# Cerdanya 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. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/cerdanya · Revisado: 2026-11-12 The Cerdanya is a wide, sunny valley in the Pyrenees, split by the border with France. On its southern edge, the Tosa d'Alp shares two ski resorts, La Molina and Masella, which are sold together with the Alp2500 lift pass. Puigcerdà, the capital, is the base for sleeping, and on the heights of Lles and Aransa there are Nordic ski areas from which snowshoe routes leave. For anyone living in Barcelona it is the nearest snow: an hour and a half by car or a commuter train. ## How do you get there from Barcelona? By car, along the C-16 to Berga and the Cadí tunnel, which is a toll road. Masella estimates 140 km and an hour and a half to the resort. Without paying the tunnel, the N-260 via Ripoll and the Toses pass takes about two hours and is a mountain-pass road that may require chains in season. From Girona you go up via Ripoll and Toses; from Lleida and Tarragona, the usual way is to join the C-16 or enter via La Seu d'Urgell. From Manresa, along the C-16, the Cerdanya is a little under an hour and a half away. Without a car, the Rodalies R3 leaves Barcelona, passes through Vic and Ripoll and stops at La Molina before ending at Puigcerdà. The resort sells the Skitren package, which combines train and lift pass, and an internal bus takes you from the train station to Pista Llarga for €5. ## La Molina or Masella? They are two faces of the same mountain. La Molina has 71 km and 67 pistes, 20 of them green, a gondola to the top of the Tosa and a snowpark: it works best for learning and for going by train. Masella has 74 km and 65 pistes, more blue and red, most with artificial snow, and ten kilometres lit for night skiing. If you are going for two days, the Alp2500 lift pass lets you cross from one to the other over the Tosa. ResortKmPistesAltitudeAdult lift pass 2026-27 La Molina7120 green · 18 blue · 23 red · 6 black1,667 – 2,537 m€49 online Masella749 green · 27 blue · 23 red · 6 black1,600 – 2,535 m€53 online Alp2500 (both)145——€57 Neither had published its 2026-27 opening date by mid-November: check their websites before setting out. ## And if you don't ski? The La Molina gondola takes pedestrians up to the Tosa d'Alp for €20, with a refuge restaurant at the top. At the Nordic resorts of Aransa and Lles, snowshoe routes leave: Rutes Pirineus runs introductory outings with a qualified guide, about 8 km, from age 9, for €47.90 plus rental. In Puigcerdà, the lake and the old town can be walked in an afternoon. ## Where do you sleep? Puigcerdà has more hotels, restaurants and the train, and is 20 or 25 minutes from both resorts. In La Molina you sleep at the foot of the pistes: the Hotel Adserà, run by the same family since 1934, is next to Pista Llarga. With small children, look for family rooms and a children's play area, as at the Hotel del Prado; for the afternoon after skiing, the spa at the Hotel del Lago, beside Puigcerdà lake. ## How much time? A Sunday covers a day on the pistes from Barcelona. With two nights you can do a day at each resort, or one of skiing and one of snowshoeing. If you go by train, a night in La Molina saves you an early start. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Pyrenees, Horse riding routes in Spain - Cerca: Grandvalira (a 26.7 km · Andorra), Ripoll (a 33.6 km), Andorra la Vella and Escaldes (a 34.4 km · Andorra), Ordino (a 35.2 km · Andorra) ## Qué hacer - **Skiing at La Molina** (7 h · All levels · Beginners with their own area · Desde 49 € adult day lift pass, online): La Molina is the ski resort closest to Barcelona by train and one of the first in Spain. It has runs for learning and long reds from the Tosa d'Alp, the summit the gondola climbs to. Runs, altitudes and lifts The ski area adds up to 71 km and 67 runs: 20 green, 18 blue, 23 red and 6 black, between 1,667 and 2,537 metres. It is served by 16 lifts, with one gondola, eight chairlifts, three drag lifts and four conveyor belts, and 602 cannons cover 60% of the surface. It has a snowpark. The base greens, at Pista Llarga and Trampolí, are the beginners' ones: the €31 beginner lift pass gives only those lifts and the belts. How much a day costs In the 2026-27 season, the day lift pass costs €49 for adults (25 to 64), €41.50 for ages 12 to 24 and €36 for ages 7 to 11; under-7s and over-75s pay €7. The afternoon, from 13:00, comes to €33.50. Those are online prices: at the ticket office add €3. The Alp2500 lift pass, which combines La Molina and Masella, costs €57. The resort's own rental charges €25 for complete adult ski equipment, €35 for snowboard and €15.50 for snowshoes. Lessons More than ten schools operate at La Molina. The Escola d'Esquí La Molina, the oldest, charges €124 for a three-day group course; a one-hour private lesson costs from €54 to €62. It has a children's park by the hour, from €19. Getting there and where to park From Barcelona, the C-16 and the Cadí tunnel, or the N-260 over the Collada de Toses. By train, the Rodalies R3 stops at La Molina station; with the Skitren package, which includes the train from the R3 stations, the internal bus to Pista Llarga is free. Without it, it costs €5. There are