In one of the smallest countries in Europe, a top-class ski region awaits winter holidaymakers who appreciate well-groomed, snow-sure pistes, varied après-ski opportunities and inexpensive shopping: the Grandvalira ski area in Andorra. The two ski resorts Pas de la Casa and Soldeu offer a wide range of options for young and old.

• Top-class ski area at an altitude between 1,710 m and 2,640 m
• a total of 68 lifts with 6 comfortable cable cars
• Unlimited skiing fun on 210 km of well-groomed routes
• quaint ski resorts Pas de la Casa and Soldeu in the miniature state of Andorra

For skiing in Andorra and not in the Alps? Andorra – where is that anyway and is there really a real ski area there? Yes there is! And what one! With a total of 210 kilometers of perfectly groomed and extremely snow-sure slopes, the Grandvalira ski area in Andorra is the largest ski area in Europe outside the Alps. It convinces with comfortable lifts, cozy and modern accommodations and a varied après-ski program.

The Grandvalira ski area has the right offer for all imaginable demands and skill levels – from families with children to adult beginners to professionals.

The Grandvalira ski area is located in the high altitudes of the Pyrenees between Spain and France at an altitude between 1,710 m and 2,640 m. Thanks to its favourable geographical location, the Grandvalira ski area around the two well-known ski resorts of Pas de la Casa and Soldeu is extremely snow-reliable and also in winter very sun-kissed.

You can expect an average of 4 to 6 hours of sunshine in the ski area from December to March. In April there are even 9 hours of sunshine on average. Since there is often between 1 m and 2 m of snow in the area of ​​the mountain station even in April, a late ski holiday in the Grandvalira ski area is particularly attractive. At the valley station there is a snow depth of between 10 cm and 120 cm throughout the winter.

The great thing about the Grandvalira ski area, which can be accessed completely from one entry point with a well thought-out network of 68 lifts, is its versatility. Skiers of all ages and with very different abilities will find so many suitable runs in the ski area that, with good planning, they hardly have to ski on a slope twice a day.

As if that weren’t enough, there are a total of 4 snow parks, the possibility of night skiing and of course many ski schools and children’s centres for the little ones. In the evening, too, the range is evident in the Grandvalira: from a cozy inn to a gourmet restaurant and cocktail bar to a hot après-ski disco, everything is on offer in the ski area.

The skiing pleasure in the Grandvalira ski area is almost limitless. So it is no wonder that our experts use many stars in the top evaluation criteria: They give an excellent 5 stars – the top grade – for guaranteed snow. And the “Lifte & Bahnen” also score very well with 4 stars. The good conditions are of course continued in the detailed evaluations.

2) Grandvalira ski area piste map

3) Skiing in the Grandvalira ski area

The merger of the two ski areas around Pas de la Casa and Soldeu has created Europe’s largest ski area outside the Alps. More than 68 lifts can be reached from the popular ski resorts of Pas de la Casa and Soldeu as well as four other locations, 210 kilometers of slopes of all levels of difficulty. The mountain can be comfortably reached with the help of 6 cable cars, 27 chair lifts and 35 drag lifts.

You can go down on one of the blue, red or black slopes. With a total of 100 km, the easy slopes are the most common. But even advanced skiers will not miss out on 77 km of red slopes. For experts and cracks there are an unbelievable 33 km of black pistes that demand everything from the ability to ski.

Those who need even more thrills can use one of the numerous freeride opportunities, tackle the unique mogul slope course or ride the FIS race tracks. Our experts rate the extensive range for “experts & freeriders” with 5 stars. With the boardercross routes and a total of 4 snow parks, one of which can be used until late in the evening thanks to the floodlight system, freestylers will definitely not miss out in the Grandvalira ski area.

Our experts also reward these great opportunities with 5 stars.

The entrance to Soldeu is particularly suitable for families. There are an above-average number of blue slopes available there, which also offer children and adult beginners the best conditions for skiing and learning. Our experts rate the ski area with 5 stars each with regard to “beginners” and “families & children”.

