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Skiers on the upper slopes of Sierra Nevada above a sea of cloud, on a bright winter day

Resort guide · Spain

Sierra Nevada: Our Ski Guide

Andalucía’s ski resort, above Granada: 112.5 km on 134 slopes with Spain’s longest skiable vertical, 1,200 metres, a village at Pradollano and the Alhambra, flamenco and a MICHELIN-starred table less than an hour below.

Plan your trip:Official resort site

The back story

Season 2026/27: The lift company’s 2026/27 price calendar runs from 28 Nov 2026 to 18 Apr 2027 (sierranevada.es, updated 16 Oct 2026); opening depends on snow · Ski area: 112.5 km on 134 slopes, with the highest skiable vertical in Spain, 1,200 m (sierranevada.es) · Top viewpoint: The Borreguiles terraces, facing the Veleta and the slopes; on clear days the sea of clouds over Granada · Lift pass 2026/27: Adult day at the ticket office €56–€72 by date; child under 16 and senior over 65 rates at the office (sierranevada.es) · History: Host of the 1996 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships · Getting there: Granada 40 km by road; Granada airport 47 km, Málaga airport 172 km (sierranevada.es)

  1. The back story

    Sierra Nevada: the back story

    Sierra Nevada·In depth

    Skiing an hour from the Alhambra: how Granada’s mountain became one of the great resorts of southern Europe.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

  1. Spain’s longest vertical

    Sierra Nevada ski area

    Sierra Nevada·Ski resort·€€

    112.5 km on 134 slopes above Granada, with the highest skiable vertical in Spain, 1,200 m, run by Cetursa.

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  2. Adult day €56–€72

    Sierra Nevada lift passes 2026/27

    Sierra Nevada·Lift pass·€€

    The ticket-office calendar for 2026/27 prices an adult day from €56 (mid-April) to €72 (Christmas, February); half-day from 1pm.

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  3. Learn at Borreguiles

    Sierra Nevada beginner and family areas

    Sierra Nevada·Beginner area·€

    Initiation slopes, the Pista del Mar family trail, the Kidspark and the Alpine Garden ski programme for ages 3–12.

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  4. Lessons in almost any language

    Iliberis ski school at El Lodge

    Sierra Nevada·Ski school·€€€

    Ski, snowboard, telemark, snowshoe and cross-country lessons, in groups by level or private, run with Iliberis from El Lodge, daily 9am–5pm.

    C/ Maribel 8, 18196 Sierra Nevada, GranadaExplore View on map

  5. Snow without skis

    Mirlo Blanco

    Sierra Nevada·Snow-play area·€

    The resort’s snow-play park for families who are not skiing, with the Blackbird sled run and a cabin restaurant.

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  6. Bogner, Phenix, Stöckli, Oakley

    El Lodge Prêt-à-Porter hire

    Sierra Nevada·Ski hire·€€€

    Premium equipment and clothing hire at El Lodge, with Bogner, Phenix, Stöckli and Oakley, advised by the Iliberis team; daily 9am–6pm.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: A return bus from Granada costs €10, every car park in the resort is currently free, and the adult day pass at the ticket office runs from €56 in mid-April to €72 at peak times (sierranevada.es, 2026/27); the Cetursa-run Aparthotel Trevenque has kitchenettes 50 metres from the gondola. Mid-range: Hotel Kenia Nevada, 100 metres from the Borreguiles gondola, with a spa circuit for €35, or Meliá Sol y Nieve on the Plaza de Pradollano. Luxury: El Lodge, the resort’s alpine boutique hotel, ski-in, ski-out, with the only heated open-air pool in Sierra Nevada; then down to Granada for Faralá, starred in the MICHELIN Guide Spain 2026.

  1. Ski-in, ski-out; heated outdoor pool · In depth

    El Lodge

    Sierra Nevada·Alpine boutique hotel·€€€€

    A ski-in, ski-out lodge on the Maribel run at Sierra Nevada, with the only open-air heated pool in the resort, an outdoor sauna and Finnish hot tub, a Comfort Zone spa, The Grill, The Sun Deck and suites with terrace jacuzzis.

