Canillo - Ski in Grandvalira (Andorra)
The ski slopes in the Canillo sector are perfect for families and beginners who want to come and enjoy their first contact with the snow thanks to its easy slopes.
Canillo sector
This sector can be found in the town of Canillo, a peaceful, mountain village without the hectic rush of traffic. It has a cable car that can carry up to 8 people to one of the most outstanding natural settlements, the Valle del Forn.
In winter, children could enjoy Mon(t) Magic circuit and, also with adult people, of the longest zip line of southern Europe.
This is where you’ll find the Family Park in summer, a place where you can enjoy a range of activities such as mini-golf (from 3 years of age) and the children’s play area (outdoor play area for boys and girls from the ages of 4-11) free of charge.
How to get to Canillo
You can get to Canillo by car on the CG-2 road. If you leave from Andorra la Vella, you’ll have to drive in the direction of France for approximately 20 minutes. You’ll see many signs along the road, making it very easy to find.
Another option is to come by public transport, on bus lines L3 and L4 towards Pas de la Casa. The bus comes every 30 to 40 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 60 to 70 minutes on Sundays and public holidays. You can look up the schedules and stops.
Once you’re in the town of Canillo, take the cable car from the centre of town up to the ski resort.
Restaurants in Canillo
In the Canillo sector, there’s lots of food and drink to enjoy. At the Roc de les Bruixes restaurant, you’ll find alpine dishes and grilled meats, perfect for regaining strength after a morning of skiing. Meanwhile, at the La Cuina del Forn self-service restaurant, you’ll find a variety of pasta dishes, meats, salads and crudités, all made fresh to order. Find out more about these restaurants:
What to see in Canillo
The Canillo sector of Grandvalira is perfect to spend a day as a family, not just on the slopes but also enjoying the activities at Mon(t) Magic. Some of the most exciting activities in this sector are the Màgic Gliss, a toboggan with 555 metres of descent and speeds of up to 40 km/h, and the zip line, which gives you a beautiful bird’s-eye view of the resort. New this year, you’ll also be able to experience the sensations of free-fall with the QuickFlight and its 7 metres of height.
Also, in the Canillo town centre, you can enjoy sport activities at the Palau de Gel, with an 1,800 m2 Olympic ice rink where you can practice ice staking, hockey and go-karting, among other activities.
You won’t want to miss the Roc del Quer lookout, one of the most popular sites in Andorra. Opened in 2016, this lookout consists of a 20 metre long walkway, 12 metres of which are suspended in mid-air at nearly 2,000 metres of elevation. The lookout provides spectacular panoramic views of the Montaup and Valira d’Orient valleys. It is open to visits all year long, although in winter the visiting hours are shorter and it may close due to bad weather conditions like strong wind or snowfall. We always recommend planning your visit a bit ahead of time.
If you want to see more modern architecture, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Meritxell – the most important religious site in Andorra – is located not far from Canillo. Following a fire in the old chapel in 1972, it was rebuilt as a ‘Romanesque recreation’ by the architect Ricardo Bofill. It’s a building with great personality, with visible arches and naturally-lit spaces, surrounded by a landscape that’s well worth a visit.