There's no single "best" road – it depends on whether you love hairpins, sweeping bends, sea views or quiet valleys. What follows is a selection of popular and notable driving regions that many road trippers include in their plans, with a note on what makes each one interesting and what to watch out for.
Swiss Alps
The Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes can be combined into a loop of a few hours, with glaciers, reservoirs and long views. The Furka is well known for its appearance in film, and the old Gotthard road (the cobbled Tremola) is a memorable piece of engineering. Roads are well surfaced but busy in summer, and speed enforcement is strict.
French Alps
The Route des Grandes Alpes crosses a series of high passes between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean. The Col du Galibier and Col de l'Iseran reach high altitudes and are famous from cycling's Tour de France, so expect lots of cyclists. The area around Annecy and the Aravis mountains offers a gentler introduction.
Black Forest, Germany
The Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Road) runs between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt through dense forest, with viewpoints and lakes along the way. It's less extreme than the Alps, with flowing bends and plenty of traditional villages to stop in. Weekends can be busy with motorcyclists.
Italian Lakes
Roads around Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore mix lakeside villages with climbs into the hills. The Gardesana road along Garda's western shore is carved into cliffs with many tunnels. Lakeside roads are often narrow and slow, so this region suits relaxed touring more than covering distance. Watch for ZTL restricted zones in town centres.
Pyrenees
The mountains along the French–Spanish border are generally quieter than the Alps. The Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aubisque on the French side are well known, while the Spanish side has dramatic valleys such as the Ordesa area. Distances between towns can be long, so plan fuel and overnight stops carefully.
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Cantabria, Asturias and the Picos de Europa combine mountain roads with a rugged green coastline. Roads through the Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge and up to the Lakes of Covadonga are scenic highlights, and the coast between San Sebastián and Bilbao has plenty of curves. The region is easy to reach from the UK with a direct ferry to Santander or Bilbao – see our UK to Spain by car guide.
French Riviera
The three corniches between Nice and Menton – the Basse, Moyenne and Grande Corniche – run at different heights above the Mediterranean, with views over Monaco and the coast. Inland, the Gorges du Verdon offers a dramatic canyon loop. Traffic is heavy in high summer, so early mornings are best.
Tips for enjoying driving roads
- Drive popular roads early in the morning or out of peak season.
- Check pass opening dates, which vary with snowfall.
- Respect cyclists, local speed limits and noise rules – some areas restrict motorbikes and loud vehicles at weekends.
- Check restrictions for large vans and motorhomes before committing to narrow passes.
- Leave time to stop: viewpoints and villages are half the enjoyment.
Several of these regions fit naturally into one trip – read our European Alps road trip guide to link the Swiss, French and Italian roads. Then use the A2B trip planner to add them as stops, or try the "Not sure?" option to compare scenic, driving-enthusiast and balanced route ideas side by side.
