# Pyrenees The mountain range that separates and joins Spain, France and Andorra. Every valley has its own character. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/regions/pyrenees · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Zonas que contiene: [Catalan Pre-Pyrenees](https://www.geocalia.com/en/regions/catalan-pre-pyrenees.md), [Sobrarbe](https://www.geocalia.com/en/regions/sobrarbe.md) Países: Spain, France, Andorra ## Destinos de esta zona - [Ordesa Valley](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley.md): A glacial canyon with thousand-metre walls, beech forests and waterfalls at every turn. You can see it in a day, enjoy it in two and it begs a return in autumn. - [Alquézar and the River Vero](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/alquezar.md): What to do in Alquézar: the Vero walkways, the collegiate church and its painted cloister, canyons in Guara and rock art, 50 minutes from Huesca. - [Aínsa and the Sobrarbe](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe.md): What to see in Aínsa, the Plaza Mayor, the castle and Santa María, trails to the Cinca, San Victorián and Añisclo, canyoning and where to eat on Sunday, an hour and a half from Huesca. - [Benasque Valley](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/benasque-valley.md): Skiing at Cerler, guided snowshoeing to the Forau d'Aigualluts and Nordic skiing at Llanos del Hospital; where to sleep and eat in Benasque. - [Canfranc, Candanchú and Astún](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/canfranc.md): Skiing at Candanchú and Astún, with a joint 2026-27 lift pass, and the Canfranc International Station; where to sleep and eat, 80 minutes from Huesca. - [Tena Valley](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/tena-valley.md): Skiing at Formigal-Panticosa from 27 November, sledges, snowshoes and marked ski touring; where to sleep and eat in Sallent and Formigal. - [Berga](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga.md): A sanctuary hanging above the valley, via ferratas, kayaking on the Baells reservoir and mountain cooking, a little over an hour from Barcelona. - [Cerdanya](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya.md): Skiing at La Molina and Masella, guided snowshoeing at Aransa and Lles and Puigcerdà as a base: 2026-27 prices, the R3 train, where to sleep and when to go. - [La Pobla de Segur](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/la-pobla-de-segur.md): The Pallars Jussà village that the Tren dels Llacs reaches from Lleida: the Collegats gorge, via ferrata, rafting, the raiers of the Noguera Pallaresa and Mauri Modernisme. - [Pallars Sobirà](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/pallars-sobira.md): Skiing at Espot and Port Ainé, guided snowshoeing to the Sant Maurici lake, igloos and a spa at Sort; where to sleep and eat in Espot and Sort. - [Ripoll](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll.md): Capital of the Ripollès, where the Ter meets the Freser beneath a monastery founded in 879 and its 12th-century portal. A quiet base for Núria and Sant Joan. - [Val d'Aran](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/aran-valley.md): Baqueira from 28 November to 4 April, huskies and snowmobiles at Beret, rafting on the Garonne, the Colomèrs lakes, where to sleep and what to eat. - [Vall de Boí](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/boi-valley.md): Skiing at Boí Taüll, snowshoeing in Aigüestortes, World Heritage Romanesque churches and a spa; where to sleep and eat in Taüll and Boí. - [Irati Forest](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest.md): One of the largest beech and fir forests in Europe, between the Salazar and Aezkoa valleys: the Cubo Waterfall, the Irabia reservoir and the Fábrica de Armas. - [Cirque de Gavarnie](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/cirque-de-gavarnie.md): A rock amphitheatre with the highest waterfall in France. It is an hour on foot from the village. - [Cauterets](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/occitanie/cauterets.md): A spa resort in the French Pyrenees, gateway to the Pyrenees National Park, with access to the Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube beneath the north face of the Vignemale. - [Andorra la Vella and Escaldes](https://www.geocalia.com/en/andorra/andorra-la-vella.md): Andorra's capital and Escaldes: Caldea from €31, the Casa de la Vall, the Romanesque church of Santa Coloma, the Madriu valley on foot and where to eat and sleep. - [Grandvalira](https://www.geocalia.com/en/andorra/grandvalira.md): Grandvalira is open from 4 December to 4 April: sectors, lift pass, snowparks, snowshoeing at Pessons, car parks and where to stay in Soldeu. - [La Massana](https://www.geocalia.com/en/andorra/la-massana.md): La Massana and Arinsal: Pal Arinsal from 4 December to 4 April, toboggans and zip line, a bike park in summer, the Comapedrosa and where to eat and sleep. - [Ordino](https://www.geocalia.com/en/andorra/ordino.md): The Ordino valley: skiing at Arcalís from 4 December to 4 April, the Tristaina lakes, the flowers of Sorteny, the Llorts mine and where to eat and sleep. ## What are the Pyrenees? The mountain range that runs from Cap de Creus, on the Mediterranean, to the Cantabrian Sea, where it links up with the Basque mountains. It is about 430 km long from east to west and separates Spain from France, with Andorra in between. On the Spanish side it touches Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia, and some of the Basque Country; on the French side, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. The highest point is the Aneto, at 3,404 m, in the Maladeta massif, and there are more than two hundred peaks over 3,000 m. It is not a mountain