Road collection
Not every great road shuts with the first snow. These have no regular seasonal closure, which makes them ideal for a winter or early spring escape.
24 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. France, Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France
Impossibly narrow ledge road through blood red granite pinnacles above the Gulf of Porto.
Porto to Piana, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.9/10.
4. Spain, Mallorca, Spain
A driver's icon that loops through a knotted 270 degree hairpin down to the cove.
Coll dels Reis to Sa Calobra, 12 km (7.5 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. France, Alpes-Maritimes, France, above Monaco
Napoleon's high road above Monaco, immortalised on film, staring down onto the principality.
Nice to La Turbie, 16 km (9.9 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
8. France, Haute-Corse, Corsica, France
A narrow gorge road blasted into red granite walls, the gateway to Corsica's high interior.
Corte to Calacuccia, 25 km (15.5 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.5/10.
9. Portugal, Douro, Portugal
Voted among the world's best roads, it snakes above terraced vineyards along the Douro.
Peso da Regua to Pinhao, 27 km (16.8 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.7/10.
10. Italy, Lombardy, Italy
A tunnel like gorge road carved into rock above Lake Garda, once called the world's best road.
Pieve di Tremosine to Lake Garda shore, 7 km (4.3 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.4/10.
11. France, Ardeche, France
A dramatic corniche skimming turquoise river bends beneath the Pont d'Arc natural arch.
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardeche, 32 km (19.9 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.5/10.
12. Spain, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Ridge top curves reveal the volcanic finger of Roque Nublo above pine covered barrancos.
Tejeda to San Bartolome de Tirajana, 22 km (13.7 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.5/10.
13. Japan, Kanagawa
The toll road every Japanese car magazine uses, fast sweepers with Fuji ahead.
Odawara to Hakone, 14 km (8.7 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9/10.
14. Turkey, Antalya
A Mediterranean corniche of pine forest, ruins and turquoise bays all the way.
Kas to Antalya, 190 km (118.1 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.5/10.
15. South Africa, Western Cape
Wine valley hairpins climb to a viewpoint over the whole Franschhoek bowl.
Franschhoek to Villiersdorp, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.3/10.
16. United Kingdom, Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland
One of the world's great coast roads, hugging cliffs beneath nine dramatic glens.
Larne to Portrush, 48 km (29.8 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.6/10.
17. France, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Legendary Monte Carlo Rally stage stitching together forested hairpins above the Roya valley.
Sospel to La Bollene-Vesubie, 17 km (10.6 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 8.8/10.
18. South Africa, Western Cape
An old mountain shelf road along a boulder river, narrow and beautifully engineered.
Wellington to Ceres, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.2/10.
19. UAE, Sharjah
A modern mountain highway with tunnels and viaducts over the Hajar range.
Sharjah to Khor Fakkan, 95 km (59 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.2/10.
20. Spain, Andalusia, Spain
Endless third gear curves cut through cork oak hills between two fine Andalusian towns.
Ronda to Coin, 50 km (31.1 miles). Driving 8.7/10, scenery 9/10.
21. United Kingdom, Snowdonia, Wales
The connecting stretch of the Evo Triangle beloved for its rhythmic fast corners.
Pentrefoelas to Cerrigydrudion, 10 km (6.2 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 8.2/10.
22. France, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to Alpes-Maritimes, France
Sweeping historic highway tracing Napoleon's 1815 march through lavender country and pine ridges.
Digne-les-Bains to Grasse, 72 km (44.7 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 8.9/10.
23. Germany, Black Forest, Germany
The Hoellental route squeezes through granite walls beside a rushing mountain stream.
Freiburg to Titisee, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9/10.
24. Belgium, Spa area, Belgium
Following the Spa Francorchamps ridge line, the road mimics the famous Raidillon esses.
Spa to Stavelot, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.5/10, scenery 8.6/10.
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