[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-driving-roads-europe\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-driving-roads-europe\/","headline":"Best driving roads in Europe","name":"Best driving roads in Europe","description":"The world is a big place and there\u2019s literally a whole world of motoring out there, so why would you want to limit your motoring life to just UK roads? Maybe because there are countries like Thailand and Libya where laws regarding drunk driving and speeding are enforced with about as much vigour as a docile sloth. But on the plus side, there\u2019s Sweden and Spain, which have some of the safest roads in the world. We delved into this […]","datePublished":"2017-03-23","dateModified":"2017-03-24","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Best-driving-roads-in-Europe.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Best-driving-roads-in-Europe.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-driving-roads-europe\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":627,"keywords":["Best driving roads in Europe","Col de la Bonnette","Gotthard Pass","Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse","Old Military Road","Stelvio Pass","Verdon Gorge"],"articleBody":"The world is a big place and there\u2019s literally a whole world of motoring out there, so why would you want to limit your motoring life to just UK roads?Maybe because there are countries like Thailand and Libya where laws regarding drunk driving and speeding are enforced with about as much vigour as a docile sloth.But on the plus side, there\u2019s Sweden and Spain, which have some of the safest roads in the world.We delved into this in our recent \u2018best and worst countries to drive in\u2019 feature but if you\u2019ve booked a break on the continent this summer, which European countries offer the best driving roads?Stelvio PassYou may remember a few years ago that Top Gear hailed the Stelvio Pass [pictured] on the Italian Swiss border as \u2018one of the finest roads in the world\u2019, with Clarkson describing it as \u201815 miles of asphalt spaghetti, draped on an alp\u2019.Comprising 48 hairpin bends and climbing to a height of just over 9,000 feet, it is certainly one of the most extraordinary stretches of tarmac.Gotthard PassBut Jalopnik reckon Jezza and co were chatting rubbish, claiming it\u2019s not even the best road in Switzerland, let alone the world.While the Top Gear crew would have closed off the road during filming, if you or I made the trip to Stelvio Pass, we\u2019d be very disappointed, at least that\u2019s what Jalopnik suggest in their first-hand account.They paint a less glamourous account, encountering an uncomfortably narrow road, littered with RVs, buses and dawdling drivers. And those hairpins? Repetitive and boring, apparently.Instead, motorists would reap more joy on the wider, faster and more scenic Gotthard Pass.Jalopnik concedes that while no Swiss road is truly free from traffic, at least Gotthard boasts fewer blind spots and has enough width to accommodate overtaking. It also has its fair share of hairpins and fast turns, as well as some straights where you can really get your foot down.Grossglockner HochalpenstrasseHeading to Austria any time soon? Then the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is well advised for any sports car and motorcycle nuts. This 30-mile stretch between Bruck in the Salzburg valley and Carinthia takes in 36 testing hairpin bends and climbs to 2,504 metres.There are breathtaking views too, with the chance to gaze across a range of 37 mountains at certain points.The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse takes about an hour to navigate, if you hammer on through without any stops. Treacherous conditions mean it is closed between November and May, and even when it is open, dense fog can hamper visibility.Verdon GorgeA little closer to home is the Verdon Gorge circuit in France – often referred to as Europe\u2019s Grand Canyon.Stretching for 115 miles with drops of 2,000 feet, this hilly route demands care, frequent stops and a brimmed petrol tank – fueling stations are scarce along the route.Col de la BonnetteSticking with France, the Col de la Bonnette in the French Alps is another remarkable road.With a peak of 2,807 metres, it is the highest road in Europe and as with Stelvio, some of the route gets very narrow, but it is considered to be a bracing test for anyone who loves driving and wants to discover what their car is capable of.Military RoadNo plans of heading overseas in the short-term? No problem, one of Europe\u2019s finest roads is right here in the UK: Military Road in the heart of Cairngorms National Park – west of Aberdeen – in the Scottish Highlands.Plonked in the middle of nowhere, the A939 offers bare landscapes, rollercoaster-like drops and seemingly endless views over mountains. There\u2019s hardly any traffic too.Have we overlooked your favourite driving road? Tell us about it in the comments below. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Best driving roads in Europe","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-driving-roads-europe\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]