Ski Resorts in Spain 2026/27: Complete List by Mountain Range

Spain has around thirty alpine ski resorts spread across six mountain ranges: both sides of the Pyrenees (Aragon and Catalonia), the Cantabrian Mountains, the Sistema Central, the Sistema Ibérico and Sierra Nevada, plus Manzaneda in Galicia. Here is the full list of ski resorts in Spain sorted by mountain range, with the base and summit altitude of each one, which are the biggest, how to choose based on your level and where you are travelling from, when to go, and a section on Andorra, just across the border.

At the end you will find ski and snow clothing rental from shops at each resort, so you can book before you arrive.

How many ski resorts are there in Spain?

It depends on what you count. With lifts and marked slopes there are about thirty alpine ski resorts, although several of the small ones (especially in the Cantabrian Mountains and the Sistema Ibérico) only open when there is enough snow. Some ski areas also group two resorts under a single lift pass, such as Formigal-Panticosa or La Molina and Masella (Alp 2500), so the figure changes depending on whether they are counted together or separately. On top of that there are the cross-country skiing areas of the Pyrenees and Navarre, which have no chairlifts.

By region, Aragon and Catalonia have most of the resorts and the biggest ones. Castile and León has San Isidro, Leitariegos, La Pinilla and La Covatilla; Asturias, Valgrande-Pajares and Fuentes de Invierno; Cantabria, Alto Campoo; Madrid, Valdesquí and Navacerrada; La Rioja, Valdezcaray; Teruel, Javalambre and Valdelinares; Galicia, Manzaneda; and Andalusia, Sierra Nevada.

Full list of ski resorts in Spain by mountain range

Altitudes are in metres and show the base and summit elevation of each resort. When the name is a link, it goes to the resort's page on Caranva, where you can book your equipment rental.

Aragonese Pyrenees

The four big resorts of Huesca. Formigal and Panticosa are in the Tena Valley and share a lift pass; Candanchú and Astún are in the Aragón Valley next to the Somport pass, a few kilometres from each other; and Cerler, in the Benasque Valley, is the highest resort in Aragon.

Catalan Pyrenees

The area with the most resorts. Baqueira Beret is in the Val d'Aran, on the Atlantic side of the Pyrenees, and is the largest ski resort in Spain. La Molina and Masella, in the Cerdanya, are linked by slopes and form the Alp 2500 ski area; Masella is also known for its night skiing. Boí Taüll has the highest altitude in the Catalan Pyrenees, Vall de Núria can only be reached by rack railway, and Port del Comte, in the Pre-Pyrenees, is a family resort in the Solsonès. There are other, smaller resorts that we do not include in the table, such as Espot, Tavascan or Vallter 2000.

Sistema Central

The ski resorts of Madrid and the surrounding area, designed for a day trip there and back. Valdesquí is in the Sierra de Guadarrama and is the closest to the capital; La Pinilla is in the Sierra de Ayllón (Segovia). Puerto de Navacerrada has not opened its lifts in recent seasons, so check its status before you go. Further west, in the Sierra de Béjar (Salamanca), is La Covatilla.

Cantabrian Mountains

Small and mid-sized resorts, popular mostly with local skiers, that depend heavily on snowfall in the north. Here you will find the ski resorts of León (San Isidro and Leitariegos, the latter on the border with Asturias), the Asturian resorts and Alto Campoo, the main resort in Cantabria.

Sistema Ibérico

Valdezcaray, in the Sierra de la Demanda, is La Rioja's ski resort and the closest one for much of northern Spain. Javalambre and Valdelinares, in Teruel, are the usual choice for skiers from Valencia and Aragon.

Sierra Nevada

The only ski resort in Andalusia, the highest in Spain and the southernmost in Europe, less than an hour from Granada. Thanks to its altitude it is usually one of the first to open and the last to close, and on clear days you ski with views of the coast.

