In 2015, Avis named Portugal's N222 the best road in the world. Not the most dramatic. Not the most technical. The best. And for once, a car rental company got something exactly right.

The N222 follows the Douro River from Peso da Régua to the Spanish border at Barca d'Alva, tracing the northern bank through terraced vineyards, port wine estates (quintas), and some of the most flowing, rhythmic tarmac you'll find anywhere. No extreme hairpins. No white-knuckle cliff edges. Just 226 km of beautifully engineered corners that let you drive for the pure pleasure of driving.

This is the road you take when you want to settle into a rhythm and hold it for an entire afternoon.

Key fact: The N222 runs 226 km from the Peso da Régua area east to the Spanish border. The best section — the one that earned the "best road in the world" title — is roughly the first 27 km from Peso da Régua to Pinhão, where 93 corners follow the river through the UNESCO-protected Alto Douro Wine Region.

Table of Contents

Quick Reference: N222 at a Glance

Detail Info
Road designation N222 (Estrada Nacional 222)
Total length 226 km (Peso da Régua to Spanish border)
Highlight section Peso da Régua to Pinhão — 27 km, 93 corners
Surface quality Good to excellent — recently improved in many sections
Corner type Flowing sweepers and medium-radius bends
Elevation River level (~80 m) with gentle climbs through vineyards
Best direction West to east (Peso da Régua toward Spain)
Best season September/October (grape harvest), or April/May
Fuel Peso da Régua, Pinhão, and towns along the route
Difficulty Easy to intermediate — flowing, well-sighted, forgiving

Where Is the N222?

The N222 runs through the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. The Douro River flows from the Spanish border (where it's called the Duero) westward through Portugal to Porto on the Atlantic coast. The N222 follows the river's northern bank through the heart of Portugal's port wine region.

Peso da Régua — usually just called Régua — is the western anchor point and the unofficial capital of the Douro wine region. It's about 120 km east of Porto and reachable in roughly 90 minutes via the A4 motorway.

The eastern end of the N222 reaches the Spanish border at Barca d'Alva, where the Douro enters Spain. Beyond the border, the Arribes del Duero Natural Park continues along the river into Castilla y León.

The entire Douro Valley between Peso da Régua and Pinhão is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated for its centuries-old terraced vineyards and cultural landscape.

What Makes the N222 Special for Driving

Most famous driving roads earn their reputation through extremes — extreme hairpins, extreme elevation, extreme exposure. The N222 earns its reputation through something rarer: perfection of flow.

The corners on the N222 are not tight. Most are medium-radius bends and sweepers that link together in long, rhythmic sequences. The road follows the river's contours, rising gently through vineyards, dropping back toward the water, curving around rocky outcrops, and threading through village edges. The rhythm is consistent enough that after 20 minutes, you feel like you know this road — like you've been driving it for years.

That flow is what separates the N222 from technical mountain passes. A road like the Stelvio or the Col de Turini demands constant attention — every hairpin is a new challenge, every corner is a reset. The N222 lets you find a pace and hold it. Your inputs become smoother, your timing becomes instinctive, and the drive becomes meditative.

The surface quality helps enormously. Portuguese national roads have been significantly improved in recent years, and the N222 benefits from good tarmac, clear markings, and modern barriers where needed. The road was originally built to serve the wine trade — moving port barrels from the quintas to Porto — and it follows a natural, logical path along the river.

Traffic is light outside harvest season. The N222 isn't a major commuter route — the A4 motorway and the IP3 carry the fast traffic. The people driving the N222 are either locals going between villages or visitors who came specifically for the road. This keeps the pace reasonable and the atmosphere relaxed.

The concentration of corners on the Peso da Régua to Pinhão section — 93 bends in 27 km — is where the magic happens. That's a corner roughly every 300 metres, and the consistency of their radius means Rods can call each one with precision. On a road this flowing, knowing that the next bend is a gentle left 5 rather than a tightening left 3 lets you carry a natural rhythm without second-guessing.