eight car parks, from P1 at the gondola to P8 at the lake. Before leaving the piste Off-piste and snowshoeing in the mountains depend on the avalanche danger. The Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya publishes the Butlletí de Perill d'Allaus for the Pyrenees, on a scale of 1 to 5, valid off the pistes and in uncontrolled areas. Check it before you set out. - **Skiing at Masella** (7 h · All levels · Desde 53 € adult day lift pass, online): Masella shares the Tosa with La Molina and sells the Alp2500 lift pass with it. The resort has renewed the cannons at La Pleta and Bosc d'Alp for this winter. Runs, altitudes and lifts The fact sheet gives 74 km and 65 runs: 9 green, 27 blue, 23 red and 6 black. The base is at Pla de Masella, at 1,600 metres, and the summit at the Tosa, at 2,535: 935 metres of vertical drop. There are 17 lifts: four detachable chairlifts, one with a belt, six drag lifts, four conveyor belts and two rope tows. 587 cannons cover 53 km. For 2026-27 it has doubled snow production on the Tosa axis, between 2,300 and 2,500 metres. How much a day costs The adult day lift pass costs €53 online and €56 at the ticket office; the youth one, €47 and €50; the child's, €43 and €46. The youngest pay €10. Half day from 13:00: €44 for adults. Rental charges €28 for adult ski equipment, €22 for children's and €33 for snowboard. Lessons The resort's own school gives private lessons from €52 an hour, group lessons at €15 an hour in three-hour sessions, weekend courses for children aged 4 to 12 and snowboard from age 7. The snow garden takes children from age 3. Getting there From Barcelona it is about 140 km and an hour and a half through the Cadí tunnel, which is a toll road. Without the tunnel, over the Collada de Toses, about two hours. The resort is about 20 minutes from Puigcerdà. Off-piste Outside the open runs, the ICGC's Butlletí de Perill d'Allaus rules. Check it before setting out on snowshoes or touring skis. - **Guided snowshoeing through the Aransa forests** (5 h 45 · 8 km · Beginners, from age 9 · Desde 47.9 € per person): A circular 8 km snowshoe loop through the black pine forests surrounding the Aransa Nordic ski station, in the Cerdanya of Lleida, with a qualified mountain guide from Rutes Pirineus. It is a beginner outing: it asks for fitness to walk four or five hours, but no prior technique. From the Fornell refuge to the Comabella pool You set out from the Nordic station, where the Fornell refuge is, and soon enter the forest. The first stretch climbs among black pines, junipers and clearings where animal tracks can be read in the snow; as you gain height, views open over the Cerdanya valley and the north face of the Cadí range, with its snowy gullies. Then comes a descent through snow to the Prat Miró forest refuge, and from there the route loops back passing, if the snow and terrain allow, the bassa de Comabella, a small frozen pond in the middle of the forest. Along the way the guide explains how to walk in snowshoes, what types of snow there are and how the black pine forest works. The itinerary may change depending on the weather. A full day, with lunch in your rucksack You meet at 10:00 at the far end of the car park of the Aransa Nordic station, next to the barrier on the access road; the return is expected around 15:45. It is about 5 h 45 in all, with about 3 h 30 of actual walking and 420 m of accumulated ascent. At midday you stop to eat whatever each person has brought: sandwich, fruit, nuts, and at least a litre and a half of water. What it costs and what is not included The guiding costs €47.90 per person, VAT included, with route preparation, weather monitoring and accident insurance. Snowshoes and poles can be hired for €9.90 more; if your foot is under a 35 or over a 47, or you weigh more than 120 kg, tell them when you book. The snowshoe pass, €7.50, is paid separately at the station ticket office, and the guide handles it. Getting to Aransa is up to you. The group is ten people at most and goes ahead with four; if that is not reached, the amount is refunded. Book on the website or by email and it is confirmed on payment. The scheduled dates for this season are 27 December 2026 and 23 January, 14 February and 6 March 2027. When it does not go ahead The company only counts it as a snowshoe outing if at least 40% of the route is on snow. If it expects less, it proposes a similar route or cancels with two days' notice. It is not an activity for children under 9: for them, the gondola to the Tosa d'Alp or the walk around Puigcerdà lake are shorter plans. If you enjoy it, the same company runs the climb to the Estany de l'Orri, at the neighbouring Lles station. - **Guided snowshoeing to the Estany de l'Orri and the Pradell refuge** (5 h 45 · 8 km · Beginners, from age 9 · Desde 47.9 € per person): From the Lles de Cerdanya Nordic ski station, next to the Cap del Rec refuge, a snowshoe climb to the Estany de l'Orri and the Pradell refuge, with a Rutes Pirineus guide. Eight kilometres and 400 m of ascent, over uneven high-mountain terrain but with no technical sections. The route The way up climbs through the Lles black pine forests to the Estany de l'Orri, a small, sheltered lake that appears suddenly among the trees, half