The 25 Most Beautiful Roads in Europe

Trollstigen, Norway

25 roads, 25 different itineraries… Forget the American on the road myth at Easy Rider and rediscover the beauties of the old continent. There are many wonderful routes in Europe to cross by car or motorcycle. Do you know which are they?

If not, come along with us to discover the 25 most beautiful roads in Europe!

25. Margaret Route, Denmark

Margaret Route, Denmark
Credit: Kåre Thor Olsen – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Across the whole country
Length: 3000 km
How to travel: bike, car, motorcycle, on foot

This road is a scenic route that crosses the entire Denmark, thus allowing visitors to discover over 200 must-see sights and views, and cycling along it is the best way to appreciate it. It winds along 3000 km and crosses isolated areas and areas away from traffic, and more popular locations. The streets are indicated by square signs with a daisy on a brown background. The path owes its name to Queen Margrethe and her favorite flower, the daisy.

24. Col de Turini, France

Col de Turini, France
Credit: Photo pxhere – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: French Maritime Alps
Length: 112 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car

Breathtaking curves, vertigo, hairpin bends, climbs, beautiful views – a true paradise for motorcyclists! It’s no coincidence that this road was also a stage of the Tour de France three times and is the usual test of the Monte Carlo Rally, usually carried out uphill by Sospello. In short, if you want to experience some adrenaline thrills, obviously in complete safety, this road is for you!

23. Estoril, Portugal

Estoril, Portugal
Credit: Vitor Oliveira – flickr.com

Location: From Cascais to Estoril
Length: about 5 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle, bike, train, on foot

This route runs parallel to the Tagus River and is very scenic. You will pass next to the crowded beaches of the Estoril coast and several forts that defended the territory. It’s a truly pleasant experience. Moreover, the climate is always mild and with an average of 260 days of sunshine a year. What more can you ask for?

22. Costa Brava, Spain

Costa Brava, Spain
Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Location: From Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guixols
Length: about 15 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle, bike

These 15 kilometers make up the most beautiful stretch of the entire Costa Brava. It’s a route that will force you to stop every few 100 meters to look out over the sheer coast, where splendid coves and breathtaking views will leave you speechless.

21. Route One, Iceland

Route One, Iceland
Credit: Leon petrosyan – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Runs through the island
Length: 1339 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

Route One is a ring road and the main Icelandic road. It runs through the entire island in a circular form, connecting the different regions of the state with each other. For decades it has been a common stop for many tourists because it gives access to many regions of Iceland and passes by many interesting sites. In the past, the road has been the subject or set of films and novels. It’s a good way to discover Iceland, its main attractions, and its incredible and impressive landscapes.

20. Stelvio Pass, Italy

Stelvio Pass, Italy
Credit: Damian Morys – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Between the provinces of Bolzano and Sondrio
Length: about 60 km
How to travel: motorcycle, bike, car

The Stelvio Pass is the second highest car pass in Europe with its 2758 meters above sea height. It’s located within the Stelvio National Park. The homonymous state road that crosses it, which connects Bormio and Valtellina with Trafoi and Val Venosta, has 48 hairpin bends on the South Tyrolean side and 40 on the Lombard side. On all three sides, two Italian and one Swiss, the pass remains closed during the entire winter period and between October and May. The Stelvio has always been an important summer connection and it’s a popular destination for those who love bikes and cars. The landscape is obviously mountainous and beautiful.

19. 500 Schwarzwald Hochstrasse, Germany

500 Schwarzwald Hochstrasse, Germany

Location: Black Forest, from Freudenstadt to Baden Baden
Length: about 60 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car

It’s the most beautiful road in the Black Forest to travel on a motorcycle as it allows you to enjoy that splendid German mountainous area on the border with France and Switzerland. You will drive through a beautiful combination of pine forests, meadows, valleys, and green mountains. It’s a wide road, with perfect asphalt, which climbs up and down between mountains with heights between 600 and 1000 meters. Near Hornisgrinde, there are some viewpoints with convenient parking. The sight from these viewpoints will show you the beauty of the forest that will take your breath away. The final stretch of the Schwarzwald Hochstrasse (eng. Black Forest High Rad) that descends towards Baden Baden looks like a motorcycle track with the road penetrating the forest with dozens of tight hairpin bends – a wonder for motorcyclists!

18. Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route, Ireland

Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route, Ireland
Credit: Jennifer Boyer – flickr.com

Location: From Belfast to Derry ~ Londonderry
Length: about 315 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful road itineraries in the world and it’s no wonder that it was used as a filming location for the Game of Thrones series. The entire itinerary embraces the coast and goes inland towards rural valleys and beautiful villages. You will be enchanted by the beauty of the landscape.

17. Dalmatian coast, Croatia

Dalmatian coast, Croatia
Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Location: From Split to Zadar
Length: 170 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

By taking the panoramic road that will lead you from Split to Zadar, you will drive through hidden valleys, hills overlooking the Mediterranean, olive groves, small seaside villages, coves, and dream beaches. A real charm! Every corner will be the right opportunity to stop and take a nice swim if you go there in the summer.

16. Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Austria

Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Austria
Credit: Jiří Sedláček – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Through the provinces of Salzburg, Tyrol, and Carinthia
Length: 48 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

It is a high mountain road that creates a sort of ribbon that connects green alpine pastures, snow-covered areas, and flowering meadows. Waterfalls, marmots, and incredible landscapes create a truly picturesque setting. It’s an unmissable route for those who love mountains and their wonders.

15. A5 Snowdonia Park, UK

A5 Snowdonia Park, UK
Credit: liz dawson – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Wales
Length: about 140 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car, bike, on foot

The A55, which runs along the north coast, is the best way to reach Snowdonia Park. Lakes, mountains, castles, waterfalls, and steam jets await you. You will feel as if you are living a surreal experience like that of the best scenes of The Lord of the Rings. All the signs are in two languages ​​(Welsh and English), although everything refers to the more classic strictly local tradition. This region is well known and appreciated for the possibility of mountain hiking, climbing, kayaking, and other sports. It’s a perfect road for motorcyclists, which is why it’s often mistakenly referred to as “motorway” due to its conformation.

14. Furka Pass, Switzerland

Furka Pass, Switzerland
Credit: Cooper.ch – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Begins near the village of Realp
Length: 31 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car, train

The Furka Pass connects Andermatt in the canton of Uri with Gletsch in the canton of Valais and is part of the famous Three Pass Tour (consisting of the Furka, Grimsel, and Susten Passes). It’s a beautiful road worth visiting. In summer, a trip with the nostalgic Furka steam train from Realp to Gletsch is a must; a truly wonderful experience! Superb views and some thrilling steep turns make it the perfect route for motorcyclists. However, the pass road is closed from October to May because there is almost always the risk of heavy snow and avalanches due to being in the snowiest area of ​​the country.

13. New Forest, UK

New Forest, UK
Credit: Jim Champion – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Hampshire
Length: It depends on the paths and the roads you want to travel, which wind through the entire area of ​​571 km²
How to travel: motorcycle, car, bike, on foot

Animal lovers and kids will go crazy for the cute ponies living peacefully, grazing the grass everywhere, free to go wherever they want. The “New Forest” dates back to the 11th century when the area was chosen as a royal reserve for William I of England. At the time, the term did not designate a wooded area, but a hunting area. Today, the wooded area is less than half of the entire New Forest as the rest of the territory is represented by pastures, meadows of heather and ferns, wetlands, inhabited areas, and coasts. The strong presence of ponies is because they are the descendants of a local breed, the New Forest Pony, and jointly owned by the locals with grazing rights on the land.

12. Peloponnese, Greece

Peloponnese, Greece

Location from Patras to Nafplio
Length: about 200 km
How to travel: bike, motorcycle, car

In the Peloponnese, a peninsula in the shape of a gigantic hand, located southwest of Athens, there are enchanting places made up of small stone villages and beautiful landscapes surrounded by olive trees and wild figs. The journey requires a lot of patience because the roads, although scenic, are slow due to the presence of curves and ups and downs between vertiginous cliffs and dark green hills. Moreover, the road surface is often uneven and difficult. However, it’s really worth it to immerse yourself in this journey rich in history, nature, and incredible landscapes, especially in spring.

11. Panoramic Road in the Pyrenees, Spain – France

Panoramic Road in the Pyrenees, Spain - France

Location: It joins Bilbao (Spain) to Biarritz (France)
Length: about 148 km
How to travel: bike, motorcycle, car

It is a winding road of incomparable beauty made of enchanting landscapes that is best to visit with a bike tour. If you are not a fanatic of two-wheeled pedals, you can always appreciate this scenic route by motorcycle or car. The discovery of the Pyrenees, located between Spain and France, and the magic of the coastal stretch dominated by the waves will make you appreciate this magnificent area of ​​Europe.

10. North Coast 500, UK

North Coast 500, UK
Credit: Peter Moore – creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Location: Scotland – Inverness to Applecross
Length: 830.4 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

A wonderful journey through the beauties of Scotland. A castle, a stack, mountains, beaches, natural wonders… nothing is missing from the incredible variety of landscapes to be admired along this panoramic road. Incredibly beautiful and picturesque, it will strike you straight to the heart.

9. Romantic Road, Germany

Romantic Road, Germany

Location: from Füssen to Würzburg
Length: 366 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

It’s a much-loved road known for its scenic beauty. Along the famous Romantic Road, you will discover some of the most fascinating and historically rich landscapes of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. This suggestive itinerary, which winds from the Allgaü mountains to the Franconian hills, was outlined in 1950 to unite the different landscape realities and to strengthen the roots of the inhabitants of these areas by rediscovering the beauty of their history after the moral and economic collapse caused by the Second World War. Depending on the seasons, you will admire incredible variations in color and light; in one word – enchanting!

