Skiing Grandvalira or Pal Arinsal in Andorra

Andorra is a small mountain country between France and Spain. Independent travelers usually choose between two ski areas there. Grandvalira is the larger one, spread across several valleys. Pal Arinsal is smaller and sits in La Massana. Both open in early December and close in early April, and one lift pass can cover both.

The dates and prices below are current as of 14 October 2026. Neither resort had published confirmed 2026/27 dates or prices by then, so treat these figures as estimates until each resort publishes its own.

Quick comparison

The table below puts the key facts side by side, with ranges where the published figures vary.

Season dates and hours

For 2025/26, Pal Arinsal scheduled its opening for 5 December, weather permitting, and planned to close on 6 April. The resort runs every day, including holidays, from 9:00 to 17:00. The Pal Arinsal opening FAQ confirms these dates and hours, though the closing date depends on snow and weather.

Grandvalira planned a similar season: an opening on Friday 5 December 2025 and a closing on Monday 6 April 2026, weather permitting. The resort described it as a 123-day season with 18 weekends in its 2025/26 season announcement. Grandvalira’s usual slope hours are 9:00 to 17:00, the same as Pal Arinsal.

For 2026/27, the published estimates point to an early-December opening and an early-April close at both resorts. Andorra Tourism, in an update from July 2026, describes the season as running from early December to early or mid-April, and it says Grandvalira will publish its 2026/27 rates and opening date in the autumn. The Pal Arinsal homepage shows 4 to 6 December 2026 as a booking promotion window, so those dates are for sales rather than the season opening.

Plan lodging with a flexible or refundable rate until each resort posts its opening date. A December opening is typical, but the first week of the season can shift with snowfall.

Size and terrain

Most of the size figures for Grandvalira come from the combined Andorra Pass, which covers three areas: Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís. That combined total is 308 km of slopes, 216 runs and 124 lifts across all three areas. For Grandvalira alone, use the range of 210 to 215 km and 66 to 75 lifts.

Pal Arinsal publishes 63 km on its homepage, and other listings give 60 to 63 km with 47 to 49 runs and 30 to 32 lifts. Ignore the 40 km figure in an undated resort news post, since the homepage says 63 km.

The two areas differ most in their terrain. Grandvalira has seven sectors, so a visitor can ski different valleys over several days. Pal Arinsal has two sectors, Pal and Arinsal, joined by a cable car, which makes it easy to cover in a day or two. Grandvalira suits beginners and intermediates well, with limited advanced terrain and few long, steep off-piste lines. Its size and layout point the same way. Neither resort offers a difficulty split for its runs that can be relied on, so check the piste map on arrival before planning around expert terrain.

Both resorts describe themselves in superlatives. Grandvalira calls itself the largest and most modern skiable area in the Pyrenees, and Pal Arinsal calls itself the most family-oriented resort in the Pyrenees. Read both as marketing. The size and sector data above is more useful for planning.

Which pass covers which resort

The Andorra Pass covers all three areas, Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís, so it suits a trip that moves between resorts. The Nord Pass covers only Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís. Both come as season passes and as multi-day passes.

Multi-day tickets link the areas in different ways. Grandvalira’s multi-day passes, valid for two or more consecutive days, also give access to Ordino Arcalís and Pal Arinsal. Pal Arinsal’s own rules are more specific. A two-day Nord Pass is valid at Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís, and from four days it includes one day at Grandvalira. The resort sets out these rules on its day pass page.

The coverage of a one-day Nord Pass is unclear. The official Pal Arinsal wording suggests a narrower scope, while some reseller listings say the Nord Pass covers all three areas at any duration. Ask the ticket office which areas are included before you pay for a single day. Some listings also describe a four-day limit for non-residents and a two-day limit for residents on Grandvalira’s multi-day passes. It is not clear whether that limit applies to the Andorra Pass, the Nord Pass or both, so confirm it with the resort before buying.

Touring skiers and snowshoers can buy a Mountain Pass, which covers marked circuits. Grandvalira listed it at €173 for 2025/26 in its season announcement. Pal Arinsal also sells a Mountain Pass.

Day and season ticket prices

The most reliable day-ticket figures for the 2025/26 season come from Andorra Tourism. Grandvalira’s adult day ticket was about €50 when bought well in advance and rose to about €67 at peak times. Pal Arinsal’s main-season adult day ticket was about €53. The Pal Arinsal official day-pass page lists a day ticket from €48, but the page shows no date, so confirm the current price on the day pass page before you buy.

