Sierra Nevada is Europe’s southernmost ski resort, and Spain’s highest. It sits on the north-western slopes of the Veleta, about 30 km from Granada, with 112.5 km of marked pistes running from 2,100 m to 3,300 m. That’s a 1,200 m vertical drop, which the resort says is the biggest in Spain.
It’s also a ski trip like no other in Europe. You can ski in the morning and walk round the Alhambra in Granada by evening, and the Mediterranean coast is within reach too. The flip side is that the snow is less predictable than in the Alps or the Pyrenees, so it pays to book with an eye on the forecast.
Sierra Nevada ski area: Spain’s highest slopes
Everything starts from Pradollano, the resort village at about 2,100 m. Two gondolas, the Al-Ándalus and the Borreguiles, climb from the village to Borreguiles, the mid-mountain hub at about 2,675 m, with restaurants, the ski schools and the beginner area. From there, chairlifts fan out across the open slopes towards the Veleta and the high bowl of Laguna de las Yeguas.
According to the resort’s technical data, there are 139 runs: 23 green, 55 blue, 54 red and 7 black, plus 4 snow parks. The 23 lifts are 2 gondolas, 14 chairlifts (6 of them detachable), 3 drag lifts and 4 magic carpets, with a capacity of 47,797 skiers an hour. The slopes face north-west, and the lifts normally run from 8:30 to 16:45.
The whole ski area is above the tree line. That means huge views, on a clear day as far as the African coast, but no shelter from wind or flat light.
Skiing in Sierra Nevada for beginners
Beginners are well looked after. The resort sends first-timers up the gondola to Borreguiles, where four magic carpets (Borreguiles, El Bosque, Maitena and Dauro) do the work on gentle slopes. Once you can turn, the Emile Allais chairlift has the gentlest slope, followed by Borreguiles I and the Alhambra chairlift, which serves a group of green runs including the Perdiz, the best known in the resort.
Skiing in Sierra Nevada for intermediates
With 55 blues and 54 reds, this is a resort for intermediates. The long, open runs from the high lifts back down to Borreguiles are the core of the skiing, and on a good day the descent from the top to Pradollano uses the full 1,200 m of vertical.
Skiing in Sierra Nevada for experts
There are only 7 black runs, so experts won’t find a lot of steep pistes. The famous one is La Visera, the mogul run below the radio telescope. The resort doesn’t carry out avalanche control off the pistes, and skiers are generally advised not to leave them.
Sierra Nevada’s race pistes, moguls and snowpark
Sierra Nevada has a big-event history. It hosted the 1996 Alpine World Ski Championships, the 2015 Winter Universiade and the 2017 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard World Championships. For 2026/27, Cetursa says La Visera will host the final of the FIS European Cup in moguls in March 2027.
The Sulayr snowpark at Loma de Dílar has about 60 features, from jumps and rails to boxes, graded from easy to very difficult, plus a ski and snowboard cross course. Beginners have a progression park with an inflatable landing bag, and children have their own Kidspark line.
In recent seasons the resort has also run night skiing on the floodlit El Río piste down to Pradollano on certain Saturdays. Last season it ran on Saturdays in February, and the resort says it will return, so check the dates for 2026/27.
Snow in Sierra Nevada and the 2026/27 season
As of late October 2026, Cetursa hadn’t announced its 2026/27 dates. Advance pass sales opened on 15 September, and days left unused this season can be carried over to 2027/28 if you buy a new pass of the same or longer duration. The season normally starts in late November and runs into April: for 2025/26, the resort planned to open on 29 November and close on 26 April, three weeks after many other Spanish resorts.
Be honest with yourself about the snow. Altitude is on Sierra Nevada’s side: the lowest lift starts at 2,100 m, higher than the top of some Pyrenean resorts. But this is southern Spain, the climate is dry and sunny, and one big storm can make or break a month. In 2024/25, an early-season heat spell delayed the opening, yet the resort stayed open until 4 May. The resort has 459 snow guns, plus 20 new ones, covering 46 runs and about 37 km, which keeps the main runs open in lean spells. Wind is the other risk: the high lifts can close on windy days.
