Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada offers one of Europe’s most distinctive ski experiences. Its name literally means “snowy mountain range”, and with around 320 days of sunshine each year, it’s far brighter and warmer than most ski resorts across the continent. Despite the sunshine, snow conditions stay impressively reliable too, thanks to around 80% of the resort’s 112km of slopes sitting above 2,700 metres.

At the base of the mountain sits Pradollano, the resort’s purpose-built ski village. The atmosphere here is unmistakably Spanish, with sunny terraces, lively tapas bars and spacious plazas creating a relaxed après-ski scene. Two gondolas whisk skiers halfway up the mountain to the Borreguiles ski station beside the nursery slopes, making it an easy meeting point for groups stopping for piste-side beers and bocadillos which is the classic Andalusian sandwich that works perfectly as ski fuel.

One of the standout parts of skiing here is the scenery. On clear days, you can carve down the slopes while looking out across the shimmering Mediterranean Sea and the Costa del Sol and with particularly good visibility, you may even catch sight of Morocco across the water.

Away from the pistes, there’s plenty more to do. Families can enjoy snow tubing and toboggan runs, while adventure seekers can head out on snowmobiles or fat bikes. And for those wanting to keep the evening going, the resort has a lively late-night side too, with bars and clubs carrying the fiesta well into the early hours.