Some of the world’s most beautiful places skirt around towering cliffs and a sparkling shoreline. If you’re dreaming of an adventure with glittering views of the big blue sea, these winding roads offer the perfect escape this summer. Enjoy a leisurely jaunt to a Unesco Global Geopark in Izu, Japan or the fossil-filled Jurassic Coast in southern England. If you’re more daring, try the hairpin turns along the Amalfi Coast or the hair-raising twists on a challenging Cape Town drive. No matter your speed, we’ve rounded up the most scenic coastal routes around the globe for an unforgettable road trip.
Tokyo
For a peek of where local urbanites go to slow down, head to Izu Peninsula
Izu has long been a weekend escape of choice for Tokyoites, as it offers surfing, diving, hiking trails and mineral-rich hot springs. It’s also ideal for a leisurely drive, especially on the coastal Route 135 that offers a spellbinding sight of Sagami Bay.
Take a 1.5 hour-long drive from Tokyo’s city centre down to Atami Beach Line. From there, it’s a gorgeous hour-long drive to Jogasaki Coast, a Unesco Global Geopark. Walking along the dark, jagged curves of this geological marvel is a feast for the senses. If you have to peel yourself away from the coast, head inland to Shuzenji, one of Japan’s oldest, most celebrated onsen destinations. This hot spring town in the middle of the mountains has a Zen-like environment best experienced at the venerable ryokan Asaba.
Melbourne
For a classic Aussie road trip passing iconic natural wonders, drive along Great Ocean Road
Stretching from the seaside resort town Torquay in Victoria to the fishing village of Nelson along the South Australian border, the Great Ocean Road is an over 400km-long route that can be comfortably completed in three days. Along the way, you’ll pass a host of striking attractions, the most popular of which is the Twelve Apostles – a series of rock formations jutting out of the sea formed by millions of years of erosion. Other highlights include the impressive limestone stacks at the Bay of Islands, the beach town of Lorne and the consistent swells for surfing at Bells Beach.
Jeju (via Seoul)
For a unique way to experience one of Korea’s best beach destinations, loop around coastal Ilju Road
This relaxed coastal drive runs along the circumference of picturesque Jeju island and offers stunning views of the ocean and Jeju’s iconic basalt rock formations. From Jeju city, drive anti-clockwise along the coast and take a pit stop at two key attractions: the mountains Sanbangsan and Songaksan. The former is a craggy rock mound surrounded by eye-catching bright yellow rapeseed flowers in the spring, while the latter is an active, double-cratered volcano bordering the sea.
The drive alone takes under two hours, but plan to stop along sights such as Hyeopjae Beach to enjoy its white sands and emerald waters. If you’re not pressed for time, make a 30-minute detour to Hallasan – this shield volcano and national park in the centre of the island is South Korea’s highest peak.
Hong Kong
For a leisurely jaunt across this harbour city’s “back garden”, head to Sai Kung Peninsula
Far from the dense concentration of buildings in Central are the serene coves of Sai Kung Peninsula, ideal for a day of driving and exploring. Experience a more idyllic side of Hong Kong just half an hour’s drive away at Tseung Kwan O and Clearwater Bay Country Park. Head further northeast for another 30 minutes and you’ll reach Sai Kung East Country Park. Stroll through the fishing villages and swim in unspoilt beaches like Tai Long Wan, but don’t leave the so-called back garden of Hong Kong without sampling the city’s freshest catch. One great option is Loaf On, a Michelin-starred Cantonese seafood restaurant.
Los Angeles
For a quintessential California drive with famous pit stops, take the Pacific Coast Highway
Apart from Route 66 that cuts through the entire country, the Pacific Coast Highway (which locals call the PCH) is another quintessential American road trip. The 200-km classic California drive runs between Monterey and Morro Bay and boasts breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and redwood forests that the region is famous for.
It passes through plenty of gems including the fabled Big Sur, the much-photographed Bixby Creek Bridge and the fairy tale-like seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Take a break from soaking in the scenery at beach shacks like Neptune’s Net, a Malibu institution that opened in 1956 and appeared in films Fast and Furious and Iron Man 3. The drive itself takes around three hours, not including stops.
Rome
For a picture-perfect road trip and a taste of la dolce vita, drive down the Amalfi Coast
With hairpin turns leading to gorgeous views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and colourful villas dotting the cliffs, the Amalfi Drive or Costiera Amalfitana (SS163) is the most cinematic coastal drive in the world. It weaves its way along the Italian coastline for over 60km, starting at Sorrento and heading south before ending at Vietri sul Mare, near Salerno, passing through picture-perfect towns such as Positano, Amalfi and Minori.
This drive will take you a little under two hours on the road, but you’ll want to plan stops along the way to explore these charming towns. Enjoy a stay in legendary hotels like Le Sirenuse and Il San Pietro di Positano, or rent a traditional gozzo boat to admire the coastline from afar.
London
For archeological finds and authentic English food, explore the Jurassic Coast Road
With sloping sand dunes and historic market towns, the over 150km-long Jurassic Coast isn’t just about the pristine shores. This Unesco World Heritage Site, which starts from Old Harry Rocks at Studland Bay in Dorset and concludes in Exmouth in East Devon, gets its name from the millions of years of history imprinted into the cliffs that hug this epic coastline.
Don’t be surprised if you feel like you’ve seen it before; it has been used as the backdrop to many films, including Dunkirk and Broadchurch. The drive itself takes around two hours. Along the way, seek out freshly caught seafood at Crab House Café and authentic fish and chips at Callaway’s.
Barcelona
For a road less travelled along the popular Spanish coast, head towards Coasta Daurada
Spain has over 4,800km of coastline and yet most travellers entering through Barcelona head north to Costa Brava. Skip the crowds and drive south towards the buzzing region of Valencia instead – a direction that leads you to Costa Daurada (or the Golden Coast) in Catalonia within 1.5 hours. You’ll pass by heritage-rich towns like Tarragona, which has centuries-old monuments like the Roman aqueduct and amphitheatre, as well as Reus, the birthplace of architect Antoni Gaudí, where the Gaudí Centre stands. Drive further south for 1.5 hours and you reach another stunning part of the Mediterranean coast: Costa del Azahar or Orange Blossom Coast. A favourite vacation spot for locals, it’s reputed to have the best langoustines in Spain, especially along the way in the seaside town of Vinaròs.
Cape Town
For hairpin turns and sweeping scenery, take on Chapman’s Peak Drive
Nicknamed Chappies, this popular Cape Town attraction takes you from Noordhoek to Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast on the southwestern tip of South Africa. This road built during World War I is considered one of the best marine drives in the world, but it’s not made for the faint of heart.
While fairly short at nearly 9km and less than 30 minutes’ drive, the cliff-hugging route features 114 turns. It’s ideal for drivers who revel in challenging curves and passengers who aren’t intimidated by them. The journey is truly the destination, so expect blissful views at every bend and reward yourself at the end with a meal at the renowned restaurant The Food Barn.
For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to the above destinations, visit the official website.
This story was originally titled Six of the world’s most scenic summer road trips when it was written by Rachel Eva Lim and published in Aug 2020. It was substantially updated by Kissa Castañeda in Apr 2024.