With a total of 30 km of groomed trails, the ski area is also interesting for cross-country skiers. However, you have to know that most of the trails can be found at an altitude of 2,100 m around the village of Grau Roig. From Soldeu it is about 10 minutes by car to Grau Roig. Another cross-country centre is located in La Rabassa, where 15 km of well-groomed trails in various degrees of difficulty invite you to cross-country skiing.

4) Expert evaluation

A superlative ski area – Grandvalira undoubtedly deserves this name. With an overall rating of 4.4 stars, the Grandvalira ski area is one of the best regions for ski vacationers in Europe. Not only the guaranteed snow, but also four of the five evaluation criteria for special interests achieve the top rating of 5 stars. The ski area is highly recommended for both beginners and families with children.

But real experts and freeriders also feel at home on the slopes of the Grandvalira and find their own personal challenges on the difficult slopes. Four snow parks await the cracks on skis and boards – these also get 5 stars from our experts.

In the Grandvalira ski area, it’s not just the slopes that are right, but also the trimmings: From après-ski to orientation with a piste map, information boards & signage to the gastronomic offer in the mountain restaurants and huts, the experts give it very good 4 stars.

5) Off-piste activities

When the whole family goes on a winter holiday together, there are often family members who hardly or not at all want to ski. For these winter vacationers and of course for everyone else who is looking for a change from alpine skiing, there are numerous possibilities in the Grandvalira ski area: The picturesque landscape invites you to winter and snowshoe hikes around the ski resorts.

In addition, you can enjoy the wintry nature on a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride. A dog sled excursion is much more sporty and something very special. Those looking for relaxation and tranquility should definitely plan a day in the thermal baths.

A day of skiing can end relaxed with dinner together. In all ski resorts of the Grandvalira ski area, 4-star mountain restaurants and huts await hungry guests. Delicious food and good, but also cheap drinks are available in the hearty inns, the fine inns with regional or international cuisine and in the rustic pubs and bars.

In the ski resort of Pas de la Casa, with a mostly young crowd, there are countless bars, pubs and pubs in the center of the village. Party lovers can party and dance until late at night. There are also great, classic après-ski locations in the ski resort of Soldeu, such as the Irish pub “Villager” right at the valley station. From there, it is worth taking a detour to the “Iceberg” après ski bar or “Fat Alberts”. The “Aspen Pub” offers a very special ambience with table football and live music.

If you want to turn night into day, you should go to El Tarter: You can party until the early hours of the morning in “Nemo’s Nightclub”.

6) Locations in the Grandvalira ski area

You can access the Grandvalira ski area via a total of six ski resorts. The popular ski resorts of Pas de la Casa and Soldeu have long been important centers for skiing in Andorra and can therefore look back on a skiing tradition.

The ski resort Pas de la Casa is located at an altitude of 2,080 m and only gained importance as a mountain village close to the border on a mountain pass around 1900. With the first ski lift in the 1957/1958 season, the foundation stone was laid as a ski resort and tourist magnet. The place is now a regular venue for FIS races and has even hosted European Ski Championships.

The small town with around 3,000 inhabitants is a rather sleepy mountain village outside the ski season, but offers space for many thousands of holidaymakers in winter with over 30 hotel complexes and countless holiday apartments. The ski resort of Soldeu is a whole lot smaller with less than 600 permanent residents. The small mountain village is much quieter and more cozy than the other ski resorts in the region and is therefore particularly suitable for families with children.

7) Arrival in the Grandvalira ski area

The two ski resorts Pas de la Casa and Soldeu are about 15 km apart. Holidaymakers who do not come by car can also come to Andorra by train or plane. The nearest airports are in Toulouse, Girona or Barcelona. From Toulouse, after the flight, it’s a good 2 hours south by rental car to get to Soldeu or Pas de la Casa. The nearest train stations are L’Hospitalet Près l’Andorre around 15 kilometers and La Tour de Carol around 30 kilometers away.