The ski area in numbers
- Base altitude: 1,600 m, same as neighbouring Masella.
- Top altitude: 2,537 m at Tosa d'Alp, shared with Masella.
- Vertical drop: 937 m — in the top three of the Catalan Pyrenees.
- Pistes: 61 marked runs, 70 km total — 11 green, 26 blue, 17 red, 7 black.
- Lifts: 16 — including a direct gondola from the base to the Tosa d'Alp summit.
- Snowpark: yes, one of the best in the Pyrenees, with a progression line of three jump sizes and a dedicated jib zone.
- FIS downhill course: the Cap de Comella descent is a certified World Cup course, open to the public under certain conditions.
- Night skiing: no.
Spain's first ski resort
La Molina has been continuously operating as a ski resort since 1943 — the oldest in Spain. The first drag lift was installed in winter 1942–43, financed by the Catalan ski club FEEC. Through the 1960s and 1970s the resort expanded with chairlifts and the first gondola; the 2008 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships, hosted jointly with Masella as "La Molina/Masella", put the resort firmly on the European competition circuit. The current base area, rebuilt in the mid-2000s, has the only purpose-built resort village in the Catalan Pyrenees — small, functional, and useful if you want a drink or a coffee between runs.
Getting there from Barcelona
La Molina is the only Pyrenean ski resort with a direct train service from Barcelona. The Rodalies R3 line runs from Plaça de Catalunya (and other central Barcelona stations) to La Molina station in the resort village itself — journey time about three hours each way, with lifts a short walk from the station. The train is a solid option for independent skiers who are comfortable managing their own equipment rental, though at €32 return it's not meaningfully cheaper than a shared minivan.
By road from Barcelona it's just under two hours in good conditions — the fastest Pyrenean ski resort from the city. Our La Molina day tour covers door-to-door transport with a driver-guide.
Season and conditions
La Molina's season typically opens in the first week of December and closes in early to mid-April. Conditions are most reliable from mid-January through February. Because the resort is north-facing on its upper slopes (unlike Masella, which is south-facing), snow tends to hold its quality longer into the afternoon on sunny days. The downside is that early mornings in cold snaps can be icy on north-facing pistes — a 10:30 start is often preferable to a 09:00 one in deep January.
Where to ski at La Molina
The main sector of the resort is reached by the Tosa d'Alp gondola from the base — a 15-minute ride that takes you from 1,600 m to just under 2,500 m. From the top you have access to the resort's main cruising reds and blacks. The Cap de Comella sector to the west holds the resort's most interesting advanced skiing, including the FIS downhill course. The La Pleta sector to the east is where the snowpark and most of the family-oriented blue runs live.
Our favourite warm-up run is the Tosa d'Alp blue down from the summit to the mid-station Fonts — a 3 km easy cruising descent that gives you a feel for the ski area before committing to the longer reds. For strong intermediates, the Supertub red down from Cap de Comella is 2 km of fast groomed turns with great mountain views towards France. Advanced skiers who want a challenge should look at the Jet black run — short, steep and often moguled in the afternoons.
The snowpark
La Molina's snowpark is on the La Pleta sector, under the Pla de l'Àliga chair. The park is rebuilt each November and typically opens in mid-December. In a normal season it includes: three jump sizes (small, medium, large) on a progression line; a dedicated jib area with slide rails, boxes and tubes; a mini halfpipe (not every season); and a boardercross course on selected weekends. The park's current status and feature list is updated weekly on the resort's website.
FIS downhill — the Cap de Comella descent
The Cap de Comella is a certified Alpine World Cup downhill course that drops 870 metres over 2.5 km, with a maximum gradient of 32% and sustained high-speed sections. The course has been used for FIS World Cup races and ran during the 2008 World Championships. It opens to the public when conditions permit — typically on quieter weekdays with excellent snow conditions and firm groomed base. There is a time slot system when it's open; our driver-guide can book you in in advance.
Alp 2500 — skiing both resorts
La Molina is lift-linked at the top with Masella. The combined Alp 2500 lift pass (around €62) gets you both resorts for one day — total 144 km of pistes, 129 marked runs, 31 lifts. Most of our guests buying this pass spend the morning in La Molina and move over to Masella after lunch for the afternoon sun. The connection chair at the top of Tosa d'Alp closes at 4:00 pm, so plan your crossing before that.
Book a day on skis at La Molina
Our La Molina day tour from Barcelona includes a private minivan from your hotel, driver-guide, help with rental and lift pass, and drop-off at your Barcelona accommodation. Combined Alp 2500 passes available on request. Enquire for availability.