Galicia

Manzaneda, in the central massif of Ourense, is the only ski resort in Galicia.

The biggest ski resorts in Spain

By skiable kilometres, these five are the largest ski areas in the country:

• Baqueira Beret: the largest ski resort in Spain, with its whole ski area connected by lifts and spread across Baqueira, Beret and Bonaigua.
• Formigal-Panticosa: two resorts in the Tena Valley that are not linked by slopes but do share a lift pass; combined, they rival Baqueira in size.
• Alp 2500 (La Molina and Masella): two resorts in the Cerdanya linked by slopes at the Tosa d'Alp.
• Sierra Nevada: the biggest vertical drop in the country, from 2,100 to 3,300 metres.
• Cerler: the highest altitude in Aragon and long runs in the Benasque Valley.

If altitude is what matters to you, since it usually goes hand in hand with more reliable snow, the order changes: Sierra Nevada (3,300 m), Boí Taüll (2,750 m), Cerler (2,630 m) and Baqueira Beret (2,610 m) have the highest summits.

The 10 best ski resorts in Spain, and who each one suits

Our selection, with the reason for each one:

1. Baqueira Beret, for intermediate and advanced skiers who want lots of kilometres without repeating a run, and the snow of the Atlantic side.
2. Formigal-Panticosa, for the sheer amount of terrain for all levels; Panticosa is smaller, with the village at the foot of the slopes.
3. Sierra Nevada, for its altitude, sunshine, long season and a city like Granada right next door.
4. La Molina and Masella, for families and for anyone setting off from Barcelona; Masella adds night skiing.
5. Cerler, for those looking for long runs and high altitude in the Aragonese Pyrenees.
6. Boí Taüll, for its altitude, the highest in the Catalan Pyrenees, which helps preserve the snow.
7. Candanchú, a historic resort with technical areas higher up and cross-country ski trails.
8. Astún, its neighbour, very comfortable for intermediates and families.
9. Port Ainé, in the Pallars, quieter than the big Pyrenean resorts.
10. Valdesquí, the option for a day of skiing from Madrid when there is snow.

How to choose a ski resort

By your level

• Beginner: look for wide beginner areas with their own magic carpet or drag lift, a ski school and slope-side rental. Alto Campoo, Port del Comte, La Pinilla, Javalambre and Astún are easy places to learn, and the big resorts also have separate beginner areas.
• Intermediate: the skier who gets the most out of the big ski areas, because they can cover almost all of it: Baqueira Beret, Formigal-Panticosa, Alp 2500 or Sierra Nevada.
• Advanced: look at vertical drop, off-piste areas and high altitude: Baqueira Beret, Cerler, Candanchú or Boí Taüll.
• Families: logistics come first. Parking close to the slopes, a snow garden for the little ones and accommodation at the foot of the slopes or a few minutes away, as in La Molina, Masella, Formigal or Astún.

By where you are travelling from

• Madrid: Valdesquí and La Pinilla for a day trip; Sierra Nevada, Formigal or Alto Campoo for a weekend.
• Barcelona: La Molina and Masella, about two hours away; Port del Comte, Vall de Núria and the rest of the Catalan Pyrenees, a little further. Andorra is also within reach.
• Zaragoza and Huesca: Formigal-Panticosa, Candanchú and Astún, about two hours away; Cerler via the Benasque Valley.
• Andalusia: Sierra Nevada, less than an hour from Granada.
• Basque Country, Navarre and La Rioja: Valdezcaray, Alto Campoo or the Aragonese Pyrenees via the Aragón Valley.
• Asturias and León: Valgrande-Pajares, Fuentes de Invierno, San Isidro and Leitariegos.
• Valencia: Javalambre and Valdelinares, in Teruel.

For ski resorts near you, bear the roads in mind: snow chains may be required on the mountain passes that lead to them.