hidden by the forest. From there you continue to the Pradell refuge, at 2,115 metres, which is the high point of the day and the lunch spot: in front of you is the Cerdanya and the north face of the Cadí range. The return goes down a forest path, with a gentle slope, to Cap del Rec. The guide is a qualified mountain guide and nature interpreter. Along the way he explains the history and technique of snowshoeing, the types of snow, how to read animal tracks and the life of the Lles pine woods. The route may change a little depending on the weather and the state of the snow. What the day is like You meet at 10:00 in the car park of the Lles station. It is about three and a half hours of actual walking, with the lunch stop, and back at the station around 15:45. Groups of ten at most; if there are fewer than four, the outing is cancelled and everything is refunded. For groups of seven or more, or to go with a guide just for yourselves on another date, the company gives a separate quote. The season's dates are 6 December, 16 January, 7 and 20 February and 14 March. What you pay and how to book The guide, €47.90 per person with accident insurance. Snowshoes and poles, €9.90; if you rent them, say so if you take under a size 35 or over a 47. The station charges snowshoe access at its ticket office: €5.25 for adults, €3.75 for ages 6 to 12 and free up to 5. Book by email or on the form on its website, or on 691 772 966, and the place is confirmed on payment. From Puigcerdà it takes about 30 minutes on the N-260 and the Lles road. What to bring A mountain rucksack with straps to hang the snowshoes, warm breathable clothing, waterproof mountain boots, gloves, a hat and a neck gaiter. For snow or rain, a rain jacket or poncho and gaiters; for the sun, sunglasses, sun cream and lip balm. Food and at least a litre and a half of water. The company may leave out anyone who does not bring the essential equipment. If there are children under nine in the group, the gondola to the Tosa d'Alp is a shorter, effortless snow plan. And if you like snowshoeing, there is another guided outing in the region: snowshoeing through the Aransa forests. - **La Molina gondola to the Tosa d'Alp without skis** (2 h · Non-skiers · Families · Desde 10 € per person, pedestrian pass): If there is someone in the group who does not ski, La Molina's Cadí-Moixeró gondola takes pedestrians up to the Tosa d'Alp, at 2,537 metres, the roof of the resort. In a few minutes you go from the forest to the summit, and at the top is the restaurant and refuge Niu de l'Àliga. What you see from the top The Tosa is the highest summit of the La Molina and Masella ski area, and from it the whole Cerdanya opens out, the wide, flat valley that descends towards Puigcerdà, with the snowy Pyrenean peaks around. Beside it, the Cadí range and the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, which gives the gondola its name. On a clear day it is one of the widest views you can have in winter without putting on skis or snowshoes. The journey itself is already part of the plan: the cabin climbs over the forest and the runs, and children usually enjoy it as much as the summit. The gondola is accessible to people with reduced mobility. What it costs and when to go up The gondola's pedestrian pass costs €20 for ages 12 to 64, €10 for 7 to 11, €15 for 65 to 74 and €7 for the youngest. It is bought at the resort's ticket offices or online; unlike other lift passes, the pedestrian one does not carry the €3 supplement for buying at the ticket office. The last ascent for the panoramic walk is at 16:00 Monday to Friday and at 15:00 at weekends and public holidays. Go up early: with the morning light the views are clearer and you have time to eat at the top without hurry. Eating at the summit or below The Niu de l'Àliga, recently renovated, serves mountain cooking with panoramic views and also acts as a refuge. It is best to book a table on 605 842 992, especially at weekends. You will find more detail on its page: Restaurant Niu de l'Àliga. If you prefer something quick, next to the gondola base is the gondola self-service, for breakfast or a bite before going up. How to do it Park at P1 or P2, next to the gondola base; the details are in La Molina car parks. Without a car, the R3 train reaches La Molina station and an internal bus goes up to the slopes. At the top, stay in the summit area: the runs are for skiers and are not walked on. Dress warmer than you think: on the Tosa the wind blows hard in winter, and the temperature is very different from the base. If the gondola stops because of wind, the ascent is cancelled; ask at the ticket office before paying and check the day's report. If the group splits, those who ski can ski at La Molina and all meet at the top for lunch. - **Walk around Puigcerdà lake** (30 min · Everyone · With pushchairs · On your own · free): Puigcerdà lake is a few minutes' walk from the central square, surrounded by a flat path, trees and summer houses. It is the short afternoon stroll after skiing, or the morning for those who do not go up to the slopes. There is no entrance fee or schedule: it is a public space in the town, open all year. An eight-century-old lake It is not a natural lake. The first document that