What are the most spectacular roads in Turkey?

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey is one of the most exciting countries in the world to drive, and a must on any driver’s list. First on the list must be the challenging D915 (Bayburt-Of) Road. It stands as one of the world's most challenging roads, nestled between the Black Sea and the Northeast Anatolia regions. This road is for experts only.

Covering an area of 783,356 square kilometers and sharing borders with eight countries, Turkey is home to about 200 roads listed as the most spectacular in the world. For the bravest drivers, the dangerous Kemaliye Stone Road above the Euphrates River is one of the most extreme roads in the world. This handmade road is for drivers with strong nerves only, with drops of hundreds of meters, unprotected by guardrails, and 38 unlit tunnels. The construction of the road started in 1870 and was finished in 2002. The road to Kus Yuvasi Pass will take your breath away. At 1,388m (4,553ft) above sea level, the pass is located in the Mediterranean Region of the country.

The Karabet Geçidi, at 2,994m (9,822ft) above sea level in Van Province, is one of Europe's highest paved roads, offering panoramic views. If the previous roads are not enough, the country is home to Gök Dağ, one of the highest roads in Europe, climbing up to 3,417m (11,210ft) above sea level. There are many construction companies established in Turkey that worked for building the new, better roads that attract many tourists each year.

Yedigöller is a serie of seven glacial lakes at an elevation of 3.173m (10,410ft) above sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Tahir Gediği is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.022m (9,914ft) above sea level, located in Erzurum Province, eastern Anatolia of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Büyükejder Tepesi is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.155m (10,351ft) above sea level, located in the eastern province of Erzurum, in the east of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Gök Dağ is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.417m (11,210ft) above the sea level, located in Van Province of Turkey. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Located in the District of Yusufeli, Artvin Province, in North-East Turkey, the road to Morkaya is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. This road has humbled many egos. It’s not for the sissies.

Karagöl is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.759m (9,051ft) above the sea level, located in Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey.

Kırkamber Tepesi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.238m (10,623ft) above sea level, located in Van Province, Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of  the country.

Akçaağıl Gölü is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 3.107m (10,193ft) above sea level, located on the border of Rize and Bayburt provinces of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Fasikan Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.751m (5,744ft) above the sea level located in Karaman Province, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Köse Dağ is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.804m (9,199ft) above the sea level, located in Sivas Province of Turkey.

Kirklar Mescidi is a high mountain mosque at an elevation of 3.161m (10,370ft) above sea level, located on the boundary of Trabzon and Bayburt provinces, in Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Sakaltutan Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.036m (6,679ft) above the sea level, located in Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Çirmaniman Yaylası is a high mountain town at an elevation of 2.954m (9,691ft) above sea level, located in Rize Province in the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

The D975 is a high mountain road located in the eastern part of Turkey. It climbs over many mountain passes, reaching a highest elevation of 2,763m (9,064ft) above sea level, and supports heavy traffic.

Hakkari Dağları is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.340m (10,958ft) above the sea level, located in the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

At 2,913m (9,557ft) above sea level, Çalyan Tepe is one of the highest and most isolated roads in Turkey. Tucked away on the border between the Van and Şırnak provinces, this isn't a place for a Sunday drive. It’s a brutal, high-altitude track through the Taurus Mountains where the air is thin and the gravel is loose. If you’re looking for Lake Çalyan (Çalyan Gölü), be prepared for a climb that will test your engine’s cooling system and your tires' grip.

Hüdavendigar Dağı is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.111m (10,206ft) above sea level, located in Ağrı Province at the eastern end of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Güldağı Tepe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,834m (9,297ft) above sea level, located in the Artvin Province of the Black Sea region in northeastern Turkey. The route is a 21.6 km unpaved corridor that serves as a high-altitude link through the Pontic Mountains. Logistically, this is one of the most demanding tracks in the region, requiring 4WD vehicles with high ground clearance to navigate a surface dominated by sharp, exposed rocks and extreme vertical exposure.

Yaylasuyu Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.362m (7,749ft) above the sea level, located in Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Bülbülen Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.611m (8,566ft) above the sea level, located in Artvin Province, Turkey.  It’s one of the highest paved roads of the country. 

Located on the provincial boundary between Bitlis and Van in eastern Turkey, Kuskunkıran Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,245m (7,365ft) above sea level. This section of the D300 highway was the primary logistical link between the two provinces until the opening of the 2,306m Kuskunkıran Tunnel, which now bypasses the steepest part of the climb.

Koçbaşı Tepe is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.028m (9,934ft) above sea level, located in Van province, in eastern Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Kemer Dağı is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.582m (8,471ft) above the sea level, located in Bayburt Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Pivazok Tepesi is a demanding high mountain pass situated in the remote Ağrı Province of Turkey. Reaching an elevation of 2,957 meters (9,701 ft) above sea level, this challenging route is notable for its steep, unpaved surface and extreme mountain environment.

Gebeli Orman Gözetleme Kulesi is a high mountain tower at an elevation of 2.175m (7,135ft) above the sea level, located in the Isparta Province of the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Alaca Dağ is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.814m (9,232ft) above the sea level, located in Artvin Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Çirisli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.320m (7,611ft) above sea level, located in Erzurum Province, Turkey.

Reaching an elevation of 3,308m (10,853ft) above sea level, Kara Dağ is a high mountain peak located in the Hakkâri province of southeastern Turkey. Situated in one of the most rugged and remote regions of the country near the border areas, it is officially recognized as one of the highest roads in Turkey accessible by motorized vehicles.

Devedağı Tepesi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.821m (9,255ft) above sea level, located on the border of Artvin and Erzurum provinces of Turkey.

Located in the Ağrı Province of eastern Turkey, Ala Dağlar is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 3.001m (9,845ft) above sea level. Situated in a rugged volcanic region, it ranks as one of the highest roads in Turkey, serving as a critical high-altitude track for nomadic transit and regional infrastructure maintenance.

Hanlar Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.271m (7,450ft) above the sea level, located in Kars Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of northeastern Turkey, near the Armenian border.

Palandöken Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.897m (9,504ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Erzurum, in Turkey.

Pirreşit Dağı is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.086m (10,124ft) above sea level, located in the Muradiye district of Van province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Sipikör Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.394m (7,854ft) above the sea level, located in Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Yalın Dağ is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,950m (9,678ft) above sea level, located in the Van province of eastern Turkey. It is one of the highest motorable roads in the country, offering a raw driving experience near the Iranian border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Saç Dağı Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.207m (7,240ft) above the sea level, located in Ağrı Province at the eastern end of Turkey, near the border with Iran.

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.