Section-by-Section: Driving the N222

Peso da Régua to Pinhão (27 km) — The Legendary Section

This is the section that earned the title. The road leaves Régua heading east along the Douro's northern bank and immediately begins its sequence of curves. The river is on your right, the terraced vineyards climb the hillsides on your left.

The 93 corners in this section are mostly medium-speed sweepers — second and third gear in most cars. They flow naturally, each one setting up the next. Sightlines are generally good, though the occasional rocky outcrop or vineyard wall creates a blind corner that rewards attention.

Pinhão is the jewel of the Douro. A tiny town at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers, it has a famous railway station decorated with traditional azulejo tile panels depicting the wine harvest. Stop here. Walk the waterfront. Have a coffee at one of the cafés overlooking the river.

Many driving guides suggest turning around at Pinhão. Don't. The road continues east and the driving stays excellent.

Pinhão to São João da Pesqueira (30 km) — The Climb

East of Pinhão, the road climbs away from the river into higher vineyard country. The corners become slightly wider, the views expand, and the landscape opens up. You're driving through the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage zone here — the terraced vineyards visible in every direction have been cultivated for 2,000 years.

This section is quieter than the Régua-Pinhão stretch and offers panoramic views back down to the river valley. The surface remains excellent.

São João da Pesqueira to Vila Nova de Foz Côa (60 km) — The Interior

The road continues east through progressively drier, more austere landscape. The lush vineyards give way to olive groves and almond orchards. The corners are less frequent but still flowing. This section feels more remote — fewer villages, fewer other cars, and a sense of driving into Portugal's interior.

Vila Nova de Foz Côa is notable for the Côa Valley Archaeological Park — a UNESCO site featuring thousands of Palaeolithic rock engravings. Worth a visit if you have time, though it requires a half-day commitment.

Foz Côa to Barca d'Alva (30 km) — The Border

The final stretch follows the Douro toward the Spanish border. The landscape is rugged and semi-arid — dramatic in a different way from the vineyards. The road quality remains good, and the sense of remoteness increases. Barca d'Alva itself is a small border village with little tourist infrastructure, but the approach through the Arribes del Duero canyon country is spectacular.

Most drivers turn around somewhere between Pinhão and São João da Pesqueira and drive back west. Completing the full 226 km to the border is a commitment (4-5 hours each way with stops), but the changing landscape rewards it.

Best Direction for the N222

West to east — starting from Peso da Régua and driving toward Pinhão and beyond.

This puts you on the river side of the road for most of the legendary first section. The morning sun lights up the terraced vineyards on the south-facing slopes opposite you. And you're driving into the valley — the landscape unfolds ahead of you as the Douro narrows and the hills close in.

The return drive west is equally good — the afternoon light transforms the same vineyards into gold — but the initial eastbound drive is the classic direction.

Best Time to Drive the N222

The N222 is excellent year-round, but two seasons stand out.

September/October (grape harvest) is the Douro at its most alive. The vindima (harvest) fills the terraced vineyards with workers picking grapes by hand. The air smells of fermenting fruit. The hills are a patchwork of green, gold, and rust. Quintas open their doors for tastings and tours. The weather is warm and dry, the light is golden, and the road is at its most photogenic.

April/May (spring) offers wildflowers across the hillsides, green vines just starting to leaf out, and the lightest traffic of the year. Temperatures are comfortable for driving, and the river is at its fullest from winter rain.

Summer (July/August) is hot — regularly above 40°C in the Douro Valley. The heat is intense, the landscape is parched, and the air conditioning in your car will be working hard. The road is still excellent, but the experience is less comfortable.

Winter is quiet and atmospheric. The vines are bare, the hills are brown, and the valley has a stark beauty. The road is open year-round (no snow at river level), but some sections may be wet. Expect fog in the mornings.