you see all at once, but a succession of valleys running from north to south, each with its own language, architecture and way of life. The west, in Navarre, is green with Atlantic forest. The centre, in Aragon and the French Bigorre Pyrenees, is the highest and steepest, with the great glacial cirques. The east, in Catalonia and Andorra, mixes high mountain, lakes and open valleys like the Cerdanya. To the south, a strip of lower ranges, the Pre-Pyrenees, forms the transition to the plain. ## How to get there and how to get around? By car, almost always. The roads climb through the valleys and the hard part is moving along the range: going from one valley to the next means going down and up again, or crossing slow passes. That is why it is better to choose one or two valleys per trip than to try to cover it all. Some references: from Barcelona to Puigcerdà, in the Cerdanya, it is about 155 km and two hours through the Cadí tunnel. From Zaragoza to Jaca, about 140 km and an hour and three-quarters. From Huesca to Benasque, about 145 km and a little over two hours. From Pamplona to Ochagavía, gateway to the Irati forest, 80 km and an hour and a half. By train there are few options, but beautiful ones. The line from Zaragoza to Canfranc ends next to the great international station. Rodalies R3 links Barcelona with Ripoll and Puigcerdà. In France, Lourdes is on the Toulouse–Bayonne line, and in the French Cerdanya the Yellow Train runs. The most useful airports are Barcelona, Zaragoza, Toulouse and Pau or Lourdes on the French side. Andorra, which has no airport, is reached by car or bus from Barcelona. On foot, the whole range can be crossed by the GR 11, the Senda Pirenaica, about 800 km on the Spanish side between Cabo de Higuer and Cap de Creus, in 45 to 47 stages. In France the GR 10 does the same. For most people, however, the Pyrenees are walked on day routes from a base. ## Which valleys to see Navarre. The Irati forest is one of Europe's largest beech and fir woods, with Ochagavía and Orbaitzeta as gateways. It is the gentlest Pyrenees, ideal in autumn. Aragon. The Ordesa valley is the best-known glacial canyon in the range, in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, and Aínsa is the capital of the Sobrarbe that surrounds it. To the east, Benasque lies at the foot of the Aneto. To the west, the Tena valley and Canfranc have the ski resorts of Formigal-Panticosa, Astún and Candanchú. Further south, already in the Pre-Pyrenees, Alquézar and the walkways of the River Vero. Catalonia. The Val d'Aran faces north, speaks Aranese and has Baqueira-Beret. The Vall de Boí holds a group of Romanesque churches that is a World Heritage Site and is the gateway to Aigüestortes National Park. The Pallars Sobirà is the valley of the rivers and of Espot, and the Cerdanya, the high plain between mountains with Puigcerdà and La Molina. Lower down, Ripoll gives access to the Núria rack railway. Andorra. Grandvalira is the country's largest ski area and in summer works as a hiking base. France. Gavarnie has the most famous glacial cirque in the range, with the great waterfall and the Brèche de Roland. Very close, Cauterets is the gateway to the Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube, inside the Pyrenees National Park. ## When to go There are two seasons. From December to March, the snow one, with February as the surest month for skiing. From late June to mid-October, the mountain one: in July the refuges are open and you can climb high, in August there are more people and afternoon storms, and September and early October are perhaps the best, with the beech woods of Irati and Ordesa changing colour from mid-October. April and November are the weak months: there is no longer good snow and the summits cannot yet be climbed, and many hotels close. ## How many days do you need? A valley can be enjoyed over a long weekend of three or four days. With a week you can combine two nearby valleys, such as Ordesa and Benasque, or the Vall de Boí and the Val d'Aran. To travel the range from end to end by car you would need two weeks, and on foot, by the GR 11, about forty-five days. ## What is worth knowing? In summer, several accesses are regulated. The Ordesa meadow is reached by bus from Torla in high season, and in Aigüestortes private cars do not go beyond the entrance car parks: you continue on foot or by 4x4 taxi. In the high mountains the weather changes fast: set out early, especially in August, and check the forecast before any summit. In winter, the border passes can close or require chains. ## Un consejo más ### Choose one valley and sleep in it Each valley has its routes ten or twenty minutes from home. Changing valley costs hours of road. A well-done trip in the Pyrenees is a trip with one or two bases, not a route. ## Cuándo no ir ### August in Ordesa at midday It is the month and the hour with the most people and the most storms. If you go in August, take the first bus from Torla and come down before the afternoon clouds over. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Which part of the Pyrenees is best for a first trip? If you want grand landscapes, Ordesa and Gavarnie, one on each side of the border. For forest and gentle walks, Irati. For lakes and Romanesque, the Vall de Boí. ### Can I go without a car? To some places. Canfranc, Ripoll and Puigcerdà have trains, and Benasque, Jaca or Andorra, buses. To get around within each valley you need a car or to depend on seasonal buses. ### When is the best time to go to the Pyrenees? For walking, from late June to early October, with September the quietest month. For skiing, from December to March. ### How many days do you need? Three or four for one valley and a week for two. The whole range cannot be seen in one trip.