Pal Arinsal, Grandvalira or Ordino Arcalís: where to ski in Andorra
Three resorts, one small country and one opening day for the season: 4 December 2026.
That's where the similarities end.
Grandvalira is seven times the size of Ordino Arcalís. At Pal Arinsal, you ride a gondola straight up from the centre of the village. And a single road leads to Arcalís: after the last bend it ends at a car park. Beyond that, nothing but mountains.
Which of the three is best? The honest answer: it depends on who is coming with you and what you want from the week.
Three resorts side by side
| resort | slopes | altitude | how to reach the slopes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandvalira | 215 km, 140 runs | up to 2,600 m | lifts from Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu and Pas de la Casa |
| Pal Arinsal | 63 km, 47 runs | 1,550-2,560 m | gondolas from the centre of La Massana and from Arinsal |
| Ordino Arcalís | 30.5 km, 27 runs | 1,940-2,625 m | by road only, car park by the slopes |
All three keep the same hours, 9:00 to 17:00, and plan to close the season on 4 April 2027, snow permitting.
Grandvalira, 215 kilometres and seven sectors
Let's start with the biggest.
Grandvalira's seven sectors line a single road: Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, Peretol, Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa. All of them are linked by runs. You go up from one village in the morning, have lunch in the next sector and head back by the evening.
Just keep an eye on the time. The lifts stop at 17:00, and anyone who lingered over the views in a far-off sector will have to get back to their village by bus, still in ski boots.
Each sector has its own character. Canillo is where beginners learn, and it is also home to the Mon(t) Magic family park and the 555-metre Màgic Gliss toboggan run. People pick Soldeu for its wide runs with steep descents: it hosted the World Cup Finals in 2019 and 2023, and a women's World Cup event comes here on 6-7 March 2027. Peretol has Sunset Park, open Tuesday to Sunday from 15:00 to 21:00. And in Pas de la Casa, the oldest sector, people have been skiing since 1956, and people here stay up later than anywhere else after a day on the slopes.
Who is it for? People coming for a week. Confident skiers. And groups where one person is a complete beginner while another is hunting for black runs: there is room for both. We cover which village to choose in detail in our article on where to stay in Grandvalira.
Pal Arinsal for a first ski holiday
Pal Arinsal is a third the size of Grandvalira.
For many people, that's good news. With 63 kilometres of runs, there's no need to spread out the map every morning and argue about where to go. The resort is designed for families with children and for people who are still learning to ski. And getting to the slopes is easy here.
The gondola to the Pal sector leaves from the very centre of La Massana. A 16-person cabin, and you're at the top. The Arinsal sector has its own gondola, from the centre of the village of the same name. Between the two sectors runs a cable car with a cabin for more than 50 people, so you can stay in one place and ski both.
Coming by car? Ten free car parks with 6,600 spaces sit at the entrances to the two sectors.
For this winter, Arinsal has redesigned its beginner area and opened a Fun Zone. For a beginner, that matters more than the total length of the runs: you will spend your first two days on the nursery slope anyway, and it helps if it's a good one. For those who have already skied their fill, there is a new après-ski spot on Comallemple, Refugi d'Arinsal, with 140 seats.
Fresh snow at Ordino Arcalís
Andorra's smallest resort: 30.5 kilometres of runs.
But its slopes face north and rise from 1,940 to 2,625 metres. Snow lasts longer here. The resort's website promises good snow every winter and the longest season in the Pyrenees. The only way to check is to go and see.
If the ski chases from the James Bond films sound like a decent plan for the morning, this is your place. There are 21 freeride areas with 120 routes, and a freeride school. Arcalís has hosted Freeride World Tour events since 2015, and in February 2026 it held the first FIS Freeride World Championships. Andorra is not on the main tour calendar for 2027, but a junior event takes place here on 13-14 March.
Beginners are still welcome, though. Eight of the 27 runs are green, and Megaverda is the longest green run in the Pyrenees. At least, that's what the resort says.
Now for the honest part: the downsides.
There is no village at the lifts. There is no gondola from the valley either. A single road leads up to the slopes from Ordino, and it ends at a free car park for 1,500 cars. You'll be staying in Ordino or La Massana, and that's where you'll eat and spend your evenings too.
