Andorra is the 6th smallest country in Europe. It’s one of the European microstates along with Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Even though it’s a small country it has an impressive old town, breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, duty-free shops, and world-class ski resorts. In this post I’ll answer the question “is Andorra worth visiting?”. Spoiler alert: the answer is yes! This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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I visited the capital city of Andorra la Vella on a day trip from Barcelona. Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe at 1,023 meters (3,356 feet) above sea level.
Which means that you’ll be surrounded by the magnificent Pyrenees Mountains everywhere you go in this small town.
My first reaction when I got out of the bus that brought me there from Barcelona was awe. Those beautiful views of the peaks and trees made me feel like I was in a movie. It’s so beautiful despite being one of the smallest countries in the world!
The capital city has narrow streets, historic buildings, plenty of cafes and restaurants, and lots of shops. It’s the perfect day trip destination from Barcelona since it’s only a 3-hour drive to get there and there are buses leaving every 2 hours.
However, if you are planning a longer stay and want to throw some outdoor adventures to the mix, Andorra is a good place for that. It offers mountain trails, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking spots.
You might want to spend a few days here if you are nature lovers. I think a road trip here could be a lot of fun since it will be such a scenic drive! You can always rent a car and make it happen.
Andorra has a rich history
La Casa de la Vall
Casa de la Vall is a historic house that was built in 1580. It was originally built as a manor and tower defense and later on it was used as the headquarters of the General Council of Andorra.
I love visiting historic sites like this one. This one is actually the closest one to the bus station. Make sure you take the elevators to take you from the street level to the city center level, where Casa de la Vall is. The difference in altitude is 5 floors.
Barri Antic
Barri Antic is the old town of Andorra. It’s made up of small cobblestone streets and squares that have a lot of charm. I loved how they decorated some of the streets with these lights that looked like giant light bulbs.
This neighborhood is home to Casa de la Vall and the Church of Sant Esteve. You can also find a lot of restaurants and cafes in this area. Some of the restaurants had very good reviews. I wish I had more time in Andorra to try them all.
I loved strolling aimlessly through the old town and getting lost in the small streets imagining what it was like to live here during the medieval times.
Església de Sant Esteve
The Church of Sant Esteve is the main church in the capital city. It was built in the 12th century and restored in the 20th century. If you like visiting the old churches of Europe then make sure you stop by this one.
When I was visiting, there was a group of performers dancing and singing outside of the church in the square. They were so talented and so full of joy and passion for what they were doing. It was a lot of fun to watch them.
Andorra has amazing art
La Noblesse du Temps
La Noblesse du Temps is a surrealist bronze sculpture created by the famous artist Salvador Dalí around 1980. It features a melting clock and angels. You can interpret it as you want, that’s the beauty of art.
I like to think of it as the passage of time and as a reminder of how short our ride on Earth is. So it made me want to travel even more and experience everything this world has to offer.
The sculpture belonged to Dali’s friend, Enric Sabater. He decided to give this sculpture to the Andorran authorities so they can exhibit it in a public place such that people can enjoy this outstanding piece of art.
I love that the sculpture is outdoors so that people don’t have to go to a museum to see it. It’s free of charge to go see it in Andorra la Vella.
Out of everything I visited in the city this spot was the most crowded one. And I can understand why. Dalí is a huge name when it comes to art and everyone wants to see his work.
If you are a little patient, you can take a picture with the sculpture with no other people around you. The waiting time is under 10 minutes usually.
Pont de Paris
Pont de Paris is a well-known bridge over the Valira River in the capital city. That’s because the words Andorra la Vella are written on it. It is located behind the Noblesse du Temps sculpture, in a very picturesque area of the city.
Along the walk from Noblesse du Temps there are spots where you can take pictures with the bridge in the background. There are also benches along the way so you can sit down and enjoy the view for a few minutes.