names it is from 2 December 1260, when the monastery of Sant Miquel de Cuixà, owner for centuries of the plain of Rigolisa, ceded a plot of land beside it. It is fed by the irrigation channel that brings water from the River Querol, and for centuries it was the town's great reservoir: water for the home, for irrigation, for cleaning ditches and sewers and for putting out fires. It was also fished, the mud was used as fertiliser and the sand for building. In winter ice was cut in blocks and stored in the ice well built nearby in 1642. At the end of the 19th century the first summer visitors arrived and the lake became a place for strolling; in 1956 Puigcerdà's first ice hockey match was played on its frozen surface. Its present shape, with curved banks instead of the old hexagon, comes from a renovation that began in 1991. What to see on the walk The whole circuit takes twenty minutes or half an hour, with no slopes. What entertains children are the animals: swans have lived here since 1928, there are ducks and, among the trees and hedges, squirrels. With luck you may see a grey heron or a gull. All around are the towers and summer houses of the late 19th and early 20th century, which are a good part of the charm of the walk. In July and August boats are hired out for a turn on the water; the jetty is marked on the Puigcerdà tourist map. The official leaflet does not publish prices or hours for the boats: ask there or at the tourist office. In August, the Festa de l'Estany is held around the lake, a festival over a hundred years old presided over by the Vella de l'Estany, which grew out of the Venetian-style night parties of the first summer visitors. Dates and programme change each year: check them with the Town Council before you go. How to get there From the centre of Puigcerdà, walk down to the north; the path goes round the water and can be done with a pushchair. Without a car, the Rodalies R3 train runs from Barcelona to Puigcerdà. In the depth of winter the lake can partly freeze: do not step on the ice. Dogs can do the circuit on a lead. If you want to sleep with the water in front of you, the Hotel del Lago is on the same bank. And if you are looking for another plan without skis for the same day, the La Molina gondola to the Tosa d'Alp takes pedestrians up to the roof of the resort. - **Night skiing at Masella** (2 h 30 · Anyone who already skis blues · Desde 27 € adult night lift pass): Masella lights thirteen runs totalling 10 km, with 420 m of vertical drop from La Pleta, at 2,020 metres, and six lifts running. It is the way to extend a day in the snow without sleeping further away, and the resort itself boasts of having the largest night ski area in the Pyrenees. What you ski at night The lighting network covers the main runs on the lower and middle levels of the ski area, not the upper part of the Tosa. The thirteen lit runs are linked by six lifts, so you do not always repeat the same descent: there is a route to vary throughout the whole session. What does not open at night is the highest zone, so anyone who wants the long runs up top has to come by day. By level, you should already be comfortable on blue runs. At night the light flattens the terrain, changes in slope are harder to read and the snow hardens as soon as the sun goes down. It is not the session for learning from scratch, but it is for those who want a couple more hours after a day on the slopes or come up in the afternoon from Barcelona. What it costs The night lift pass costs €27 for adults and €22 for youths, children and seniors. If you already hold the day pass, the night supplement is €13.50 for adults and €11 for the rest. There is also a day pass plus the following day with night included: €69 for adults, at the ticket office. If you come for several days, compare prices with those of the Masella resort by day. Dinner afterwards When you finish, the après-ski is at the foot of the slopes, at the Restaurant del Pla de Masella, with mountain cooking. The resort advises booking dinner on 972 89 06 78, especially on Saturday, when the most people come up. Before you go Night skiing does not run every day: check Masella's website for the season's calendar and schedule, which is published in a monthly calendar on the night skiing page. For any questions, the resort answers on 972 144 000. Masella is in Alp, less than two hours by car from the main Catalan cities. From Barcelona, the resort recommends the Cadí Tunnel, which avoids the mountain passes; those who prefer not to pay the toll can go up by the Collada de Toses, with more bends. Coming back at night, expect ice on the road and carry chains in the car. At night it is colder and the snow is hard: bring a helmet, good gloves, an extra warm layer and goggles with clear or yellow lenses, never dark sunglasses. If you sleep nearby, Puigcerdà is a few minutes away and you can end the day with a walk around the lake the next morning. - **Horse Ride from Llívia through the Cerdanya** (1 h · From age 8, without ever having ridden · Desde 25 € per person): La Hípica de Llívia organises horse rides every day from the Antic Camí d'Ur, on the outskirts of Llívia. It is the simple option for trying the Cerdanya on horseback: a guide gives instructions