Here's a list of the best road to drive on around the world!
12 - Stelvio Pass, Italy
Its popularity as one of the highest roads to pass through the European Alps has certainly
impressed many people.
After a very popular 2008 Top Gear article that named the Stelvio Pass the best driving
road in the world, the road has pretty much become a star.
Unfortunately, given its increasing popularity, the road has become congested, with hundreds
of tourists and cars going through it all day long.
Experts recommend driving in a north to west direction, which allows you to see its famous
wall of switchbacks, and getting a first hand look at Stelvio National Park, with its beautiful
alpine forests, and fun driving roads.
At the foot of the pass, a valley lets you get some great pictures, and a little up north
you’ll find the connecting Swiss Pass.
11 - Pacific Coast Highway, California Considered one of the most scenic rides any
driver can have, the Pacific Coast Highway, is a 123 mile long California Road that extends
from the very popular Big Sur Coast Highway up to San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway.
With a combination of mountains and great ocean views, this particular road starts at
the popular little town of Monterey and allows any driver to experience some very scenic
landscapes that include Hearst Castle and California's multiple oak forests.
Because of its steep curves and high inclinations, it's no wonder the road is extremely popular
by motorcyclists, so anyone that’s into riding, should really think about the option.
Because the highway is designated as an All-American Road, In addition to serving as a route to
the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas, certainly makes this a road a very
popular scenic road!
10 - Combe Laval, France Constructed between 1861 and 1898, this widely
popular route has been recognized as the most beautiful road in the French Alps.
Considering its challenging climbs, nowadays it’s better known as a path for cyclists
looking to experience an extreme adventure.
Parts of the road are filled with narrow tunnels and cut straight into a cliff, which sounds
like it certainly provides some amazing views!
The architectural concept used to created the road is very rare: they carved the whole
path straight into the walls of the Vercors mountain, connecting it with a road to the
Royan mountains.
The way they managed to cut two mountains and create a whole new access through still
impresses many people to this day, including myself!
9 - Conor Pass, Ireland The Irish mountains are known for its never-ending
green scenery, cloudy but beautiful ambience, and legends of leprechauns with 4-leaved clovers.
Well, maybe they’ve figured out leprechauns with 4 leaf clovers.
But, with this road, there’s still the proverbial pot of gold.
Conor Pass is known as the highest mountain road in all of Ireland, and has managed a
reputation as one of the only ways to experience the Celtic nation's true essence.
Reaching 1,495 feet in height, the pass connects the southernmost part of south western Ireland,
in Dingle, all the way up to Castlegregory in the north east.
As with many other roads, weather conditions are super important to take into consideration
before doing any spirited driving.
During rain, visibility can be minimal, which of course heightens risk for accidents.
There’s also the story of a man who lost his life at the highest part of the pass,
and is said to haunt visitors who don’t comply to the safety measures.
Hmmm maybe he’s a leprechaun too!
8 - Milford Road, New Zealand This hidden gem in the region of Fiordland
New Zealand seems to certify the country's popularity.
Extending through Fiordland National Park and even a World Heritage Area such as Te
Wahipounamu, Milford Road is a tourist destination that provides some of the best views of raw,
untouched nature.
The 4-hour drive has great photo opportunities of landmarks such as Eagleton Valley and the
pristine Mirror Lakes.
One of the coolest features of the road is the interesting sighting of the Avenue of
the Disappearing Mountain, where as you approach the mountain, the mountain seems to be getting
smaller, obviously an optical illusion.
Waterfalls, rivers, mountains and valleys comprise some of the elements you’d get
the chance of experiencing if you do decide to go!
7 - Rohtang Pass, India High up in the Indian mountains is a road
known for its impressive views of the eastern side of the Himalayas in the northern part
of the country.
Rohtang Pass serves as a natural barrier between the Kulu Valley on one side and Lahaul and
Spiti valleys on the other.
Primarily used as a path for walkers, this mountain pass has very specific traits that
make it both enjoyable AND dangerous as well.
This road is rich in history, as it was known to be a trading route between the towns located
within Pir Panjal, a mountain region inside the Himalayas.
The area became popular for its views and altitude, which has prompted authorities to
seek sustainable alternatives for visitors and locals.
In 2016, authorities started issuing a limited amount of permits for vehicles looking to
go through Rohtang Pass, to decrease the pollution levels caused by cars.
In 2010 the government started building a road tunnel next to the, as a safer option
for visitors.
6 - Ruta 40, Argentina With an impressive 3,100 mile extension that
crosses all of Argentina from north to south, including three tourist regions and eleven
provinces, Ruta 40 has become the staple road trip experience of this South American nation.
