How many times have you heard that “I’ve done a quick up and down to the snow”? It’s very us, the people from Barcelona. Because, although we have tremendous ice rinks in Barcelona during Christmas, there’s nothing like going up to see the real snow.
Like any son of a neighbor, we may sometimes complain about our habitat, but the truth is that we have the privilege of having everything nearby: sea, mountains and snow. Now that the cold season is starting to appear, we want to tell you about these 5 places where you can enjoy skiing or just spending a day in the snow with your colleagues.
Baqueira Beret
Surely, the first choice of all those who like to go up to the Catalan Pyrenees, either to spend a few days of disconnection or to add excitement to your plan with long ski sessions. Baqueira is an irresistible setting: its beauty and rich landscape make this place one of the most beautiful in Catalonia. To this is added the leisure offer, in which stands out, of course, skiing. Its slopes have a drop of up to 1,010m, approaching that of resorts in the Alps. It enjoys abundant snow and low temperatures throughout the season, as well as a large off-piste area.
In addition to the great attraction of skiing, there is another one: the Polar Sound music festival. Once again this year, it will be held in this privileged Catalan setting. It will be on March 24 and 25, 2023, so you can enjoy the snow season while enjoying the music of renowned artists of the national scene. The first confirmed artists are Taburete, Marlena and DJ Nano. The festival offers a pack with accommodation in one of the hotels and apartments in Baqueira Beret and surroundings. A perfect excuse to disconnect from the city and spend a whole weekend in the snow.
What you will find:
113 slopes: 5 green (4 km), 43 blue (74 km), 48 red (68 km), 17 black (20 km), 3 itineraries (5 km).
36 lifts: 1 gondola lift (9 seats), 18 chairlifts (12 detachable 5×6, 7×4 and 6 fixed clamp (4×3, 2×2), 10 chairlifts (6 chairlifts, 2 tandem chairlifts, 2 chairlifts) and 7 conveyor belts.
💰 For 59 euros you can get your ski pass rental.
📍 Baqueira Beret – Google Maps
Vall de Núria
It is the closest ski resort to Barcelona. Besides the scenery, its main charm is the rack railway. You have to take it to be able to access the slopes. In just 40 minutes it reaches a difference in altitude of more than 1,000 meters, so you will feel like a small atom flying over extensive snowy slopes.
It has 7.6 km of slopes and an artificial snowmaking system. The base of the resort is at 1,964 meters, in a valley surrounded by peaks of 3,000 meters high. And the maximum elevation is 2,252 meters.
What you will find:
Gondola lift, chairlift, ski lifts and beginners’ ribbon.
11 slopes: 2 black, 3 red, 3 blue and 3 green.
For 35 euros you can get your ticket with access to the rack railway and ski pass rental.
Vallter 2000
A little further from Barcelona than the previous one, this ski area is characterized by its family atmosphere, but also for having a slope for skimo.
Its base is located at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters; its maximum altitude is over 2,500 meters. In total it has 18.75 km of skiable terrain.
In addition to the slopes, this resort is characterized by a large playground where skiers and non-skiers can enjoy a fun tobogganing. It also offers the Mini Club L’Esquirol, a snow garden dedicated to the little ones. Here they can have fun with various activities while parents and adults ski. They also offer introductory skiing courses for children aged 3 and 4 years old.
As if that were not enough, Vallter 2000 is located in one of the most charming areas of Catalonia: Ripollès, specifically in the municipality of Setcases. It is located a few kilometers from the Ter river and the Natural Park of the Headwaters of the Ter and Freser rivers.
What you will find:
18 slopes: 1 black, 6 red, 3 blue and 3 green. and 3 freeride slopes.
11 ski lifts: 2 chairlifts, 5 ski lifts, 3 treadmills and 1 chairlift.
💰 For 35 euros you can get your ski pass rental.
📍 Estació Vallter 2000 – Google Maps
Port del Comte
It is usually less crowded than the rest. In addition, it is surrounded by a beautiful forest of black pines, which enhances its charm. It is a medium-sized area and has 37 slopes and 16 lifts.
The resort is divided into 3 zones: the Hotel zone (for beginners), the Sucre zone (for intermediates) and the l’Estivella zone (for advanced skiers).
What you will find:
38 slopes: 6 black, 12 red, 12 blue and 8 green.
16 ski lifts: 5 chairlifts, 9 ski lifts and 3 debutant Ribbons.
💰 For 39 euros you can get your ski pass rental in high season.
📍 Port del Comte – Google Maps
Masella
It is much larger than the previous three, although it is also true that it has more visitors for its wide range of skiing and snowboarding. It is located less than 2 hours from Barcelona, passing through the Cadi Tunnel and accessing the Cerdanya area, considered one of the most beautiful in Catalonia. It has a total of 74 km skiable.
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest attractions of this slope is that you can ski at night. Thanks to its network of lights illuminating 13 main slopes of the lower and middle levels of the ski area, skiing becomes a real experience.
What you will find:
65 slopes: 10 black, 22 red, 24 blue and 9 green.
17 ski lifts: 5 chairlifts, 6 ski lifts, 4 debutant ribbons and 2 cable cars.
💰 For about 45 euros you can get your ski pass rental in high season.
La Molina
Another of the great slopes of Catalonia, along with Masella. In fact, both are very close, practically united. In La Molina you will find a snowpark for beginners and a larger one, with a Half-Pipe.
Like Masella, it offers spectacular views of the Cerdanya and its slopes combine the forest with the snowy mountains. In addition, it cannot be overlooked that it is one of the most modern slopes in terms of facilities: it has a snowmaking system that covers 60% of the skiable area.
What you will find:
66 slopes: 7 black, 22 red, 18 blue and 21 green.
16 lifts: 1 gondola lift, 8 chairlifts, 3 ski lifts, and 4 debutant lifts.
💰 For about 45 euros you can get your ski pass rental in high season.