By your budget

The big ski areas have the most expensive lift passes; the small resorts of the Sistema Ibérico, the Cantabrian Mountains or the Sistema Central are cheaper and are worth it for learning or for a day trip. At any of them you save by buying your lift pass online, skiing on weekdays and booking your rental in advance.

By the snow

Snow depends on altitude, the orientation of the slopes and where the storms come from. The western Pyrenees and the Val d'Aran get more storms from the Atlantic, the eastern Pyrenees depend more on Mediterranean ones, and in Sierra Nevada the altitude makes up for the latitude. Low-altitude resorts are the first to suffer in a dry winter. Before you set off, check the snow report.

When to go: the best time of the season

• Opening (late November to December): the big resorts try to open as soon as the cold allows them to make snow, but it depends on the weather each year. Before you go, check the opening and closing dates of each resort, which we update throughout the season.
• Christmas: a lively atmosphere and high-season prices; snow can still be scarce at the lower resorts.
• January and February: the coldest months and, in general, the ones with the best snow. On weekdays outside public holidays, the slopes are quiet.
• March: more hours of sunshine and spring snow, hard first thing and soft in the afternoon. A good month for families.
• Easter: it depends on when it falls. If it is late, go for the highest resorts: Sierra Nevada, Baqueira Beret, Cerler, Boí Taüll or Grandvalira.

Ski resorts in Andorra

For many Spanish skiers, Andorra is just another alternative to the Pyrenees. Grandvalira is the largest ski area in the Pyrenees and is divided into sectors with different access points: Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig at the top, Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo in the valley, and Encamp with a gondola from the town. Pal Arinsal, in La Massana, and Ordino Arcalís, the furthest from the hustle and bustle, complete the alpine offer, and Naturland (La Rabassa) is the country's cross-country skiing and snow activities area. Andorra is not part of the European Union: bring your national ID card or passport.

Rent your equipment before you reach the resort

At Caranva we work with rental shops at the resorts themselves. You choose your dates, type of equipment and level, book online and pick up your gear when you arrive, with no queue and your size already prepared. These are the most-booked rental pages:

• Ski rental in Sierra Nevada
• Ski rental in Baqueira Beret
• Ski rental in Formigal
• Ski rental in La Molina
• Ski rental in El Tarter (Andorra)
• Snow clothing rental in Sierra Nevada

Frequently asked questions

How many ski resorts are there in Spain?

Around thirty alpine ski resorts, spread across the Aragonese and Catalan Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains, the Sistema Central, the Sistema Ibérico, Sierra Nevada and Galicia. The exact figure varies depending on whether resorts that share a lift pass are counted separately and on which small resorts open each winter. Cross-country skiing areas are counted separately.

What are the 10 best ski resorts in Spain?

Our selection: Baqueira Beret, Formigal-Panticosa, Sierra Nevada, La Molina and Masella, Cerler, Boí Taüll, Candanchú, Astún, Port Ainé and Valdesquí. The best one for you depends on your level and where you are travelling from.

What are the biggest ski resorts in Spain?

Baqueira Beret, followed by Formigal-Panticosa (two resorts with a single lift pass), Alp 2500 (La Molina and Masella), Sierra Nevada and Cerler. In Andorra, Grandvalira is the largest ski area in the Pyrenees.

What are the 10 best ski resorts in the world?

International rankings keep naming Alpine resorts such as Les 3 Vallées (Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens), Val d'Isère-Tignes, Chamonix, Zermatt, St. Anton, Kitzbühel and Cortina d'Ampezzo, and outside Europe Whistler, Vail or Niseko. From Spain, the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada and Andorra offer quality snow just a few hours from home.

What is the highest ski resort in Spain?

Sierra Nevada, with its highest lifts reaching about 3,300 metres. In the Pyrenees, Boí Taüll, Cerler and Baqueira Beret.

Which ski resorts are near Madrid?

Valdesquí and La Pinilla, for a day trip there and back. Puerto de Navacerrada has not opened its lifts in recent seasons.