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Whilst Southern Spain is known for its sun-soaked beaches and resorts as the go-to short-haul summer destination for UK travellers, it is also home to something you might not expect, snow-covered mountains and an incredible ski resort! Even if you don’t personally ski, hang with me here because Pradollano is still worth a visit and is the perfect day-trip or weekend visit in January paired with the less-snowy Granada (more on that one to come!).

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Where is Pradollano?

Pradollano is a ski village in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalusia, Spain and is around an hour away from Granada by bus. It sits at around 2,100m high and in the winter is surrounded by ski slopes and winter sports opportunities.

Why Should I Visit Pradollano?

Pradollano is incredibly scenic, has lots to keep you occupied and is extremely low-commitment if you want snowscapes but don’t want to commit to packing full snow gear and travelling to a traditional ‘snow’ destination. If you’re a skier, you’ll fall in love with the slopes that lie alongside Pradollano, but it is also ideal if you DON’T ski!

We visited on the no-ski front as a day trip from Granada, but found SO MUCH to do and see in the village and absolutely fell in love with the place! I originally landed on the town after being tasked with finding a ‘I want to see proper snow’ destination that was low-budget and suitable for a 3-day trip (i.e very short haul) and took a chance on visiting the village, not knowing whether we would find enough to do. On that score, it more than met the criteria with enough to pack a full day (we caught the last bus back to Granada) and give us plenty of views to fall in love with as we chomped down on churros.

What Can I Do in Pradollano if I Don’t Ski?

Of course, the main purpose of the resort is to serve those hitting the slopes to ski or snowboard. However, there is still lots to see if you are just day-tripping and not looking to hit the slopes. My first suggestion for visiting Pradollano is just to have a wander around. The town is completely surrounded by incredibly beautiful snowy vistas, so you’re going to want to spend at least some of your time snapping some pictures of the sights or simply looking out onto the snowy mountainscapes. You’ll also find plenty of outdoor shops in the town which are well worth a nosy so check these out and take in the vibe of Pradolanno itself!

Once you’ve had a wander and taken lots of pictures of the view, head to one of the cafés for churros and thick chocolate. Most of the cafés have views out across the mountains and with the sun still strong up here, they are the perfect place to sunbathe! Find yourself a sunny spot and enjoy a drink or two, hot or otherwise along with the famous churros and you will not regret it!

If you’re after more action during your trip without strapping on some skis, there is also a winter activity park, The Fuente del Mirlo Blanco, in the town. Here you can try out tubing (sitting on an inflatable ring) down some of the smaller slopes, just buy a ticket from one of the machines and you’re away! One of my favourite parts of the trip, however and one you should definitely not miss, is the snow rollercoaster/toboggan. There is usually a bit of a queue up to it, but once you’re on, you will be gliding at super-speed through snowy vistas with full control over the breaks meaning you go as slow or as fast (I recommend the fast!) as you like. I jumped on with my mum and we had an absolute blast! You’ll even have a few pictures taken on your way around which are worth the laugh at the end.

What Should I Wear to Visit Pradollano?

Whilst Pradollano is in Southern Spain which tends to be slightly warmer than the UK, it is also in the mountains so you’ll need to wrap up warm for your trip! I would recommend wearing lots of layers as you’ll be warm in the sun but much cooler once the sun starts setting later on in the day, especially if you are visiting in January like we did.

I wore thermal layers underneath with a winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves, multiple pairs of thick socks and a chunky pair of boots I knew could take the snow. The glare of the sun from the snow is also quite intense, so wear some good sunglasses and a low-SPF suncream to protect you. Layers are important, especially if you are taking a day trip from Granada, as I took off my extra layers once down in the city again without the cold of the mountains to combat.

How to Get to Pradollano from Granada

Getting to Pradollano from Granada is super simple. There are lots of ways to travel into Pradollano including by car (if you have one), by taxi/Uber (super expensive) or by public transport, the option we chose.

Pradollano from Granada by Public Transport

If you’re travelling to Pradollano from Granada there are two main points for you to join. Either hop on at Granada bus station (Estación De Autobuses) where you can purchase tickets at the station for your ride or, if you are staying further in to the city like we were, you can jump on the bus from the Palace of Congress (Palacio de Congresos de Granada) where you can buy a ticket from the bus driver.

During the ski season (December to April) you can catch the Autocares Tocina for around 5 euros. If you plan far enough ahead, you can buy your bus tickets online but as this was a last minute trip we had to take our chance with the bus driver! The bus runs in a sort of shift pattern with a big break during the middle of the day so make sure you get there in time for the morning buses. You can check out the Sierra Nevada bus timetable online here but they typically run at 8am and 10:15 am during the week from Granada bus station with the next bus running at 17:15 for those staying over at night, weekends have one extra departure at 15:00.

A Word of Warning

The bus queues back from the resort can get a bit competitive so if you haven’t managed to book online and don’t already have a return ticket, don’t wait until the last bus back unless you can hold your nerve. We spent about an hour moving from queue to queue whilst online bookings were prioritised and whilst there are a few buses that turn up, it isn’t for the faint-hearted!

As part of my first trip of 2026, Pradollano was the perfect mixture of sunshine and snow making it an ideal January travel destination with minimal planning. I recently joined the brilliant Liz Ellis on BBC Radio Stoke to talk about my trip so be sure to give it a listen at about 2:18 on BBC Sounds here. If you’re planning on visiting, let me know! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!