Prices change with demand and purchase timing, and both resorts state this openly. Online advance purchase can save up to 15% at both resorts, according to Pal Arinsal and Andorra Tourism. Buying early is the simplest way to lower the cost of a day ticket, provided the dates are firm.

Discounts for older skiers vary by resort. Grandvalira’s official senior day pass for ages 65 to 69 is listed at €43.50, with proof of eligibility required. Pal Arinsal charges €29.50 for ages 65 to 69 and €25 for ages 70 to 74, and it lets children under five ski for free. Check the child and junior age bands on the official pages before you buy a family ticket.

For season passes, the 2025/26 Grandvalira launch prices were €437 for an Andorra Pass for a loyal resident, €460 for a new resident, €812.25 for a loyal non-resident and €855 for a new non-resident. A loyal-resident Nord Pass cost €275.50. Early booking was capped at 3,000 passes and closed at that limit, and promotional pricing ran until 7 December, with standard prices from 8 December, according to the Grandvalira announcement.

For 2026/27, Pal Arinsal’s season page shows a Nord Pass at €329 and €788. The page marks the €329 price as valid until 9 December and labels €788 as a reference price. The €329 figure is most likely the time-limited offer and €788 the regular price, but the page does not state this, so treat it as an inference. Reseller listings for 2026/27 put a two-day Pal Arinsal Nord Pass at €101 and a six-day pass at €315, which gives a rough sense of how multi-day prices scale.

Driving from Barcelona and Girona

Both resorts sit about 200 km from Barcelona El Prat airport and about 260 km from Girona-Costa Brava. Toulouse-Blagnac is listed at 195 km from Grandvalira and Reus at 240 km. Drive times cluster around three hours from Barcelona to Pal Arinsal. For Grandvalira, listings give different drive times from Barcelona, so allow extra time when you book a transfer or a rental car.

The usual route to Pal Arinsal runs on the C-58, E-09 and C-16, through the Cadí Tunnel, which charges tolls, and then the N-260. Grandvalira is reached on the AP-7 and then the C-16. Check road conditions on the day you drive, since the route climbs into the Pyrenees.

Pal Arinsal’s distance from Andorra la Vella is reported two ways. The resort homepage gives 6 km, while Andorra Tourism’s Pal Arinsal guide gives about 10 km. Use the figure that suits your route, since both describe the same short road.

Getting there by bus and transfer

Public transport to Pal Arinsal follows two legs. Buses run from La Seu d’Urgell or Barcelona to Andorra la Vella, with ALSA and Andbus named on the tourism pages. From Andorra la Vella, take local line L5 or L6 to La Massana or directly to Arinsal. La Massana connects to Pal by gondola, so the bus ride ends with a short lift to the slopes.

Grandvalira connects through Andorra la Vella and Encamp. The resort offers a free bus to the slopes, and the timetable is linked from the official page, so open it before you plan the connection. The L2 line runs from Andorra la Vella to Encamp, which serves the Grandvalira sectors in that valley.

Coaches run directly from Barcelona. Andbus is listed with several daily services from Barcelona, with journeys up to about four hours. A separate operator also runs direct coaches from Barcelona airport daily. For Grandvalira, one booking listing shows 13 buses a day, about four hours each, with fares from $60 USD, though that figure is undated. Check the operator’s timetable close to your travel date because coach schedules change from season to season.

Private transfers cost more but save time. Transfer operators quote per-person prices, and the transfer time depends on the route and the operator.

Choosing between the two resorts

Choose Grandvalira if the trip centers on skiing many different areas over a week or more. Its seven sectors, larger size and wider lift network give more new terrain than Pal Arinsal can offer. Its beginner and intermediate terrain also makes Grandvalira the better base for skiers who want room to progress.

Choose Pal Arinsal if the trip is short, the group includes young children, or the travelers want an easy day with a short transfer. Its two connected sectors are simple to learn, and the resort’s family focus shows in its layout and its free under-five ticket.

If you plan to ski both areas, buy the Andorra Pass or a multi-day pass that covers both. A single pass avoids the work of matching separate tickets and makes it simpler to move between valleys on a clear-weather day.

Key Takeaways

• Confirm the 2026/27 dates first: Both resorts are expected to open in early December and close in early April, but neither had posted confirmed 2026/27 dates by 14 October 2026.
• Buy the Andorra Pass for both areas: It covers Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís, while the Nord Pass covers only Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís.
• Ask about one-day coverage at the ticket office: The official wording for a one-day Nord Pass leaves unclear which areas it includes.
• Use 308 km only for the combined pass area: For Grandvalira alone, plan around the 210 to 215 km range.
• Compare bus and transfer costs for groups: Coaches take about four hours, while transfers cost more per person but save time.