When you think of skiing, which country pops into your mind? France? Switzerland? Austria? When you think of Spain, what image do you see? Beaches? Warm weather? Tapas bars? Well, did you know that there are many wonderful ski resorts in Spain to enjoy too? They are often within reach of the coast, where you can buy a second home?
Beautiful mountain ranges straddle much of the north and central southern parts of Spain and it is here that you will find the best ski resorts. Most are family-friendly and budget-friendly too. These areas are lovely to visit in summer as well, where you can go hiking, rambling and riding and where nature lives undisturbed.
Spain is just a couple of hours away from the UK and there are plenty of daily flights between the two countries with budget airlines. This is one reason it is the most popular country for British people to invest in. Of course, there is also the lure of golden sand, sunshine and lifestyle but you can have all this and still be less than two hours from mountains and skiing.
Skiing in France or Switzerland can be a very expensive affair and buying property in a successful ski resort there is out of reach for many. Spain, however, has beautiful mountains and homes at affordable prices, not to mention the reasonable cost of lift passes and ski hire. So, if you like the idea of living close to the mountains and the coast or a big city, why not think about buying a holiday home or a permanent home in Spain?
Let’s take a look at where you can ski and still be able to swim.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range has some of Spain’s best ski resorts
Where are the best places to buy property near ski resorts in Spain?
Andalusia – Alpujarras (Granada, Málaga airports)
Andalusia is certainly one of the most popular destinations for British people for sun and sea but this region also has some of Spain’s best skiing and mountain activities. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is not only beautiful but offers some of the best winter ski resorts in Spain, being the most southerly and second-highest in Europe (the Alps take the first spot).
Pradollano
The Sol y Nieve resort in Pradollano is world-class and is open from November to May with 100 kilometres of pistes. The slopes tend to be faster in the mornings while the afternoons will benefit learners and snowboarders and there is plenty of off-piste skiing for the courageous. The resort isn’t the largest but probably is one of the best for all the family and is less than two hours’ drive from Motril on the coast. It is also close to Granada, which makes it an excellent place for winter sports enthusiasts. Day passes can be as low as €35.
- Perfect for: Enjoying both skiing and coastal activities
- Resort elevation: 2,100m
Skiing altitude range: 2,100m-3,300m
Length of Pistes: 110km - Ski season: Late November to early May
Property is reasonable considering the location, a two-bedroomed terraced house costs €181,500 while detached properties with views are €700,000.
Granada
Granada is without doubt one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, steeped in history with long winding streets and hidden courtyards. Tourists come to experience the Alhambra Palace and Generalife but there is more to this place than a mecca for tourism. Granada is a small city 45 minutes’ drive from the Sierra Nevada ski resorts under an hour to the coast near Motril with excellent restaurants and tapas bars, a laid-back way of life and nature all around it. There is an international school here and it also has opportunities for teaching English with its many language academies.
Granada experiences all four seasons but has, on average, 12 hours of sunshine a day! During the winter months you can enjoy five hours of blue skies and sun. It can get cold but is invariably bright.
Granada Airport receives flights from London Gatwick and London Heathrow as well as from many European cities. Trains run to most of Spain’s major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Cordobá and Seville. One hour’s drive on the A44 and A7 motorways connect Granada with Nerja on the coast.
- Population: 234,32
- Province: Granada
- Coast: Costa Tropical
Property prices in Granada are in line with costs in other important Spanish cities. A two-bedroom apartment will cost from €275,000 depending on the district, terraced homes cost €285,000 and for detached properties, expect to pay from €600,000.
Nerja
Originally a fishing village, Nerja is one of the most popular towns for foreigners, particularly for the British. It caters for all tastes and budgets. While its many beaches can get crowded, the unspoilt Playa Carabeo is an ideal spot for relaxing, though without bars or other amenities. Even in winter, the sea temperature can be 16ºC, meaning skiing and returning home to swim is entirely possible.
The Nerja caves were discovered as recently as 1959 and are a major attraction. Nerja has an abundance of restaurants in the typically Andalusian old town with cobbled streets and white houses opening into small squares shaded by trees.
Nightlife centres around a square called Plaza Tutti Frutti. The Balcón de Europa lies in the centre and is a viewpoint lined with palms from where you can gaze into the crystal-clear water and the coastline.
There are three golf courses within easy reach and water sports, in particular kayaking. Regular trains run to Málaga.
