Andorra itinerary: everything you need to visit

Andorra is one of the smallest countries in the world. It’s so small that it doesn’t even have an airport. But it’s a short drive from both Spain and France. 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. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip. In this blog post I’ll share the Andorra itinerary I used when I visited the capital city of Andorra la Vella. 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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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 little 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 such a beautiful country despite its small size!

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 want to throw some outdoor adventures to the mix, Andorra offers a wide variety of experiences: mountain trails, mountain biking, skiing, or just a leisurely hike. 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.

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.

Here is the perfect itinerary if you have just one day in Andorra la Vella.

Table of Contents

La Casa de la Vall

the author in front of casa de la vall, part of my andorra itinerary

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

church of sant esteve in andorra la vella

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.

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.

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.

Lunch at Cambalache – Casa de Menjars

I spent a week in Barcelona before visiting Andorra, so I didn’t want Spanish food for lunch. I randomly stumbled upon Cambalache 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!

Duty-free shopping

While Andorra is no longer a tax haven, 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.