Spend an unforgettable day in Sierra Nevada. Here are some activities, practical tips and how to get there.

Did you know that Siierra Nevada was one of the most important tourist destinations in the ski season in the Iberian Peninsula, and not only because there are more than 100 kilometres of skiable territory?

Well, it's true! Because the Sierra Nevada ski resort has become one of the best in Spain. 

It is located about 31 kilometres from Granada (where you will find one of the most wonderful monuments in Spain, La Alhambra) and 20 km from Monachil, and consists of 106.8 skiable kilometres with an altitude difference of 1,200 metres, the largest in the country. 

This ski resort in Granada also has 21 ski-lifts and 125 slopes (19 green, 42 blue, 50 red, 7 black and 7 snow parks).

With these characteristics, together with a wide variety of activities and events, you can enjoy an ideal blend of sunshine and snow and all this at such a short distance from the city of Granada. It is not surprising that Sierra Nevada is now a favourite ski resort with both Spanish visitors and tourists, whether or not they come here to ski.

That's right, today all the towns with ski resorts offer a wide range of activities and services for both skiers and non-skiers. Here are details of the most outstanding activities, practical and how to get there, so you can spend an unforgettable day in Sierra Nevada. Here we go!

Activities in Sierra Nevada to experience unique and different emotions.

As we said before, one of the great attractions that Sierra Nevada has to offer is a wide range of activities. 

If you are a skier, Sierra Nevada offers you not only skiing on the slopes, but also unique and exciting experiences for those skiers looking to experience different emotions. 

Skiers can also get to feel just like professionals with a real timed slalom (alone or in parallel with another skier) or enjoy starlight skiing under the Sierra Nevada night sky on 2 of the nocturnal slopes: the Río and the Maribel, with a total of 5.8 km of floodlight slopes. Two extraordinary experiences to an enjoy an unforgettable day (or evening)! What do you think?

And to make the adrenaline flow even more, in Sierra Nevada you can even try tandem parapenting, of course accompanied by a professional pilot. This activity is always undertaken weather permitting.

You can also enjoy snowshoeing, sledging and organised ski routes to discover the incredible surroundings in the Nature Reserve or you might even try the cross-country skiing circuit.

More information at the El Dornajo Visitor Centre on the A 395 main road at Km 23 (tel.: 958 340 625) or the information point in the University Hostel located in Hoya de la Mora (tel.: 958 763 127).

Although there is no doubt that the ideal place for this sport is the Puerto de la Ragua Ski Resort, located in the eastern part of Sierra Nevada, about 80 km from Granada on the A92 Main Road to Guadix. There you can practise cross-country skiing, long-distance skiing and extreme skiing!!

Sierra Nevada, the ski resort with the most activities for children and families

Having skied in Formigal, Baqueira Beret, Andorra, Navacerrada and, of course, in Sierra Nevada, I can assure you from experience that Sierra Nevada is the ski resort where you will see most children on green slopes and it is the one that organises the most children's activities.

I have fantastic memories of my first day learning to ski in Sierra Nevada! The first thing that comes to mind is how while I was struggling in the snow, little kids were overtaking me at the speed of light to the left and right as if they had been born wearing skis and with perfect control of the law of gravity, so you never saw them in a horizontal position. 

So these children do not only appear to have innate abilities, the educational activities in Sierra Nevada mean that they receive such good instruction that they soon reign over the slops and start having a really good time.

After this amazing little anecdote... Here are some details of the activities for your children to enjoy!

Escuela Diver Ski 

A ski school for children that works with small groups. The Diver Ski infantil is for children from 3 to 5 years old and the Diver Ski junior is for 6 to 12 year olds. For tariffs and availability go to mail@sierranevadaeie.com

All groups meet in La Plaza de Pradollano at 9.15am. Classes are from 10am to 1pm. and are taught by staff from the Sierra Nevada International Ski School.

Nursery for Children in Sierra Nevada

In the main square just before the entrance to the cable car, the ski resort has a Nursery for children from 4 months to 6 years old where your children can spend an enjoyable day playing and doing crafts and workshops while you enjoy your skiing.

There is a dining-room service and there is a really nice dormitory where they can rest.

