Bolu Mountain Pass (D655)
Turkey, europe
55 km
1,500 m
easy
September to November, May to June
The Bolu Mountain Pass road in northwestern Turkey crosses the Bolu Mountains between Ankara and Istanbul, climbing to approximately 1,500 meters through dense forests of black pine, fir, and beech. While the modern O4 motorway now tunnels beneath the mountains, the old D655 road over the pass remains one of Turkey's most enjoyable mountain drives, winding through Abant Nature Park and the Bolu Mountain forests.
The region around Bolu is known as one of Turkey's greenest areas, with a climate more reminiscent of Central Europe than the dry Anatolian steppe. The road passes through the Yedigoller (Seven Lakes) National Park, where seven small lakes formed by landslides sit in a forested valley. The autumn colors here rival those of New England, with the mixed deciduous and coniferous forest creating a spectacular palette of reds, oranges, and golds. Bolu is also famous throughout Turkey for its cuisine and its culinary school, making it a destination for food lovers as well as drivers.
Where is it?
Bolu Mountain Pass (D655) is located in Western Black Sea, Turkey (europe). Coordinates: 40.7306, 31.6089
Driving Tips
Best in autumn for spectacular foliage colors. Detour to Yedigoller (Seven Lakes) National Park for hiking. Try the local Bolu cuisine, especially mengen soup. Winter brings heavy snow so check conditions.
Road Surface
Paved asphalt
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Region
- Western Black Sea
- Length
- 55 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,500 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Surface
- Paved asphalt
- Best Season
- September to November, May to June
- Coordinates
- 40.7306, 31.6089
Related Roads in europe
Ring Road (Route 1)
🇮🇸 Iceland
Iceland's Route 1, known as the Ring Road, is a 1,322-kilometer national highway that circumnavigates the entire island, connecting virtually all the inhabited parts of the country. Completed in 1974 when the last bridge over the Skogar River was finished, the road passes through some of the most otherworldly landscapes on Earth: vast lava fields, glacial lagoons, volcanic deserts, geothermal areas, and dramatic fjords. The route passes near many of Iceland's most famous natural attractions including Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, the Myvatn geothermal area, and the Eastfjords. Most of the road is now paved, though some sections in the north and east remain gravel. The Ring Road is the backbone of Icelandic tourism, with most visitors spending 7 to 10 days completing the full circuit. Weather conditions can change rapidly, and winter driving requires serious preparation including studded tires and awareness of road closures.
Inlandsvagen (Inland Road)
🌍 Sweden
The Inlandsvagen (Inland Road) is a 1,300-kilometer route running through the Swedish interior from Gothenburg in the south to Karesuando on the Finnish border in the north. Following the old Inlandsbanan railway corridor, it traverses the heart of Swedish Lapland and some of the most sparsely populated landscapes in Europe, passing through vast boreal forests, alongside crystal-clear lakes, and across the Arctic Circle. The route is a journey through Sweden's wilderness, far from the coastal cities. It passes through the Sami heartlands of Jokkmokk, famous for its winter market held since 1605, and the old mining town of Gallivare. The road crosses the Arctic Circle near Jokkmokk, marked by a roadside monument. In summer, the midnight sun illuminates the landscape around the clock, while winter brings deep snow and the northern lights. The forests are home to moose, reindeer, bears, and wolverines. The Inlandsvagen offers a meditative driving experience through one of Europe's last great wildernesses.
Silvretta High Alpine Road
🇦🇹 Austria
The Silvretta High Alpine Road is a 22.3-kilometer toll road in the Austrian Alps connecting Partenen in the Montafon valley with Galtur in the Paznaun valley across the Silvretta range. The road climbs to the Bielerhöhe pass at 2,036 meters, where the striking turquoise Silvretta reservoir (Silvrettasee) sits at the foot of the Piz Buin, Vorarlberg's highest peak at 3,312 meters. Built between 1938 and 1954, the road features 30 hairpin bends and traverses a high alpine landscape of glaciers, mountain streams, and alpine meadows. The Bielerhöhe at the summit is a popular starting point for hikes and mountaineering in the Silvretta range. The reservoir's unnaturally vivid turquoise color, caused by glacial silt, creates a dramatic contrast with the surrounding grey granite and white glaciers. The road is less crowded than Austria's more famous Grossglockner road but offers equally impressive alpine scenery in a more intimate setting.
N2 (Estrada Nacional 2)
🇵🇹 Portugal
The Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2) is Portugal's longest road, running 738 kilometers from Chaves on the northern Spanish border to Faro on the Algarve coast in the south. Often called Portugal's Route 66, it traverses the entire length of the country through its rural heartland, passing through 35 municipalities and 11 districts, including some of the most remote and undiscovered landscapes in Western Europe. The road winds through the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, the cork oak forests of the Alentejo, the granite villages of the Serra da Estrela (mainland Portugal's highest mountain range at 1,993 meters), and the rolling plains of the southern interior. Much of the route follows roads that have served as trade and pilgrimage paths for centuries. Unlike the modern motorways that connect Portugal's coastal cities, the EN2 passes through a slower, traditional Portugal of small towns, family-run restaurants, and landscapes largely unchanged for generations.