Best island road trips in Spain: 6 drives worth the hire car

A proper island road trip in Spain lets you get beyond the resort strips and into villages, viewpoints and backroads that feel far more local.

If the mainland road trips got you thinking, the islands are a completely different rhythm—shorter distances, sharper scenery, and landscapes that shift quickly.

Here are six of the best island road trips in Spain, split between the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.

Mallorca road trip: Serra de Tramuntana and hidden coves

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A Mallorca road trip is easily one of the most scenic island drives in Spain. The Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO-listed mountain range in the northwest of the island, delivers tight bends, stone villages and serious sea views.

Drive out of Palma towards Valldemossa and Deià, then continue to Sóller and down to Sa Calobra if you’re comfortable with hairpins. Away from the mountains, you’ll find small calas (rocky coves) with clear water and far fewer crowds than the big resort beaches.

Top stops:

• Palma’s old town and cathedral
• Sóller and Port de Sóller
• Pollença in the north

Driving notes:

• Narrow mountain roads in the Tramuntana
• Busy in July and August
• 3–5 days gives you breathing space

Highlight: The twisting descent to Sa Calobra, with limestone cliffs dropping towards deep blue water.

Tenerife road trip: Teide National Park and Atlantic cliffs

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A Tenerife road trip feels almost cinematic and a world away from the resorts. You can start near Santa Cruz or La Laguna, then head straight into the highly-rated Teide National Park, home to Spain’s highest peak at 3,715 metres.

The road climbs through pine forest and volcanic rock until you’re above the cloud line. On the west coast, Los Gigantes’ cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, while the Anaga Rural Park in the northeast offers misty laurel forests and sharp ridgelines.

Top stops:

• La Laguna’s colonial centre
• Teide National Park
• Los Gigantes cliffs

Driving notes:

• Big altitude changes mean shifting weather
• Roads are well-maintained but winding in places
• 4–6 days suits a full island loop

Highlight: Reaching the Teide plateau at sunset, when the volcanic landscape turns copper and gold.

Gran Canaria road trip: ravines, peaks and dunes

Gran Canaria Unsplash

Gran Canaria often gets labelled a beach island, but a Gran Canaria road trip inland tells a different story. The centre is rugged, cut through with deep barrancos (ravines) and crowned by Roque Nublo, a volcanic rock formation that dominates the skyline.

A circular drive linking Las Palmas with the interior villages like Tejeda and down to Maspalomas shows off the island’s contrasts. The south is dry and sun-bleached, while the north is greener and cooler.

Top stops:

• Las Palmas old quarter, Vegueta
• Roque Nublo viewpoint
• Maspalomas dunes

Driving notes:

• Tight bends on mountain roads
• Clear signage and decent road surfaces
• 3–4 days for a relaxed circuit

Highlight: Standing at Roque Nublo after a mountain drive, with layers of volcanic peaks stretching into the distance.

Ibiza road trip: quiet villages and Es Vedrà sunsets

Es Vedrà, Ibiza Pixabay

Ibiza has a reputation that doesn’t always match daily life on the island. A short Ibiza road trip reveals whitewashed villages, pine-covered hills and agricultural terraces that feel far removed from the club scene.

Drive inland to Santa Gertrudis for cafés and galleries, then south towards Sant Josep and the Es Vedrà viewpoint. The roads are manageable, and distances are short, so you can mix beach stops with rural detours easily.

Top stops:

• Sant Josep
• Es Vedrà viewpoint
• Cala d’Hort

Driving notes:

• Traffic increases sharply in high summer
• Easy to navigate, compact layout
• 2–3 days works well

Highlight: Watching the sun sink behind Es Vedrà after a slow drive through pine-scented hills.

Lanzarote road trip: Timanfaya and volcanic vineyards

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A Lanzarote road trip feels otherworldly. Timanfaya National Park is a landscape of lava fields and craters formed by 18th-century eruptions, and driving through it is like crossing another planet.

The island also reflects the legacy of César Manrique, the local artist who shaped Lanzarote’s low-rise, whitewashed aesthetic. In La Geria, vines grow in circular pits dug into volcanic ash, protected by low stone walls.

Top stops:

• La Geria wine region
• Jameos del Agua
• Famara beach

Driving notes:

• Open, quiet roads
• Strong winds at times
• 3–5 days allows full exploration

Highlight: Driving across black lava fields in Timanfaya with barely another car in sight.

Menorca road trip: slow lanes and turquoise coves

Nicolas G. Mertens, CC BY-SA 4.0 Creative commons

Menorca moves at a gentler pace than Mallorca or Ibiza. A Menorca road trip suits slow travel, with rural lanes edged by dry-stone walls and small bays that require a short walk to reach.

The island is dotted with prehistoric talayots (megalithic stone towers), reminders of its ancient past. Ciutadella’s harbour is particularly atmospheric in the evening, while the east around Maó has a strong British influence in its architecture.

Route highlights:

• Maó (Mahón) harbour
• Ciutadella old town
• Cala Galdana and Cala Morell

Driving notes:

• Narrow access roads to some coves
• Limited parking near popular beaches
• 3–4 days is comfortable

Highlight: Arriving in Ciutadella at dusk, when the harbour lights reflect softly on the water.

Practical tips for island road trips in Spain

TF-21 road. Pixabay

If you’re planning an island road trip in Spain, a few practical points make life easier:

• Car hire: Book early in peak season, especially in the Balearic Islands during summer.
• Seasonality:
  • Balearics are busiest June to September.
  • Canary Islands have year-round appeal, with winter being high season.
• Fuel: Generally available across all main islands, though rural mountain areas have fewer stations.
• Driving style: Mountain islands such as Mallorca and Tenerife require confidence on tight bends. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have wider, more open roads.