Best places for skiing in Andorra
Andorra might be under the radar, but skiing in Andorra sets the bar high for epic shred spots. Intrigued to know more? Good thing we’ve created this quick-fire, one-stop guide! Let’s dive into this untapped paradise.
You might know Andorra as a small country in the Pyrenees mountain range. But did you also know it serves up over 186 miles/300 kilometers of slopes to rip, fast-running lifts and plenty of hella-fun freeride lines? It’s also great value for money compared to a lot of European ski destinations, and is a lot quieter than its big French neighbours across the border.
Okay, Andorra only has a handful of ski resorts, but each one is 100% ready to provide your best ski days ever. So, let’s get into our guide to the top spots, shall we? Don’t forget to check out our new collection, too. Explore our just-dropped styles below.
Top ski destinations
Ordino Arcalis
- 19 miles/30 kilometers of rideable terrain
- 35 trails
- 16 lifts
- 2,247 feet/685 meters of vertical drop
- 5 feet/1.5 meters of snow per year
Petite but packing a punch, Ordino Arcalis is the first resort on our list. This dual-town ski resort is pretty small, with 35 winding trails and 685 meters of vertical descent. However, prep yourself for the off-piste! It’s ridiculously expansive and fun, with more ski touring terrain and freeride lines than you can jam into a week. No wonder the Freeride World Tour stops here once a year! Most of Arcalis’s off-piste is lift-served, too – or a short bootpack or skin from the lift.
Thanks to its unique position near the French border, Ordino Arcalis kind of has its own microclimate. So, you know what that means: off-the-charts pow! Honestly, it’s so high-quality it gives Haokkaido a run for its money. If you’re happier staying on the marked stuff – don’t worry. An Ordino Arcalis lift ticket lets you access the whoppingly big Grandvalira ski area. That’s over 133 miles/215 kilometers to shred!
Okay, you have to get creative about the accommodation. That’s because Arcalis is more of a day-visit ski station. Most people stay in the village of Ordino (7 miles/14 kilometers away), El Serrat (less than a ten-minute drive from the base), or La Massana (a 25-minute drive). Après-ski is also pretty mellow. But you’ll find more than a few choice on-mountain spots. One of our faves is undoubtedly Restaurant la Boda de la Coma for a cappuccino in the sunshine. Restaurant Refugi Les Portelles is also well worth a visit for a slice of cake alongside impressive views of the Tristaina glacier.
Top tip: Feast on freeriding! Well, you are in Andorra’s freeride capital! We love exploring the copious gullies and bowls off the Les Portelles chair or gorging on the powder-filled bowls in La Coma.
Pas de la Casa
- 62 miles/100 kilometers of rideable terrain
- 13 trails
- 10 lifts
- 3,051 feet/930 meters of vertical drop
- 23 feet/7 meters of snow per year
Keen on somewhere snow-sure? You can’t go wrong with Pas de la Casa, the Pyrenees’ highest ski resort and Andorra’s largest shred spot. If the snow gods are feeling generous, Pas de la Casa stays open until late April – perfect for end-of-season slush turns! Newbies will also want to head here, thanks to most of the runs marked being graded green and blue. Worried your park rat buddies might get FOMO? Don’t be – Pas de la Casa has a park and pipe!
Oh, and Pas de la Casa is part of the whopping Grandvalira ski area. The Grandvalira combines a few different resorts for you to cruise or charge over 133 miles/215 kilometers of slopes! Each resort has a gondola to take you to the mind-blowing area, which includes avalanche-patrolled, groomed zones alongside miles of backcountry bliss. And from Pas de la Casa, you can ride to nearby Grau Roig, Soldeu, and El Tarter.
Once your legs are done, it’s time to party! Yes, Pas de la Casa is all about après, with tons of bars and pubs open till the early hours. And, the best part? Andorra après-ski is a fraction of the price compared to its central European counterparts. You can’t go wrong with Coll Blanc, a Pas institution, for straight-off-the-slopes beers on the terrace. Looking to keep going until dawn? Billbord and Paddy’s Irish Bar provide live music and themed nights, guaranteeing you’ll wake up with a sore head. First lifts are the best hangover cure, though!