It was numbered as the 40th route because of its important presence as a connection
for many of the capitals of Argentina's provinces, making the road a way to see much of the diversity
of the Argentinian landscape.
What makes Ruta 40 stand out is the rich differences drivers can experience while driving through.
Different weather conditions, contrasting flora and fauna, and altitude changes are
just a few of the features of this road.
The road is known as a connection between some UNESCO World Heritage sites, with locations
of ancient remains from the pre-Columbian era, and locations known to have been home
to native tribes.
5 - Garden Route, South Africa The Garden Route is a road in South Africa
that’s known for its diverse range of vegetation and the amazing views of the South African
coastline.
The variety of landscapes, including its changing topography and wildlife, has certainly made
the road a must do for anyone visiting South Africa.
The road is filled with beaches along the ocean, as well as inner lakes and lagoons
on the drive up to Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma forests, all of which are sights worthy of
a National Geographic feature.
Extending along the southern coast of the country, the Garden Route make a direct connection
between Mossel Bay on the Western Cape and the Storm Rivers on the Eastern Cape.
Nature and ocean reserves are part of the scenery found within its extension, showing
off South Africa's diverse natural resources as a distinctive feature that needs to be
seen to be believed!
4 - Great Ocean Road, Australia Located in the state of Victoria in south
eastern Australia, the Great Ocean Road is known for showcasing an impressive diversity
of scenery.
An assembly of beaches, rivers, rainforests and even volcanoes are all part of this road.
Although considered a natural haven for tourists, many are unaware of its important place in
Australian history.
After World War I, the road was built in 1919 as a memorial for the soldiers who lost their
lives in battle.
It became at the time the largest war remembrance site ever built.
Starting at the city of Torquay and ending in Allansford, this two-lane path is mostly
known for the presence of one of the nation's most impressive sites: the 12 Apostles.
This group of enormous limestone stacks rise from the sea in an area surrounded by a bay
of islands displaying Australia's rich and colorful landscape.
In 2004 a pedestrian walk named Great Ocean Walk opened between Apollo Bay and the 12
Apostles for tourists and visitors.
3 - Autobahn, Germany An air mystery has always surrounded this
highly popular German highway.
To some it may just be a regular road, but to others it’s the opportunity of feeling
like they're in something like a Nascar or F1 race!
While in reality it’s not a speeding ground as many think, there are certain traits that
distinguish this German road from other roads.
Sections of the highway have non-obligatory speed limits.
What they don't take a moment to realize is that there are recommended speed limits in
certain areas, because of their proximity to urban regions which need to be slower.
Limited access to entrances provide drivers with the opportunity to have a rapid way of
going from one city to the other.
Known as the most extensive and organized road network in the world, the Autobahn is
a little over 8,0000 miles long, and connects virtually all of Germany by car!
2 - Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway It's curvy and it's surrounded by a beautiful
landscape, making it worthy of a postcard.
What else could there possibly be?
Well, if you've ever heard of Norway's Atlantic Ocean Road, you may have noticed how dangerous
the water that surrounds the roads can be.
The road connects several islands on the country's western coast.
It's known for its various passages, causeways and bridges, which together form a great connection
for some of the best scenery in Scandinavia.
One of the most notorious bridges is certainly the Storseisundet Bridge.
The very popular high climbing path is engulfed by the constantly crashing waves that seem
to be permanently fixed on this small part of the road.
The site has been recognized as a world heritage and is classified as a National Tourist Route.
It comes as no surprise, given how thousands of daredevils visit this particular stretch
of the road just to experience the full force of what they've seen in pictures online.
Apparently, for many people, it's considered the world's best road trip!
1 - Strada della Forra, Italy A narrow path that connects several small
Italian villages has been known as one of the BEST roads around the world.
Popular for its brief but appealing cameo in one of Bond's most recent adventure Quantum
of Solace, Strada della Forra is a particularly secluded drive, mainly because of its close
proximity to Lake Grada.
Located in the province of Brescia in northern Italy, this scenic view of Italian nature
requires a generally small car –or even a motorcycle– to deal with its twists and
turns that climb into the mountains.
Famously awarded the “most beautiful road of the world” award on multiple occasions
by people such as Winston Churchill and German newspaper the Frankfurter Zeitung, it’s
not to be taken lightly– its steep hills are also considered among the most dangerous
in the world.
Also, possible landslides may just make you reconsider going super fast on this road if
you're not an experienced driver.
Here's what's next!