There is one thing that we specially love about living in Barcelona: you can get to the sea in just a couple of minutes, but also you can go on a day trip to the nearest mountains or the woods. And that includes spending one day skiing and enjoying beautiful landscapes relatively close to Barcelona. Do you want to know which are some of the best ski resorts near Barcelona? Here is a list we made highlighting the best of each option:
How many ski resorts are in Catalonia?
There are a total of 16 ski resorts in Catalonia. Which of them are the closest to Barcelona? Easily accessible by public transport? These are some of the questions that we are going to answer in today’s post.
Vallter2000, Setcases (Girona)
Probably one of the closest among the ski resorts near Barcelona. We actually stopped there while we were on our trip visiting the Oriental Pyrenees area (Camprodon, Setcases, La Roca…).
This is a good option if you are looking for a nice ski resort near Barcelona which is also much more than that: the villages and little towns around Vallter2000 are just lovely. So instead of a one day ski trip, you might want to plan a couple more days to explore one of the most beautiful areas in the country. A small but charming ski resort near Barcelona, a pretty good option for a family ski day.
Espot Esquí, Espot (Lleida)
If you are not a newbie to this online publication, you probably will be aware of the love we feel for this area of the country. It is where the one and only national park in Catalonia is located, Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. So Espot Esquí is so close to an area with many glacial lakes, and some slopes surrounded by forest.
La Molina, la Molina (Girona)
Ideal for those who don’t have a car. You can easily get there by train and then catching a shuttle bus that takes you to the ski area. La Molina is one of the most popular ski resorts near Barcelona, probably because of its closeness to the city and also because some people from Barcelona have their second home in that area, called La Cerdanya.
La Cerdanya is a really beautiful area with villages worth exploring: Das, Bellver de Cerdanya, Prullans… This ski resort is well known for its many services (cafeteria, restaurants, etc.) and activities, hosting many recognized international events throughout the year.
Masella, Alp (Girona)
Masella is right next to la Molina. It offers services and activities similar to la Molina, and what makes this ski rest special is that it has a specific area for night skiing. It is also among the best ski resorts near Barcelona.
Vall de Núria, Queralbs (Girona)
This might not be the most popular place to go skiing, but it is definitely one of the most beautiful places for a day trip (including skiing). The adventure begins right from the moment you take the special train to get to the valley (which is called “cremallera”), and once there visiting the sanctuary “Santuari Mare de Déu de Núria”. This is probably the most “spiritual” ski resort near Barcelona. Also, one of the best parts: you can easily get to Vall de Núria by public transport.
BONUS: Ski resorts further from Barcelona (but still an option)
Baqueira Beret, Salardú (Vall d’Aran)
This ski resort has the largest ski area in Spain, with peaks around 3.000 meters high and more than 200 lakes in that area. However, it takes longer to get there compared to the ski resorts near Barcelona we have listed so far.
Andorra: Grand Valira and Vallnord-Pal Arinsal
Another option is going skiing to some of the ski resorts in Andorra. If you are planning to spend a couple of days there, take in mind that you can also enjoy some great ski areas in that country. For instance, Grand Valira or Vallnord-Pal Arinsal.
And these would be the main ski resorts near Barcelona for a day trip (or even a weekend) skiing. Have you been in any of them? Which one is your favorite?