Grandvalira is one of the biggest ski areas in southern Europe. It has over 200 kilometres of marked ski runs, which means you could ski a different route every day for a whole holiday and still not try them all. Beginners get gentle, wide slopes, while expert skiers can tackle steep black runs that drop down the mountain sides.
Vallnord is a bit smaller but very popular with families and with people who love mountain biking in summer, when the snow melts and the lifts carry cyclists and their bikes up the mountain instead of skiers. The lifts themselves are fun — open chairlifts swing you high above the tree line with views for miles in every direction.
Many Andorran children learn to ski as soon as they can walk. Schools sometimes take whole year groups up the mountain for ski lessons as part of the normal school timetable. Because the resorts are so close to where people live — sometimes just a short drive — it is a very normal part of everyday winter life, a bit like swimming lessons might be for children near a coast.