On the Costa del Sol, we are mainly known for our beautiful beaches and coastal life however during the winter months we are lucky enough to be located just a short drive away from Europe’s southernmost ski resort. Sierra Nevada is located in the Penebetic mountain range in Andalucia and is endowed with the Ibearian peninsula’s highest summits.

The Sierra Nevada resort has skiing at an altitude of over 10,000 feet and brilliant sunshine during most of the winter. When storms do arrive, life at the top of this treeless mountain stops and visitors either drop down to Granada or curl up in front of a log fire with a good book. With clear weather the views are stunning, from the top of the Veleta peak skiers can see across the straits of Gibraltar to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco in one direction and close to one third of Spain to the north.

Sierra Nevada is a purpose built ski resort and is mainly used during the winter season, as a result it is perfectly laid out and equipped for that function. The resort itself, Padrollano, is essentially a grouping of apartments and hotels laid at the base of the first series of lifts. Although it is not traditionally Spanish in design or Alpine in character, the resort is modern and well situated with a hint of traditional charm. The most important thing for boarders or skiers of course isn’t so much the architecture as the snow, and in Spain, due to the low humidity of the region, it comes down light and dry making it perfect for winter sports. When it doesn’t snow, Sierra Nevada has the advantage of having one of Europe’s most advanced snowmaking systems enabling the resort to be open from December to April.

Many that visit Sierra Nevada comment on the lack of snobbery surrounding the resort as well as its affordability compared to other ski centers. It has cheap ski passes and very good value equipment hire, add to that the fantastic weather, more than 45 trails and cross country skiing, snowboarding and plentiful après ski, which includes over 50 bars and restaurants, and many will find that Sierra Nevada is a great resort for those looking for that perfect skiing break.

The Sierra Nevada skiing range is not that extensive but it is wide open and the runs are long and gentle, boasting an above-treeline vertical of 3,757 feet.

The first lifts take all skiers to the main hub, Borreguiles, about 1,500 feet above the main village. Borreguiles is surrounded by the main ski school and has some great teaching slopes as well as plenty of high-speed quad chairs, 22 in total, which serve every major section of the mountain. Even on a very busy day this means that most queues to this mellow mountain are kept to a minimum.

Here in Borreguiles the restaurants and cafés are grouped together and offer some
very reasonable dishes, they also have very reasonable dishes, they also have large terraces overlooking the slopes where you can have a rest and watch the skiers descend the slopes.

If you are looking for more of a challenge you can reach some of the more spectacular trails by traversing a little to your right towards the Olimpica run that slices down the Laguna de Yeguas bowl. Here, 2,300 vertical feet of more challenging intermediate terrain and wide-open snowfields beckon. The visuals here are dramatic with cliffs ringing the bowl and the stunning snow. There is also an excellent off-piste itinerary called Tajos de Virgen that provides great views and a bit of a challenge. As always, experts can find the tough stuff anywhere, Sierra Nevada has some good challenges in the far bowls and is great for strong skiers in the ungroomed areas

One of the best things about Sierra Nevada, if you’re not too much of a skiing aficionado, is its proximity to Granada. If you choose to you can ski in the morning and stroll through the Alhambra in the afternoon. Another option would be spending the night in one of Granada’s many hotels, giving you the chance to enjoy its varied nightlife and authentic restaurants as a bit of a change to the resort. Granada is distinctly Arab in influence and one of Spain’s most interesting cities, perfect for wandering around the cobbled streets and shopping in the many markets dotted around the city. There is also plenty of music, cinema, art and theatre festivals throughout the year, ensuring there is always something to do or see.