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. 

Alt de la Talaia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 561m (1,840ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Baix Penedès, in Spain.

Faro de Orchilla, also known as Faro de Punta de la Orchilla, is an iconic lighthouse located on the western side of El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands, in Spain. It marks the most southwesterly point in Spain.

Puerto Camacho is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,126m (3,694ft) above sea level, located in the Spanish province of Granada.

The Vuelta a España, one of the most important races on the UCI World Tour, has already turned legendary climbs like the Angliru, Ancares, and Gamoniteiru into mythical battlegrounds of modern cycling. These mountains have defined eras of the race, producing unforgettable images of riders battling impossible gradients and writing cycling history. Yet, despite all this, the Vuelta still has one giant waiting in the wings for its long-awaited debut.

Cerro de la Salchicha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,546m (5,072ft) above sea level, located in the Spanish province of Granada.

Collado del Hornillo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.115m (6,938ft) above sea level, located in the province of Almería, in Spain.

Alto de las Tres Cruces is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,897 meters (6,223 feet) above sea level, located on the border between the Castile and León and La Rioja autonomous communities in Spain.

Puerto del León is a mountain pass at an elevation of 955m (3,133ft) above sea level, located in Málaga province, Spain. The climb is very popular with bikers in Andalusia.

Tossal de Boada is a mountain peak at an elevation of 763m (2,503ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of Catalonia, in Spain.

Located in the comarca of Berguedà, in the province of Barcelona, Serrat de la Figuerassa is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,494m (4,901ft) above sea level. Situated in the Pre-Pyrenees of Catalonia, Spain, the summit serves as a strategic location for the Repetidor de la Figuerassa, a prominent telecommunication tower.

Tuc del Montanyó is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,532m (8,307ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, Spain. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Serra de la Vila is a prominent mountain ridge at an elevation of 774m (2,539ft) above sea level, located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Standing directly above the historic city of Villena, the summit is a well-known landmark in the Alt Vinalopó region.

Reaching an elevation of 1,508m (4,947ft) above sea level, Creu del Codó is a mountain peak located in the Solsonès comarca of Lleida, Catalonia. The summit is home to a strategic viewpoint overlooking the Vall de Lord, providing a full perspective of the Sant Llorenç de Morunys area and the La Llosa del Cavall reservoir.

Refugi del Gònec is a high-altitude mountain refuge at an elevation of 1,765m (5,790ft) above sea level, located in the Cerdanya comarca, within the province of Lleida, Spain. Situated on the northern side of the Serra del Cadí, the access is via a technical unpaved track that requires high-clearance 4x4 vehicles and precise knowledge of the Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró transit regulations.

Collada Verda is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,611m (5,285ft) above sea level, located in the Girona province of Catalonia, in Spain.

Coll del Pal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,726m (5,662ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.

Jafra, also known as Jafre del Garraf, is an abandoned village located in Spain's Catalonia region. It sits on a hill at about 189 meters above sea level, and today only ruins remain. But Jafra is more than just a ghost town — it is wrapped in legends of Melinda, the mysterious “girl on the curve”, whose spirit is said to haunt the unpaved road leading to the village and the crumbling ruins within.

Pic Bony de l'Aigua Blanca is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.543m (8,343ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, Spain. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Coll de Bóixols is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,337m (4,386ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Pallars Jussà and Alt Urgell comarcas in Catalonia, Spain. The pass, also known as Coll de Boix, is a critical high-altitude link in the Pre-Pyrenees, requiring a technical approach due to its narrow geometry and sustained verticality through the L-511 road.

Port de Tudons is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,030m (3,379ft) above sea level located in the province of Alicante, in Spain. It is the most popular mountain pass near the city of Alicante and it has been featured in the Spanish Vuelta race.

Alto da Groba is a mountain pass at an elevation of 632m (2,073ft), located in the autonomous community of Galicia, in Spain.

Coll de Bot is a mountain pass sitting at 480m (1,574ft) above sea level, tucked away in the rugged beauty of Catalonia, Spain. But this isn’t just any road — it’s a driver’s playground. If you crave mountain routes, weaving through pine-covered slopes on a lonely ribbon of asphalt, the TV-3301 will steal your heart.