8. Route de Gentilly, France

Route de Gentilly, France

Location: The heights of Nice, the French Riviera
Length: 19.3 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car

From this road, you can see a breathtaking view over the entire gulf of Nice and a large part of the Côte d’Azur. After Gréolière, the Route de Gentilly turns into one of the most beautiful roads to travel by motorcycle. Winding stretch immersed in a perfect frame made of wild rocks, short tunnels carved into the rock, and splendid views of the valley below… fantastic!

7. Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

Location: From the city of Kristiansund, crosses the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel, and between fjords, islets, and the villages of Averøy
Lenght: 8.72 km
How to travel: bike, car, motorcycle

This wilderness road is considered one of the most beautiful tourist routes in the world. It takes just 30 minutes, crossing the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel and coming out on the beautiful island of Averøy. It’s accessible without paying tolls. It meanders between bridges that jut out into the sea, connecting islands and islets together. The oceanic stretch is extraordinarily impressive during storms and when the sea is calm you can see seals and whales.

6. Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como, Italy

Location: Province of Como and Lecco, Lombardy
Length: about 150 km
How to travel: motorcycle, car, bike

Many wonderful places surround the great lake of Como as well as the less-known Lecco area, not only the Manzoni Promessi Sposi. If they are loved and appreciated by Hollywood stars, there must be a reason. The panoramic road will allow you to see enchanting sights and, depending on the season, it will be able to offer you picturesque alternatives. Furthermore, the navigation service offers the possibility to travel by ferry from one side to the other, thus giving a different perspective to the sight. Villas, flowers, reflections on the water… simply magnificent!

5. Trollstigen, Norway

Trollstigen, Norway

Location: Near the Unesco protected Geirangerfjord – runs from Trollstigfoten to Stigerøra
Length: 106 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

The Trollstigen National Tourist Route is a route through the best of Western Norwegian nature. It offers a stunning and dizzying view of steep mountains, waterfalls, deep fjords, and fertile valleys. It has a 9% gradient and 11 tight hairpin bends. Loved by tourists, traveling it is truly a wonderful experience. Thanks to this road, you can admire the wonderful Geirangerfjord, the most famous fjord in the world as well as a Unesco World Heritage site.

4. Los Alcornocales, Spain

Los Alcornocales, Spain
Credit: Tanja Freibott – commons.wikimedia.org

Location: Province of Cadiz, Andalusia
Length: It crosses the whole Park, which extends for 1677.67 square kilometers
How to travel: car, motorcycle, horse, bike

You will cross a large cork forest, which extends between the Sierra de Grazalema and the Punta de Tarifa. An area with gentle slopes that, in the southern area, gives rise to narrow river valleys called canutos. You will find yourself admiring absolutely unique sceneries in Europe with remains of Tertiary vegetation. The fauna is also very important and among the species present an important colony of griffins stands out.

3. Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
Credit: Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Location: From Malin Head to Kinsale, West Ireland
Length: 2500 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

This road starts from the windswept end of Malin Head and ends at the tranquil harbor of Kinsale. It’s a true journey into the untamed nature of the west coast of Ireland  It’s considered the longest coastal route in the world. The Wild Atlantic Way is a sensational journey made up of towering cliffs, vibrant urban centers, hidden beaches, and bays of incredible beauty. Whether you choose to walk it all or to explore only a part of it, it will certainly be a unique experience.

2. Transfagarasan, Romania

Transfagarasan, Romania

Location: Connects the regions of Transylvania and Muntenia
Length: 152 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

Considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world, the Transfagarasan winds its way through various nature reserves until it reaches the glacial lake Balea. It was built at the behest of the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu (also called the Folly of Ceauşescu) between 1970 and 1974 to allow Romanian troops to cross the Carpathians quickly in the event of a Soviet invasion. It starts from the city of Bascov and winds through the mountains highest in Romania, offering breathtaking views. To the north, the landscape is arid while to the south, there are green valleys. There are many tunnels, viaducts, and numerous hairpin bends. Transfagarasan is open only 4 months of the year, the summer ones, due to the weather conditions.

1. Amalfi Coast, Italy

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Location: Campania, Gulf of Salerno
Length: about 55 km
How to travel: car, motorcycle

The Amalfi Coast is the stretch of coast that overlooks the Gulf of Salerno. It’s bordered to the west by Positano and to the east by Vietri sul Mare. This road is famous all over the world for its beauty, which so great that it’s listed among the Unesco World Heritage Sites. Its name derives from the city of Amalfi, the central nucleus of the coast not only geographically but also historically. The Amalfi Coast is known for being heterogeneous: each of the towns that compose it has its own character and traditions. The Amalfi Coast is also famous for some typical products, such as limoncello (liqueur obtained from local lemons), anchovies and fish preserves produced in Cetara, as well as ceramics made and hand painted in Vietri.