before setting off, accompanies the group the whole time and adapts the route to the level of those riding. What is included and how much it costs The rides last around an hour and can be extended. The rates the riding school publishes, labelled as 2023, are €25 for one hour, €32 for an hour and a half and €40 for two hours. For little ones there is a pony in 30-minute sessions (€12), always with an adult alongside. It also organises long-distance routes, with the price to be agreed. As the rates are some years old, confirm the price when you book. Age and rules The rides are for anyone from age 8, even if they have never ridden. A helmet is compulsory and the centre recommends a protective vest, especially for minors, and gloves. Minors must be accompanied by an adult on the premises. When to go From May to June and from September to October there is more light and less heat than in August. In winter, with snow, ask whether there is a ride. How to book Through the form on its website or by phone: 676 229 505. The address is Antic Camí d'Ur s/n, in Llívia. What to bring Long trousers, closed shoes, and layers according to the season: in the Cerdanya mornings are cool even in summer. To combine with The Puigcerdà lake is a few kilometres away and makes a short walk before or after. ## Dónde comer - **El Tirol Snow Bar** (Restaurant, La Molina, €€). Qué pedir: the Cerdanya trinxat with butifarra de perol or the grilled Bellver butifarra; in the cold, the raclette menu - **La Borda del Ceretà** (Restaurant, Puigcerdà, €€€). Qué pedir: the Borda broth with galets and pilota and, as a second course, the tiró amb naps, the duck with Guils turnips and Puigcerdà pears - **Restaurant Niu de l'Àliga** (Restaurant, La Molina, €€). Qué pedir: a mountain spoon dish to warm up at the summit ## By car: The Cerdanya by car, from resort to resort With a car, you sleep in Puigcerdà and change resort according to the day: Masella is about 20 minutes away, La Molina 25 and the Nordic stations of Aransa and Lles half an hour. The budget includes a day lift pass, food and a shared hotel. Presupuesto orientativo: 110–190 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hotel del Lago** (Spa hotel, desde 123 € / night): A garden beside Puigcerdà lake The Hotel del Lago is at Calle Doctor Piguillem, 7, next to Puigcerdà lake and about a hundred metres from the centre, where the shops and restaurants are. The building is surrounded by a garden, with corners for reading in the sun or having a drink in the afternoon, and in summer you have breakfast outside. From the door you walk to the lake, with its swans and its boats for hire. It is a base for skiing at Masella or La Molina and coming back to sleep in the town, not a slopeside hotel. The spa is not paid for separately The spa area has a heated indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi, open all year and free for guests; it is not sold to outside visitors. Children under two cannot enter. Massages, therapeutic or relaxing, are paid for and booked at the hotel. In summer an outdoor pool in the garden also opens. A fireplace in the room The house has seven room types, and three have a fireplace: Suite 50, of 50 m², with a 25 m² sitting room, terrace, coffee machine and wood-burning fireplace. It is on the first floor, with no lift. Suite 30, of 30 m², with a sitting room, two bathrooms and a gas fireplace. Superior double with fireplace, of 24 m², gas fireplace. Comfort double, of 24 m², with a double bed or two beds, and standard double, of 15 m². Family triple, of 24 m², with three beds, and interconnecting family room, two doubles joined inside for four. These two are booked by phone. All have air conditioning, soundproof windows, minibar, flat-screen television, hairdryer and wifi. Breakfast is a buffet with local produce. There is a 24-hour reception, a lounge with a fireplace and a lift in the main building. Price and booking The website advertises its best rate from €123 and a getaway in a superior double with fireplace from €153, with no dates: the price for the day comes up in its booking. Telephone, 972 88 10 00; email, info@hotellago.com. Getting there and parking From Barcelona you go up the C-16 and the Cadí tunnel and then the N-260 to Puigcerdà. The hotel has two car parks of its own. Without a car, the Rodalies R3 reaches Puigcerdà station, in the lower part of the town; from there you walk up or take a taxi. For dinner nearby, La Borda del Ceretà is in Puigcerdà itself. Pets are not accepted. - **Hotel del Prado** (Hotel): On the way out of Puigcerdà towards Llívia Leaving Puigcerdà towards Llívia, at number 1 on that road and five minutes from the centre of the Cerdanya's capital, you come to the Hotel del Prado, with the French border next door. The building is surrounded by a large garden with tables, a playground, a sauna, the pool and a tennis court for guests. It has ample free outdoor parking, a 24-hour reception and adapted access. For skiing it suits both Masella and La Molina and the resorts on the French side. From the attic room to the duplex There are rooms for almost any group: Single, with a 1.10 m bed. Mountain Double, attic-style and wood-clad, with a double bed or two beds; Comfort Double, some