Prices: €12 per hour, €40 for half a day and €55 for a full day (meal services are paid for separately).

Telephone for information: +34 958 481 081.

There is another nursery for children from 3 to 12 years old called the Jardín Alpino, in the Borreguiles area. It is an enclosed area where children can enjoy the snow as much or more than their parents. It has some mechanical belts, ideal for them to get their first contact with total safety and always accompanied by expert monitors.

There is also has a spectacular 200 square-metre cabin, where if children do not want to ski or weather conditions are not good for them to be outdoors, they can play, train indoors or simply rest. It is also fully equipped with a kitchen and dining-room service.

The nursery has three different options: Full Day, Half Day Morning and Half Day Afternoon. The Jardín Alpino opens at 9.30am and closes at 4.30pm. During that time the monitors will ensure that the children enjoy a variety of incredible experiences. The activities depend on the age and level of the children, and there will be two ski trips, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Information and bookings here

Mirlo Blanco Recreational Area

And if you want to spend an entertaining day with the family without having to go up the slopes, you can visit the Mirlo Blanco recreational area.

In this fantastic amusement park in the snow children and adults can enjoy snow slides, bike ski and the popular Russian sleigh.

There is a minimum age for each activity, please ask.

Try snow skating on an organic ice rink in Pradollano, where you will be surprised to see that the surface is not cold.

Or have fun in the tubing area where you can slide around at full speed on pneumatic doughnuts.

You can also celebrate your birthday here. Start with a Russian sleigh ride, half an hour of the activity you have chosen in the park and finish the party with a snack at Cabaña Fuente del Mirlo.

There are discounts for groups, but it has to be from Monday to Friday. For more information about any of these activities call 958 708 090.

Mirlo Blanco is in Pradollano, next to the Chairlift.

Opening time for activities (doughnuts, ski-bikes), children's area and tubing/sleighing area from 10am to 4.30pm.

Russian Sleigh: 10am to 5.15pm.

Sierra Nevada Dreamland

In Borreguiles, in the beginners area, i the Dreamland and Jardín Alpino installations children are allowed to practise skiing and have fun playing in the snow.

Dreamland has three mechanical mats just for the kids who are there. They are for children from 3 to 6 years old.

This is where children spend approximately two and a half hours skiing.

There are two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In the morning from 10am to 1pm and in the afternoon from 1pm to 4 pm.

Hoya de la Mora

Many families come to these hills to enjoy a day in the snow, sleighing or making snowmen.

Services include a sleigh hire service and kiosks serving drinks. Here you will also find the Albergue Universitario where there is a cafeteria which is a nice warm place to enjoy a hot chocolate or a coffee.

In high season the car park usually gets full and after a certain time they no longer allow access to the area in any vehicle.

How to get to Hoya de la Mora Up beyond the ski resort, past the High Performance Centre (CAR in Spanish) and the Youth Hostel, there is an area called Hoya de la Mora.

Sierra Nevada: Practical tips

If you are thinking of going skiing in Sierra Nevada there must surely be a lot of questions you would like to ask... Will I be able to hire my equipment? Where do I get my ski pass? How do the ski lifts work? Where can i park? or What essentials do I need to bring? , etc. Here are some practical tips that will surely help you to clear up any doubts!

Ski equipment hire

If it's your first time skiing or you just ski occasionally and it's not worth buying your own equipment, don't worry! In the town there are plenty of shops that hire equipment for skiing and snow activities. 

If you are going to stay more than one day and there are more than one of you, we recommend searching for "equipment hire in Sierra Nevada" on the internet, as you can often find packages with very interesting discounts and even some that include certain items free for children.

How much does a Ski Pass cost in Sierra Nevada and where can I buy one?

A Ski Pass is very important, since without one you will not be able to access the slopes, so once you have settled in, the first thing you should do is buy a ski pass!

In addition to the usual ticket offices, there are ATM-type machines where you can get one for the days you are going to be there. If you arrive in the afternoon, don't worry, you can buy one and the number of days your ski pass is valid starts from the next day.

You should remember that you will need to use a credit card to buy a ski pass as these vending machines do not accept cash.

You should also know that there will be a deposit of 3 euros for each ski pass as a guarantee that you will return the card at the end of your stay. The deposit will be refunded when you return the card. There are machines that can make the refund.