Peña Angulo is a mountain pass at 735 m (2,411 ft) above sea level, located in the province of Burgos, Spain. The old road that once crossed the pass was part of the BU-550 and for decades connected the Basque Country with Burgos. Because of constant rockfalls and unstable slopes, the road was replaced in the early 1990s by a modern alignment that includes a 580 m tunnel. Both the old and new sections are paved. The original one is now closed and abandoned.

Desfiladero de Aliaga is a narrow ravine located in the province of Teruel, in Spain. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads of Spain.

Cerro del Gorro is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.784m (5,853ft) above sea level, located in the province of Leon, in Spain.

Aparcamiento Hoya del Portillo is a parking lot at an elevation of 2.151m (7,057ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain.

Portillo de Rio Seco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,100m (10,170ft) above sea level, located in the Sierra Nevada range of Granada, Spain. It stands as one of the highest roads in Spain and is featured on the list of the highest roads in Europe, forming part of a critical high-altitude traverse between the northern and southern slopes of the massif.

Puerto Molina is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,394m (7,854ft) above sea level, located in the Sierra Nevada range, Granada. Logistically, the pass is a key transit point on the Camino de los Franceses, an unpaved high-altitude corridor. Technically, it is positioned along one of the highest roads in the country, crossing metamorphic schist and loose slate surfaces that require high-clearance capabilities.

Located in the province of Castelló, on the Costa del Azahar (Valencian Community), the road to Monte Bartolo offers one of the most breathtaking balconies in eastern Spain. Reaching the summit at 729m (2,391ft), the route provides a 360-degree view that stretches from the rugged inland mountains to the Mediterranean horizon.

The LV-4001 is a technical mountain road located in the Alt Urgell region of Lleida, Catalonia. Known among driving and cycling enthusiasts as the "Catalan Stelvio", this route is famous for its 18 consecutive hairpin turns and its resemblance to the iconic Italian Alpine pass.

Coll de Som is a scenic mountain pass at an elevation of 189m (620ft) above sea level, located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia. While its altitude might seem modest compared to Pyrenean peaks, it is a legendary route within the Terres de l'Ebre region, famous for its technical layout and its role as a natural balcony over the final stretch of the Ebro River.

Located in the heart of the Sierra de la Demanda, on the border between the provinces of La Rioja and Burgos, Collado Garcimarra is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,237m (4,058ft) above sea level. This pass is a strategic but often overlooked crossing in northern Spain, known more for its deteriorating road surface than for its height.

Coll de Fatxes is a mountain pass at an elevation of 512m (1,680ft) above sea level, located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia. Situated in the heart of the Serra de la Vall de Llors, this pass is a key gateway connecting the coastal areas of Baix Camp with the inland mountains of Ribera d'Ebre. For those who enjoy active driving, the C-44 is widely considered one of the most entertaining roads in southern Catalonia.

At an elevation of 1,505m (4,937ft) above sea level, Coll de Fades is a high mountain pass in the province of Lleida, Catalonia. The pass is a key transit point on the rugged unpaved track that connects the remote villages of the Pallars Jussà and Alta Ribagorça regions in the Pyrenees.

At an elevation of 1,655m (5,429ft) above sea level, Cogulló d’Ares is a high mountain peak in the Alt Urgell comarca of Lleida, Spain. Located within the Serra d'Ares range, the summit serves as a major communications hub overlooking the Cabó Valley.

Puerto de Leitariegos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,525m (5,003ft) above sea level, located in northern Spain. The pass serves as a primary logistical link between the plateau of León and the coastal regions of Asturias, crossing the main axis of the Cantabrian Mountains.

Driving along the Sant Llorenç de Montgai reservoir is a constant tension between the steering wheel and the water. Located in the Noguera region, in the province of Lleida, this stretch of the LV-9047 road is far from a relaxed drive through the Pre-Pyrenees. It is a narrow strip of asphalt that skirts the Segre river as it feeds the reservoir, leaving drivers with almost no room for maneuver between the limestone cliffs and the deep water.

Puerto El Purche, also known as Collado del Muerto, is a legendary and technical mountain pass located in the province of Granada, in southern Spain. Reaching an elevation of 1,493m (4,898ft) above sea level, this road is a primary gateway into the high Sierra Nevada range. Known among local drivers and cyclists for its brutal gradients, the route offers a condensed experience of alpine driving: narrow asphalt, sharp hairpins, and ramps that test the cooling systems of any vehicle.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.