    C/ Maribel 8, 18196 Sierra Nevada, GranadaExplore View on map

  2. 100 m from the lifts · In depth

    Meliá Sol y Nieve

    Sierra Nevada·Four-star ski hotel·€€€

    A four-star in Pradollano, 100 metres from the main lifts, with the YHI Spa (heated pool, water circuit), The Level suites with terrace whirlpools, the fireside Arado restaurant, the Q-Lounge and a Mini Club.

    Plaza de Pradollano s/n, Sierra Nevada, GranadaExplore View on map

  3. 100 m from the Borreguiles gondola

    Hotel Kenia Nevada

    Sierra Nevada·Mountain hotel·€€

    A wood-finished mountain hotel 100 metres from the Borreguiles gondola, with a heated pool, spa, gym, regional restaurant and balconies with views.

    Calle Virgen de las Nieves 6, Sierra Nevada, GranadaExplore View on map

  4. Kitchenettes, 50 m from the gondola

    Aparthotel Trevenque

    Sierra Nevada·Aparthotel·€

    The resort operator’s aparthotel on the Plaza de Andalucía, 50 metres from the Al-Andalus gondola, with kitchenettes and laundry; reopens for 2026/27.

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  5. Accessible family hotel

    Hotel Telecabina

    Sierra Nevada·Family hotel·€€

    The resort operator’s family hotel on the Plaza de Andalucía, a few metres from the lifts, with 47 rooms including bunk-bed quadruples, fully equipped for guests with disabilities.

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Restaurants and mountain huts

  1. MICHELIN star (Guide 2026)

    Faralá

    Sierra Nevada·Contemporary restaurant·€€€€

    New MICHELIN star in the MICHELIN Guide Spain 2026: chef Cristina Jiménez’s tasting menus reinterpreting Granada’s recipes, below the Alhambra, with flamenco downstairs.

    Cuesta de Gomérez 11, 18009 GranadaExplore View on map

  2. Signature cooking facing the Veleta

    Alcazaba restaurant, Borreguiles

    Sierra Nevada·Mountain restaurant·€€€

    The resort’s best restaurant, on the top floor of the Borreguiles building: a tasting menu and charcoal-grilled COVAP meats, with a terrace facing the Veleta.

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  3. Swiss cheese at the Stadium chairlift

    The Swiss Chalet

    Sierra Nevada·Mountain restaurant·€€

    A Swiss cheese restaurant above the Stadium chairlift’s lower station, in wood, metal and slate, with seats for 236.

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  4. Menú Sierra Nevada from €14.90

    Central Grill, Borreguiles

    Sierra Nevada·Slope restaurant·€

    Mediterranean cooking at Borreguiles, between the Al-Ándalus and Borreguiles gondolas, with a Menú Sierra Nevada from €14.90.

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  5. Above 2,100 metres

    La Bodega

    Sierra Nevada·Mountain restaurant·€€

    Three dining rooms above 2,100 metres with a terrace: breakfasts, wines and high-altitude tapas, and a home-cooking buffet.

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  6. Game, fondue and Riofrío caviar

    The Grill at El Lodge

    Sierra Nevada·Hotel restaurant·€€€€

    El Lodge’s restaurant: breakfast buffet, and at dinner game, fondue, grilled fish and organic caviar from nearby Riofrío.

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  7. Bib Gourmand (MICHELIN 2026)

    La Cantina de Diego, Monachil

    Sierra Nevada·Traditional restaurant·€€

    A family-run restaurant in old Monachil, near Granada, awarded a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide Spain 2026.

    Callejón de Ricarda 2, 18193 MonachilExplore View on map

  8. In the MICHELIN Guide 2026

    Ruta del Veleta, Cenes de la Vega

    Sierra Nevada·Traditional restaurant·€€€

    A Granada institution on the road up to the mountain, run by the Pedraza family since 1976, its ceiling hung with more than 3,000 Granada jugs.

    Avenida de Sierra Nevada 146, 18190 Cenes de la VegaExplore View on map

Après-ski and bars

  1. Cocktails by the fire tables

    The Sun Deck at El Lodge

    Sierra Nevada·Terrace bar·€€€

    El Lodge’s slopeside terrace, the resort’s most exclusive, for signature cocktails and gin and tonic by wood-burning fire tables, with boot heating.

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  2. Hammocks and a heated terrace

    El Torreón premium terrace

    Sierra Nevada·Terrace bar·€€

    A heated outdoor terrace with low tables and hammocks, for gourmet burgers, salads, special beers and spirits, ordered from the table by app.

