Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park in Spain is jam-packed with fun things to do from visiting whitewashed villages, wandering the mountains of Granada, swimming under waterfalls, skiing, and cultural experiences.
The natural area comes under national or local protection, and is home to most of the country’s 3,000 metre peaks that make it an amazing playground for adventure travellers. Yet some of these peaks are quite easily accessible even if you do not like multi-day treks. The Sierra Nevada Mountains in Spain has it all!
This post will take you through the best things to do in Sierra Nevada for every type of traveller.
Things To Do in Sierra Nevada
Authored by Linn Haglund
Hike the Highest Peak in Mainland Spain
Mulhacén (3479m) is the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula and second highest in Spain after Mount Teide in Tenerife. You can reach the peak both as an easy day hike and hard multi-day trek, which means you can do one of the most iconic hikes in Sierra Nevada Spain without much hiking experience.
It does require that you have a basic fitness level, however, as the peak is at such altitude and you can feel the thin air if you come from the coast the same morning.
Hiking to the peak can be done in one single day by taking a park shuttle bus from Capileira village to the Mirador de Trevelez where you will be picked up 6 hours later. This gives more than enough time to hike to the top, enjoy the view with your lunch and hike back down.
If you opt for longer routes, you can walk from Capileira, Hoya de la Mora (often combined with Pico Veleta), or from Trevelez. These are all recommended overnight hikes where you can stay in any of the refuges along the way.
It is important to bring enough water so you stay hydrated. If you end up going on a day with scorching sun and no wind, there is no shade along the trail, and you will need it. On the other hand, you can have the complete opposite, and then you need to make sure you have enough layers of clothes including a beanie, neck gaiter, and mittens so that you stay warm in cold winds. If you go on any of the longer treks, it is a good idea to bring sturdy hiking poles too.
Whatever the weather, and if you do it in a day or venture out for two, a Mulhacen hiking trip is an epic experience worthy your Sierra Nevada bucket list!
Related Posts: The high peaks of Sierra Nevada frame the historical city of Granada and the legendary Alhambra Palace and Gardens.
Explore the White Villages of Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada expands across the provinces of Granada and Almeria. There are numerous charming white villages worth a visit in both provinces where you can taste local food and drinks while enjoying beautiful scenery. To mention a few, Capileira and Trevelez, which is the highest village in Sierra Nevada, are both excellent choices if you want to go hiking the high sierra.
But even if hiking is not your thing, these charming villages will captivate you and are worthy of a couple of days just to soak in the village vibes.
For a fun walk, you can spend a night in Monachil where you can walk the popular slot canyon of Los Cahorros, with hanging bridges crossing the glittering river, water holes, and passing waterfalls. There are sections where you have to crawl and others where you have to hold onto metal handles in the rock wall to get around the mountain that is covering the path. This is a unique and fun experience for the whole family.
Lanjarón is another village worth a visit in the mountains of Granada. There are a few easy trails from the here, like Acequia Aceituno. The village got its name on the map for its bottled spring water, Lanjarón, which was actually Spain’s first.
But no visit to Sierra Nevada is complete without visiting the village of the same name. This is where the ski resort is in winter and it is a really cute place with plenty of views. In summer you can take the ski lift up to the second highest peak in Sierra Nevada, Pico Veleta.
This is a great option, if you do not like or have the time to go for a whole day trek, as the ski lift leaves you only a short walk from the top where you can gaze at endless mountain views.
In Almería, make sure you head up to Bayarcal. It’s the highest village in the province, tiny but charming with mesmerising views, and surrounded by good hiking routes. One of these is the Rio Molinos hike which only takes 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace, where you can enjoy waterfalls and swimming holes along the way.
The white villages are best explored by car or motorbike as public transport is poor to most of them.
Go Skiing in the Southernmost Ski Resort in Europe
The village of Sierra Nevada is home to Europe’s southernmost ski resort, which makes it a pretty unique ski destination in winter. The season is also one of the longest in Europe, normally starting in November and can last until late April. The quaint village is full of life during this time, as people travel all across Andalucía to go skiing.