Here are the prices for ski passes.

Important tips about chair lifts

It is important to check the timetable for the ski lift as well as the accommodation you choose, as it is best to be near one.

Most of the accommodation in the lower part of the town has ski lifts nearby and sometimes you can even access the slopes on foot. This is something you should ask the person in charge of the accommodation where you are going to stay.

There are important things you should know about ski lifts...

The ski lifts that close latest in the entire station are those of Borreguiles, since they are the ones that go up to the highest points and all their slopes end up in the town.

Another important piece of information regarding the end of the day is that La Laguna closes at 4.20pm, but you can no longer go down from here because it is the only area of the resort that does not have access to the town.

On the last ascent you can go as far as the Valle de Borreguiles and from there you will be able to return to the town.

The most popular slope for that last descent is also one of the most popular, El Río, which is usually filled with beginner level skiers.

There are a number of alternatives to avoid the crowds that gather on this slope at the end of the day. The easiest way is to come down in the cable car from Borreguiles, but if you prefer to ski down, you can take the red slopes with narrow paths, and if your level is good enough, you can take the black slopes that go under the cable car. Another option would be to ski down from Loma de Dílar.

But one of the most interesting and best options is the Pradollano two-person chairlift located in the lowest area of the town.

From there you can ascend to the highest part of Sierra Nevada, with a stop halfway, and this gives good accessibility for moving around the resort.

You have to bear in mind that this chairlift is only open until 5.30pm, although in practice it does not close until there is nobody left in the queue to go up, which is usually about 7pm, depending on the number of people waiting to use it. But you should be aware that this extension to the chairlift schedule is only for going up, not for coming back down.

The #musthaves in Sierra Nevada

These #musthave tips in Sierra Nevada may seem obvious but we are tell you about them because they are very important and they can help you avoid bad experiences on your unforgettable holiday in the snow:

1.- Don't forget to bring factor 50 sunscreen and cover your face and lips well, sunburn is a most unpleasant experience.

2.- Gloves and a cap, these are not just accessories that make you feel and look good, they have a very valuable protective function, so always remember to have them with you. A cap not only prevents heat escaping from your body (a lot of heat escapes through your head), it will protect you from the sun. Gloves not only keep your hands warm, if you fall they can also protect you against injury and/or burns. Don't be fooled by the wonderful sunshine in the mountains in Granada, you need to wear these accessories whether or not the sun is shining.

3.- Don't forget your pre-ski boots. If you don't have any, you can always use mountain boots with non-slip, Gore-Tex soles.

4.- Neck Warmer and goggles! Even though the weather is mostly fantastic in Sierra Nevada, sometimes there are blizzards and the goggles and neck warmer will protect your face so can ski comfortably.

5.- Sunglasses are really important!! The sun continually refracting from the snow into your eyes can damage your eyesight. Always make sure you wear good sunglasses.

6.- The socks you wear every day are no good for skiing. Always wear special ski socks, that are thick and reach up to your knee. If possible they should be thermal and have shin guards, this way you will avoid the cramps that are very common during the first few days of skiing.

7.- Last but not least, bring some nice clothes for when you go out! In Sierra Nevada there is a fantastic atmosphere and people dress up to go out at night, even if they accompany it with a woollen ski cap!!

And If you forget anything don't worry, In Sierra Nevada there are lots of shops where you can buy any of the things that we recommended you take as a #musthave.

Where can you park your car in Sierra Nevada?

If you come to Sierra Nevada by car, you will surely want to know where you can park.

There are car parks at the entrance to the town but these are quite a long way from the slopes and if you are carrying your ski equipment it will be quite a long walk.

There is room to park nearly 4,000 vehicles, of which 2,600 are under cover and located beneath the Plaza de Andalusia.

Car parking costs between 10 and 20 euros per day, depending on whether it is low or high season, and there are discounts available if you leave your car for several days.

You will find the prices for car parking in Sierra Nevada here.

How do you get to Sierra Nevada?

You can come to Sierra Nevada by bus, train, taxi or car. Here is a link to help you plan your trip or excursion to the Sierra Nevada Ski Resort depending on where you are starting from and the mode of transport chosen: 

For how to get here, click here