Andorra Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 00:35
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Calling code: +376
Drive on the: right

Overview

A small Pyrenean country between France and Spain, visited for skiing in winter, hiking in summer and duty-free shopping in Andorra la Vella. Reached only by road, through France or Spain.

Andorra sits high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, and lives mostly from tourism. Most visitors come from the two neighbours, for skiing, hiking and shopping: the capital, Andorra la Vella, is a busy, traffic-heavy shopping town, while the mountains around it hold two large ski areas, Grandvalira and Vallnord, and many trails with mountain huts.

Look past the shops and you find stone villages with Romanesque churches, the oldest building in the country in Santa Coloma, and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, Andorra's only UNESCO World Heritage site, reachable only on foot. There is no airport and no railway: you arrive by road, and since the only ways in are through France or Spain, you pass through the Schengen area first. Catalan is the only official language.

Grandvalira: The larger ski area, from Pas de la Casa to Soldeu, with 193 km of slopes.
Vallnord: Arinsal, Pal and Arcalís, reached directly from La Massana.
Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley: Andorra's only UNESCO site, a car-free valley of forest, meadows and shepherd's huts.
Andorra la Vella: Duty-free shopping, the Romanesque church of Sant Esteve and the Caldea spa next door.
Santa Coloma: Home to a pre-Romanesque church, the oldest building in the country.
Coma Pedrosa: The highest mountain in Andorra, a classic hike from Arinsal.

Places to visit

City
Town
Mountain

Cities

Andorra la Vella: The capital: shops, traffic, an old town of stone streets and the 11th-century church of Sant Esteve.
Ordino: A village with museums, churches and more than 10 km of cross-country ski trails.
La Massana: Small town north of the capital with direct access to the Arinsal-Pal ski area.
Soldeu: A lively ski resort with good value, popular with walkers and golfers in summer.
Pas de la Casa: Ski resort on the French border, with the most reliable snow and plenty of bars.
Encamp: Small museums and a ruined Romanesque church, with a link to the Grandvalira slopes.
Canillo: Has an Olympic-size ice rink; the shrine of Meritxell stands between Canillo and Encamp.
Santa Coloma d'Andorra: Known for its pre-Romanesque parish church, the oldest building in Andorra.

Beyond the cities

Arinsal (town): Ski village in the north-west and the starting point for hikes to Coma Pedrosa.
Pal (town): A village that keeps the look of a traditional Pyrenean village.
Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (park): UNESCO World Heritage valley, reachable only on foot, an important wildlife area.
Port d'Envalira (mountain): The 2,408 m pass on the road to France; a tunnel runs under it.

Regions

Northern valleys: La Massana, Ordino, Arinsal and Pal: the Vallnord ski area and the main hiking trails.
Central and eastern valley: Encamp, Canillo, Soldeu and Pas de la Casa: the Grandvalira ski area on the road to France.
Andorra la Vella and the south: The capital, Escaldes-Engordany, Santa Coloma and Sant Julià de Lòria on the road to Spain.

Things to do

See

Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley: Walk into the UNESCO valley; the free Línea Verde minibus takes you part of the way up.
Romanesque churches: Sant Esteve in Andorra la Vella, the church of Santa Coloma and the villages of Ordino and Sant Julià.

Do

Skiing in Grandvalira Soldeu and Pas de la Casa: 193 km of slopes between 1,710 and 2,640 m, also reached from Encamp and Canillo.
Skiing in Vallnord La Massana: The Arinsal-Pal area, linked by cable car, and Arcalís at the head of the valley.
Hiking from Arinsal Arinsal: Day hikes to Coma Pedrosa (2,942 m), Pic de Médécourbe and the Montmantell lakes, with huts on the way.
Coronallacs trail Escaldes-Engordany: A five-day hut-to-hut route that starts and ends in Escaldes-Engordany.
Caldea Escaldes-Engordany: A large spa and pool complex fed by thermal water, under a glass spire.

Drink

Anís and local wine Arinsal: Free tours at the distillery that makes Anís Andorrana, and tastings of Andorran pinot noir.

