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. 

Far del Cap de Creus is a lighthouse located in the province of Girona, Spain. Nature has created a marvelous and other-worldly scenery here. The road pierces through crazily tilted rocks and narrows to a single lane leading across a narrow isthmus.

Located in the heart of the Sierra de Gúdar, the ascent to Aramón Valdelinares is one of the highest paved transits in the eastern part of the Iberian System. Reaching an elevation of 1,975m (6,479ft) above sea level in the province of Teruel, the road (TE-V-3) serves as the primary access to the ski resort. It is a route defined by extreme temperature swings and a high-mountain environment where the asphalt is constantly battered by frost and heavy snow-clearing machinery.

Llanada del Mulhacén is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 3,408m (11,181ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Alto Llano is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.710m (5,610ft) above sea level, located in the Province of Segovia, in Spain.

Bardenas Reales is a desert natural region located in southeast Navarre, in Spain. It’s one of the few deserts in Europe and is definitely the most impressive of them all.

Castell d’Olerdola is a mountain castle at an elevation of 314m (1,033ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Alt Penedès in Catalonia, Spain. The road to the castle is quite steep, with sections reaching up to a 10% gradient.

Aramón Formigal-Panticosa is a ski resort at an elevation of 1,790 m (5,872 ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca, in Spain.

Located in Tenerife, on the Canary Islands, Spain, the gorgeous TF-24 Road is said to be one of the most exciting drives on the island. It’s one of the highest roads in Spain.

Lago de Urdiceto is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2,380 m (7,808 ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huesca in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

The Collado El Gavilán is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 1,517m (4,977ft) above sea level, located in the Sierra de Javalambre of Teruel province, Spain. The pass is a key logistical point on the TE-V-6006 road, connecting the municipalities of Camarena de la Sierra and La Puebla de Valverde.

Los Pelaos is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,873m (6,145ft) above sea level, located in the Spanish province of Granada. The climb is extremely challenging, with sections reaching gradients of up to 17%. It’s an old, narrow road filled with potholes and features 13 hairpin turns.

Puerto El Peñón is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,840m (6,036ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in Spain.

Casielles is a small ghost town at an elevation of 809m (2,654ft) above sea level, located in the Asturian council of Ponga, in Spain. Be careful: this narrow road is difficult, with 23 hairpin turns.

Col d'Arnostéguy is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1,240m (4,068ft) above sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

Lagos de Covadonga is the name of a couple of glacial lakes (Lake Enol and Lake Ercina) located in the region of Asturias in Spain. The road to the lakes is a popular climb in professional road bicycle racing, with ramps up to 15%. It's said to be one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

Ruta del Cares, also known as Senda del Cares, is one of the most breathtaking trekking trails in Europe. Located within the Picos de Europa mountain range in northern Spain, the trail takes you through dramatic landscapes along a narrow path carved directly into the rock of the Cares Canyon, also known as The Divine Gorge. This trail is not suitable for vehicles, as it is completely closed to any kind of motor transport. Only hikers can enjoy the stunning views along the route.

The Puente de la Constitución de 1812 is a cable-stayed bridge located in Cadiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Pico Los Reales is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,447m (4,747ft) above sea level, located in the province of Málaga, in Spain.

Silla de la Yegua is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,135 m (7,004 ft) above sea level, located in the Province of León in Spain.

Coll de Pal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,109m (6,919ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Berguedà, in Spain.

Coll de Triadó is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,172m (7,125ft) above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, in Spain.

Saut deth Pish is a spectacular waterfall at an elevation of 1,553 m (5,095 ft) above sea level, located in Val d'Aran, Spain.

Morrón de Espuña is a high mountain peak, standing at an elevation of 1,574m (5,164ft) above sea level, located in the Murcia region of Spain.

Located in the Canary Islands, Ruta de los Volcanes is an extraordinary and unforgettable journey, where you will enjoy awe-inspiring views over volcanic cones, look down into craters, see dunes of picón or lapilli, and have a glance into lava tubes. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Antigua Carretera N-320 is a cliff road located in Sacedón, in the province of Guadalajara, Spain. The road was bypassed by a new highway but is still in use. It can be impassable at any time due to stone collapses and landslides. It’s one of the most scenic canyon roads in Spain.

Observatorio del Pico Veleta is a high mountain observatory at an elevation of 2.856m (9,370ft) above sea level, located in the region of Andalusia, in Spain.

Col de Caralps is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,501m (8,205ft) above sea level, located on the French-Spanish border. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

GC-606 is a mountain road located in Las Palmas Province, in the Canary Islands of Spain. It’s one of the most challenging roads on the island—spectacular or terrifying, depending on how you handle heights.

La Rinconada de Nigüelas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,174m (7,132ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain.

Calar Alto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,168m (7,113ft) above sea level, located in the province of Almería, in Spain. 

Refugio Vivac de la Caldera is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.053m (10,016ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Puerto de Ancares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,670m (5,479ft) above sea level, located on the border between Galicia and Castile and León autonomous regions, in Spain.

Cumbre del Sol is a mountain peak at an elevation of 413m (1,354ft) above sea level, located in the province of Alicante, Spain. The climb is terribly steep, with the steepest section reaching 19%.

Coll de la Creueta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,880m (6,167ft) above sea level, located in the province of Barcelona in Spain.

Jito de Escarandi (also known as Alto de Sotres) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,308m (4,291ft) above sea level, located in the Picos de Europa mountain range of Spain. The road features sections with a gradient of up to 21%.

Santuari de la Mare de Déu de l'Abellera is a mountain shrine at an elevation of 1.008m (3,307ft) above sea level, located in the comarca of Baix Camp, in southern Catalonia, Spain.

The Puente Nuevo (New bridge) is a very iconic bridge located in the province of Málaga, about 40 miles west of the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world looking like something straight out of Game of Thrones.

Collado de Carihuela is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,209m (10,528ft) above sea level, located in the province of Granada, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Nestled in the Pyrenees of Aragon, the Congosto de Jánovas is a dramatic and scenic canyon carved by the Ara River. Famous for its narrow, twisting road and breathtaking views, this stretch of the N-260 is not only a challenge for drivers but also a fascinating example of history shaping infrastructure. The canyon’s unique geography and the story behind the road make it one of Spain’s most memorable drives.

Puerto de la Fuenfría is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,796m (5,892ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Castile and León region, in Spain.

Located in El Hierro, the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary Islands in Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, HI-500 is a scenic coastal road with dangerous drop-offs.

La Covatilla is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1,962m (6,437ft) above sea level, located in the south of the Province of Salamanca, in Spain. It is one of the hardest climbs in the area.

Alto del Moncalvillo is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,480m (4,855ft) above sea level, located in the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain.

While most travellers will visit Tenerife to soak up its sun, sea, and sand, the picturesque island offers stunning scenery that’s just waiting to be explored by tourists. If you are planning to hire a car during your visit, you would be wise to embark on one of the many scenic drives the island has to offer.

Llano de las Ovejas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,961m (6,433ft) above sea level, located in the province of León, in Spain.

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