Ski Spain

Ski Spain

Did you know that after Switzerland, Spain is Europe's most mountainous country?  Whilst famous mainly for tourism to the sunny costas, few people are aware of the exciting prospects for skiers in Spain.

The best Spanish ski resorts are in the Pyrenees which are comparable with the mid-sized Alpine resorts.  Further south, above Granada in Andalucia is the Sierra Nevada which in spite of its sunny climate has hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships.

At Aramón Cerler, in the Benasque Valley, the matchless mountain terrain, latest generation facilities and perfect temperature ensure ideal depths of snow in the best conditions. There are a wide variety of slopes to choose from, some of which wind their way through pine forests. There are two areas for beginners, one at 2,000 m and the other in Ampríu. Some slopes, such as Cogulla and Labert, are ideal for improvers they are wide and have a constant gradient. Experts will fall in love with the highly entertaining Gallinero and Canal Amplia slopes, among others. All slopes are well groomed and marked, ensuring the complete safety of skiers.

At the resort
Car park. Information office. SOS post. Equipment hire. Ski lockers. Bars. Cafés. Restaurants. Self-service restaurant. Healthcare services. Ski School. Shopping centre. Sports shops. Snowpark. Snowbikes.
Within a 35 km radius
Information office. Crèche. Bars. Cafés. Restaurants. Pubs. Nightclubs. Pastry shops. Art and crafts and gift shops. Shops selling local produce. Mountain tour agencies. Travel agency. Petrol stations. Post office. Courier service. Hair dressers. ATMs. Banks. Taxi service. Bus service. Shopping centre. Health centres. Chemists. Vets. Repair shops. Escuela Española de Alta Montaña (Spanish High Mountain School). Gym. SPA. Horse riding routes.

Sierra Nevada, skiing with sea views

Skiing for all, beneath the Andalusian sun, with views of the coast. This could well sum up what it is like to ski at Sierra Nevada, in the stunning mountains of Granada. The privileged location of this Andalusian ski resort guarantees a high proportion of sunny days, even in mid-winter. This is not all, however. There are also a host of inviting activities to enjoy after a wonderful day's skiing.

Any skier, from beginner to expert, will want to keep coming back to Sierra Nevada. You only have to go once to see that it is one of the best ski resorts around. Can you imagine skiing down a piste with the warm rays of the sun on your face, as you look out over the stunning landscapes of the Nature Reserve that surrounds you? Well don't just imagine it. Come and experience this and much more in Granada's winter park.

It is Europe's southernmost ski resort, situated in southern Andalusia, at more than 3,000 m above sea level. It is the resort's geographical characteristics that give it ideal weather conditions for skiing: during much of the season there are wonderful sunny days. If you are a good skier, you should definitely go up to the Laguna and Veleta pistes. They are so high that, on a clear day, you can see the coast and the sea on both sides of the Mediterranean. This is a spectacular view that it is well worth recording forever in your memory.  

Enjoy the snow just a stone's throw from Madrid.

Skiing is one of the many alternatives available in Madrid. Have you ever thought about it? Take note, because just over an hour by car from the Spanish capital you will find three resorts where you can practise your favourite sport. Exchange the charms of the city for the pleasure of skiing for a few hours, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes that surround these resorts.

Don't miss the chance of an enjoyable day skiing at any one of the resorts close to Madrid. They have good communications and access, ideal for beginners and expert skiers alike, with pistes adapted to all levels. The plan is well worthwhile, because as well as skiing, you can also get to know the stunning countryside that surrounds the city. Make the most of the occasion. Get your skis ready, put your boots on, and head for the snowy slopes of these mountains in central Spain.

The closest resort to Madrid is Puerto de Navacerrada, just 52 kilometres away on the A-6 motorway. It has a friendly, family atmosphere, along with almost 11 kilometres of pistes, many running through pine forest. The hardest runs are in the upper part of the resort, while in the lower area there are easier pistes, ideal if you are skiing for the first time. If snowboarding is your thing, then you are in luck - there is a piste here for boarders only. This resort is in the heart of the Madrid mountains. You can get there easily, even if you do not have a car - there are buses and regional rail services daily from Madrid.

SNOW AND APRÈS-SKI TOURISM IN SPAIN

Around the end of November or the beginning of December, the first snows arrive in Spain like clockwork. This is the moment when a total of twenty-nine ski resorts start operating again. Passes and valleys are covered in snow, and up-to-date facilities serve no other purpose than to offer visitors other equally-interesting options to follow a day of skiing. Spanish ski resorts are exceptional in terms of both infrastructure and access. Visitors can take part in other nature sports; follow cultural, historic and artistic routes; and enjoy a multitude of leisure options, unique mountain villages, and delicious cuisine, all making the skier’s stay in Spain that much more pleasurable.

In general, Spain’s ski resorts are characterized by their excellent location, accessibility and services. These facilities are designed to satisfy visitors’ needs before, during, and after they take to the slopes. Fans of this long-established sport can chose the type of ski resort which most suits their individual needs. Those which require greater skill are Baqueira Beret in the Catalan Pyrenees, and Sierra Nevada in Andalusia. Those concentrated in the Aragonese Pyrenees generally require an intermediate level. The rest are scattered throughout the country, and are ideal for long stays or visitors who wish to combine skiing with other activities.

It should therefore not be surprising that Spain’s ski resorts received more than six million visitors last season. 32 million euros were invested in improving facilities and services, as well as in increasing disabled access. In total, Spain offers 837 kilometers of ski runs for all levels.

Sport, art, and nature in the Catalan Pyrenees
The eleven ski resorts in the Catalan Pyrenees offer more than 400 kilometers of runs. Beginners, advanced skiers, and experts all flock here. Surrounded by peaks topping three thousand meters, this exceptional natural setting favors retention of optimum quality snow throughout the season.

Spain, the best skiing guaranteed

If skiing is your thing, you should already be thinking about Spain as a destination for next season. Our country is ideal for the sport. There are loads of reasons to come to one of the many ski resorts to be found all over Spain. Quality snow and plenty of winter sun, along with first-rate facilities and a broad range of complimentary activities are bringing more and more people to Spanish slopes every year. Why not come and join them?

Spain is Europe's second most mountainous country, with a long skiing tradition, and provides all the necessary facilities for you to practise the sport. We have 36 ski resorts spread all around the country. You just have to choose which one.

Constant renovation
From the moment the skiing season ends in spring, through to the following December, our ski resorts undergo continuous renovation, with work on lifts, pistes, infrastructure, machinery, access, accommodation and services. Investments of millions of Euros are made each year, to improve on what are already resorts of the highest quality, with respect for the environment and the natural surroundings being of paramount importance.