Arinsal Ski Resort
Arinsal can be easily considered one of Europe's most underrated and overlooked ski resorts. Arinsal Andorra has a great skiing reputation but often finds itself easily overlooked
In favour of Europe's more well-known ski resorts until people visit and find out the value and treasure of the Andorran Alps. Arinsal is a traditional Andorra ski resort which is located south of the country and only about 20 minutes from the capital of the country, Andorra La Vella, making it not only a very short commute but also great for a brief shopping visit or a sightseeing tour. It is slowly gaining popularity as a skiing destination thanks to its sunny slopes, great duty-free prices, awesome childcare and non-ski activities. Even though it may not get the same level of fame and popularity as the well-known European ski resorts, its attractive features are certainly making it a viable option, especially in the peak season.
Thanks to budget-friendly airfare rates to Andorra, an Arinsal ski holiday is well known for saving travelers a tonne of cash on airfare; however the resort offers much more than just cost savings. The addition of the neighbouring Ordino-Arcalis and its newly formed connection to Pal have also contributed to the resort's growing reputation as a respectable ski area. Previously existing as two entirely distinct resorts, Arinsal and the smaller Pal are now connected by La Massana to form the Vallnord ski area.
Thanks to budget-friendly airfare rates to Andorra, an Arinsal ski holiday is well known for saving travelers a tonne of cash on airfare; however the resort offers much more than just cost savings. The addition of the neighbouring Ordino-Arcalis and its newly formed connection to Pal have also contributed to the resort's growing reputation as a respectable ski area. Previously existing as two entirely distinct resorts, Arinsal and the smaller Pal are now connected by La Massana to form the Vallnord ski area.
The village itself has old, charming buildings and water fountains that spout water directly from the valley. It is a lovely, quaint throwback. The village has a small river that runs through it, and the buildings are situated on either side of the river. It's the liveliest resort around, with a great apres-ski scene and a very friendly vibe. With a variety of gentle blue and green runs, Arinsal's pistes are best suited for novice and intermediate skiers. There are accommodations to suit nearly every preference, ranging in quality from luxurious and boutique hotels to affordable apartments. You should give it some thought, Arinsal. Feel free to get in touch with us if you need any more details about the resort.
Arinsal village sits at an altitude of 1550 metres, with the top of the slopes reaching 2560 metres. The neighbouring Pal slopes peak at 2,358 metres altitude and are host to its most challenging red runs. Most of its slopes are beginner and intermediate level with a few blacks. Both mountains on Arinsal and Pal have east-facing slopes and receive a lot of early sunlight each day.
With the 65 kilometres of pistes available at Arinsal made up of easy reds, blues and a few greens, the ski area is best suited to beginners and intermediate skiers. The advanced pistes layover at Pal is easily accessible via the main gondola. The terrain cuts through wooded areas and with most of the slopes situated at a high altitude the snow condition is generally good and one of the best in Andorra.
Beginners will find a lot of joy at Arinsal. Its nursery slopes are gentle and are located at a high altitude so they will always get great snow coverings including a great view. For those who have progressed from the nursery slopes, there are 35 easy blues to choose from across Arinsal and Pal.
Intermediates have a good selection of choice reds at Arinsal with Pal also having long cruisy reds from just over 2300 metres altitude at Pic del Cubil. They can attempt the long red coming down Pic de Negre at just over 2,500 metres.
Advanced and seasoned skiers have a few blacks to attempt at Arinsal starting at the tree-lined wooden run down the Pic del Cubil at Pal and the steep run coming down Pic Alt de la Copa at 2,500 metres altitude.
Snowboarders are well catered to at Arinsal with a dedicated freeride area at Alt de la Capa. Its Freestyle Area is a 10-acre terrain that can be accessed via the Les Font chair lift and is equipped with a half-pipe, boxers, rails, kickers, boardercross circuit course ( complete with atmospheric music) and an air jump.