Top tip: Shop! Pas de la Casa is on the French-Andorran border, meaning you should definitely take advantage of Andorra’s low tax and duty-free prices. Whether you’re after alcohol, perfume, or new planks, shop till you drop around Carrer de Sant Jordi, Avenida d’Encamp, and Carrer Major, Pas de la Casa’s three main streets.
Soldeu
- 57 miles/92 kilometers of rideable terrain
- 52 trails
- 29 lifts
- 3,051 feet/930 meters of vertical drop
- 16 feet/5 meters of snow per year
Taking little ones with you? Soldeu is ace for kids. This ski resort offers an incredible ski school and an impressive mix of beginner and intermediate trails. Are tree-lined blacks more your jam? Don’t worry – Soldeu has those, too, alongside awesome freeride terrain and a next-level off-piste ski school.
Soldeu hosts impressive calendar events, such as the Alpine Skiing World Cup. So, why not have a go on Avet yourself, a black trail used in the Women’s World Cup? However, Soldeu’s main flex is that it’s a gateway to the sprawling Grandvalira ski area, one of the world’s largest ski networks. Soldeu also connects with El Tarter’s ski zone, which holds one of the Pyrenees’ largest terrain parks! Yep, Snowpark El Tarter is pretty much the Pied Piper of the mountains, luring tons of park rats to its rails, modular staircase, Adrenaline Area (wooden features in a forest), halfpipe, and more.
Soldeu’s village is cute and tiny. We timed it, and you can walk from one end to the other in about ten minutes. And the main gondola is right at the center of it. However, this petite village is packed with family-friendly hotels and restaurants to keep everyone happy. Our top picks are Restaurant La Cort del Popaire for an out-of-this-world gastronomic experience, Don Giovanni Ristorante for mouth-watering Italian, or Fat Alberts for juicy steaks and cozy vibes. You’ll also find the insane Sport Wellness Spa, a luxury spa for full-level unwinding.
Top tip: Check out Canillo! This ski resort is linked with Soldeu and is part of the Grandvalira ski area. But Canillo is also super fun to explore once the lifts stop spinning. Our fave thing to do? Fly down one of Europe’s longest ziplines in the Mon(t) Magic Family Park. It’s impossible not to squeal, scream, ’Yew!’, or do all three.
Pal Arinsal
- 101 miles/63 kilometers of rideable terrain
- 42 trails
- 30 lifts
- 3,314 feet/1,010 meters of vertical drop
- 3 feet/1 meter of snow per year
Feeling rusty? Or just learning how to ski or snowboard for the first time? Pal Arinsal is the place to go! You might hear it referred to as Vallnord, the collective name for the linked spots of Pal and Arinsal. A cable car connects both areas, giving you an impressive 101 miles/63 kilometers to ski or board to your heart’s content.
Arinsal offers plenty of blue cruisers to build confidence on your turns. There’s also a nursery for mini-shredders. And little ones ski for free! Looking for something more challenging? No sweat – Pal provides a few advanced runs and off-piste blacks to get your edges into. But Arinsal has its moments. In fact, after being blessed by the snow gods, Arinsal hosts Andorra’s highest vertical drop, Yep, charge from the lift at Pic Alt de la Capa down to the chair at Cota 1550 and experience more than 3,000 feet/914 meters of thigh-burning descent over a four-mile/seven-kilometer distance. Just watch out around here, snowboarders. You have eight drag lifts to conquer. Eek!
In terms of accommodation, stay in either Arinsal village (with a gondola at the base), La Massana, a parish town in the Pal sector, or somewhere down the valley. Craving classic après-ski vibes before bed? Head to El Moli to make shapes on the dancefloor and El Derby for Irish pub vibes. Want to swap shots for spa treatments? Aim for the 4-star Princess Park Hotel in Arinsal village. This hotel has a games arcade and bowling, too!
Top tip: Book a table at Borda Raubert in La Massana and try Escudella, Andorra’s national dish. This hearty stew is the perfect recipe to refuel and lap until last chair.
Wrapping up
There’s no question about it: Andorra is ace! We particularly like that you can hire a car and day-trip to each resort or ride to a few via connected lifts! Oh, and don’t forget your Ikon Pass! It now includes multiple free ski days in Andorra, split between various resorts, so it’s 100% worth bringing with you!
Have a few more Andorra questions? Or set on going but now need the setup to match? Reach out to our rad, passionate crew at crew@dopesnow.com. They’re ready to help and share your stoke for mountain days ahead!
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