the extreme vertical gain.

The Vía de la Plata is a historic 700-kilometer transport corridor in western Spain. Following a Roman route that connected the south and north of the Iberian Peninsula, it today functions as a major road link between Seville and Gijón.

La Negrita is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,223m (7,293ft) above sea level, located on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands of Spain.

Located in the comarca of Vinalopó Mitjà, in the province of Alicante of the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain, Carretera Agost is the name of a defiant road through the mountains with many deep drop offs.

 Prepare to be enchanted by the breathtaking beauty of AL-5107, a picturesque coastal road nestled in the eastern part of Almería province, within the enchanting region of Andalusia, Spain.

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

Puerto de Casillas is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,469m (4,819ft) above sea level, located in the Ávila province of central Spain. Situated within the Iruelas Valley in the Sierra de Gredos, the access road is a technical climb characterized by a drastic transition in surface integrity and extreme vertical gradients.

Located in the southern part of the Principality of Asturias, in northern Spain, Lagu Terciellu is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1,435m (4,708ft) above sea level. Situated within the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the road to the lake is a formidable challenge for off-roaders, known for its sustained verticality and breathtaking Cantabrian scenery.

At an elevation of 2,041m (6,696ft) above sea level, Paso del Reventón is a high mountain pass situated on the boundary between the Segovia province and the Community of Madrid, in central Spain. Located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, this unpaved route is one of the highest crossings in the Sistema Central range.

Cueto Mirallo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.910m (6,266ft) above the sea level, located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain.

Puerto de Monrepós is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,282m (4,206ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, in Spain.

Puerto de las Coberteras is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.254m (4,114ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of Jaen in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain.

Monte Farelo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 948m (3,110ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lugo and Pontevedra provinces, in Galicia, Spain.

Located in the eastern part of the province of Granada, in southern Spain, Venta del Chaleco is a mountain pass reaching an elevation of 1,323m (4,340ft) above sea level. Tucked away in the wild and sun-drenched Sierra Contraviesa range, this pass offers a dramatic driving experience between the Mediterranean Sea and the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada, providing some of the most overlooked but stunning landscapes in Andalusia.

Alt de Capolat is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,307m (4,288ft) above sea level, located in Spain. Expect a concrete section on the steepest ramps, loose gravel, and slow speeds because it is a narrow, steep, and curvy road.

Campo de Las Danzas is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.448m (4,750ft) above the sea level, located in the Province of León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in northwestern Spain.

Coll Formic is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.145m (3756ft) above the sea level located in the province of Barcelona, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia, in Spain.

Alto La Colladiella is a mountain pass at an elevation of 848m (2,782ft) above the sea level, located in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Spain.

Pedras Blancas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.359m (7,736ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Huesca, within the autonomous community of Aragón, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Collado del Cabrito is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.876m (6,154ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain.

GI-400 is a very scenic mountain road with stunning views located in the province of Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, in Spain.

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.

Refugio de Las Hoyas is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 1,981m (6,499ft) above sea level, located in the Almería province of Andalusia, Spain. It sits in the heart of the Sierra de Los Filabres, a mountain range known for its rugged and arid landscapes. This area is famous for its clear skies, which is why the Calar Alto Observatory is located nearby.

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