Looking for family-friendly spots to enjoy snow in Spain? Here are some of the places I’ve visited with my kids that I’d highly recommend for anyone planning a winter holiday in Spain.

This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). For more info, please read my disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Enjoying Snow in Spain with Kids

Does it snow in Spain?

Yes, it does snow in Spain! Although many might not expect it, the country is home to mountain ranges like the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, which experience significant snowfall each winter.

Spain is also known for its ski resorts, including Baqueira Beret, Formigal, and Pradollano/Sierra Nevada. Additionally, Andorra’s Grandvalira is a popular getaway from Barcelona. The central and northern regions of Spain occasionally see snowfall in winter, but due to global warming, snowfalls outside the mountain ranges have become increasingly rare here in Spain.

Winter in Spain

Spain is a popular winter sun destination in Europe, as temperatures rarely drop to freezing except in mountainous regions. However, the weather can vary significantly depending on where in Spain you plan to travel. Coastal areas are generally milder and wetter, while in Northern Spain it can get much colder.

Here are the average January temperatures in some major Spanish cities: Barcelona: 10°C (50°F), Madrid: 6°C (43°F), Valencia: 12°C (54°F), and Seville: 11°C (52°F). While Madrid in winter is quite cold, in Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville, you might easily see temperatures reaching 17°C (63°F) on a sunny day. And let’s not forget the Canary Islands, where January temperatures can reach 20°C (68°F).

Snow in Spain with Kids

Ski trips in winter were unmissable attributes of my childhood. Ever since I had kids of my own I felt excited to show the real snow to them. People living in the colder parts of the world might not get it, butliving in Valencia for 15 + years with minimum temperatures of +10C (50F) has its perks and drawbacks. While during the past few years we have done a few December trips to Christmas Madrid, Torrejon de Ardoz, and Christmas Malaga, the best winter memories have always been made in the Spanish Pyrenees.

For those of you, who plan to visit the Iberian Peninsula and want to enjoy some winter activities, I have put up a list of places where you can find snow in Spain with kids. Even though Spain does not belong on the list of top European Christmas destinations (in my opinion), you can still enjoy lots of cool winter activities with your little ones. To experience a winter wonderland, you usually need to drive up to one of the ski resorts. These are also popular with non-skiers, as many have sledding parks for families, panoramic ski lifts, and adventure parks.

andorra grand valira ski Enjoying snow in Spain with kids — *Enjoying snow in Spain with kids*

Tips for Enjoying snow in Spain with kids

Sledging in Spain

Consider bringing your own snow tube or sled (you can easily get it on Amazon), since some ski stations do not rent them. Or simply charge double: unfortunately, it might be cheaper and easier to buy a sled from Decathlon and then donate it, rather than to rent it. I like the Inflatable toboggans less, but they are handy when you need to travel extra light.

Another important tip! Unless you go for the Grandvalira slopes (in Andorra) or the Baqueira slopes (in Vall D´Aran) – these two always have snow in winter, check the current situation at your ski station of choice a day before traveling.

Many of the Spanish ski slopes have Facebook groups or Instagram pages, where they constantly post weather updates. Otherwise, you might drive a few hours towards a certain ski station only to find it closed with no snow on the radar.

Driving and Snow Chains

While all the roads to ski slopes in Spain are regularly cleared, it’s always a good idea to keep snow chains in your trunk. Personally, I’ve never needed them during my countless trips to the Pyrenees, but it’s one of those things that’s better to have and not need than to need and not have. A few years ago, my husband went skiing with friends, and they got caught in a heavy snowfall on the way to Valldelinares. Needless to say, the snow chains were their lifesavers.

Best Places to enjoy snow in Spain with kids

Andorra

First of all, Andorra is not part of Spain. It is a separate state nestled between Spain and France. However, Andorra is located only 197 km away from Barcelona. The truth is that Andorra is one of the most well- prepared winter destinations for family travelers.

From 25-11-2023 to 24-12-2023 you can visit the Spanish Father Christmas, Papa Noel, in Andorra – check the details here.

Moreover, in Andorra, you will be perfectly fine with English, even though the official language is Catalan and both Spanish and French are widely spoken. But the best part about Andorra is the large number of winter activities for families, like:

The easiest place to take day tours to the Pyrenees is Barcelona. You can easily plan experiences like Snowshoeing in the Pyrenees; Guided Day Trip to Andorra and France; Barcelona: 3 Countries 1-Day Tour to Spain, France, Andorra; or Private tour to Andorra from Barcelona.

Snowmobile Tour for 1 or 2 People (for children 5+) – check availability
Igloo building in Grau Roig – check availability
Snowshoe Guided Excursion in Grau Roig (For children 12+) – check availability
Grandvalira Dog Sledding Tour in Andorra – check availability
Check out more family snow activities in Andorra here

One of the most adventurous places in the Pyrenees is Naturlandia Park ( for children 3+). Older kids will have a blast, for sure. But the little ones might enjoy ponis, labyrinths, and rides for their age too. (You can check the details in Spanish here)

Also, Andorra is a great place to do some winter hiking with the kids (like the trail Find the Tamarro or Quela the Witch´s potion), make a family visit to Caldea SPA (get an early-bird access, otherwise it gets too crowded), or try Snake Gliss at Granvalira. You can easily take a Funicamp Cable Car to the top and enjoy the views of the Pyrenees (without renting skis).

