In Spain you can find sun, sea, snow and mountains in one person!

Tourists from different parts of the world like to come to this country to spend their holidays. Many people associate Spain only with blue beaches and sun, but this is not so. The country has a huge number of mountainous regions. The most popular among ski tourists are resorts located in the Sierra Nevada and the Pyrenees. The highest point in Spain is 3710 meters high on the island of Tenerife – this is the extinct volcano Teide.

The Spanish Pyrenees are home to famous and some of the best ski resorts – Salardi, Candanchu, Bequeira-Beret, La Molina.

The most respectable and expensive ski resort in Spain is rightfully considered to be Bequeira-Beret. It is this resort that all members of the royal family and the president of Spain prefer.

The resorts of Port del Comte, La Molina, Port del Comte, Bequeira-Beret are the most expensive and luxurious resorts in the Catalan part of the Pyrenees and are located on the highest Spanish heights.

The resorts of Aragon are not much inferior in luxury to the Catalan Pyrenees, but are just as attractive to ski tourists with their beautiful landscapes and good slopes. People who prefer skiing to parties come to the resorts of the Aragonese part of the Pyrenees – Candanchu, Boi-Taulov and Astun.

The resort of Formigal belongs to the Iberian part of the Spanish ski area. The resort is also perfect for beginners in skiing. Formigal is known for its freeride zones, which are covered by insurance, and professional rescuers also work here.

The resort of Sierra Nevada is located in the southern part of Spain next to the sea. It firmly holds the position of the best ski resort in the country. 1996 is significant for this resort with the World Ski Championships. In Sierra Nevada, 100 kilometers of excellent slopes have been built, on which you can ski, starting from December to March. But this resort has the most unstable season in the country.

Traditionally, there are many excellent restaurants near every Spanish ski resort. The cuisine in Spain is very diverse, here you can try tapas, taste Spanish paella, and enjoy the taste of cream soup with almonds. And be sure to try Spanish wines.

Traditionally, after many hours of skiing, any Spanish resort will offer various options for recreation in sports centers, such as billiards, bowling, fitness, swimming in the pool, sauna, dog sledding or horseback riding, ice skating, sightseeing trips to major Spanish cities, which will immerse you in the local flavor of this mysterious and attractive country.

What makes Spanish ski resorts stand out?

The main feature of the ski resorts of Spain is that you can also afford beach walks with them. Some ski resorts are located very close to beach areas, so having climbed the mountains, tourists can enjoy the frosty freshness of the air, and having descended to the coast – lie on the sun-drenched sand.

The ski season in Spain lasts from December to March, but in some resorts, for example, in the Sierra Nevada, skiers can enjoy mountain descents even in April.

The mountain ranges of Spain give tourists several beautiful places for skiing:

The Iberian mountain system;

The Central mountain system;

The Catalan Pyrenees;

The Aragonese Pyrenees;

Cantabrian Cordilleras

Each of these regions has 5-7 ski resorts. It turns out that there are a lot of ski resorts in Spain, which means that travelers have plenty to choose from. But how to make a choice and choose a resort that is right for you?

According to the preferences and interests of tourists, Spanish ski resorts can be divided into three groups: for professionals, for families, for lovers of expensive holidays.

What are the best ski resorts in Spain?

Judging by the numerous reviews of travelers, among the total number of Spanish resorts, several favorites can be distinguished:

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is the southernmost European ski resort, located in the mountainous area of the province of Andalusia, 30 km from the Mediterranean coast. It has been operating since 1961. It has gained popularity due to the longest skiing season, developed infrastructure and well-planned slopes, which have repeatedly become the venue for national and international competitions. Including the 1996 Winter Sports World Cup.

Location, how to get there

The easiest way to get to the resort is from the nearby town of Grandy. The bus leaves from the central bus station 4 times a day. The ticket costs €5. The journey time is about 40 minutes. The last flight is at 5:00 p.m.

Pistes, slopes and lifts

The resort has 24 lifts capable of transporting over 50,000 people per hour, 3 escalators, 2 cable cars with closed cabins and more than 10 lifts. The ski runs are oriented to the northwest. The six ski areas include dozens of marked and unmarked slopes with a total length of 105 km. The length of the most difficult slope, El Aguila, recognized as the best in the whole country, is over 6000 m, and the easiest is just over 100 m. There are 2 well-lit slopes for fans of evening skiing. For snowboarders, Sierra Nevada offers a visit to the Sulayr snow park, which has the largest specific half-pipe track in the country, reaching 6 m in height and 165 m in length.

Ski passes, equipment rental prices

Skiing equipment at the Sierra Nevada resort is constantly updated and is rented by hotel complexes and ski schools. The cost of a full set of equipment is, on average, 30 EUR per day. The largest rental and sales center “Monitor techno” offers, in addition to standard equipment, equipment for tourists with disabilities. The cost of a ski pass depends on the season and age of vacationers.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the complex is well developed. There is a large C. A. R sports complex, more than 30 restaurants, entertainment centers, ice rinks, swimming pools, yoga halls and Turkish baths. Those wishing to undergo training can visit one of the 15 sports schools, where 400 instructors conduct group and individual classes. For the convenience of tourists with children, kindergartens are open, where qualified educators look after children in the absence of their parents.

Hotels and apartments

Most hotels and apartments are concentrated in the high-mountain village of Pradogliano, at an altitude of 2000 m. There are many accommodation options. For those who enjoy a comfortable stay, the only 5-star Vincci Selección Rumaykiyya hotel is located so that vacationers can ski directly to the main entrance.

Ski resorts in Spain have beautiful apartments that allow you to relax after an active day.

Those who want to stay near the chairlifts should pay attention to the Apartamentos Boabdil hotel. And for those who love spas, the Hotel GHM Monachil offers its services.

Apres-ski

The resort offers a large number of entertainments as a rest after skiing. You can go dog sledding, rent a snowmobile, sign up for a sightseeing tour of the sights of Granda, Cordoba or Seville, or explore the beauties of the National Park adjacent to the resort, on the territory of which there are walking routes along picturesque glacial lakes and canyons.

Cost of tours to the resort

Tour operators offer trips to the Sierra Nevada resort with various accommodation options, meals and recreation programs. Average package price per person per week:

€850 for 4-person accommodation 1
€100 for 2-person accommodation.

More details

Baqueira-Beret

Baqueira-Beret is the largest resort in the Catalan Pyrenees, in the Val d’Aran valley, not far from the French border. Since its opening in 1964, it has gained fame as a favorite vacation spot for heads of state and members of the Spanish royal family.