with a whirlpool bath; and View Double with Balcony, with a terrace and valley views. Triple, of 16 m², and interconnecting family room or quadruple, of 17 m², with extra beds on request in the superior one. La Tosa Suite, with a 1.80 m bed, sitting room, terrace and whirlpool bath, and Executive Suite, with two rooms. Family duplex, with three bedrooms for at least four people, kitchen, dining room, terrace and garden. All have a bathroom with bath or shower, hairdryer, safe, television and free wifi. Air conditioning is only in some. The restaurant's Catalan cooking The restaurant holds the Generalitat's Hotel Gastronòmic distinction and serves traditional Catalan cooking with local produce, local designations of origin and grilled meats. It offers a daily menu, a gastronomic menu, an à la carte menu, a children's menu and dishes for coeliacs, and a long wine list. Hours: buffet breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30, lunch from 13:00 to 15:30 and dinner from 20:00 to 22:30; the café serves a quick menu from 19:30 to 22:00. Water and massages The heated pool opens from June to October, with a sun terrace. All year round there is a sauna and a massage menu with aromatherapy: hot stones, bamboo, three lavenders or reflexology, among others. Getaways at a fixed price The website sells packages for two or for a family: the romantic one from €135, the mountain-bike one for €160, the Cerdanya flavours one, with a gastronomic menu dinner, for €165, the relaxation one for €185 and the family on-ice one, with entry to the skating rink and skate hire for two adults and two children, for €220. At Christmas, in August and at Easter they carry €15 more per person. Booking on the website gives a 10% discount. The hotel accepts quiet dogs and cats for a supplement, and leaves a small welcome kit in the room. For walks with them, Puigcerdà lake is in the centre of the town. - **Hotel Adserà** (Hotel): From a hikers' chalet to a family hotel Pere Adserà arrived in La Molina in December 1925 to run the chalet of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, when up there there was no electricity, telephone or passable road. In 1934 he built the first part of the building that is today the Hotel Adserà, and since then it has grown without leaving the family: his descendants run it. It is a traditional high-mountain hotel, with views of the Cerdanya valley and gardens that look onto 500 hectares of forest and meadow. Where it stands in relation to the slopes The hotel has its own car park next to the building and another private one at the foot of the slopes, on Pista Llarga, where its bar-restaurant El Tirol is also located. That way you leave the car in the beginners' and ticket-office area of that sector and eat there without moving. If you arrive by train, the R3 stops at La Molina station and the resort's internal bus climbs to Pista Llarga. Forty rooms, almost all doubles There are 40, with parquet and rustic decor. All have a bathroom with bath, hairdryer, flat-screen television, desk, telephone, safe, heating and free wifi. Most are doubles and take an extra bed for a child; there are also singles, economy doubles, triples and quadruples, and some with two rooms, bunk beds or interconnecting for families. Ten have a balcony with valley views. Prices include breakfast, a buffet from 8:00 to 10:00 with products for coeliacs; if it is not included, it costs €14 for adults and €9 for children. The website does not publish room rates: ask for a quote at hotel@hoteladsera.com or on 972 892 001. Evenings inside the hotel For coming back from the snow there are lounges with fireplaces, a television room, a games room with chess and cards, table tennis and table football, and a kids' club open every afternoon from 17:00 to 23:00, with drawing, board games and crafts. Outside there is a playground in the garden, and in summer, an outdoor pool with a diving board and slide, and volleyball. The gym and sauna are only for over-16s. There is ski storage. La Molina without skiing In summer or without skis, the gondola to the Tosa d'Alp is close at hand from here; in winter, the runs of the La Molina resort reach Pista Llarga, where the hotel has its car park. The website does not say whether animals are accepted: ask when booking. ### Servicios - **La Molina car parks**: Eight car parks spread around the resort, from the gondola to the lake ## Car-free: To the snow on the R3 train The Cerdanya is one of the few ski areas you can reach easily without a car from Barcelona: the Rodalies R3 stops at La Molina and ends at Puigcerdà. The Skitren combines train and lift pass, and a bus from the station takes you up to the slopes. Presupuesto orientativo: 90–160 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Hotel del Lago** (Spa hotel, desde 123 € / night): A garden beside Puigcerdà lake The Hotel del Lago is at Calle Doctor Piguillem, 7, next to Puigcerdà lake and about a hundred metres from the centre, where the shops and restaurants are. The building is surrounded by a garden, with corners for reading in the sun or having a drink in the afternoon, and in summer you have breakfast outside. From the door you walk to the lake, with its swans and its boats for hire. It