To learn more about Andorra, head to my travel stories Andorra Travel Guide, and Romantic Things to do in Andorra. Also, you can check it via TikTok and Andorra IG Hightlights.

Vall D´Aran / Lleida

dog sledging baqueira beret spain adventure — *One of my most adventurous experiences in Spain – dog sledging in Baqueira*

Lleida is known for 11 ski stations with 505 km of the slopes. The biggest ski resort in the region of Lleida is Baqueira Beret. A few years ago, together with my husband and parents, we had a wonderful ski trip to Baqueira Beret. We loved it so much that this year we have also returned in October for hiking in the Pyrenees of Catalonia.

Other popular ski stations you can visit in Lleida to enjoy snow in Spain with kids are Port del Comte (in Solsonès), Espot y Port Ainé (in Pallars Sobirà), Boí Taüll (in l’Alta Ribagorça), and Tuixent (in l’Alt Urgell).

winter in spain snow forest fun — *With my husband in Baqueira Beret*

Girona

During our past Catalonia road trip, we haven’t made it to the ski slopes of Girona. However, these are the most popular ones to visit if you are based in Costa Brava: La Molina, Estacio Vallter 2000, and Vall de Nuria.

Next time I will probably take my kids to La Molina, since they have lots of interesting activities for the whole family: Panoramic ski lift ride, Snowshoe Circuit, Slalom Nissan X-Trail, Fun Park for kids, Tubbing Slopes, Trees Adventure park, Segway, Tandem Adapted Ride, Bowling and Spa. You can check the details on their website.

Huesca

While Huesca is one of my favorite regions in the Spanish Pyrenees, so far I haven’t get a chance to visit this province in winter. Here, popular ski stations to enjoy snow in Spain with kids are Formigal, Astun, and Candancu. My kids still recall taking the ski lift of Astun, to complete the hike Ruta de los 7 Ibones de Astun, one of the top trails in Spain. So, it would be amazing to revisit in winter.

Also, one of the most adventurous things to do in Spain, Tirolina Valle de Tena is open in winter. It is the longest in Europe double zipline, but with the frozen winter landscapes, the whole experience might be unforgettable.

You can read more about my visit to the Spanish Pyrenees of Aragon with kids here.

snow pyrenees kids spain — *Seeing and touching snow in summer was an epic experience for my kids in the Pyrenees*

Teruel

The closest ski slopes to visit from Valencia (or Castellon) are Valdelinares and Javalambre, in the province of Teruel.

These can be combined with Dinosaur theme parks of the region – Dinopolis of Teruel (one of my kids’ favorites), or the small museum of dinosaurs on the road, Region Ambarina (in Rubielos de Mora).

Valdelinares was the first place where my kids got to see the snow (right after the pandemic). The slopes are quite average for the pro skiers, but Valdelinares houses a nice sled area for the kids. You can check the details here (only in Spanish).

Navarra

While the biggest part of the Spanish ski slopes can be found in the Pyrenees of Aragon and Catalonia, you can also enjoy snow in Spain with kids during your visit to Navarra or the Basque Country, by visiting the Irati Abodi center.

Granada

One of the most unique places to visit in Southern Spain is the mountain range of Sierra Nevada, near Granada. It´s a one-of-its-kind experience: one can enjoy the beaches of Costa Tropical in the morning and then take a bus from Granada to Sierra Nevada and hit the ski slopes in the afternoon. Besides skiing, Sierra Nevada is known for lots of non-skier activities: a winter roller coaster, sleds, and slides. Check more details via their official web.

Map of the best place to find snow in Spain

Which part of Spain does it snow in?

During the winter months, you can find snow in northern Spain, particularly in the country’s largest mountain ranges – the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada. The most reliable way to enjoy snow in Spain is to head to the ski resorts, as they are located high in the mountains, ensuring that the winter wonderland vibe lingers after the snow falls.

While most ski resorts in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada have webcams, I also recommend checking the current weather on their websites. In recent years, Spain has experienced winter months with little to no snow, and even on the ski slopes, they’ve had to rely on artificial snow cannons.

3 Comments

Rhonda on December 23, 2023 at 10:57 PM

I was in Spain in the heat of the summer. I would head to Andorra as that was where our home exchange host said to go for skiing (and he worked there in the winter too.)
Maggie on December 24, 2023 at 12:52 AM

I don’t ever think of playing in the snow…in Spain lol. But maybe I should! These all sound like great options!
Sonia on December 24, 2023 at 2:46 PM

We are always on the lookout for new places to ski while traveling, and Andorra looks like a wonderful place to add to our list.

Where to Enjoy Snow in Spain with Kids

Enjoying Snow in Spain with Kids

Does it snow in Spain?

Winter in Spain

Snow in Spain with Kids