Estación de Esquí y Montaña de Sierra Nevada
Europe's sunniest high resort above Granada
Rising above Granada in Andalusia, Sierra Nevada is continental Europe's southernmost major ski resort, a high, sun-drenched station where you can ski in the morning and reach the Mediterranean coast the same afternoon.
- 2,138 m Base
- 3,300 m Top lift
- 1,162 m Vertical
- 124 Pistes mapped
- 22 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
The base village of Pradollano is famously sociable and buzzy, with a tight cluster of bars, tapas terraces and clubs that keep going late, drawing a young, energetic Spanish crowd.
The resort
Sierra Nevada sits high on the mountain of the same name, directly above the historic city of Granada in southern Spain. Its remarkable altitude, with slopes climbing towards the 3,000-metre-plus summits, is what makes skiing possible so far south, and it lends the resort a season that stretches unusually late into spring. The compact, pedestrianised base village of Pradollano tumbles down the hillside in tiers, giving the whole place a warm, gregarious, distinctly Andalusian character. Long hours of sunshine and wide, open pistes define the on-mountain experience, while the lights of Granada glitter far below. Few resorts combine serious high-mountain terrain with such a southern, sun-soaked feel.
This is the place for skiers who want reliable sunshine, a lively social scene and the novelty of pairing the slopes with a Moorish city, tapas and even the Mediterranean coast within a single trip. It suits those chasing spring sunshine and atmosphere over deep Alpine snow, and families and groups drawn to its accessible, high-altitude terrain and late season.
The mood is bright and buoyant, powered by clear skies, high sun and a young Spanish clientele. The considerable altitude keeps the snow in play well into spring, but the southern latitude and strong sun mean conditions soften quickly through the day, rewarding early starts and giving the afternoons a relaxed, sun-terrace feel.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
- —
- Conditions
- —
- Wind
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- Fresh snow (3-day)
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Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Altitude is the great equaliser here: the high top elevations hold snow surprisingly well for so southerly a resort, and the season often runs late into spring, though the intense southern sun and exposure make conditions more variable than in the Alps and lean heavily on cold, clear spells and snowmaking.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face NW — 86% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Well catered for, with gentle, sunny nursery slopes and easy runs close to the village.
The heart of the resort, with long, wide, cruising pistes down open, treeless slopes.
A decent spread of steeper red and black runs from the higher lifts to keep stronger skiers occupied.
More limited for hardcore terrain, though the high peaks offer off-piste lines and spring touring for those who seek them out.
Ski and sea in a single day
Sierra Nevada's position above Granada, with the Mediterranean coast within reach to the south, makes the famous ski-in-the-morning, beach-in-the-afternoon combination genuinely possible. It is the resort's signature novelty and a large part of why people come.
Night skiing under the lights
The resort is well known for its floodlit night-skiing sessions, when floodlights illuminate the pistes above Pradollano and the base village comes alive. It extends the day and adds to the resort's famously sociable evening atmosphere.
Granada and the Alhambra below
The historic city of Granada, crowned by the Moorish palace of the Alhambra, lies a short drive down the mountain. The pairing of high-altitude skiing with one of Spain's great cultural cities is a defining part of a trip here.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay in Estación de Esquí y Montaña de Sierra Nevada
Most visitors stay in Pradollano, the tiered, pedestrian-friendly base village set right on the slopes, which puts the lifts, bars and restaurants on the doorstep; the city of Granada offers a very different, culture-led alternative within easy reach.
Lifts and pistes from the door — the point of a high, purpose-built resort.
Self-catering residences, the bulk of the beds and the flexible-budget option.
Catered and self-catered chalets for groups wanting the whole place.
From simple to high-end, with pools and spas to thaw out in.
How to get there
Granada (GRX) is the closest airport, a short transfer up the mountain; Málaga, on the Costa del Sol, is a larger and often better-connected international gateway a scenic drive away.
The approach climbs steadily from Granada up a well-made mountain road to Pradollano, a straightforward drive that gains altitude quickly.
Best time: Late winter into spring, roughly February to April, offers the best balance of settled high-altitude snow, long sunny days and the resort's celebrated late season.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Madrid SnowZone
Michlifen ski resort
- Vertical
- 52 m
- Lifts
- 2
Habri ski resort
- Vertical
- 160 m
- Lifts
- 1
Getting to Estación de Esquí y Montaña de Sierra Nevada
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Granada (GRX) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.