is a base for skiing at Masella or La Molina and coming back to sleep in the town, not a slopeside hotel. The spa is not paid for separately The spa area has a heated indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi, open all year and free for guests; it is not sold to outside visitors. Children under two cannot enter. Massages, therapeutic or relaxing, are paid for and booked at the hotel. In summer an outdoor pool in the garden also opens. A fireplace in the room The house has seven room types, and three have a fireplace: Suite 50, of 50 m², with a 25 m² sitting room, terrace, coffee machine and wood-burning fireplace. It is on the first floor, with no lift. Suite 30, of 30 m², with a sitting room, two bathrooms and a gas fireplace. Superior double with fireplace, of 24 m², gas fireplace. Comfort double, of 24 m², with a double bed or two beds, and standard double, of 15 m². Family triple, of 24 m², with three beds, and interconnecting family room, two doubles joined inside for four. These two are booked by phone. All have air conditioning, soundproof windows, minibar, flat-screen television, hairdryer and wifi. Breakfast is a buffet with local produce. There is a 24-hour reception, a lounge with a fireplace and a lift in the main building. Price and booking The website advertises its best rate from €123 and a getaway in a superior double with fireplace from €153, with no dates: the price for the day comes up in its booking. Telephone, 972 88 10 00; email, info@hotellago.com. Getting there and parking From Barcelona you go up the C-16 and the Cadí tunnel and then the N-260 to Puigcerdà. The hotel has two car parks of its own. Without a car, the Rodalies R3 reaches Puigcerdà station, in the lower part of the town; from there you walk up or take a taxi. For dinner nearby, La Borda del Ceretà is in Puigcerdà itself. Pets are not accepted. - **Hotel del Prado** (Hotel): On the way out of Puigcerdà towards Llívia Leaving Puigcerdà towards Llívia, at number 1 on that road and five minutes from the centre of the Cerdanya's capital, you come to the Hotel del Prado, with the French border next door. The building is surrounded by a large garden with tables, a playground, a sauna, the pool and a tennis court for guests. It has ample free outdoor parking, a 24-hour reception and adapted access. For skiing it suits both Masella and La Molina and the resorts on the French side. From the attic room to the duplex There are rooms for almost any group: Single, with a 1.10 m bed. Mountain Double, attic-style and wood-clad, with a double bed or two beds; Comfort Double, some with a whirlpool bath; and View Double with Balcony, with a terrace and valley views. Triple, of 16 m², and interconnecting family room or quadruple, of 17 m², with extra beds on request in the superior one. La Tosa Suite, with a 1.80 m bed, sitting room, terrace and whirlpool bath, and Executive Suite, with two rooms. Family duplex, with three bedrooms for at least four people, kitchen, dining room, terrace and garden. All have a bathroom with bath or shower, hairdryer, safe, television and free wifi. Air conditioning is only in some. The restaurant's Catalan cooking The restaurant holds the Generalitat's Hotel Gastronòmic distinction and serves traditional Catalan cooking with local produce, local designations of origin and grilled meats. It offers a daily menu, a gastronomic menu, an à la carte menu, a children's menu and dishes for coeliacs, and a long wine list. Hours: buffet breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30, lunch from 13:00 to 15:30 and dinner from 20:00 to 22:30; the café serves a quick menu from 19:30 to 22:00. Water and massages The heated pool opens from June to October, with a sun terrace. All year round there is a sauna and a massage menu with aromatherapy: hot stones, bamboo, three lavenders or reflexology, among others. Getaways at a fixed price The website sells packages for two or for a family: the romantic one from €135, the mountain-bike one for €160, the Cerdanya flavours one, with a gastronomic menu dinner, for €165, the relaxation one for €185 and the family on-ice one, with entry to the skating rink and skate hire for two adults and two children, for €220. At Christmas, in August and at Easter they carry €15 more per person. Booking on the website gives a 10% discount. The hotel accepts quiet dogs and cats for a supplement, and leaves a small welcome kit in the room. For walks with them, Puigcerdà lake is in the centre of the town. - **Hotel Adserà** (Hotel): From a hikers' chalet to a family hotel Pere Adserà arrived in La Molina in December 1925 to run the chalet of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, when up there there was no electricity, telephone or passable road. In 1934 he built the first part of the building that is today the Hotel Adserà, and since then it has grown without leaving the family: his descendants run it. It is a traditional high-mountain hotel, with views of the Cerdanya valley and gardens that look onto 500 hectares of forest and meadow. Where it stands in relation to the slopes The hotel has its own car park next to the building and another private one at the foot of the slopes, on Pista Llarga, where its bar-restaurant