Is Sierra Nevada good for a last-minute ski trip?
Yes, more than most resorts, because you can watch the snow and book at the last moment:
- It’s easy to reach. Granada is about 30 km away, with buses from the city bus station, and Málaga airport has lots of flights.
- It’s busiest at weekends. The resort mainly serves Spanish skiers, so weekdays outside the holidays are usually much quieter.
- There’s a back-up plan. If the snow or the wind lets you down, Granada and the Alhambra are less than an hour away by bus.
Check the daily snow report and how many lifts are open before you go, and avoid the early-December bridge holiday, Christmas to 6 January and Easter if you can. Then find a place to stay in Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Nevada lift passes
Passes are sold online, at the ticket offices and through the Mobile Skipass on your phone. You can buy single days, consecutive days, half days, multi-day passes to use on any days, longer passes of 10, 15 or 20 days, and season passes. Some useful offers:
- The Benjamín and Senior+ pass for children under 5 and adults over 70.
- Fórmula Familiar, for families buying passes for at least three members of the same family unit.
- Large families get 5% off passes of 1 to 7 days.
Après-ski and things to do in Sierra Nevada
Pradollano has bars, cafés, restaurants and nightclubs, and on Fridays, Saturdays and nights before holidays the village bus runs until 3:00. At the bottom of the El Río piste, Mirlo Blanco is an activity park with the Trineo Mirlo snow coaster, tubing, ski-bikes, sledges, an ice rink, trampolines and children’s rides.
Off the slopes, the resort lists snowshoeing, snowmobile-drawn sledge rides and a panoramic tour in a piste-basher. The big draw, though, is Granada, with the Alhambra and the Albaicín, less than an hour away by bus. Book Alhambra tickets well ahead.
Who Sierra Nevada suits, and who it doesn’t
- Great for: beginners and intermediates, sunshine lovers, spring skiing, and anyone who wants to combine skiing with Granada or the Andalusian coast.
- Think twice if: you want guaranteed powder, tree-lined runs for bad-weather days, lots of steep terrain, or quiet slopes on Spanish holiday weekends.
Skiing with children? Read our guide to Sierra Nevada with kids.
How to get to Sierra Nevada
Driving to Sierra Nevada
From Granada, follow the A-395 up the mountain to Pradollano. The resort gives Granada as about 31 km away and Monachil, the nearest village, as about 20 km. There are petrol stations on the road, and the DGT has webcams on the A-395.
Winter tyres aren’t compulsory in Spain, but the DGT can restrict roads in snow. On a red level road, you can only drive with chains or winter tyres, at up to 30 km/h, and on black the road is closed. A blue sign showing a tyre with chains (R-412) means chains or winter tyres are mandatory. Carry chains.
The resort has about 3,900 parking spaces: a covered car park under the Plaza de Andalucía in Pradollano with 2,644 spaces, and outdoor car parks at Los Peñones and Las Sabinas. Check the winter parking rates on the resort’s website.
By train and bus
Take the train to Granada, about 40 km from the resort. Autocares Tocina runs buses from Granada bus station to Pradollano: in winter, Monday to Friday at 8:00, 10:15 and 17:15, with an extra 15:00 departure at weekends and on holidays. Buses stop at Paseo del Violón, by the Palacio de Congresos, 15 minutes after leaving. Return buses leave Pradollano at 9:00, 16:00 and 18:30, plus 13:00 at weekends. Check the timetable with the operator before you travel. In Pradollano, a village bus links the main square, the car parks and the hotels.
Nearest airports
Granada airport is about 47 km away, and Málaga, with far more flights, about 172 km. Seville is about 291 km away. Taxis based in Pradollano offer transfers to the airports and Granada station.
