The Best Hotels in Sierra Nevada, Spain

Skiers looking for luxury will find it at El Lodge, which boasts four restaurants, a superb spa, plush suites and direct access to the pistes. You can hire skis from the hotel, book your children into a dedicated kids’ club and reserve an in-house guide to develop your skills on the mountain. Staff will even carry your skis down to the station and kit you out in cosy gear. Wallow in the outdoor hot tub with mountain views or enjoy a personalised massage.

Foodies will love this farmhouse-turned-gastro-hotel, located on La Alpujarra Granadina, in the village of Laroles. Dishes – which look like works of art – are served in a cosy, adults-only dining room where jazz plays and an open fire crackles. Wine is local and organic. Three rustic cabins (also adult-only) are lovingly furnished with pot plants and local art.

For a ski-in ski-out hotel with bags of charm and wonderful mountain vistas, Hotel HG Maribel has you covered. Overlooking the ski station and Granada city, it has direct access to the slopes from the hotel terrace – so you can easily pop back to your room for lunch or a break. Hire kit and organise lessons through the hotel, which also has a heated boot room, and relax in the spa or hot tub before bed.

Perfectly placed in the heart of Altiplano de Granada for summer hikes and winter sports, this complex of pretty whitewashed buildings offers good food, comfortable accommodation and friendly service. Rooms are characterful, with vibrant colour schemes, cast iron beds and traditional terracotta tiled floors. The restaurant – open at weekends and during holidays – serves Mediterranean cuisine using local ingredients.

Expect traditional Spanish country style at this collection of apartments, located in the village of Yegen at the foot of the Sierra Nevada National Park. Terracotta floors and exposed beams add to the rustic feel in the apartments, which can sleep up to five guests. The Gastrobar is cosy after a day’s skiing, serving tapas, pinchos (snacks) and mains, while the terrace is a fine spot to relax after a summer hike.

Set in the mountain town of Trevélez, on the southern face of the Sierra Nevada, is a contemporary, 10-room bolthole and the sister property of La Fragua I. Facilities include an outdoor pool, covered parking and a restaurant. The decor is traditional, with rustic wood beams and ivory walls, yet there are also modern touches, such as underfloor heating – particularly welcome after a day in the snow.

Traditional style meets quirky touches at this three-star hotel in the mountain village of Capileira. Converted from a historic house, it has retained many original features from the tiled floors to the exposed stone walls. Rooms are minimalist and chic, with juliette balconies overlooking the mountains and gleaming bathrooms. In summer, nearby activities include hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking and canyoning.

With 14 houses, each sleeping up to four people, plus a communal pool, wellness centre and restaurant, this complex offers plenty of privacy with all the perks of hotel facilities. There’s character in spades – think stone walls, open fires and heavy oak doors. Some apartments feature private hot tubs, but there’s also a thermal spa, complete with a hydro massage pool, sauna, ice shower, and even a ball pit for the kids. The restaurant serves everything from Iberian ham to fresh pizzas.