The road down to Sa Calobra on Mallorca drops about 680 m in under 10 km and, at a bend called the Nus de sa Corbata, loops under itself in a full 270-degree knot. Spain is full of drives like that, and most of the country’s best scenery sits well away from the high-speed rail lines: the white villages of the Serranía de Ronda, the gorges of the Picos de Europa, the volcanic plateau of Teide.
The motorway network is one of the densest in Europe, and since 2020 most of the old toll roads along the Mediterranean and in Andalusia have been free. That makes long transfers quick and leaves time for the slow mountain roads. The classic trips are the white villages between Seville and Málaga, the green northern coast from Bilbao to Cape Finisterre, and the island loops of Mallorca and Tenerife.
Spring and autumn are the seasons. July and August bring 40°C heat inland, packed coast roads and, on Mallorca, a daytime ban on private cars at Formentor.
At a Glance#
- White villages: the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos from Ronda through Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil de las Bodegas, two to four days.
- Green north: San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander and the Picos de Europa, on to Santiago de Compostela and Cape Finisterre, a week or more.
- Island drives: the Serra de Tramuntana and Sa Calobra on Mallorca, and the crater roads of Teide National Park on Tenerife.
- Southeast: the Alpujarras below the Sierra Nevada from Granada, and the desert coast of Cabo de Gata.
- Heartland: Mérida, Cáceres and Monfragüe in Extremadura, and day loops from Madrid to Toledo, Segovia and Cuenca.
- When to go: April to June and September to October.
Andalusia#
The Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos links about 19 whitewashed villages across the hills between Ronda, Jerez and the coast. Start in Ronda, split by its gorge and bridge, and head west into the Sierra de Grazalema, the rainiest corner of Spain and the greenest. The road from Grazalema climbs over the Puerto de las Palomas pass and drops in hairpins to Zahara de la Sierra, a castle-topped village above a turquoise reservoir. Setenil de las Bodegas has streets built under overhanging rock, and Arcos de la Frontera sits on a cliff at the western end, an hour from Jerez. Allow two to four days and sleep in the villages, not in Seville.
East of Granada, the Alpujarras are a string of flat-roofed Berber-style villages on the south face of the Sierra Nevada. Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira cling to the Poqueira gorge, and Trevélez, famous for its hams, sits at about 1,500 m. The roads are narrow and slow, and an overnight stay is better than a rushed loop. Further east, Cabo de Gata has volcanic headlands, empty coves and the Tabernas Desert, where spaghetti westerns were filmed, inland from Almería. On the Costa del Sol, Frigiliana above Nerja makes an easy half day.
The green north#
The northern coast is Spain’s best long drive: two to three weeks if you take it slowly, one if you pick a section. From San Sebastián, follow the coast road through the Basque fishing villages to Gaztelugatxe, the islet chapel at the top of 241 steps, and on to Bilbao and Santander.
Inland, the Picos de Europa rise straight out of the sea fog. The Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge leads to Potes and the Fuente Dé cable car on the Cantabrian side; on the Asturian side, the road from Cangas de Onís climbs past Covadonga to the glacial lakes of Enol and Ercina. That lakes road is closed to private cars at Easter, through the summer and on holiday weekends, when a bus runs from Cangas de Onís (about 9 euros return); check the dates on the Asturias tourism site before you go.
West of Oviedo, the Asturian coast has fishing villages tucked into coves, and Galicia ends the trip with the fjord-like rías and the Costa da Morte, the “coast of death” where the land runs out at Cape Finisterre, a short drive from Santiago de Compostela.
Mallorca#
The MA-10 runs the length of the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, from Andratx to Pollença via Valldemossa, Deià and the valley of Sóller, with a stop at Port de Sóller. The detour to Sa Calobra, the MA-2141, was opened in 1933, designed by the engineer Antonio Parietti and is one of the most famous roads in Europe; drive it early, before the tour coaches, and expect cyclists on every bend.
The road to Cap de Formentor in the far north is closed to private cars from 10am to 10pm in summer, roughly mid-May to mid-October, with fines for drivers who ignore it. Take bus 334 from Port de Pollença or Alcúdia, or drive up before 10am or for sunset.