Practical Tips for Driving the N222

  • Don't rush the Régua-Pinhão section. The 27 km can be driven in 30 minutes, but that misses the point. Take 45-60 minutes, stop at viewpoints, and let the rhythm of the road develop.
  • Fuel up in Régua. The towns along the route have fuel stations, but they're small and not always open. Start with a full tank.
  • Book a quinta visit. The port wine estates along the N222 offer tastings and tours. Quinta do Bomfim (near Pinhão), Quinta da Roeda, and Quinta do Crasto are among the best. Book in advance during harvest season.
  • Take the train one way. The Douro railway line runs from Porto to Pocinho, following the river. It's one of the most scenic rail journeys in Europe. Consider driving the N222 east and returning by train (or vice versa) to experience the valley from both road and rail.
  • Stop at Pinhão station. The azulejo tile panels are genuinely beautiful and unique — not a tourist recreation, but original early-20th-century Portuguese tile art depicting the wine harvest.
  • Watch for agricultural vehicles. Tractors, harvest trucks, and the occasional donkey share the road, especially during harvest season. The locals know the corners, but they're not expecting fast-moving tourist traffic.
  • The N222 connects to Spain. If you continue east, you cross into Spain and can loop south to the Arribes del Duero (the same river, different name). The Spanish side has its own driving roads following the canyon.

The N222 isn't a road that's trying to impress you. There are no dramatic cliffs, no terrifying drops, no hairpins that make you grip the wheel. It's a road that rewards you for showing up — and the longer you drive it, the better it gets.

For more of Europe's finest, our best driving roads in Europe guide covers mountain passes, coastal routes, and hidden gems across the continent. And for the global perspective, the 50 best driving roads in the world places the N222 in context against roads on every continent.

Port Wine and the Douro Valley

You can't drive the N222 without understanding what the landscape around you represents. The terraced hillsides aren't just scenery — they're a 2,000-year-old wine-making tradition that has shaped every contour of this valley.

The Alto Douro Wine Region was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Port wine is produced here — the grapes are grown and partially fermented in the Douro quintas, then traditionally shipped downriver to Porto for ageing in the lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia.

The terraces themselves are engineering marvels. Built by hand from schist stone, they prevent erosion on the steep hillsides and create the micro-climates that the grape varieties need. The pattern of terraces following the contours of the hills is what gives the Douro its visual character — and it's been maintained continuously since Roman times.

If you stop at a quinta for a tasting, you'll typically try several styles of port (white, tawny, ruby, late bottled vintage) and often a still Douro wine as well. The region produces increasingly excellent unfortified wines — full-bodied reds and crisp whites that rival anything from the rest of Portugal.

One rule: if you're tasting, don't drive afterwards. The quintas are generous pourers. Plan your tasting for the end of the drive, or designate a driver.

FAQ: N222 Douro Valley Driving Guide

Why was the N222 voted the best road in the world? Avis conducted a global survey of driving roads in 2015 and the N222 won. The criteria emphasized the complete driving experience — road surface, corner variety, scenery, traffic levels, and overall enjoyment. The N222 scores exceptionally on all counts, particularly the flowing corner sequences and vineyard scenery.

How long does it take to drive the full N222? The complete 226 km from Peso da Régua to the Spanish border takes roughly 4-5 hours of driving time. Most drivers focus on the Régua to Pinhão section (27 km, about 45 minutes), which captures the road's best qualities. A half-day covers Régua to São João da Pesqueira and back comfortably.

Is the N222 open year-round? Yes. The N222 runs at river level through a valley, so snow closures don't apply. Winter mornings may bring fog, and rain can make the road slippery, but it's accessible 365 days a year.

Can I combine the N222 with port wine tasting? Absolutely — that's the classic way to experience the Douro. Drive the N222 in the morning, stop at a quinta for lunch and tasting in the early afternoon, then either continue driving east or return to Régua or Porto. Book quinta visits in advance during harvest season (September-October).