Best Alpine Drives & Scenic Driving Roads in Europe

The Stelvio Pass is the world’s most famous hairpin road — legendary switchbacks, high-altitude drama, and a true bucket-list ascent. Its highlight is the iconic wall of tight turns, where the driving feels raw, epic, and unforgettable.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is Austria’s ultimate mountain drive — 48 km of perfect road surface, big elevation, and nonstop panoramas. Its highlight is the high-altitude viewpoint route with 36 turns, delivering pure alpine drama from start to finish.

The Furka Pass is Switzerland’s most iconic movie-road — high altitude, tight bends, and classic Alpine road-trip energy. Its highlight is the legendary James Bond stretch near Andermatt, where the scenery and curves feel straight out of a film scene.

The Grimsel Pass is Switzerland’s most cinematic high-alpine route — granite landscapes, deep valleys, and turquoise reservoirs along the way. Its highlight is the series of dams and lake viewpoints, giving the drive a raw, dramatic feel unlike any other pass.

The Susten Pass is one of Switzerland’s finest alpine drives — wide corners, smooth tarmac, and huge scenery from start to summit. Its highlight is the long panoramic climb to 2,260 meters, with glacier views and that perfect grand-touring rhythm.

The Great Dolomites Road is the Dolomites’ historic grand tour — a scenic route from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo through some of the region’s best-known landscapes. The Sella Ronda Drive is a tighter, more dramatic loop around the Sella Massif. If one is the famous name, the other is often the better drive.

The Klausen Pass in Switzerland is a classic alpine road rising to 1,948 m (6,391 ft), linking the cantons of Uri and Glarus. Expect tight curves, narrow rock-cut sections, and a dramatic high plateau at Urnerboden. Its highlight is the raw, old-school mountain rhythm, where the road feels untouched and every kilometer keeps you engaged.

The Bernina Pass is Switzerland’s most elegant glacier crossing — high-altitude lakes, sweeping curves, and the iconic Bernina Express running beside you. It connects refined St. Moritz with the Italian south in one seamless alpine transition.

The Julier Pass is the classic Engadine gateway — a smooth, all-season Swiss alpine road climbing to 2,284 m with wide bends, big long views, and a polished drive into St. Moritz.

The Ofenpass (Pass dal Fuorn) is Switzerland’s wild alpine road through the Swiss National Park — flowing curves, pine forests, and untouched mountain scenery at 2,149 m. The drive links St. Moritz and the Engadine with the peaceful Val Müstair.

The Oberalp Pass is the high-alpine link between Andermatt and Disentis — cresting at 2,046 m with sweeping curves, open tundra scenery, and the iconic Glacier Express railway crossing beside the summit lighthouse.

The Flüela Pass is a beautiful Engadine link — clean road design, high-alpine views, and a quiet “locals’ favourite” feel. Its highlight is the fast-flowing section between Davos and Susch, perfect for an elegant mountain drive.

The Albula Pass is a quieter Swiss classic near St. Moritz — varied scenery, smooth climbs, and a more relaxed pace. Its highlight is the Engadine mountain atmosphere, where the pass feels scenic, elegant, and refreshingly uncrowded.

The San Bernardino Pass is Switzerland’s most rewarding north–south crossing — scenic, efficient, and packed with alpine atmosphere. Its highlight is the sudden cultural shift into Italian-speaking Switzerland, where the road feels like a gateway into a different world.

The Gotthard Pass is Switzerland’s most legendary crossing — modern sweepers paired with historic road heritage. Its highlight is the Tremola cobblestone section, where you drive straight through Swiss alpine history.

The Nockalm Road is Austria’s most scenic park drive — smooth curves, alpine tranquility, and endless viewpoints. Its highlight is the easy, flowing rhythm through the Nockberge, perfect for a relaxed panoramic driving day.

The Hahntennjoch Pass is Austria’s hidden driver’s gem — carved into rock with constant corner rhythm and changing scenery. Its highlight is the playful cambered bends before the summit, where you instantly know you’re in for fun.

Often referred to as the Eje Pirenaico (Pyrenean Axis), this historic road links remote valleys, high passes, and authentic mountain towns — with natural onward routes toward Navarra and San Sebastián in the Basque Country.

