Andorra Travel Tips and Insider Guides
Click a city or region to browse our insider travel tips and guides about Andorra.Read Our Insider's Guide To Andorra
Introduction to Andorra The Principality of Andorra (officially known as the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra) is the sixth smallest nation in Europe and it is not a member of the European Union. Located in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by Spain and France, it is governed jointly by the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell (Catalonia, Spain). Andorra’s estimated... [Read the full story]
Our Insider's Articles about Andorra
You are climbing to your room in snow shoes and seeing the stars through a hole in your igloo! No, you are not in Alaska or on... [Read the full story]
About Andorra
One of the smallest nations in Europe, Andorra is a mixture of wildly beautiful mountain terrain and tourism-driven development, and you either find it charming or over-developed. Located in the Pyrenees Mountains, Andorra is bordered by Spain and France, and the skiing is some of the best in the world. Shopping is another draw, and the country enjoys a duty-free status.
In the summer, the mountain flowers bloom, and hiking and fishing, particularly fly-fishing, are popular. However, ever since tourism hit the mountain slopes, development has been rampant. Before 1960, the country’s economy was based on agriculture and stock breeding, but today they compose .36%, with tourism composing between 60-70% of the economy.
Andorra is 180 square miles total, making it significantly smaller than Rhode Island, and just a tad bigger than Washington D.C. It is broken up into seven parishes, or counties: Ordino, Canillo, and La Massana in the north; and Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra La Vella, and Sant Julià de Lòria in the south. The city of Andorra La Vella is the largest city and capital, filled with more shopping than anyone can enjoy in one lifetime, as well as cafes and restaurants touting Andorra’s gastronomic creations.
Popular ski towns include Soldeu, Grau Roig, Arinsal, and Ordino. Sant Julia de Lloria and Ordino are particularly known for summertime activities. Fishermen escape the throng by venturing out into the country’s 60 tranquil mountain lakes. Andorra is not part of the EU but it uses euros. There are only two roads into the country, one in France one in Spain. Andorra does not have an airport. It is served by La Seu d'Urgell airport, located seven miles from Andorra, in Catalonia, Spain. Catalan is spoken by locals, but English is common in all tourist related businesses.
