The Most Winding Roads Around the World

A road is a route or passage on land that connects one place with another. Roads come in countless forms and can be found almost everywhere, crossing mountains and valleys as well as running through towns and cities.

In mountainous regions, difficult terrain often makes roads twist and turn rather than follow a straight path. These winding routes can also reward travelers with spectacular scenery, which is one reason they are so popular with adventurous drivers and road-trip enthusiasts. Here are 12 of the most winding roads from around the world.

1. Stelvio Pass Road, Italy

The Stelvio Pass Road is situated in the eastern Alpine countryside of Italy. The spectacular route climbs to an elevation of approximately 1.7 miles, or 2.7 kilometres, above sea level and contains around 48 hairpin turns. From a distance, the tightly packed bends create an impressive sight, although navigating them by car can be quite challenging and dangerous.

The Stelvio Pass was selected by the British automotive television program Top Gear as its choice for the “greatest driving road in the world,” although the program’s search was limited to Europe. The decision came after the presenters set out to find a road capable of fulfilling the driving dreams of serious automobile enthusiasts during the premiere of the show’s tenth season.

2. Forcella Lavardet, Italy

Forcella Lavardet is a high-altitude mountain pass in the Dolomites-Alps of Italy. It reaches approximately 1,542 metres, or 5,000 feet, above sea level and is located within the municipality of Vigo di Cadore.

The route connecting Canale di Gorto with Campolongo contains several unpaved and gravel stretches. Following stream damage and landslides, it is closed to motor vehicles, although cyclists can still travel along it. The road is particularly well known for its remarkable series of 14 steep hairpin bends in the Carnic Alps, located between San Pietro and the summit in the Seppada area.

3. Col de Turini, France

Col de Turini is a high mountain pass in the French Alps, reaching 1,607 metres, or 5,272 feet, in elevation. It lies in the Alpes-Maritimes department near Sospel, between the communes of Moulinet and La Bollène-Vésubie in the Arrondissement of Nice. Its narrow roadway and numerous tight bends have made it famous as a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally.

Until several years ago, rally drivers also tackled the Col de Turini at night. Thousands of spectators would gather to watch what became known as the “Night of the Long Knives,” a nickname inspired by the powerful headlights slicing through the darkness. The pass has also appeared three times on the Tour de France, in 1948, 1950 and 1975. From the eastern approach, the climb covers 15.3 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.2 percent, beginning in the Vésubie River valley.

4. Big Gate Road, China

Big Gate Road, also called the Avenue Toward Heaven, is located in Hunan Province, China. The route stretches for approximately 10 kilometres, or 6.2 miles, from its highest to lowest points. Its summit reaches 1,300 metres, or 4,265 feet, above sea level, while the lowest section sits at around 200 metres, or 656 feet. Construction took eight years, beginning in 1998 and finishing in 2006.

The surrounding scenery is spectacular, but drivers cannot afford to become distracted by the views. The road contains an extraordinary number of sharp twists and steep turns, making it unsuitable for anyone uncomfortable with heights or challenging driving conditions. In total, Big Gate Road contains exactly 99 bends.

5. Trollstigen, Norway

Trollstigen is a dramatic serpentine mountain road in Rauma, Norway. It forms part of Norwegian National Road 63 and connects Åndalsnes in Rauma with Valldal in Norddal. The route is a major tourist attraction thanks to its steep 9 percent gradient and eleven hairpin bends climbing along the mountainside.

The road is narrow and features numerous sharp corners. Although sections have been widened over the years, vehicles longer than 12.4 metres, or 40 feet, are not permitted to use it. At the summit, visitors can park and take an approximately ten-minute walk to a viewing platform overlooking the winding road and the Stigfossen waterfall. The waterfall plunges 320 metres, or 1,050 feet, down the mountain. The pass itself reaches an elevation of roughly 850 metres, or 2,800 feet.

6. Los Caracoles Pass, Chile and Argentina

Los Caracoles Pass crosses the Andes between Chile and Argentina. The route consists of a succession of steep climbs and extremely sharp turns, many of which have no protective barriers along the roadside. Snow covers the road for much of the year, while the combination of winter conditions and rugged terrain demands considerable patience and strong driving skills, particularly when unexpected situations occur.

Despite its demanding environment, the road is kept in usable condition, which helps limit the number of accidents. The route is busy enough to accommodate regular commercial traffic, with trucks and even double-decker tourist buses making the crossing every day.