The North Coast 500 is Scotland’s most famous scenic road trip — a Highlands loop built for coastal drama, wild landscapes, and remote beauty. Its highlight is the ever-changing coastline, where cliffs, beaches, and mountain views constantly trade places.

The Adriatic Highway follows Croatia’s rugged coastline, combining sweeping bends, rocky headlands and panoramic sea views. Its highlight is the stretch between Senj and Karlobag, where the Velebit mountains rise above the road and each curve reveals another view across the blue Adriatic towards offshore islands.

The Route Napoléon is France’s most legendary road trip — a long, scenic journey from the Riviera into the Alps with endless variety. Its highlight is the classic sweeping mountain rhythm, where every section feels like a new chapter of the drive.

The German Alpine Road is Bavaria’s most scenic touring route — lakes, meadows, alpine panoramas, and storybook villages. Its highlight is the castle-and-mountain scenery, where relaxed driving meets postcard-perfect views.

The Black Forest High Road (B500) is Germany’s most scenic forest drive — flowing bends, viewpoints, and classic countryside charm. Its highlight is the panoramic ridge sections near Baden-Baden, where the road opens up and the views surprise you.

The Snow Roads Scenic Route is Scotland’s most underrated driving day — a highland ribbon of tarmac through the Cairngorms, packed with open views, smooth sweepers, and dramatic scenery. Its highlight is the Old Military Road (A93) over Glenshee, where the landscape turns wild and truly alpine.

The Gorges du Verdon + Mont Ventoux Drive is Provence’s ultimate scenic combo — dramatic canyon viewpoints followed by the iconic climb of the “Giant of Provence.” Its highlight is the perfect two-day rhythm with a luxury overnight in the Luberon Valley, turning this route into a true South of France grand tour.

The Romanian High Roads are Europe’s most spectacular driving duo — huge elevation, endless curves, and wild mountain scenery. Its highlight is the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina combination, delivering a once-in-a-lifetime driving experience.

The German Autobahn is the world’s most famous highway system — fast when conditions allow, but often misunderstood. Its highlight is the no-limit experience on the right stretch at the right time, where the myth becomes real.

The Mille Miglia is Italy’s most iconic driving route — historic towns, rolling countryside, and timeless car culture. Its highlight is the legendary “Thousand Miles” heritage, where every stop feels like part of motorsport history.

From Andermatt, six of Switzerland's most legendary mountain passes — Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Gotthard, Oberalp and Nufenen — are all within easy reach. At its heart lies the famous Big 3 Alpine Pass Loop, making Andermatt one of Europe's ultimate destinations for a luxury driving holiday.

The Maloja Pass combines the open lake scenery of the Engadine with a dramatic descent into Val Bregaglia. Its highlight is the tightly stacked hairpin section below Maloja, where the road twists down the steep mountainside. Pair the drive with Lake Sils, a stop in Soglio or an onward journey towards Lake Como.

The Reschenpass links Austria with Italy’s South Tyrol, close to the Swiss border. Its highlight is the medieval bell tower rising from Lake Resia, a striking reminder of the village flooded in 1950. Combine lakeside scenery with a stop in Glorenza, a beautifully preserved walled town, before continuing towards Stelvio or Switzerland’s Val Müstair.

The most scenic drives of Tuscany are pure cinematic Italy — rolling hills, cypress roads, and medieval hill towns in every direction. Its highlight is the Val d’Orcia landscape, where every curve feels like a film set.

The Timmelsjoch Pass connects Austria and Italy through rugged high-Alpine scenery, combining sweeping climbs with tight mountain bends. Its highlight is the dramatic Italian side, where the road winds above the Passeier Valley. Near the start of the season, deep snowbanks can frame the drive, adding another dimension to this memorable border crossing.

The Rossfeld Panorama Road climbs above Berchtesgaden, combining winding mountain roads with sweeping views into Germany and Austria. Its highlight is the open ridge section, overlooking the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Salzburg region. Pair the drive with a mountain lunch or a visit to the nearby Obersalzberg WWII exhibition and historic bunkers.