As a Backroads Trip Leader and a musician, I’ve always believed you can learn just as much about a place through its music as through its landscapes.
Music carries history in a way few other things can.
What instruments did people have access to? How did those instruments arrive there? What scales and rhythms do they use, and why? Behind every sound is a story of migrations, trade routes, celebrations, hardships and centuries of culture shaping how a region expresses itself.
For example, to understand bluegrass in Kentucky is to understand the journey of Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes taking root in the Appalachian Mountains, intertwined with banjo traditions brought by enslaved peoples from West Africa. The music becomes a living map of the place and the people who shaped it.
That’s the spirit behind Backroads’ regional Spotify playlists.
They’re designed to help guests connect more deeply with a destination even before they arrive, whether it’s playing softly in the background while packing or coming on during a van ride between adventures. And long after the trip ends, the right song can bring you right back.
Each playlist starts with research and a first musical draft, blending traditional sounds with modern local artists who still carry a strong regional identity. Just as importantly, we build them with input from our regional teams, the people who know these places best, to make sure every track feels true to the destination.
The goal is simple: easy listening with a sense of place, something that feels right playing in a Backroads van rolling through the countryside.
We hope these playlists become more than just a collection of songs, but another way to travel through the destinations we love.
Check out all of our regional playlists here
Argentina
From classic tango to gritty indie rock, these songs capture the spirit and rhythm of Argentina.
Bali
This laid-back mix of Balinese tunes brings the island’s rhythm, energy and chill to you wherever you are.
Basque Country
From old folk melodies to fresh indie voices, this playlist captures the rhythm of the Basque coast — ideal for travel days, quiet escapes, or dreaming of pintxos.
California
A land apart in a US state. Or is it a state of mind? Press "play" on this lineup of classic odes to the Golden State and pair it with the sweltering serenity of a Wine Country afternoon or a misty coastline as far as the eye can see.
Canada
A laid-back mix of Canadian classics and newer favorites for long roads, big views and good company.
Croatia
The sound of the Dalmatian Coast is as diverse as the scenery. Bouncy Yugoslav yacht rock. Haunting Romany tunes. Indie bands that rock smoky university bars. The barbershop-quartet harmonies of klapa or traditional Dalmatian sea shanties. Anchors aweigh.
Cuba
Turn up the heat and feel the rhythm of Cuba—a lively mix of salsa, son and island vibes to keep you moving, on or off the bike.
France
From soothing Parisian jazz to contemporary indie-pop. A playlist to put you in a French state of mind.
Greece
Slip into the sultry Mediterranean groove with Backroads' Greece playlist—a lush mix of bouzouki beats, island vibes and modern Greek melodies to transport you straight to the land of sun, sea and ancient wonders.
Iceland
Larger-than-life tunes from the moody mountains, cliffsides and shorelines of the Land of Fire and Ice. Spanning traditional Icelandic folk to avant-garde indie-rock.
India
Folk traditions and desert grooves from the heart of India.
Ireland
A small island with a big music tradition. Trad tunes, pub sing-alongs, folk rock classics, jigs, reels and more.
Italy
Ahh, l'amore... the sound of a soulful mandolin beneath the vines. In a smoky coffee bar where funky bass lines echo from the tiles. Wrapped in the vocal harmonies of an Italian-American ballad. Fall in love with the sounds of Italy.
Kentucky
The home of bluegrass. A cradle of American folk music. An indie-rock bastion. Kentucky is a destination as musical as it is bikeable and drinkable.
Morocco
Gnawa grooves, desert blues and Moroccan magic remixed.
Nepal
High passes, early mornings and quiet moments.
New Zealand
From iconic Kiwi classics to laid-back contemporary chillers, put yourself in a New Zealand state of mind.
North Carolina
From the Blue Ridge to the Tennessee line. From country bluegrass to the ballads of Scotch-Irish settlers and new inventions of young musicians. This is the vibrant sound of wild Appalachia.
Peru
Dive into the eclectic sounds of Peru from old school Afro-Peruvian rhythms to the contemporary tones of Cusco's emerging artists.
Portugal
Tunes for sipping vinho verde, dodging cobblestones in cycling cleats and pretending you understand fado lyrics—Portugal, the Backroads way.
Scandinavia
Traditional folk melodies, contemporary pop and ambient electronic tracks from Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Scotland
A mix of bagpipes, brooding indie rock and tunes fit for dancing on a damp hillside in wool socks—Scotland in all its misty, musical glory.
Spain
From Andalusia to Galicia and Murcia to the Basque Country, take a trip through the diverse and varied music of Spain.
Spin Cycle
For anywhere, anytime—put some fun in your run and some stoke in your stroke.
