There’s no better feeling than hitting the open road. Just you, your car and the tarmac. No traffic, no worries, no stress.
What makes a road a great driving experience? It could be elevation, hairpin turns, a chance to get away from it all or, of course, the epic scenery on show. We’ve identified the 12 most beautiful roads in the world and picked out beautiful sights that make these road trips worthy of your bucket list.
- Transfagarasan Highway – Romania
One of the most beautiful highways in the world can be found in Romania. Top Gear judged it to be one of the world’s stand-out journeys, and we couldn’t agree more. Here, you’ll travel across the Fagaras mountains, which stand at over 6,500 ft.
The 56-mile stretch includes eerie tunnels and magnificent views in keeping with Dracula country. It’s ideal for a single day’s drive, and features lots of twists and turns. The handling ability of the Lamborghini Gallardo makes it our supercar of choice to navigate Tranfagarasan. Make sure you stop at the beautifully glacial Balea Lake and take in its wondrous sights on your way through.
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- The Stelvio Pass – Italy
Next we’re headed to the Alps in Italy. It’s only 29 miles long, but the Stelvio Pass packs in 75 hairpin turns. The maximum elevation is 9,045 ft, which means this mountain pass comes with spectacular views and more than one or two challenges.
It’s not just the alpine scenery that makes this road an attraction. Sir Stirling Moss famously crashed on this very road during a vintage race. Picture driving an Italian grand tourer on the tyre tracks of world-famous drivers gone by. The Stelvio Pass is a sight to behold and should be on your list of highways to try.
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- Milford Road – New Zealand
While Europe has some excellent roads, it’s worth travelling further afield to New Zealand for this beauty. The famous Milford Sound lies at the end of the 80-mile Milford Road. Instead of high octane hairpin turns and extreme elevation, you can enjoy a more relaxing drive here.
You’ll travel through the Fiordland National Park, passing fjords and spectacular vistas. Lord of The Rings fans might even recognise the scenery, this being one of the filming locations for the trilogy.
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- Ruta 40 – Argentina
We’re staying in the Southern Hemisphere for our next trip. Argentina’s Ruta 40 is one of the longest scenic drives in the world. It’s around 3,000 miles long and is also the highest national road in the world, at 16,600 ft.
You’ll get not just one landscape but several different ones unfolding as you pass Lake Argentina Viedma, the Andes, glimpse Fitz Roy, and Cerro Torre in Patagonia’s Los Glaciares National Park.
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- Lysevegen Mountain Road – Norway
Lysevegen Mountain Road has it all: breathtaking nature, hairpin curves and elevations that make the views even more spectacular. The route will take you through the clouds at over 3,100 feet.
From the 18-mile stretch, you’ll encounter 27 hairpin turns, making for an exhilarating drive. The valley, fjord and views of the Andersvatn Lake are all valid reasons for pit stops on this drive.
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- Karakoram Highway – Pakistan to China
This highway takes you all the way from Pakistan to China. It’s over 800 miles in length and reaches 15,784 ft in the Kunjerab Pass. The landscape is incomparable as you pass the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram mountain ranges.
The modernised road features many switchbacks and straights primed for a luxury vehicle, we’d recommend rolling with a Maserati Granturismo for this one. Whatever your vehicle of choice though, travelling the famous Silk Road will be an unforgettable experience.
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- Furka Pass – Switzerland
If it’s glamour you seek, then why not take an Aston Martin DB9 and follow in the footsteps of James Bond? The famous scene in Goldfinger saw Bond, in an Aston Martin DB5, chased down the slopes of the Furka Pass by a Ford Mustang.
It’s not all about the steep slopes and switchbacks. The Swiss Alps add to the style of the occasion when driving this mountain pass, which reaches 7,967 ft in elevation. You’ll also be able to take in the Rhone Glacier, forests and the mountain panorama.
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- Pacific Coast Highway – California
The 128 miles of California coastline make for a stunning drive, with rugged scenery and views of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a different experience depending on what time of year you visit, as the flora and fauna change with the seasons. You might see grey whales as you move between Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Garrapata State Park.
The beaches and redwood forests are a significant part of the attraction, as are the towns, including Monterey and Carmel. You’ll feel like you’re in a film, as the PCH and its scenery have featured in Inception, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty and The Fast and the Furious.
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- Chapman’s Peak Drive – Cape Town, South Africa
A short circular route might not sound spectacular, but the expansive views of the Atlantic Coast of South Africa will change your mind. The seven miles of this route wind tightly around a coastline that takes you from Hout Bay (near Cape Town), to Noordhoek.
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- Route 1 – Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland is known for its extraordinary scenery, but did you know that you can catch many of its sights from the main ring road Route 1? The 824-mile route is best experienced over several days of driving; that way you can stop and experience the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón and Vik’s black sand beach.
The circular route takes you around the island, with Reykjavik as an ideal start and end point. Along the way, you’ll see many waterfalls, including Seljalandsfloss and Skogafoss, which appeared in Game of Thrones. A Land Rover Defender is the perfect choice if you also want to explore off the highway.
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- Going-to-the-Sun Road – Montana, USA
Montana’s Glacier National Park is the location of the poetically named Going-to-the-Sun Road. The highway runs from east to west through the park, reaching a high of 6,646 ft at Logan Pass. The large glacial lake is the focal point of one of the most scenic drives in the world.
The road is 50 miles long, has two lanes and provides views of cedar valleys and forests. The varied terrain is also home to grizzly bears and mountain goats.
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- Amalfi Drive – Sorrento to Positano, Italy
The pinnacle of glamour is Amalfi Drive in Italy. Pick a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Italian sports car of your choice and take in that turquoise sea and warm breeze. The coastal landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the road winds along the shoreline for 50 miles.
The stretch between Salerno and Positano is a must experience. The pastel villages are pleasing on the eye, as are the plunging cliffs and green hillsides. Each turn gives you another glimpse of the mesmerising Mediterranean scenery.
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Tune Up and Take Your Next Trip
If you would like to take your car to the next level before heading out on one of these amazing roads, check out Scuderia’s range of original and aftermarket spear parts.
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