9 of the Best Scenic Drives Around the World

The panoramic Icefields Parkway runs past snow-capped peaks, glacier-fed lakes, and many of Alberta’s natural wonders in about 180 miles (230 kilometers). You can make the drive in half a day, stopping once or twice to ride the Banff Gondola or admire the impossibly turquoise water of Moraine Lake.

You may also want to extend your Icefields Parkway drive to explore the four national parks along the route—including Jasper and Banff National Parks. With more time to explore, you can hike across the Athabasca Glacier, spot bears and bighorn sheep on a Banff wildlife tour, or e-bike to Johnston Canyon.

Insider tip: Parking is very limited at Lake Louise and restricted at Moraine Lake, so it’s best to book a Parks Canada shuttle or guided tour in advance.

It takes at least a week to drive the entire Ring Road (Route 1), which circles all of Iceland in a roughly 820-mile (1,300-kilometer) loop of thundering waterfalls and Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull. To cut back on driving without missing the highlights, focus on the stunning South Coast. Just southeast of Reykjavik, this section of Route 1 has countless photo ops, from rainbows above the Skógafoss waterfall to crystal-like icebergs scattered across black sand at Diamond Beach. Guided tours of Vatnajokull National Park include countless outdoor activities, such as glacier hiking, ice caving, and snowmobiling.

Insider tip: Ring Road is paved and doesn’t require 4WD to navigate. To avoid closures and icy conditions, though, plan your trip for the summer months.

For epic Atlantic views just south of Cape Town, there’s no better choice than Chapman’s Peak Drive. This cliffside route curves beside the ocean between Hout Bay and Noordhoek Beach, with plenty of viewpoints, hiking trails, and picnic spots to stop by along the way. A little more than 5 miles (9 kilometers) long, the drive is easy to pair with other activities in Cape Town. Head there after hiking in Table Mountain National Park or visiting penguins on Boulders Beach, or explore from above on a helicopter tour.

Insider tip: South Africans drive on the left side of the road, so you may want to head north up Chapman’s Peak Drive for closer ocean views.

Utah has no shortage of nature road trips, and Scenic Byway 12 is one of the most impressive. Though the route connects Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park, its dramatic backdrop of red-rock arches, desert canyons, and distant mountains make it a destination in its own right.

Stop for a hike about halfway through the 3-hour drive at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument or Kodachrome Basin State Park, both known for their multicolored cliffs and unusual rock formations, or continue west for a guided tour of Bryce Canyon’s highlights and hoodoos.

Spanning nine Irish counties from Donegal to Cork, the 1,600-mile (2,575-kilometer) Wild Atlantic Way offers something for every traveler. You’ll pass by endless seaside cliffs and storybook villages throughout the route. There are also plenty of reasons to stop and stretch your legs in the middle of the route near the cultural hub of Galway, close to top attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher and Dunguaire Castle.

To explore away from the crowds, drive south to County Kerry, where you can soak up lakeside scenery on a horse-and-carriage tour of Killarney National Park or spot seabirds and centuries-old monastic huts on a cruise around Skellig Michael.

Related: 9 Places You Must Visit in Ireland

For visitors to Italy, it’s hard to imagine that the postcard-perfect Strada Statale Amalfitana is simply the road that locals take to work. This famous route hugs the region’s seaside cliffs, with vivid blue water to one side and colorful towns, such as Positano and Amalfi, to the other.

While you could drive the roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) from San Pietro to Vietri Sul Mare in an afternoon, most visitors spend at least a couple of days soaking up the southern Italian sunshine. Take a quick detour to visit the splendid villas of Ravello, or take a break from the road on an Amalfi Coast day cruise.

Perfect for nature buffs, Milford Road runs through southwest New Zealand’s spectacular Fiord National Park on the way to Milford Sound, a pristine fiord known for its waterfalls and wildlife. The drive stretches about 75 miles (120 kilometers) starting in Te Anau and features nonstop natural scenery—don’t miss Eglinton Valley, carpeted in golden grass, or the Mirror Lakes, where you can gaze at the Earl Mountains reflected on the water.

Your adventure doesn’t have to end where the road does, though: Once you reach Milford Sound, a guided cruise is essential to see its seals and dolphins, lush waterfalls, and towering Mitre Peak up close.

Insider tip: Spring (September–November), is a great time to visit to avoid Milford Road’s summer crowds while enjoying rushing waterfalls and crisp daytime temperatures.

With hundreds of overlooks and a relatively low speed limit of 45 mph (72 kph), Blue Ridge Parkway is all about leisurely exploration of the Appalachian Highlands. The route links Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park over 469 miles (755 kilometers), with never-ending views of forested mountains that turn especially vibrant in the fall.

Asheville, one of the biggest cities near the parkway, is a hub for guided experiences—such as waterfall hikes and whitewater rafting trips—to try before continuing your drive.

Insider tip: Check the National Park Service’s list of road closures, including areas affected by Hurricane Helene, before planning your trip.

Many of Australia’s best surfing beaches, rainforest hiking trails, and wildlife-viewing locations dot the roughly 150-mile (240-kilometer) Great Ocean Road on the Victoria coast. The road begins in Torquay—a relatively short trek from Melbourne—and will keep you busy for at least two days.

Walk to waterfalls or spot koalas and kangaroos on a guided wildlife walk through Great Otway National Park, then stop for photos of the Twelve Apostles, a cluster of limestone cliffs standing tall in the Southern Ocean. Near the western end of the road, Port Fairy is a hot spot for whale watching from May–September.