- Population: 22,000
- Province: Málaga
- Coast: Costa del Sol
Property prices vary. A two-bedroom apartment near Nerja Caves costs €170,000, terraced houses from €229,000 and detached homes from €499,000 up to €2.4m.
You can swim in the sea in Nerja during winter
Salobreña
Ideally located on the coast, just over one hour from the ski resort in the Sierra Nevada, the small town of Salobreña is one of the prettiest on this stretch of coast. It towers over its six kilometres of beaches, some with all facilities, others in peaceful coves. La Guardia beach is nowadays a haven for marine life having been regenerated with great success.
The Moorish castle stands guard over the town from where there are lovely views. The town is in many ways a small version of Córdoba with whitewashed houses covered with colourful plant pots.
The famous Paseo de las Flores offers a delightful walk along the trail of the town’s first inhabitants.
There is an excellent children’s playground on the Avenida de Mediterráneo.
- Population: 11,397
- Province: Granada
- Coast: Costa Tropical
Property is reasonably priced with a two-bedroom apartment close to the sea costing from €196,000, a four-bedroom terraced house from €350,000 and a four-bedroom detached home from €477,000.
Catalonia (Girona, Perpignan, Barcelona airports)
The vast Pyrenean mountain range in Catalonia runs for 300 kilometres and separates France from Spain. Almost in the centre is the Cerdanya Valley, which offers easily accessible, excellent skiing that’s more affordable than France just across the border. Puigcerdà is the main town of the region in Spain but go across the river and you are in French Bourg-Madame!
The area is full of pretty little villages all within easy reach of France and Andorra. There is a real cultural mix here, with Castilian Spanish, Catalan and French being widely spoken.
La Molina
La Molina is a very popular ski station, under two hours from the Costa Brava and the Catalan capital, Barcelona. There are 63 slopes as well as many other winter sports such as cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Masella is situated above La Molina and is a smaller resort but with several steep intermediate runs. Lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain, taken after skiing at around 3pm and the area offers a wide variety of restaurants serving delicious mountain dishes.
The N260 trunk road links La Molina to the beautiful Catalan coast. In two hours, you could be visiting the ancient Greek and Roman ruins of Empuriabrava or enjoying dinner in the pretty seaside village of Sant Martí d’Empúries.
- Perfect for: Families, non-skiers and those on a budget
- Resort elevation: 921m
- Skiing altitude range: 1,616m-2,537m
- Length of pistes: 145km
- Ski season: December to April
L’Escala
A gentle stroll from Sant Martí d’Empúries along the coast and you are in L’Escala. One of the most popular coastal towns with British people and other nationalities, it is full of bars, restaurants and nightlife.
Being so close to France it is a sought-after part of the coast and property here is more expensive than in other Spanish regions, but you can still find good-value houses. Empuriabrava is close to everything – the French border, airports, Girona, Figueres – and is a town renowned for its canals.
With every amenity you could need it is the perfect place for a home not far from the Pyrenees and skiing.
- Population: 47,890
- Province: Girona
- Coast: Costa Brava
Baqueira-Beret (Toulouse Airport)
Just two hours from Toulouse Airport, Baqueira-Beret, lying in the majestic Pyrenees, is the most popular ski resort in Spain and the largest in a beautiful natural setting. Despite this, it is less crowded than Alpine ski resorts and offers all the facilities skiers expect. Owing to its altitude, snowfall is reliable.
The resort is divided into three distinct zones, Beret, Baqueira and Bonaigua. Baquiera has pistes for all ages and levels and is an area with a large number of black pistes. Beret is family-friendly and where beginners can try the sport. There is also a snow park for snowboarding.
Close by in the busy town of Vielha, summers are as busy as winters for hiking and rafting and also because it is the centre of the region’s culinary expertise with many locally sourced ingredients. The Costa Brava’s lovely coastline has warm winters, so you could spend time on the beach and maybe go for a swim.
- Perfect for: Families and typical skiing in Spain
- Resort elevation: 1,500m
- Skiing altitude range: 1,500m-2,610m
- Length of pistes: 167km
- Ski season: November to April
L’Escala’s property market is buoyant; the area of Montgó is popular with British and other foreign residents. A two-bedroom apartment there costs from €195,000, a modern house with four bedrooms and a sea view costs from €625,000 and a four-bedroom detached house near the port costs from €1,125,000.
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- Dual seasonality: how to pick a ski property you can use all year
- Where in Italy can you swim and ski in one day?
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