Shop

Duty-free shopping Andorra la Vella: Perfume, tobacco and alcohol; mind the limits when you go back into France or Spain.

Tours and tickets in Andorra PartnerGuided tours, day trips and attraction ticketsSee activities

Itineraries

Summer hiking in 6 days (6 days)

Andorra la Vella (2 nights): The old town and a day in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley.
Arinsal (3 nights): Hikes to Coma Pedrosa and the lakes, by bus L5 from the capital.
Ordino (1 night): Museums and churches, by bus L6.

A ski week in Grandvalira in 7 days (7 days)

Soldeu (6 nights): Ski across to Pas de la Casa; bus L3 or L4 from Andorra la Vella.
Andorra la Vella (1 night): Shopping and the Caldea spa before you leave.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
6 January 2026 · Epiphany
16 February 2026 · Carnival
14 March 2026 · Constitution Day
3 April 2026 · Good Friday
6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
1 May 2026 · Labour Day
25 May 2026 · Whit Monday
15 August 2026 · Assumption Day
8 September 2026 · National Holiday
1 November 2026 · All Saints' Day
8 December 2026 · Immaculate Conception
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
26 December 2026 · St. Stephen's Day

Getting there and around

Main airports	BCN, TLS, LEU

Getting there

Andorra has no airport and no railway. The nearest big airports are Barcelona (about 200 km) and Toulouse (about 196 km), both linked to Andorra la Vella by direct coaches; the small La Seu d'Urgell airport, 12 km away in Spain, has a few flights from Madrid. Many coach routes also come from other Spanish cities.

By train, the nearest stations are in France (Andorre-L'Hospitalet and Latour-de-Carol) and Spain (Puigcerdà). From Puigcerdà, buses run to La Seu d'Urgell, where you change for Andorra la Vella. Wikivoyage reported no bus from Andorre-L'Hospitalet station into Andorra in February 2026, so pre-book a taxi there. By car there is one road from France, over the Envalira pass or through its toll tunnel, and one from Spain. Customs checks apply when you leave, so expect queues at busy times.

Getting around

Buses link Andorra la Vella with all the main villages, from every 10 minutes on the busy lines to two or three a day for remote places; the Mou-te app has the timetable and tickets. Fares ran from €1.85 to €6.10 in 2025.

Driving: roads are good but narrow, winding and often congested, and they can be closed by snow in winter. From 1 November to 15 May you must use winter tyres or carry snow chains, and police check this on the access roads. Drink-driving rules are strict. A UK photocard licence is valid; Canada advises an International Driving Permit. The car must carry two warning triangles, a reflective jacket, a spare tyre and spare bulbs.

Flying to Andorra? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flights

Where to stay

Hotels: Mostly local chains and independent hotels; international chains are limited to budget brands.
Mountain huts: On the hiking trails, including the Coronallacs route.

Four-star hotels are graded by the local tourism board and may not match four stars elsewhere. Hotels must register every overnight guest with the police, so you will be asked for your passport at check-in.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Escudella: A Catalan meat and vegetable stew, often called the national dish, sometimes with large spiced meatballs.
Trinxat: Cabbage and potato with bacon or salt pork, served in most traditional restaurants.

Drinks

Anís Andorrana: The national spirit, made by the distillery in Arinsal.
Andorran wine: Mostly pinot noir, in small quantities: buy it at the wineries.
Estrella Damm: The beer from Barcelona you find everywhere.

Many traditional restaurants are in old rustic huts. Drinking alcohol in the street is illegal.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	To reach Andorra you cross France or Spain: follow the Schengen rules (issued less than 10 years before arrival, valid 3 months after you leave the Schengen area)

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
United Kingdom	Visa free	90 days	No visa needed; staying more than 3 months needs a residence or work permit.
Canada	Visa free		No tourist visa required; passport valid for the whole stay.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

UK and Canadian visitors need no visa for Andorra, but it is not in the EU or the Schengen area and can only be reached through France or Spain. So you must meet the Schengen entry rules for those countries. If you need a Schengen visa, get a multiple-entry visa: with a single-entry one you may be refused when you go back into France or Spain.

