Transfagarasan (Romania)

Built by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu as a military strategic route across the Carpathian Mountains, the Transfagarasan is 56 miles of tunnels, viaducts, and switchbacks climbing to 6,699 feet through the Fagaras Mountains. Jeremy Clarkson called it "the best road in the world" on Top Gear in 2009. The northern descent features a continuous series of sweeping curves alongside Balea Lake that are among the most photogenic in Europe. It's only open four months a year (late June through October), making each drive feel like a limited-edition experience.