7. Halsema Highway, Philippines

Halsema Highway is the highest highway in the Philippines and takes approximately six hours to travel from end to end. Located on Luzon, it crosses the Central Cordillera Valley, running from Baguio to Bontoc and continuing toward Tabuk and Tuguegarao.

The road faces frequent landslides and falling rocks, conditions that can leave motorists stranded for extended periods. Some sections remain unpaved, although improvement work has been planned or undertaken in various areas. Numerous stretches also feature steep drop-offs. Fog can make the journey even more difficult, particularly where guardrails are missing or inadequate, adding another layer of danger to an already demanding route.

8. Transfagarasan, Romania

The Transfagarasan, also known as National Road 7C, is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the world. The route extends for approximately 90 kilometres, or 56 miles, across Romania’s Fagaras Mountains, which form part of the Transylvanian Alps. It provides a connection between Transylvania and Muntenia.

The road begins at Bascov near Piteçti, follows the valley of the Argeș River and climbs toward its highest point before descending toward Cartisoara in the Olt Valley, where the route ends.

At its highest point, the Transfagarasan reaches 2,134 metres, or around 7,000 feet. Numerous tight hairpin bends make it a demanding route for motorists, and the maximum permitted speed is 40 km/h, or 25 miles per hour. Heavy snow frequently forces the road to close between October and June.

The Transfagarasan contains more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Near Balea Lake at the highest section is Romania’s longest and highest tunnel, measuring 875 metres, or approximately 0.53 miles. The tunnel provides a link between Transylvania and Wallachia.

9. Grimsel Pass, Switzerland

Grimsel Pass is a Swiss high mountain pass with an elevation of approximately 2,165 metres, or 7,100 feet. It connects the Rhône River valley in the canton of Valais with the Haslital, the upper valley of the Aar River, in the canton of Bern.

The winding road appears to ribbon its way through the Swiss Alps as it climbs and descends the mountains. Constructed in the 1890s, the forested route features broad sweeping bends and provides magnificent views of the rugged surrounding scenery, the Rhône Glacier and numerous glacial lakes. The final climb toward the summit is especially impressive, with a succession of tight switchbacks.

10. Atlas Mountains Road, Morocco

The Dades Gorge in Morocco offers spectacular scenery, although driving along its twisting mountain roads requires careful attention. The High Atlas region can be explored by following a succession of switchbacks and hairpin curves that connect Marrakech with the pre-Sahara across the mountain range.

One of the most dramatic routes is the Tizi n Test road. It winds upward through the Atlas Mountains, crosses the Tizi n Test pass at an elevation of 2,092 metres, or 6,870 feet, and then descends toward the Souss plains. Another option is the newer and faster Tizi n Tichka route, which links Marrakech with Ouarzazate. Although this road is less isolated and not quite as spectacular, it provides access to the remarkable ruined Kasbah of Telouet, considered one of the most impressive sights in the High Atlas.

11. Gotthard Pass, Switzerland

Gotthard Pass is perhaps the best-known of Switzerland’s Alpine passes, rising to an altitude of 2,108 metres, or 6,917 feet, above sea level. It serves as a historic connection between the German-speaking northern part of Switzerland and the Italian-speaking region to the south.

The road ascending toward the pass consists of numerous sharp bends before reaching a relatively flat depression. Several tunnels also provide routes through the mountain. The 15-kilometre, or 9.3-mile, Gotthard Rail Tunnel was the first major tunnel through the pass and opened for railway traffic in 1882. A 16.3-kilometre, or 10-mile, motorway tunnel followed in 1980. At the time described, the Gotthard Road Tunnel was the third-longest road tunnel in the world.

Alongside these modern routes, the pass also retains an old cobblestone road that has been exceptionally well preserved. Its historic character and challenging curves make it especially popular with cyclists.

12. Iroha-Zaka, Japan

Iroha-Zaka is a famous winding mountain road in Japan that links central Nikko with Oku-Nikko. The route contains 48 curves, with each bend associated with a character from the traditional Japanese alphabet. The sequence begins with I-ro-ha, which is also the origin of the road’s name.

In fact, Iroha-Zaka consists of two separate roads, one used for descending and the other for climbing. Each road contains 48 curves corresponding to the 48 characters of the old Japanese alphabet. Together, the routes climb more than 1,300 feet, or approximately 400 metres, making Iroha-Zaka one of Japan’s most distinctive mountain roads.