• Opens only when snow allows, so check the snow report and webcams before you drive. Last season closed on March 31 for lack of snow
• Arrive early or book parking: the road and car park open at 6:00am and weekend crowds start around 8:00am. Free parking can be booked online with 3 or more passes
• A full-day trip from Madrid, about 1 hour 15 minutes each way by car

A large ski station in the Sierra de Guadarrama, with beginner slopes near the base, a ski and snowboard school and gear rental. Most of the 29 runs suit confident skiers, so it fits kids who have had a first lesson or are about to take one. It opens only when snow lies, and a free shuttle links it to Puerto de Cotos.