Canary Islands#
On Tenerife, the TF-24 climbs the forested ridge from La Laguna into the crater of Teide National Park at about 2,000 m, and the TF-21 crosses the lava fields past the Roques de García and the cable car to the summit. The TF-436 to Masca in the northwest is a single-track hairpin road for confident drivers. On Lanzarote, the volcanic roads are easy and empty, but inside Timanfaya National Park the Ruta de los Volcanes is by park coach only. La Gomera, an hour by ferry from Tenerife, is all ridges and ravines around Garajonay.
Inland Spain#
The old Roman Vía de la Plata, now the A-66 motorway, runs north through Extremadura, Spain’s emptiest region. Stop at Mérida for the Roman theatre, Cáceres for its walled medieval town, and Trujillo, birthplace of conquistadors. Monfragüe National Park has griffon and black vultures circling its cliffs, with roadside viewpoints, and Salamanca makes a fine finish.
From Madrid, easy day loops reach Toledo, Segovia and Ávila, and Cuenca with its hanging houses. South of Toledo, the windmills at Consuegra stand on a ridge above the plains of La Mancha. In the Pyrenees, the road to Aínsa leads to Ordesa National Park, where the valley road from Torla is closed to cars in summer and a shuttle bus takes over. In Catalonia, the winding road over the hills from Roses to Cadaqués leads to Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of mainland Spain.
For a Rioja wine route, see our Spain wine regions guide, and for train-and-car combinations our Spain itineraries.
Best road trip regions and drives#
Car hire, tolls and driving rules#
- Car hire: a small manual costs from about 15 to 25 euros a day (about $17 to $30) in winter to 60 euros or more in July and August; automatics cost more and sell out. Choose a “full to full” fuel policy and check the insurance excess, the most common source of disputes at the desk.
- Licences: EU and UK licences are valid. Drivers with other licences, including US ones, should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence.
- Tolls: the AP-7 along the Mediterranean and the AP-4 from Seville to Cádiz are now free. Tolls remain on some motorways, including the AP-9 in Galicia, the AP-6 towards Segovia and Ávila and the AP-7 west of Málaga. Toll booths take cards.
- Speed limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on other roads outside towns, 50 km/h in towns and 30 km/h on most single-lane urban streets.
- Alcohol: the limit is 0.5 g/l of blood (0.3 for new drivers), lower than many visitors expect.
- Equipment: since January 2026 Spanish-registered cars carry a V-16 flashing beacon instead of warning triangles, plus a reflective vest; hire firms supply both.
- Cities: Madrid, Barcelona and other cities have low-emission zones and scarce, expensive parking. Pick up the car on your way out of the city, not at the start of a city stay.
Our getting around Spain guide covers trains and buses, and the Europe road trips guide and world road trips guide have drives across borders and further afield.
Summer heat
Inland Andalusia and Extremadura regularly pass 40°C in July and August. Carry water, never leave anyone in a parked car, and plan driving for the morning. Check before you go: fire risk sometimes closes forest roads in summer.
More Things to Do#
Spain road trip FAQs#
What is the best road trip in Spain?
For variety, the northern coast from San Sebastián through the Picos de Europa to Galicia. For a short trip, the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos from Ronda through the Sierra de Grazalema takes two to four days and combines easily with Seville and Málaga.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Spain?
EU and UK licences need nothing extra. Drivers with licences from outside the EU, including the US, should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence, and some hire firms ask for one.
Are there tolls on Spanish motorways?
Fewer than there used to be. The AP-7 along the Mediterranean and the AP-4 between Seville and Cádiz became free around 2020 and 2021. Some motorways, such as the AP-9 in Galicia and the AP-6 north of Madrid, still charge, and free dual carriageways (autovías) usually run alongside.
Can you drive to Cap de Formentor?
Not in the middle of the day in summer. From roughly mid-May to mid-October the road to the lighthouse is closed to private cars from 10am to 10pm; take bus 334 from Port de Pollença or Alcúdia, or drive before 10am.
What is the best time for a road trip in Spain?
April to June and September to October, when it is warm but not scorching inland. The north is best from June to September, and the Canary Islands are good all year.
Is it easy to drive in Spain?
Yes, on the motorways, which are well maintained and often empty away from the cities. Mountain roads and old-town streets are narrow, so hire a small car, and avoid driving in central Madrid and Barcelona.