Spain

For a country where it's possible to eat Christmas dinner outside on the terrace, skiing isn't the first sport that comes to mind when you think of Spain.

However, not only is there some great skiing and snowboarding in Spain (if not quite on a par with the Alps), but the geography of the place - and the inspired forethought of its early settlers - means that there are skiable mountains within a couple of hours of some of the best cities in the country, if not Europe.

The Pyrenees, which border France to the north, are where you'll find the most established skiing and snowboarding in Spain. There are sixteen resorts on the Spanish side, ranging from small, family-oriented operations to world class ski areas.

Baqueira-Beret ski resort in the Arán valley is one of the most extensive (and fashionable) resorts in the area, offering a good mix of varied in-bounds terrain, cross country skiing and off-piste. It's also one of the few places where you can go heli-skiing in Spain.

The other major chunk of rock in Spain attracting decent snowfall is the Sierra Nevada in the far south of the country. The Sierra Nevada is home to the highest peak on the Spanish mainland (Mulhacen, 3,479 metres), as well as the highest lift station (Veleta, 3,300 metres), which explains not only how it's possible to ski this far south but why, on a clear day, you can see the Atlas mountains in Africa.

Despite there only being one ski resort in the Sierra Nevada, the area has a good variety of terrain, including some steep stuff. Facilities and hotels in the purpose-built village of Pradollano have also improved in recent years. Best of all, the Sierra Nevada is only an hour outside the ancient Arab city of Granada, which you should visit, even if you've broken every bone in the half pipe the day before.

Other ski resorts in Spain can be found dotted in between the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada. An hour outside the capital Madrid (where there's also an indoor slope), you'll find the Valdesqui ski resort. There's also skiing and snowboarding near Teruel, a similar distance from Valencia. The resorts are limited in terrain, but perfectly acceptable weekend breaks.

As for the night life in ski resorts in Spain, turn up at the normal time and you could be forgiven for thinking there isn't one. Don't be fooled. In Spain, the bars and clubs get as lively as any where else. It's just that no-one here even starts thinking about heading out until everyone is well and truly fed. And in Spain, that can take some time.

Cost

With few big international resorts, Spain should still be one of the more reasonably-priced options for skiing or snowboarding in Europe. A weekly adult lift pass for the Sierra Nevada ski resort however, will set you back around €215 (US$315) which is on a par with the more expensive resorts in the Alps.

Prices for food and drink are similar too. That said, Granada is one of the few places left in Spain where you still get free tapas (mini hamburgers, fries, sliced chorizo and so forth) with every drink. So back in the city, provided you can keep paying for the drinks, the food sort of takes care of itself.

Getting here

For many of the ski resorts in the Pyrenees, it's a close call whether you fly into Toulouse in France, or Barcelona. Toulouse is probably your best point of access for Baqueria-Beret - it's about two hours in the car. But if you were basing your decision purely on being able to clock a bit of quality city time before heading home, Barcelona - with its breathtaking architecture, sumptuous food, fashion and music - clinches it.

There are regular flights to Barcelona from destinations in Europe and further afield. If you're looking to go skiing or snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada, your best bet is to fly to Granada. The Sierra Nevada (or more accurately the Alpujarras Mountains) are just over an hour's drive or bus ride from the city.