Everyone goes through customs. Duty-free tobacco, alcohol and luxury goods are taxed when you go back into the EU, and France and Spain set strict limits on tobacco. Lone parents travelling with children should carry custody papers or the other parent's consent. Check the rules for your passport on the official links before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	Euro (EUR)

Andorra uses the euro (€), although it is not in the EU. Fuel is usually cheaper than in France and Spain, and duty-free goods such as perfume, tobacco and alcohol are popular buys. The toll for the Envalira tunnel must be paid by card.

Health

Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis B, Mpox, for travellers at risk of sexual exposure
Malaria	None
Tap water	Safe

The European (EHIC) and UK (GHIC) health cards are not valid in Andorra: take full travel and medical insurance, including mountain rescue. Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the country. Check your vaccinations with a travel health professional before you go.

Wikivoyage says tap water is drinkable. The main hospital is the Meritxell Hospital. Dial 116 for an ambulance and 112 for mountain rescue or any other emergency.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (2026-10-20)
Canada: Take normal security precautions (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)

Crime is low, though pickpocketing can happen. The real risks are in the mountains: weather changes fast even in summer, trails are not always marked, and avalanches can be fatal in winter. Do not hike or ski alone or off marked trails, and buy insurance that covers helicopter rescue.

Roads can be icy or blocked by snow. If you drive back to France on a warm day, black ice on the French side can form towards evening, so it can be safer to wait until the next day. Drug laws are strict, with zero tolerance even for small amounts.

Customs and etiquette

Andorra is a country of its own, not part of Spain or France, and people may be offended if you suggest otherwise. Catalan is the official language, and a few words are appreciated.

Drinking alcohol in the street is illegal. Hotels register your passport details with the police, so wait at reception while they take them. Same-sex marriage is legal.

Language

Official languages	Catalan
English	Rare

Hello	Hola OH-lah
Good morning	Bon dia BOHN DEE-uh
Please	Si us plau see oos PLOW
Thank you	Gràcies GRAH-syuhs
Excuse me	Perdoni puhr-THOH-nee
Goodbye	Adéu uh-THEH-oo
Do you speak English?	Parla anglès? PAHR-luh uhn-GLEHS

What to pack

Passport valid for the Schengen area: You must cross France or Spain.
Travel insurance with mountain rescue: EHIC and GHIC cards are not valid in Andorra.
Winter tyres or snow chains: Required from 1 November to 15 May.
Hiking boots and warm layers: Weather in the mountains changes quickly, even in summer.
Bank card: The Envalira tunnel toll is paid by card.
Plug adapter: Andorra uses plug types C and F.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Andorra la Vella
Population	82,904 (2025)
Area	468 km²
Time zone	Europe/Andorra (UTC+1)
Calling code	+376
Driving side	right

Electricity and plugs

Plug types	C, F
Voltage	220 V
Frequency	50 Hz

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Andorra Telecom sells local prepaid SIM cards with credit included.
Roaming	Andorra is not in the EU roaming zone: check your plan, or switch off mobile data to avoid high charges.
Wi-Fi	Free public Wi-Fi in parts of the main towns, and in many restaurants.

Staying connected in Andorra PartnerMobile data on your phone, without a local SIM cardGet an eSIM

Emergency numbers

Emergency	112
Police	110
Ambulance	116
Fire	118

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Andorra?

Not with a UK or Canadian passport, but you can only get there through France or Spain, so you must meet the Schengen rules. If you need a Schengen visa, get a multiple-entry one.

Is my EHIC or GHIC valid in Andorra?

No. Take full travel and medical insurance, including mountain rescue.

How do I get to Andorra?

By road only: direct coaches run from Barcelona and Toulouse airports, or take a train to Puigcerdà in Spain and continue by bus, or to Andorre-L'Hospitalet in France and continue by pre-booked taxi.

Does my phone roam for free in Andorra?

Not under EU rules: Andorra is outside the EU roaming zone, so check your plan.

Do I need snow chains?

From 1 November to 15 May you must use winter tyres or carry snow chains, and police check on the mountain roads.

Can I drink the tap water?

Yes, according to Wikivoyage.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

Andorra