There aren’t many resorts where you can ski in the morning, and be lazing on a beach come afternoon. But Sierra Neva...more ‣
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Snowboarding
Highlights • Long ski season• Near Granada • Tapas centred apres• Lovely wide pistes
Long seasons, low prices and lots of sunshine are the magnets of Spain's mountain resorts, which span from the Pyrenees of the north, through the Central Mountains and down towards the Costa del Sol.
Bordering France, the Aragon and Catalan Pyrenees are home to most of Spain's ski offerings. Aragonese Candanchu is one of the country's oldest resorts, while its neighbour Formigal has Spain's biggest ski area, with four well-kept valleys hosting a terrific variety of slopes. Baqueira Beret's the king of Catalonian resorts, with some superbly challenging terrain, lively après ski and tonnes of tapas bars for mountainside lunches. Nearby, another of Spain's skiing veterans La Molina has terrific transport links to Barcelona, making it hugely popular for natives.
Central Spain has its fair share of small but scenic resorts and you can also ski as far south as Sierra Nevada (Europe's southernmost ski resort) where it's possible to soar down the country's highest, most snow sure mountains in the morning then sunbathe on the shores of the Med later on – something you can't do anywhere else in Europe.
The best skiing in Spain is found in the Pyrenees mountain range. Baquiera Beret is the largest ski resort in Spain with over 150km of pistes. Offering a variety of terrain for everyone Baquiera Beret is the perfect place for all skiing and snowboarding abilities. Sierra Nevada is the most popular resort not in the Pyrenees mountain range – based in Andalucia. Sierra Nevada has 110km of pistes, including the longest ski slope in Spain.
The ski season in Spain usually lasts from early December to mid-April. Sierra Nevada usually has the longest season - the town sits at 2100m with skiing all the way up to 3300m, making it the highest altitude ski resort in Spain.
There are 30 ski resorts in Spain, mainly in the Pyrenees mountain range in the North of the country. The best airport to fly into is usually Toulouse. Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski resort in Spain - about an hour away from Grenada airport.
Baquiera Beret has got to be the best ski resort in Spain. It’s the largest ski resort in the country, has the best variety of slopes and has a reliable snow record. Please don’t rule out Formigal or Sierra Nevada as they’re great options to get skiing in Spain under your belt.
Spain offers some top-quality beginner ski resorts – Formigal is a great option. With a dedicated learning area, it’s the ideal place to practice your snow plough and build confidence. Baquiera Beret is also a brilliant option as 50% of pistes are suited to beginners.
Property | Resort | Price (per person) |
---|---|---|
Hotel MIM Baqueira | Baqueira Beret | £ 1021 |
Hotel Melia Sol y Nieve | Sierra Nevada | £ 888 |
Melia Sierra Nevada | Sierra Nevada | £ 921 |