Sierra Nevada is a good choice for a family ski trip, especially with young children and beginners. The resort has childcare from 4 months, a snow garden at the beginner area, themed runs for children and an activity park in the village. Plan around the sun, which is strong this far south, and the busy Spanish holiday weekends.
Is Sierra Nevada good for families?
Yes. Several things work in its favour:
- Childcare from 4 months at El Cole de la Nieve, right by the gondola in Pradollano.
- A snow garden and ski introduction for ages 3 to 12 at Borreguiles.
- Themed family runs, such as the sea-themed Pista del Mar, and a dedicated Kidspark for first freestyle tricks.
- Lots of easy skiing: 23 green and 55 blue runs.
- Mirlo Blanco, an activity park in Pradollano with sledging, tubing and a snow coaster.
The downsides are a lack of trees, so there’s little shelter on windy or cloudy days, and the fact that the beginner area is a gondola ride up from the village.
Ski schools and kids’ lessons in Sierra Nevada
Children’s lessons in Sierra Nevada start from age 3:
- Jardín Alpino, run by CEROGRADOS at the Borreguiles beginner area, for children from 3 (out of nappies) to 12. It has a fenced area with two magic carpets, a playroom, a rest area, a dining room and toilets. Full days run from 9:30 to 16:30, with morning and afternoon options.
- Family Kids, a reception, teaching and entertainment service for 3 to 12-year-olds in very small groups.
Other ski schools work in the resort too, so compare what each offers and check their minimum ages. Book early for Christmas, Easter and long weekends.
Childcare and nurseries in Sierra Nevada
El Cole de la Nieve is the resort’s childcare centre:
- Ages 4 months to 6 years.
- Next to the Al-Ándalus gondola, on level -1 of the Pradollano car park.
- Open from 9:00 to 16:45, with morning and afternoon half days.
- Games, workshops and activities by age, a rest area with bedrooms, and an optional lunch service.
Places are limited, so book ahead. Children aged 4 to 18 months need their vaccination record, and clothes and belongings must be labelled with your child’s name. Among the hotels, El Lodge runs a kids’ club.
Best beginner areas for children in Sierra Nevada
- Borreguiles: the beginner area at the top of the Al-Ándalus and Borreguiles gondolas, with four magic carpets: Borreguiles, El Bosque, Maitena and Dauro.
- Kid Fun Trail: a fun, easy area next to the beginner carpets, by the Dauro carpet.
- Pista del Mar: a family zone themed on Granada’s Costa Tropical, with a whale, a shark and other sea creatures to ski past. Reach it via the Emile Allais and Alhambra chairlifts.
- Kidspark: a line of three ground-level features in the Sulayr snowpark at Loma de Dílar, where children can try freestyle with their parents.
- The resort also lists a Family Fun Track at Montebajo and a Fauna Ibérica piste at Cauchiles.
Sierra Nevada lift passes for families
- The Benjamín and Senior+ pass is for children under 5 and adults over 70.
- Fórmula Familiar is 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.
- Season and long-duration passes bought in the advance sale can carry unused days over to 2027/28 if you buy a new pass of the same or longer duration.
Things to do with kids in Sierra Nevada off the slopes
Mirlo Blanco, at the bottom of the El Río piste in Pradollano, is the family hub. It has the Trineo Mirlo, a snow coaster on rails with banked bends, plus tubing, ski-bikes, sledges, an ice rink, children’s rides and trampolines. Nearby, Dream Land is a children’s snow park with a covered carpet.
The resort also lists sledge rides pulled by a snowmobile, a panoramic tour in a piste-basher and snowshoeing. On 5 January, the Three Kings ski down the El Río piste to Pradollano at 18:30. And Granada, with the Alhambra, is less than an hour away.
Best family hotels in Sierra Nevada
For small children, stay on the Plaza de Andalucía, next to the gondolas and El Cole de la Nieve. The resort’s own Hotel Telecabina has quadruple rooms with bunk beds, and the Apartahotel Trevenque has apartments for up to six, 50 m from the Al-Ándalus gondola. On the slopes, El Lodge has a family suite and a kids’ club, and Vincci Selección Rumaykiyya has family rooms and a spa with a pool. See where to stay in Sierra Nevada for the full list.
Tips for skiing in Sierra Nevada with kids
- Protect against the sun. This is southern Spain at up to 3,300 m: high-factor sun cream, goggles and lip balm for everyone.
- Watch the wind. The ski area is above the trees, so check the forecast and the snow report, and keep a plan B such as Mirlo Blanco or a day in Granada.
- Go midweek. Weekends and Spanish holidays are much busier on the slopes and on the road from Granada.
- Book childcare early. Both El Cole de la Nieve and the Jardín Alpino have limited places.
For the full picture of the ski area, read the Sierra Nevada ski resort guide.