Can't imagine a holiday without a lively bar after skiing? Choose Grandvalira. Dreaming of peace and quiet and a hot dinner? Then Arcalís is probably your resort.
One lift pass for three resorts
There is no day pass that covers all three resorts, and it's better to know that before you reach the ticket office.
A multi-day pass gives you more options, though.
A Grandvalira day pass is valid on its own slopes only, but with a pass for two or more consecutive days you can also ski at Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís. With a Pal Arinsal or Ordino Arcalís pass for two days or more, you ski at both of those resorts, and from four days you also get a day at Grandvalira.
Here is an example. You're staying in Soldeu with a five-day pass, and it snowed overnight. In the morning you can head to Arcalís for fresh snow without paying anything extra.
Prices are trickier. The resorts don't publish a price list: the cost of a day pass depends on the date, and buying online saves you up to 15%. So open the resort's website, pick your days and check the price in advance. At the ticket office it will be higher.
Children aged 5 and under and skiers aged 75 and over ski for free. And this season you can load a day or multi-day pass onto your phone and use it at the lifts. One less card in your pocket.
If you don't have a car
You don't need a car in Andorra. Scheduled buses run from Andorra la Vella to the resorts, with fares from €1.90 to €4.80 depending on the zone.
Three lines serve Grandvalira: L2 to Encamp, L3 to Soldeu every 20 minutes and L4 to Pas de la Casa every 30 minutes. L5 goes to Arinsal, every 20-30 minutes on weekdays. L7 will take you to the gondola in La Massana and to Ordino.
The bus to Arcalís is worth checking separately. The L6 ski service leaves Andorra la Vella at 8:30 and returns from the slopes at 16:30. Last season, the resort's last bus to Ordino left at 17:00, and the resort has not yet updated the timetable for this winter.
Have a look at the resort's website before you go. The slopes close at 17:00, and missing the last bus in the mountains is far worse than missing one in town.
The road from Barcelona
Barcelona airport is about 200 km from Andorra. Which airport to choose and how to get there is covered in our article on the closest airport to Andorra, and everything about travelling with your gear is in the article on ski transfers to Grandvalira.
A transfer from Barcelona airport to Grandvalira costs from €266 per car, and the driver will take you to your hotel in the village you've chosen, for example in Soldeu. Picked Pal Arinsal? Book a transfer from Barcelona airport to Arinsal. Heading to Ordino Arcalís? Enter your hotel address when you book, and the price appears straight away, before you confirm.
We carry skis and snowboards in our Van and Bus classes, so choose one of them when you book.
One last thing. From 1 November to 15 May, winter tyres or chains are compulsory in Andorra. That's the driver's job. You have just one job on the road: don't sleep through your first view of the Pyrenees.
Frequently asked questions
Which ski resort in Andorra is the biggest?
Grandvalira is the biggest, with 215 km of runs and seven sectors. Pal Arinsal is a third of the size at 63 km, and Ordino Arcalís is the most compact at 30.5 km.
Where in Andorra should beginners and families with children ski?
Pal Arinsal is a good choice: the resort is designed for families, and Arinsal has updated its beginner area for this season. At Grandvalira, Canillo and Encamp suit beginners.
Can I ski all three Andorran resorts on one lift pass?
This isn't possible with a day pass. A Grandvalira pass for two or more consecutive days is also valid at Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís. A Pal Arinsal or Ordino Arcalís pass for two days or more is valid at both resorts, and from four days it includes one day at Grandvalira.
How do I get to Ordino Arcalís without a car?
Without a car, you can get there by bus from Andorra la Vella or from Ordino. There is no gondola from the valley, and a single road leads to the slopes. Check the ski bus timetable for the 2026-2027 season on the resort's website.
When does the ski season open in Andorra?
All three resorts plan to open on 4 December 2026 and stay open until 4 April 2027, snow permitting. The slopes are open from 9:00 to 17:00.
Book in the Let's GO app or on the website: enter the pick-up address and the destination, and the price appears straight away, before you confirm.