Road collection
Nothing beats a road with the sea on one side. These coastal drives trade outright pace for light, space and the kind of view that makes you pull over every ten minutes.
30 roads, ranked
1. Italy, Campania, Italy
A cliffside ribbon of hairpins clinging above turquoise water and pastel towns.
Sorrento to Vietri sul Mare, 50 km (31.1 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 10/10.
2. France, Var, France
Cliff hugging ledge road staring straight down into Europe's grandest limestone canyon.
Aiguines to Comps-sur-Artuby, 24 km (14.9 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.9/10.
3. Norway, More og Romsdal, Norway
Hairpins spiral down to the Geirangerfjord past waterfalls with names like the Seven Sisters.
Grotli to Geiranger, 106 km (65.9 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.9/10.
4. Croatia, Biokovo, Dalmatia
A single track climb from sea level to 1762 metres above the Makarska Riviera.
Makarska to Sveti Jure summit, 23 km (14.3 miles). Driving 9.4/10, scenery 9.8/10.
5. Norway, Rogaland
Twenty seven hairpins drop 900 metres to the head of the Lysefjord.
Sirdal to Lysebotn, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.6/10.
6. Turkey, Bayburt to Trabzon
Thirteen stacked hairpins on a cliff face make this one of the world's scariest roads.
Of to Bayburt, 106 km (65.9 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.6/10.
7. Montenegro, Bay of Kotor
Twenty five stacked hairpins climbing straight off the fjord to a mountain plateau.
Kotor to Njegusi, 20 km (12.4 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.8/10.
8. Spain, Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca's spine road strings together sea cliffs, terraces and mountain villages.
Andratx to Pollenca, 75 km (46.6 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.6/10.
9. United States, Montana
A cliff shelf road through Glacier National Park under hanging valleys.
West Glacier to St Mary, 80 km (49.7 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.9/10.
10. United States, California
The Pacific coast at its most theatrical, cliff curves above the open ocean.
Carmel to San Simeon, 145 km (90.1 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.9/10.
11. United States, Colorado
A mining road cut into the San Juan cliffs with sheer drops and no barrier.
Ouray to Silverton, 40 km (24.9 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.7/10.
12. United Kingdom, Wester Ross, Scotland
A lochside single track with views straight across to Skye and the Cuillins.
Applecross to Shieldaig, 25 km (15.5 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.7/10.
13. Switzerland, Bern and Uri, Switzerland
A flowing, beautifully engineered road beneath the Steingletscher ice cliffs.
Innertkirchen to Wassen, 47 km (29.2 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.6/10.
14. France, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, France
Cliff cut hairpins and cirque views link two valleys via the dramatic Litor shelf.
Laruns to Col du Soulor, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.5/10.
15. Croatia, Dalmatian Coast
The Magistrala hugs bare karst cliffs above island studded blue water for hours.
Senj to Zadar, 180 km (111.8 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.6/10.
16. South Africa, Cape Peninsula
A toll corniche blasted into a sea cliff with 114 curves above the Atlantic.
Hout Bay to Noordhoek, 9 km (5.6 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
17. Chile, Aysen
Patagonia's legendary road through rainforest, fjords and hanging glaciers.
Puerto Montt to Coyhaique, 600 km (372.8 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.8/10.
18. Vietnam, Ha Giang
A shelf road cut into limestone cliffs high above the Nho Que river gorge.
Dong Van to Meo Vac, 20 km (12.4 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.8/10.
19. United Kingdom, Sutherland, Scotland
A remote NC500 highlight of sea lochs, switchbacks and empty moorland roads.
Kylesku to Durness, 45 km (28 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
20. France, Lozere, France
A river hugging road beneath towering limestone cliffs, one of the Massif Central's great drives.
Ispagnac to Le Rozier, 52 km (32.3 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
21. France, Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France
Needle like granite spires tower over this pass linking Corsica's interior to the east coast.
Zonza to Solenzara, 38 km (23.6 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
22. Norway, More og Romsdal, Norway
A low bridge skips between skerries with the open Norwegian Sea breaking either side.
Kårvåg to Vevang, 8.3 km (5.2 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.8/10.
23. Norway, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
A high plateau road across bare tundra ending at a stark concrete lookout above the fjord.
Aurland to Laerdal, 47 km (29.2 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
24. Ireland, Beara Peninsula
Tight hairpins over the Caha Mountains linking Cork and Kerry above two bays.
Adrigole to Lauragh, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.5/10.
25. Australia, Victoria
Cliff hugging coastal curves past surf breaks and the Twelve Apostles.
Torquay to Allansford, 243 km (151 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
26. New Zealand, West Coast
Rainforest and waterfall canyon roads link the lakes to the wild West Coast.
Wanaka to Haast, 145 km (90.1 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
27. Canada, Nova Scotia
A headland loop of steep coastal climbs on Cape Breton, magic in autumn.
Baddeck to Cheticamp, 298 km (185.2 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
28. United States, Hawaii
Sea level to 3055 metres in 38 km, 29 switchbacks and a crater at the end.
Kula to Haleakala summit, 38 km (23.6 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
29. Vietnam, Central Vietnam
Ocean cloud pass with stacked hairpins climbing above the South China Sea.
Da Nang to Lang Co, 21 km (13 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.5/10.
30. India, Ladakh
One of the highest motorable passes anywhere, at 5359 metres above sea level.
Leh to Khardung, 39 km (24.2 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
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