El Tirol is also located. That way you leave the car in the beginners' and ticket-office area of that sector and eat there without moving. If you arrive by train, the R3 stops at La Molina station and the resort's internal bus climbs to Pista Llarga. Forty rooms, almost all doubles There are 40, with parquet and rustic decor. All have a bathroom with bath, hairdryer, flat-screen television, desk, telephone, safe, heating and free wifi. Most are doubles and take an extra bed for a child; there are also singles, economy doubles, triples and quadruples, and some with two rooms, bunk beds or interconnecting for families. Ten have a balcony with valley views. Prices include breakfast, a buffet from 8:00 to 10:00 with products for coeliacs; if it is not included, it costs €14 for adults and €9 for children. The website does not publish room rates: ask for a quote at hotel@hoteladsera.com or on 972 892 001. Evenings inside the hotel For coming back from the snow there are lounges with fireplaces, a television room, a games room with chess and cards, table tennis and table football, and a kids' club open every afternoon from 17:00 to 23:00, with drawing, board games and crafts. Outside there is a playground in the garden, and in summer, an outdoor pool with a diving board and slide, and volleyball. The gym and sauna are only for over-16s. There is ski storage. La Molina without skiing In summer or without skis, the gondola to the Tosa d'Alp is close at hand from here; in winter, the runs of the La Molina resort reach Pista Llarga, where the hotel has its car park. The website does not say whether animals are accepted: ask when booking. ### Servicios - **R3 train to La Molina and Puigcerdà, and the resort bus**: Rodalies R3 from Barcelona · Skitren package with lift pass · Internal bus to Pista Llarga, €5 ## As a family: Children's first snow La Molina and Masella have beginners' areas with conveyor belts, schools with weekend courses and prices for the little ones. For those who do not ski, the gondola takes pedestrians up to the Tosa. ### What works best Masella's snow garden, from age 3: €45 for two hours Masella's four-Saturday or four-Sunday courses, for ages 4 to 12 La Molina's beginner lift pass, €31, with the green runs at the base The gondola to the Tosa without skis: €10 for ages 7 to 11 The walk around Puigcerdà lake, flat and pushchair-friendly ### Where to sleep Hotel Adserà, with bunk beds, quadruple rooms and a games room Hotel del Prado, with a playground and a family duplex ### Where to eat El Tirol, at the foot of the slope, with pasta and burgers on the menu ### Bear in mind Under-7s: €7 at La Molina, €10 at Masella The lift pass online is €3 cheaper per person at both resorts Bring a helmet: at Masella it is rented for €3 to under-18s with the equipment ### Qué hacer as a family - Skiing at La Molina - Skiing at Masella - La Molina gondola to the Tosa d'Alp without skis - Walk around Puigcerdà lake - Horse Ride from Llívia through the Cerdanya ## With teenagers: Snowpark, night and snowshoes With teenagers the Cerdanya offers more than coming down runs: a snowpark at La Molina, night skiing at Masella and snowshoe outings from age 9. ### What works best The red runs from the Tosa d'Alp, at La Molina or at Masella La Molina's snowpark Masella's night skiing: 10 km lit, €22 youth lift pass Guided snowshoeing at Aransa or the Estany de l'Orri, from age 9 ### Where to sleep Hotel Adserà, in La Molina, to set off on skis Hotel del Lago, with an indoor pool for the afternoon ### Where to eat El Tirol, with grill and a raclette menu ### Bear in mind Youth lift pass: €41.50 at La Molina (ages 12 to 24) and €47 online at Masella Snowboard lessons at Masella from age 7 Off-piste, always with the ICGC avalanche bulletin ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Skiing at La Molina - Skiing at Masella - Guided snowshoeing through the Aransa forests - Guided snowshoeing to the Estany de l'Orri and the Pradell refuge - Night skiing at Masella ## Consejos ### Buy the lift pass online At La Molina and at Masella the ticket office charges €3 more per person. ### Head back before four or after seven The Sunday return along the C-16 gets busy when the pistes close. ### Try the train The R3 drops you at La Molina without looking for parking or fitting chains. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Barcelona to La Molina? About an hour and a half or an hour and three-quarters through the Cadí tunnel; about two hours over the Toses pass. ### How much does a day's skiing in the Cerdanya cost? In 2026-27, the adult day lift pass costs €49 at La Molina and €53 at Masella, online. Equipment rental, €25 to €28. ### Can you go skiing by train from Barcelona? Yes: the Rodalies R3 stops at La Molina and the Skitren package includes train and lift pass. ### Where can you go snowshoeing in the Cerdanya? At the Nordic resorts of Aransa and Lles, with guided introductory outings from age 9. ### Which resort is better for learning? La Molina has 20 green pistes and a beginner's lift pass; Masella, a snow garden from age 3 and courses for children. ### When is the season? From December to April, depending on the snow. Both resorts publish the opening date on their websites.