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  3. Next to the Veleta chairlift

    Wooden’s House Bar, Borreguiles

    Sierra Nevada·Terrace bar·€

    A kiosk and large terrace at the foot of the Borreguiles slopes, next to the Veleta chairlift, for gourmet sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

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  4. A sunny cabin

    Heliport terrace, Borreguiles

    Sierra Nevada·Terrace café·€

    A charming cabin in Borreguiles with a sun terrace, for drinks, pastries and quick snacks between runs.

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  5. Saturdays under the stars

    Night skiing on El Río

    Sierra Nevada·Night slope·€

    On Saturdays in season the El Río slope opens for night skiing; season passes include it.

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Shops

  1. Passes, packages and gift vouchers

    Sierra Nevada online shop

    Sierra Nevada·Resort shop·€€

    The resort’s own shop for passes, activities, packages and Sierra Nevada gift vouchers, usually cheaper than the ticket office.

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  2. Bogner and Phenix

    El Lodge Prêt-à-Porter boutique

    Sierra Nevada·Ski wear·€€€€

    Premium ski wear and kit from Bogner, Phenix, Stöckli and Oakley at El Lodge, floor −1.

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  3. Flamenco on the Cuesta de Gomérez

    El Quejío wine bar, Granada

    Sierra Nevada·Wine bar·€€

    The street-level wine bar beneath Faralá, with live singing and dancing, for an evening in Granada after the slopes.

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Spas and wellness

  1. At the foot of the Alhambra

    Hammam Al Ándalus, Granada

    Sierra Nevada·Arab baths·€€

    Andalusian-style Arab baths in central Granada, below the Alhambra, with bathing rituals and massages.

    C/ Santa Ana 16, GranadaExplore View on map

  2. The only heated outdoor pool

    El Lodge wellness

    Sierra Nevada·Hotel spa·€€€€

    Indoor pool, sauna, gym and two treatment rooms, and the only heated open-air pool in Sierra Nevada.

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  3. 50 minutes from €35

    Kenia Nevada spa circuit

    Sierra Nevada·Hotel spa·€

    A 50-minute spa circuit, jet pool, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sauna, at Hotel Kenia Nevada: €35, or €50 for two, 4–9pm.

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  4. On the Plaza de Pradollano

    YHI Spa, Meliá Sol y Nieve

    Sierra Nevada·Hotel spa·€€€

    The YHI Spa at Meliá Sol y Nieve, at the foot of the slopes in Pradollano.

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Getting there

  1. 47 km

    Granada Airport (GRX)

    Sierra Nevada·Airport·€

    The nearest airport, 47 km from the resort; Málaga is 172 km and Seville 291 km.

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  2. 172 km

    Málaga Airport (AGP)

    Sierra Nevada·Airport·€

    The main international gateway for Andalucía, 172 km from Sierra Nevada.

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  3. €10 return

    Bus from Granada (Autocares Tocina)

    Sierra Nevada·Bus·€

    Winter buses from Granada bus station to Pradollano: weekdays 8am, 10:15am and 5:15pm, weekends also 3pm; €5.50 one way, €10 return.

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  4. 40 km

    Granada railway station

    Sierra Nevada·Rail·€

    Granada station is 40 km from the resort; continue by bus or taxi.

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  5. No parking charge at present

    Driving and parking

    Sierra Nevada·By road·€

    The A-395 climbs from Granada; all the resort’s car parks are currently free, with live occupancy for Pradollano and Peñones.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

  1. The resort village

    Pradollano

    Sierra Nevada·Neighbourhood

    The resort village, built in tiers on the mountainside around the Plaza de Pradollano and the Plaza de Andalucía, with hotels, apartments and the gondolas.

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  2. The village below

    Monachil

    Sierra Nevada·Neighbourhood

    A village with an old quarter at the foot of the mountain near Granada, a quieter base between the city and the slopes.

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  3. 40 km below

    Granada

    Sierra Nevada·City

    The city of the Alhambra, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte, 40 km from the slopes, with year-round life and the airport and station.

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  4. On the road up

    Cenes de la Vega

    Sierra Nevada·Neighbourhood

    A town on the Avenida de Sierra Nevada at the start of the mountain road, between Granada and the resort.

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