Michael Cambridge
For passionate drivers, the road is more than a way to get from point A to point B—it’s a journey, an adventure, and sometimes even a spiritual experience. Around the world, there are roads that challenge, mesmerize, and redefine what it means to drive. Whether it’s the thrill of hairpin bends, scenic cliffside views, or the isolation of an untouched landscape, these ten roads offer some of the most unforgettable driving experiences on the planet.
1. Tianmen Mountain Road – China
Often called the Heaven-Linking Avenue, the Tianmen Mountain Road winds through the heart of China’s Tianmen Mountain National Park in Hunan Province (not Zhejiang, despite some confusion online). Climbing to an elevation of 3,937 feet (1,200 meters), this astonishing road packs 99 sharp turns into a span of just 6.8 miles (11 km).
Why 99? In Chinese culture, 9 is a number associated with heaven—and Tianmen literally means “Heaven’s Gate.” Driving this road feels like ascending to the skies, especially with the fog-covered cliffs and vertical drops. The drive concludes at the base of a dramatic staircase leading to a natural rock arch in the mountain, known as Heaven’s Gate.
Whether you’re behind the wheel or on a tour bus, this road is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re up for the thrill, Tianmen offers one of the most spectacular mountain road experiences on Earth.
2. Stelvio Pass – Italy
Nestled in the Eastern Alps, the Stelvio Pass is often considered the crown jewel of European mountain roads. At 9,045 feet (2,757 meters), it’s the highest paved road in the Eastern Alps and features 48 hairpin turns—each numbered for the driver’s reference.
Driving the Stelvio Pass is like navigating a coiled serpent of tarmac. The narrow road snakes through alpine meadows, rocky outcrops, and snow-capped peaks, offering jaw-dropping views and relentless driving challenges.
Jeremy Clarkson once called it the “greatest driving road in the world” on Top Gear, and many still agree.
3. Atlantic Ocean Road – Norway
If you’ve ever wanted to drive over the sea, the Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway is your chance. Stretching for 5.2 miles (8.3 km), this spectacular road hops between islands with a series of causeways, viaducts, and dramatic bridges.
The most iconic is the Storseisundet Bridge, which curves sharply and creates the illusion of a “road to nowhere” when viewed from certain angles. It’s a favorite for photographers and thrill-seekers, especially during stormy weather when waves crash against the sides of the road.
4. Route 1 – Iceland
Iceland’s Route 1, also known as the Ring Road, loops around the entire island for approximately 828 miles (1,332 km), offering an unmatched blend of volcanic deserts, glaciers, waterfalls, fjords, and black sand beaches.
Driving Route 1 feels like traveling across a living postcard. You’ll pass bubbling geothermal vents, the iconic Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, and perhaps even a herd of Icelandic horses. While the road is generally easy to drive, it’s important to prepare for rapidly changing weather conditions.
5. North Coast 500 – Scotland
Scotland’s answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 is a 516-mile (830 km) route that begins and ends in Inverness. It loops around the northern Scottish Highlands, offering drivers a raw, untamed experience of coastal cliffs, moorlands, ancient castles, and windswept beaches.
What makes the NC500 special isn’t just the scenery—it’s the sense of isolation. You might go miles without seeing another car, making it perfect for those who want to feel one with the road.
6. Chapman’s Peak Drive – South Africa
Nicknamed Chappies by locals, Chapman’s Peak Drive hugs the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek near Cape Town. It’s only 5.5 miles (9 km) long but packs in 114 curves along a road carved out of sheer cliff face, with views over the Atlantic Ocean that will steal your breath away.
Built in the early 1900s, this route is a marvel of engineering and natural beauty. It’s particularly stunning at sunset, when the cliffs glow orange and the sea shimmers gold.
7. Great Ocean Road – Australia
One of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road stretches for 151 miles (243 km) along Australia’s southeastern coast. This route offers dramatic ocean views, surf beaches, and lush rainforests.
Highlights include the iconic Twelve Apostles limestone stacks, the Loch Ard Gorge, and koala sightings in the eucalyptus trees of Great Otway National Park. It’s perfect for a relaxed road trip, complete with stops at seaside towns and lookout points.
8. Transfăgărășan Highway – Romania
If you’re chasing twists and turns, look no further than Romania’s Transfăgărășan Highway, slicing through the Făgăraș Mountains in the Southern Carpathians. Built as a strategic military route under Nicolae Ceaușescu, it spans 56 miles (90 km) and climbs to 6,699 feet (2,042 meters).
The road is a rollercoaster of tunnels, viaducts, and switchbacks, with a backdrop of rugged mountains and glacial lakes like Bâlea Lake. It’s open only in summer due to heavy snowfall, and its notoriety soared after Top Gear called it “the best road in the world.”
9. Highway 1 – California, USA
Better known as the Pacific Coast Highway, California’s Highway 1 is a ribbon of road stretching from Dana Point in Orange County to Leggett in Mendocino County. The most famous stretch winds through Big Sur, where cliffs drop sharply into the Pacific Ocean, framed by redwoods and crashing surf.
Drivers are treated to views of Bixby Creek Bridge, elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and the iconic curves that have made this road a favorite for movie scenes and car commercials.
10. Grossglockner High Alpine Road – Austria
Austria’s Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is a 30-mile (48 km) alpine drive through the Hohe Tauern National Park. With panoramic views of the Grossglockner (Austria’s highest peak) and the Pasterze Glacier, it’s a dream for lovers of high mountain roads.
Along its 36 bends, you’ll find sweeping curves, high-altitude meadows, and possibly marmots playing near the roadside. The road reaches 8,215 feet (2,504 meters) at the Edelweissspitze viewpoint, offering one of the best scenic lookouts in Europe.
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