You can rent equipment there if you have not brought your own and there is a myriad of slopes for all levels to choose from.
The highest slopes go from Pico Veleta which is, as mentioned before, the second highest peak in the park at 3,398 metres of altitude. The views of sunny snow-capped mountains reach as far as the eye can see, making it hard to believe you are only a couple of hours from the Sunshine Coast where tourists from northern Europe are still swimming in the sea throughout the winter months.
Bike the Narrow Mountain Roads
All the narrow mountain roads that connect the white villages in Sierra Nevada are extremely popular among cyclists, and it is easy to understand why when you see the spectacular views along the way. Like most mountain roads in southern Spain there is not much space, so you have to cycle cautiously and watch out for passing cars, even though they should give way to you.
There are signs showing that cars should keep 1.5 metre distance from cyclists, but unfortunately many drivers do not do so. Nonetheless, these roads are quite safe to cycle as long as you wear adequate equipment and take care. You can rent bikes in Granada and Almería, but be prepared for some serious hills to push up!
Cross Country Skiing at Puerto de la Ragua
Cross country skiing is not something most people think of when going to southern Spain. But in Almería’s Sierra Nevada, there is a cross country ski resort with prepared tracks. Puerto de la Ragua is at a mountain pass just at the border between Granada and Almería, on the latter side.
At 2,000 metres of altitude and tucked below Almería’s highest peak, El Chullo, it is a spectacular place to go skiing. The views span across Granada to Jaen’s highest peak, Sierra Mágina, and to the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park.
You can rent equipment at Puerto de La Ragua (they have toilets and a café too). However, if you bring your own food and something to sit on, you can enjoy a unique lunch with never-ending views.
Hike the Highest Peak in Almería
Sierra Nevada is not only home to some of the highest peaks in Spain, but it also features the highest peak in Almeria, El Chullo (2613m) which is a little-known peak which gets way less attention than it deserves. Especially considering that it is fairly easy to hike from Puerto de la Ragua. The trail is well marked and goes steadily up, without any steep parts after you climb the first hundred metres from the trailhead.
The views along the hike are mesmerising with Granada’s 3,000 metre peaks on your right side during the entire ascent. If you do this trek in wintertime you’ll see the snow-capped peaks of Mulhacen and Veleta glittering in the sunshine. And maybe you even find yourself walking on a snowy path.
The actual peak offers sweeping 360 views of the Almería coastline, the high sierras and across to the peaks in Jaen province.
Go Rock Climbing
As well as being one of the best places for hiking in Europe, Sierra Nevada is also a great destination for rock climbers. There are many popular spots especially in Lanjarón and Monachil. You can actually see rock climbers hanging on the vertical mountain when hiking in Los Cahorros from Monachil. Also, the popular hiking destination Capileira has some great climbing walls nearby, like Tajos de Aleide. Or you can head to Niguelas or Alfacar.
For experienced hikers, there are routes up the high sierras, like Pico Veleta where there are pitches which add to the adventure of ascending the mountain.
If you are new to climbing, you can also take beginner classes or climbing courses in Sierra Nevada. There are many companies that take groups or individuals out to explore the best climbing spots in Sierra Nevada. This is a fun adventure if you want to explore the sierras with adrenaline!
Reflections on What To Do in Sierra Nevada
There is no doubt Sierra Nevada is an amazing travel destination and there are endless things to do. Especially for the adventure traveller. But with all the villages, there is a lot of culture to soak in too, many local tapas to try, and many interesting people to talk to.
If you are ever in Southern Spain, make sure you explore Sierra Nevada beyond the popular city of Granada and the legendary Alhambra Palace.
About the Author
Linn Haglund is originally from Norway. She has lived in Andalucia for nearly 10 years and truly explores the beauty of Sierra Nevada.
As a result of her passion for hiking, and seeing a lack of good information when searching for routes, she founded Andalucia Hiking, a blog to help you explore the region through thorough hiking guides, tips, and gear recommendations.
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