Pas de la Casa, Andorra | Welove2ski
Ski Resorts

Grandvalira Pas de la Casa, Andorra

Pas de la Casa, Andorra | Welove2ski
Photo: © Grandvalira.com

The Stats

Altitude: 2095m

Top Lift: 2580m

Ski area: 193km of piste

Adult lift pass: 176-232€ for six days

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In a Nutshell

Andorra’s frontier town of Pas de la Casa is part of the Grandvalira area and suitable for anyone looking for raw partying with piste-bashing, also for bargain-hunting shoppers.

Essential Guide to Grandvalira Pas de la Casa

Grandvalira is a large linked ski area with seven different resorts: Pas de la Casa, Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, and Grau Roig. The biggest and best-known are Soldeu and Pas de la Casa, and together the six resorts promote themselves as a world-class destination for serious skiers.

However, you can’t talk about Pas de la Casa without mentioning the nightlife: it’s some of the wildest we’ve ever seen. That said, this part of Andorra is much more than a place with cheap(ish) beer and pistes attached.

The 192km of piste in Grandvalira is linked up by a high-speed lift network and there are gentle green runs for beginners to start on and some decent blue ones for them to progress to once the basics have been mastered. For the more experienced there is a good mix of red and black runs.

Several of the best pistes are at the Pas de la Casa end of the ski area, but nevertheless it’s here that the spirit of old Andorra lives on in rudest health, courtesy of its charmless concrete architecture, and the full-throttle, and distinctly British and Irish nightlife – which gains in intensity as the clock ticks towards midnight. Families and older skiers should steer clear, and check into neighbouring Soldeu instead – leaving the twentysomethings to have a holiday they won’t easily forget.

The majority of hotels and apartments are conveniently located close to the slopes and everything is within a short walk of the nightlife. You can party (almost) all night in Pas – the closing time of nightclubs is at 3am except for Fridays and Saturdays when it is 4am. On special occasions, such as Christmas and New Years’ Eve they stay open until 5am.

Bordertown shopping spree

Pas de la Casa is also a great place for shopping. Due to its location on the French-Andorran border, people come here to take advantage of Andorra’s low tax and duty free prices. Because of this you’ll find a plethora of shops and supermarkets offering everything from alcohol and perfume to clothing and electrical goods. Most of the shops are on or around three streets: Carrer de Sant Jordi, Avenida d’Encamp and Carrer Major.

Continue Exploring Grandvalira Pas de la Casa

The Loveometer

Where to Ski Loveometer 65% | Welove2ski

We Love

We Hate

tick The underrated skiing. It’s some of best in the principality.
tick The duty-free booze.
tick The unfettered nightlife.
tick The big intermediate ski area that’s also great for beginners.
cross We hate
The lack of atmosphere – it is a concrete dormitory.
cross The high season queues.
cross The fact that a lot of accommodation is close to the clubs and bars, so very noisy.
cross The traffic in town.

About the author

Felice Hardy

Felice was one of the founders of Welove2ski and regularly contributes, as well writing for a range of other publications including The Evening Standard, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveller, Tatler, Harpers Bazaar, Country Life, BA Highlife and House & Garden. She started skiing at the age of three. She also enjoys hiking with her dogs and mountain biking in the Alps.

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