Roads and highways are essential for getting from point A to point B. Sometimes getting to your destination may create a hair-raising experience simply by traversing the road itself. In some places, hairpin turns on narrow stretches of pavement are the only way to reach your destination.
1. Cetinje-Kotor, Montenegro
Snaking up this narrow road in a car can be nerve-wrecking, If you want an even more terrifying experience, consider being a passenger in a tour bus. You’ll wonder how the bus driver manages to calmly maneuver hairpin turns on this predominantly one-lane pavement route. Reaching the top with heights of 2,890 feet will feel like a grand achievement–with spectacular views of Kotor as a prize.
Tips: Don’t look at a photo of this road before you hop aboard a bus. And, if you’re a passenger and have any fear of heights, don’t look out the window until you reach the top.
one of the greatest roads to drive, putting this windy pass on many serious drivers’ bucket lists.
Tips: Visit during the weekdays when it’s less crowded and between June to October when the road is (typically) open. Always check weather conditions as this route closes when the snow arrives.
3. Col de Turini, France
With plenty of hairpin turns, this section of road was made famous after being used for part of the Monte Carlo Rally. Based on the French side of the Alps, known as Alpes-Maritimes. This long, narrow, and twisty route is common in challenging bike races. In fact, parts of this road were featured in the Tour de France in three different years: 1948, 1950, and 1975.
4. Transfagarasan Road, Romania
Known as the national road 7C, as well as Transfagarasan road, this route crosses through a mountain range called the Fagaras mountains and a section of the Transylvanian Alps, giving the road part of its name. Driving to the top, you´ll reach 7,000 feet, but be prepared for this 56-mile journey that takes plenty of time to drive since the speed limit maximum is 25 mph. But, with all the twists and turns, you won’t want to go much faster.
Tips: If you want to enjoy this long twisty road, plan to visit mid-June to September to ensure the road is open and most of the snow has melted.
5. Gotthard Pass, Switzerland
Sixteen miles long and reaching 6,916 feet, Gotthard Pass is in southern Switzerland in the Lepontine Alps and has been an important trade route since the 13th century. Connecting Central Europe and Italy, this route is believed to get its name from a hospice built by dukes of Bavaria at the peak, who wanted to honor a bishop from the 11th-century, known as St. Godehard, or Gotthard.
Tips: Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy glorious vistas of the valley when you reach the summit. Make sure to have plenty of layers because, even in summer, it can get quite chilly due to the elevation.
