Moored in Spain? Top 5 ski resorts to visit this winter

The cold and the snow have finally arrived in our mountains! The time to dust off scarves and gloves is here, and with it, the annual highlight for winter sport lovers of the skiing and snowboarding season. After an unusual warm winter, it’s time to hit the slopes. Are you ready? We are!

If you are moored in Palma, Barcelona, Tarragona, or Valencia during the winter season, there are many ski resorts conveniently nearby. Whether it’s a 40 minute flight from Palma, a couple of hours on a bus from Barcelona, a quick train ride or relaxed drive from Tarragona, quality ski resorts are more accessible than you may imagine.

At Evolution we are proud winter sports lovers, and we’re warming up for the new season with a selection of top ski resorts for you to explore.

Grandvalira – Andorra

Grandvalira is one of the biggest ski resorts in the Principality of Andorra. With 210km of skiing area and 137 slopes this is a paradise for both beginners and pros. If it’s your first time, you have plenty of slopes to get you started, with 23 beginner-green and 54 easy-blue ones. Slope-slayers can challenge themselves with the 42 up-a-notch-red and 18 hardcore-black slopes. Andorra’s ski resorts are easily reached from Barcelona by transfer available from both Barcelona airport and Sants bus station, or an approximately 3-hour drive.

Baqueira Beret – Val d’Aran

Baqueira Beret, is another popular resort. Located in the Val d’Aran, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, it offers 170 skiable kms with 37 slopes, 3 green, 13 blue, 15 red and 6 black ones with progressive perpendicularity. This ski resort is renowned as the resort of choice for Spanish royalty. You can reach Baqueira Beret from Barcelona by train, bus or a 3.5 hour drive.

Sierra Nevada – Granada

With 111 skiable kms this resort is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the heart of Granada. With many slopes to discover, you can go skiing or snowboarding, enjoy a hot chocolate after a cold snowy day, try the local tapas, or even combine this with a visit to La Alhambra.

The amazing ski resort of Sierra Nevada, located in the south of Spain, can be reached from Granada airport and a quick transfer or bus to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Formigal - Panticosa – Huesca

Formigal-Panticosa is located in the Pyrenees, the largest mountain range in Spain. This is one of the few of Spanish ski resorts with an elevation difference of more than 1000 metres, and its 180kms of pistes offer one of the best places to enjoy skiing or snowboarding in its purest state.

If you are a downhill ski expert, this is your resort as it has 51 red slopes and 43 black ones. If you’re more drawn to the après ski, this is also highly recommended, as the after-ski parties in la Marchica are legendary.

To reach to Formigal from Barcelona, book a transfer, or take a 3.5 hour drive.

Gran Tourmalet – Barèges – La Mongie

Grand Tourmalet is a ski resort located on the French side of the Pyrenees. This mountain hot-spot is also internationally renowned for hosting the Tour de France cycling competition. In winter it has 100 skiable kms from the foot of the skiing resort, which starts at 1800 metres and the summit which is at a height of 2500 metres. It is located between the towns of Barèges and La Mongie, 30 minutes away from Lourdes, a well known spiritual pilgrimage destination for its legendary healing waters.

With 53 slopes for all levels, Grand Tourmalet is a nice resort both for beginners and advanced enthusiasts who want to enjoy a whirl of winter sports, and maybe continue with an après ski homemade blackberry crêpe. Oh la-la!

The resort can be reached through Lourdes airport followed by a 45 minute drive. Driving from Barcelona would take about 5.5 hours.