The Pyrenees Mountains, located on the French-Spanish border, offer some of the best skiing conditions in Europe. If you are an avid skier looking for some great terrain, or a beginner looking to try something new, read on to learn about the best resorts around Barcelona to suit you.
Andorra’s Grandvalira
Andorra’s famous Grandvalira Ski Resort is a little farther than other locations, but totally worth it for the unbeatable terrain. The resort is a combination of two entities: Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig and Soldeu/El Tarter/Canillo. These resorts combined in 2003 to form Grandvalira, and with this came the joint lift pass to both resorts. Grandvalira is called the heart of Andorra, and is one of the most successful ski resorts in the world. It is the largest skiable area in the Pyrenees and southern Europe with a total of 210 km across 112 slopes. Full day passes are €51 for adults (when bought online), and half-day passes are €39.50. However, disagreements regarding the split of profits has caused the two resorts to plan a dissolution after the 2018/2019 season and it’s a possibility that separate lift passes will have to be bought in the future. Nevertheless, this is a great ski area for a short weekend break or a week with family and friends! Catch it while you can…
La Molina
La Molina is a resort only two hours from the city, easily accessible by train, bus or car. You can buy a train ticket and ski pass package for as little as €42! La Molina offers a whopping 63 slopes, with runs for every type of skier. Moreover, there is a snow park with the biggest super-pipe in the Pyrenees. If you want a break from skiing, there are other fun winter activities such as snowshoeing, segways on snow, and even husky rides to enjoy. Although it’s perfect for a day trip, there are a number of accommodation options for those who want a longer stay. After a long day on the slopes you can kick back and relax at a number of delicious restaurants and fun bars. Grab a bite at La Ferme de Montagne, known for its good service and even better food. Afterwards, head over to Casino d’Alp for a drink in the middle of the village. Enjoy this mountain without breaking the bank!
La Masella
La Masella is only two hours from Barcelona, and located in the next valley from La Molina. It’s famous for its night time skiing, made possible by its powerful lighting system that illuminates 13 slopes at low and medium altitude areas of the resort. The mountain has 65 slopes, and nine black runs for experienced skiers looking for a challenge. The resort offers an array of accommodation options: hotels, youth hostels, apartments, campgrounds, and bungalows. An adult day ticket costs €45 and you can get discount for consecutive day tickets. Season passes for adults are sometimes offered so keep on the lookout for these, as well as discounts for large families, students, and more.
Vall de Núria
Vall de Núria is a much smaller mountain compared to the previous two, located in the province of Girona. Modest in size, with only 11 slopes, it’s perfect for families and beginners. It offers a ski school, equipment rental shop, group and private lessons, and a snowboarding park. The resort also offers special family packages including a railway ticket, ski pass, and access to the Leisure Park for each person. The Leisure Park has small and big sledging slopes, tubing, rock climbing for children, zip lines, and more. The mountain is easily accessible, just take the train from Barcelona-Sants or Plaça de Catalunya to Ribes de Freser and then jump on the mountain rack railway up to the resort. The whole journey only takes about 2 hours! This mountain railway provides you with a view of the spectacular landscape, while taking you up to heights of over 1,000 metres. It could be worth it just for the ride there!
Port del Comte
This resort is popular due to its location; it is the nearest ski-resort to Barcelona. Port del Comte has 37 pistes and 16 lifts, with a mix of green, blue, red, and black slopes so every type of skier. It’s open every day from 9am-5pm and has plenty of snow cannons for when warmer seasons hit. Like the other resorts it offers additional activities such as tubing, sledging, snowshoeing, dog sledging, and a snow park with jumps for all different skill levels. Finish the day off with a drink at the Sucre Bar, or grab a bite at the popular La Granja restaurant, located right off the mountain. Adult day passes are €37 during high season, and €30 during low season. Buy your pass now for a quick and easy ski trip close to Barcelona!
All of these ski resorts offer great opportunities for fun, easy skiing during your stay in Barcelona, all just a short journey from the Catalan capital. Whether you journey by train or hire a car, pick the resort that suits you best and go shred some snow!
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