The terrain is also great for beginner snowboarders looking to improve their skills on the pistes. It is hardly overcrowded on the slopes at Arinsal, making for a great environment especially for newcomers to build some confidence.
Advanced and experienced boarders are better off taking the gondola to Pal for some more challenging pistes.
The ski season at Arinsal usually runs between December and April. The snow conditions are generally great thanks to the resort's high altitude slopes, most of which are well above 1,500 metres. Over the past decade, the resort has received an average of 91 centimetres of snow, with its highest ever at 226 centimetres. Arinsal is also well equipped with snow cannons to cover and supplement any shortages of snow on the slopes over the season.
Apres Ski
The fun doesn’t need to come to an end of the slopes. There are still a ton of lively activities to enjoy after the skiing ends. Arinsal has a vibrant apres-ski which perfectly suits all ages and skier profiles at very great prices too. It has just about everything from traditional pubs, good restaurants and a nightclub. The attractions suit all demographics, from young skiers, families and those looking for a quiet watering hole to chill out. Arinsal may not have the reputation of having a wild apres-ski as other resorts in
Cisco’s
Cisco’s is set in an atmospheric enclave within a rock. A funky Mexican bar and restaurant located right in front of the main gondola so it is quite hard to miss. Cisco’s boasts an impressive fusion of food, music and drinks with a very friendly staff. The menu features a delightful selection of Tex-Mex, local and international cuisine. The bar comes alive every evening with a live DJ set featuring great music and lots of dancing into the early hours to cap off a great apres-ski evening.
Polar Bear
A popular hangout in Arinsal. The Polar Bear is a friendly bar located close to the slopes at the top of the main gondola. A great place to stop over for a drink after an awesome day of skiing. It has a sunny terrace spot where skiers can congregate and enjoy the lovely views, have a couple of drinks and chat about the afternoon’s exploits. It has a good selection of drinks ranging from soft drinks, hot drinks and alcoholic drinks. The food menu is also a selection of tasty a la carte dishes and traditional delicacies as well.
El Derby ( also known as Derby Irish Bar)
Open every day from 3 pm, El Deby is your typical Irish pub in Arinsal perfect for pub lovers and those visitors who would like to enjoy a traditional pub atmosphere. They serve everything expected from a pub with a wide selection of brews featuring traditional Guinness stouts that are very popular and synonymous with Irish pubs. The food menu also features tasty pies, steaks and other pub classics. El Derby is also popular with ski enthusiasts and aficionados; it has a large screen that shows videos of skiers coming down the slopes. It’s great entertainment and also a unique feature to enjoy as a ski fanatic.
Surf
Surf is an Argentinian themed steakhouse that also doubles as a nightclub later on at night. Known for having some of the very best steaks anywhere at Arinsal, Surf is a perfect location for having a lovely evening out of drinking, eating and a bit of late-night dancing. It is also well known for its themed Latin evenings and Salsa dancing. A great spot for enjoying a different bar experience.
El Moli El Moli is a lovely British owned restaurant that has a fantastic selection of meals and drinks. Located at the bottom of the main gondola on the resort, it's very easy to locate and is perfectly situated for a stopover to enjoy a tasty meal and some drinks. It has rave reviews for its food by countless visitors but it also doubles as a very lively nightspot. A DJ is on set every Friday to provide the tunes for a lively evening. El Moli is a definite must-visit when you are in Arinsal.
There's more to skiing in Arinsal than what meets the eye. For a small quaint ski resort, Arinsal has an efficient amount of facilities to suit and cater to the needs of its visitors. From its recently updated ski lifts network with neighbouring Pal to its increasing growth of high standard hotels and other facilities in the resort, Arinsal is well equipped to provide its visitors with different manners of entertainment and keep everything ticking.
Arinsal is a fantastic resort to visit with children on your ski holiday. It has a great amount of facilities to keep children entertained and provides a good amount of childcare options. All children attractions are very easy to find and within walking distance from the main areas at the resort.