Andorra has great restaurants
Local cuisine
If you’re craving Catalan food you’re in luck because there are plenty of great restaurants in Andorra. Most of them have great reviews, so pick a place that catches your eye. You can’t go wrong.
International cuisine
I spent a week in Barcelona before visiting Andorra, so I didn’t want Spanish food for lunch. I randomly stumbled upon Cambalache – Casa de Menjars as it was close to the bus station. A quick Google search revealed great reviews, so in I went.
The restaurant was packed (which is always a good sign), but they squeezed me in on the terrace. And I’m so glad they did!
They serve delicious Argentinian food. I still dream about that empanada de pollo (or should I say poshhho haha). The owner was from Argentina and he was extremely friendly and welcoming.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated and it had a great vibe. Prices were fair too.
I can’t recommend this place enough. I’m sure you will love it!
Andorra has duty-free shopping
While Andorra is no longer a tax haven status, it is a tax-free country. Which means that you can save money if you buy what you need here, especially when it comes to luxury goods. It truly is a great place for shopping.
As a matter of fact, there are a lot of people from Spain and France coming to Andorra to shop since it’s cheaper for them. So if you visit this tiny country you should take advantage of this and do some shopping here.
In Andorra la Vella they have a main avenue that mostly has shops. Literally any brand you can think of has a store there. In addition, there are so many malls. You can tell that the shopping experience is part of their tourism offer.
Andorra has amazing ski resorts
Andorra is the perfect place for winter sports since it’s located in the Pyrenees. Grandvalira is the largest ski resort in the Pyrenees mountains. It’s a great place for both skiing and snowboarding.
FAQs about Andorra
How can I get to Andorra from Barcelona?
There are two main options of getting to Andorra la Vella from Barcelona: taking the bus or joining a day tour.
Taking the bus from Barcelona to Andorra is a good idea if you like to create your own itinerary and if you like to explore places at your own pace.
The bus journey takes 3 hours and it is a very scenic drive. Make sure you have your phone handy to take some pictures and videos along the way.
There are three bus stations in Barcelona where you can catch a bus to Andorra: Barcelona Sants, Diagonal, and Nord.
If you don’t like to use public transport on your own and create your own itinerary, then a guided tour might be the better option for you. If you want to visit 2 countries in one day (Andorra and France), then this is a great option.
This day trip lasts 12 hours. The itinerary includes a visit to Mont-Louis, the highest village in France and a UNESCO world heritage site, a stop at the Cirque de Pessons viewpoint in Andorra, and a stop in Andorra la Vella.
Is Andorra safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, Andorra is one of the safest countries in the world. It has almost no crime, scams or violence to report. It’s the perfect place for a solo trip.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
What languages do people speak in Andorra?
The official language of Andorra is Catalan, but the people I met in the capital of Andorra were also speaking Spanish, French and English.
What is the local currency in Andorra?
Even though Andorra is not part of the European Union they use euro as their currency. They have a special relationship with the EU. For example they don’t get charged tariffs for manufactured goods.
How can I get around Andorra?
Andorra la Vella is such a small city that you can walk everywhere. If you plan on visiting other parts of the country as well besides the capital city you can either rent a car or take the local buses that connect all the major towns in the country.
What is the ideal time to visit Andorra?
I visited during the fall and the weather was still nice and I could enjoy the colorful foliage. I don’t think there is a best time to visit Andorra. Any season could be a great time, depending on your preferences.
Summer months allow you to enjoy the beautiful weather and winter months allow you to have some amazing snowy adventures. There are plenty of outdoor activities available no matter which time of the year you visit.
I personally tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and it’s peak tourist season. There are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me.
I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.
Do I need cash for my trip to Andorra?
I didn’t use cash at all when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do you recommend Andorra as a solo destination?
I 100% recommend Andorra as a destination for solo female travelers. Despite its small size it offers stunning scenery, duty-free shopping, great ski resorts, delicious food, and plenty of cultural attractions.
Plus, it’s one of the safest countries in the world, so you don’t have to worry about your safety there.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.