Andorra

Get in

thumb|Scenery is the country's greatest treasure. thumb|Església de Sant Miquel d'Engolasters, a 12th-century church

Due mainly to the mountainous nature of Andorra, there is only one road entering Andorra from France, and only one widely-used road entering Andorra from Spain. Almost all entry into the country happens at one of these two points.

Citizens of all European Union member states may enter Andorra using only their ID cards, but all other foreigners, including citizens of non-EU Schengen countries, are required to have a passport.

Andorra doesn't require a visa from any visitors, but because the country can only be entered from Spain or France, you'll need to enter the Schengen Area first in order to get to Andorra. See the Schengen Area entry requirements. If you intend to stay in Andorra for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a residence permit.

As Andorra is not a member of the EU, everyone entering Andorra is required to go through customs controls. See the Visit Andorra web-site for more information on your duty-free allowances.

Visitors from outside the EU should note that Andorra is not a Schengen member, and exiting France or Spain into Andorra would theoretically terminate a single-entry visa. In practice, though, immigration does not enforce this. If you have a multiple-entry Schengen visa, or can visit the Schengen Area visa-free, you can request French or Spanish border officials to stamp you out so your time spent in Andorra does not count a…

Get around

thumb|300px|The Envalira mountain pass thumb| Andorra bus lines map (2022)

See

thumb|The 9th-century church of Santa Coloma is the oldest one in the country. thumb|Gentle slopes make Andorra a favourite winter sports destination for beginners.

Threatened by seemingly unchecked development, the country's main draw is still its magnificent mountainous landscapes, offering spectacular vistas in every season. At these heights, summers are cool, making for excellent hiking conditions through the romantic green valleys. Challenging day long hikes can be had on even higher grounds, and will take you through truly memorable scenery. Don't overlook the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, Andorra's only UNESCO World Heritage site. Only reachable on foot, this undeveloped area is an important wildlife sanctuary and consists of forest and fields, dotted with the odd shepherd's hut. In winter, snow covers large parts of the country, changing the Alpine character into an equally beautiful stage for various winter sports. Check the Andorra national parks page for more info on parks.

Yet, there is more to this tiny country. There are a number of lovely historic villages, home to centuries old houses and medieval Romanesque churches and shrines along cobblestoned streets. Good places to sample some culture are Ordino, Santa Coloma d'Andorra (home to the oldest building in the country, a 9th-century church) and Sant Julia de Loria. In between the village of Canillo and Encamp stands the shrine of the country's patroness, Our Lady of Meritxell. A 1972 fire ruined the origin…

Eat

thumb|The country's towns are packed with cafés and restaurants Escudella De Pages (Catalan peasant soup) or Escudella i Carn d'Ollais is often considered the national dish. It is sometimes made with pilotas (giant spiced meatballs).

The Trinxat, consisting of cabbage, potato and bacon or salted pork, is the other typical dish of the country's gastronomy and that can be tasted in most of Andorra's traditional restaurants, many of which are housed in former rustic huts.

Drink

You will find Estrella Damm, a beer from Barcelona, all over the country.

Wine – The main Andorran grape varietal is pinot noir. Production us small: only about 12,000 bottles are produced a year, and you'll mostly find them at the wineries. The Celler Door in Andorra la Vella does tastings of a couple of Andorran wines. Alpha Brewery – The country's only brewery that makes a couple different styles of beer is not sold in most stores. Small gift shops and our tourist-centric businesses may have some.

Sleep

There are a few Andorra-based luxury hotel chains and independently operated ones at a four-star level, as classified by the local tourism board – not as good as what you'd expect from four-star hotels at other destinations.

The only hotels of well-known international chains are budget ones: Holiday Inn and Ibis, present in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany (in the vicinity) respectively.

Stay safe

There is not much threat from other people in Andorra, but keep safe on mountains. Don't go too high without knowing what you are doing. See Altitude sickness for more.

Drivers are warned to avoid crossing back into France if the Spanish side of the Pyrenees has enjoyed beautiful warm sunshine all day and the road temperatures drop considerably towards the evening – there is danger of black ice from ice melt. The weather in the French Pyrenees is frequently vastly different than that of Andorra and the Spanish Pyrenees. Stay overnight if necessary, as cold morning temperatures are more apparent and less treacherous than sudden evening icing. Driving can become dangerous especially in winter if you don't obey the speed limits or traffic signs due to its narrow roads, sharp turns and mountainous terrains. From November 1 to May 15, drivers are legally required to have winter tires or snow chains installed. Otherwise you will be fined by the police.

Stay healthy

The main hospital in Andorra is the Meritxell (pronounced merichai) Hospital (+376 871 000).

Tap water is drinkable, though if you're coming from far away it's possible the local microbes and minerals may upset your stomach at first. As in many places, bottled water is safest.

Respect

Andorra is not part of Spain or France, and people could be offended if you say that it is.

Go next

Latour-de-Carol - first stop on the scenic descent for Perpignan with the open-top Yellow train (fr: Le train jaune) is reachable with the same TER train line 22 that serves L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre. Val d'Aran: Is a community of about 10,000 people (2024) in the Pyrenees mountains, in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia. This valley constitutes one of only two areas of Spain that are on the northern side of the Pyrenees. In 2024 UNESCO designated a Biosphere reserve in the valley Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park: A wild mountain region in the Pyrenees, with peaks rising to 3017 m (Besiberri Sud) and with nearly 200 lakes, many of them of glacial origin, the park comprises a core area of 141 km2 and a buffer zone of 267 km2 surrounding the park. It had over 580,000 visitors in 2024. Alt Pirineu Natural Park:In the park stands out the Certascan lake, which is the largest glacial lake in Catalonia, or the Cigalera de l'Obaga de Valeran, a chasm 320 m deep and 365 m long. The mythical brown bear often wanders through the northernmost valleys.