The Sierra Nevada may not be as famous as the Alpine Ski resorts, but it is the largest, highest and best ski resort in Spain, boasting over 100km of pistes, and with the seemingly endless 6 km long ‘Aguila’ it is also home to the longest piste on the Iberian peninsula. As the most southerly in Europe, it offers you, on a clear day, the most incredible views across the Mediterranean Sea to Africa. The world class facilities there were host to a 1996 FIS World Cup Ski Championship race. In recent years World Slope and Freestyle events took place at the site, which also hosted the 2015 Winter Universiade, the world university games. In March 2017, Sierra Nevada hosted the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships.
With a long season running from early December until early May the resort has a fantastic snow record yet enjoys plenty of Mediterranean sunshine. In fact in Spanish it is referred to as “Sol y Nieve” (Sun & Snow). It is easy to take a day trip from Nerja to ski and all equipment can be hired in Pradollano, the resort village, as well as being able to book ski lessons there.
In summer, it is the perfect place to walk and enjoy the amazing views, away from the heat. There are a range of walking routes that can be done and you can climb from the 2,100 meters of the resort village of Pradollano to the 3,394 metres of altitude of the Veleta peak, with the help of two ski lifts that operate in the summer months (the last part of the climb is done on foot).
More information can be found on the official website: www.sierranevada.es/en