Photo by Mihai_Andritoiu at Shutterstock
Our planet is paved with over 11 million miles of scenic roadways. The routes with the most panoramic views from around the world are feats of engineering that transport you across some of the most beautiful landscapes.
In fact, some roads are so stunningly beautiful that they become iconic destinations for many people.
From our nation’s Pacific Coast Highway to the twisty turns of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, our round-up of the world’s most scenic roads just goes to show that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination.
We’ve chosen 5 of the best roads in the world that offer breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re driving a sports car or SUV, these routes provide unique experiences, some more challenging than others.
Route 1 in Iceland is a ring road running around the rim of this island nation and takes travelers through some of the world’s most iconic natural sights.
Setting out eastward from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, this scenic road leads drivers on a magnificent tour of the country, passing by stunning fjords, mountains, and tiny fishing villages. And you may even be able to spot some wild reindeer.
At 824 miles, it is not a short day trip, but there are just too many extraordinary experiences along the way to rush!
A couple of bucket list-worthy locations include the beautiful Lake Mývatn with its hot springs, the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.
Other “Must-See” sights include the black sand beach at Vik, the cliffs at Dyrhólaey, the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, and the icy Diamond Beach.
This scenic road is one of the great all-American roads, winding down over 120 miles of rugged California coastline carrying you across stunning beaches and redwood forests with gorgeous views across the Pacific Ocean.
The narrow two-lane road winds around the impressive cliffs of California’s Central Coast, towering over the waves smashinginto the shore below.
Some of the best places to take a break along this five-hour drive include historic towns like Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, while it also crosses two major state parks: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Garrapata State Park.
Nature reserves like Point Lobos State Reserve are home to an incredible collection of flora and fauna. From December to April, you might even be able to spot some migrating grey whales as you travel down this route!
The Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding Mediterranean scenery.
A drive along this Coast will transport you through a wonderful mix of charming coastal towns, never-ending views over the turquoise sea, plunging cliffs, and wonderfully colored hillside villages.
The scenic road is famously narrow and winding, surrounding the cliffside and giving you dramatic views.
Starting out in the beautiful city of Salerno and winding along the Sorrento Peninsula, this is a daredevil drive lined with towering cliffs on one side and the incredible blue of the Mediterranean Sea on the other.
This coastal stretch takes drivers past those colorfully picturesque villages set amongst the clifftops, like Amalfi and Positano.
This scenic road snakes its way up the side of the Tianmenshan Mountain, and even though it measures just below six miles in total, it rises an incredible 3,000 feet in that short distance. The winding road isn’t for the faint of heart.
But once you reach the top, an incredible view will open up right before your eyes. Yes, you’ll feel like you’ll never experience anything like that ever again.
Frequently nicknamed the “heaven-linking avenue,” the road leads to Tianmen Cave, a natural rock arch that seems to be carved into the mountain. It can only be accessed, though, by climbing 999 steps.
While it CAN be traveled by bus, this road’s 99 bends make it one of the most dangerous roads on the planet. Fortunately, you also have the option to see the road from a cable car. It’s an equally picturesque trip suspended over 4,000 feet above the valley.
The entire continent of Europe has no shortage of mountainous roads with amazing views. But this particular scenic road has been dubbed the greatest road in the world by “Top Gear!”
This winding highway takes you across the Fagaras Mountains, which at more than 6,500 feet, are some of the highest points in the country.
The road itself is 56 miles of steep vistas, and it’s a good route for a single-day trip while stopping to look at the magnificent scenery and trying out various hiking routes along the way.
Transfagarasan is dotted with endless twists and turns and with spooky, pitch-black tunnels, the longest being more than 2,600 feet, making it an exhilarating trip!
The winding road from Cartisoara goes south to Curtea de Arges, then zigzags from Transylvania into Muntenia and later climbs to 6,673 feet to the highest peak in Romania, which is Moldoveanu Peak.
Please leave us a comment and let us know which of these scenic roads was your favorite. And be sure to also check out some of our others articles, in which we include some of the most stunning sceneries in the United States.
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