Hello there, my name is Amy Green and I am the travel blogger behind www.templeseeker.com. I’ve just got back from a fantastic week in Andorra which combined skiing with a couple of days of exploring this independent land locked micro-state in Europe. Yes, I finally managed to go on my first ski holiday at the age of 45! I am extremely proud that I managed to ski some green and blue runs, but rest assured, I definitely found some time for visiting Andorra La Vella, the capital city of Andorra and some surrounding areas. I based myself in La Massana, near the Pal Arinsal Gondala. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by Andorra. In fact, I really had no idea what to expect and it certainly delivered in terms of adventure shopping and Romanesque churches. So based on my experience, I’ve put together this Andorra travel guide for you to help you to decide where to stay and how to plan your Andorra holiday.
Introduction to Andorra – The heart of the Pyrenees
First of all, let’s take a look at a brief overview of Andorra. Andorra is a small mountainous country in the Pyrenees located between Spain and France. They speak Catalan in Andorra (which is also spoken in Barcelona), but your Spanish and English in most hotels and some restaurants will also work well. Andorra is best known for its fantastic ski resorts, with hiking and mountain biking offered in the summer months. But. Andorra has a lot more to offer than just mountains, including tax free shopping and charming towns. So, whether you’re seeking winter sports, exploring villages, or looking for a unique European getaway, Andorra has something for everyone.
Andorra Travel Guide – How to get to Andorra
As a small landlocked country, the main challenge of Andorra is that it has no airport. Therefore there are two main ways that you can get to Andorra firstly, by car from Barcelona or Toulouse in approximately three hours and secondly, if you don’t have a car, you can take the Andbus which offers a direct service from Barcelona and Toulouse airport.
Myself and my husband took a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Barcelona, and as we booked with Heidi, and bus transfer was included. Although it adds a good few hours onto your journey, it’s the only way to get to Andorra, and actually, the Journey was quite comfortable. The end bus bus stop is clearly marked in the bus area of Barcelona airport underneath the shelter. The buses have seat belts, luggage space (under the bus and overhead for hand luggage) and a toilet on board. Other options would be using shuttle buses or hiring a car, but the Andbus it’s so easy that for us this wasn’t necessary.
As shopping is tax-free in Andorra, expect there to be some duty-free checks on the border. It is completely normal for the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) to get on your bus and ask you to open bags for checking. They are friendly and don’t hold you up for long at the Spanish border.
How long to spend in Andorra?
For most people, 3 to 5 days in Andorra is quite sufficient and would be long enough to give you a combined experience of skiing and sightseeing. We decided to go for six nights because it usually takes me longer to get all of the information I need for my blog, and also I am a beginner skier! For me, this was the perfect amount of time for both skiing and exploring.
What to pack for Andorra
What to pack for Andorra will very much depend on the time of year and whether you are skiing or not. Overall, Andorra is a very outdoorsy and adventure based holiday, so don’t worry too much if you forget your fancy dress and high heels! Evening where in Andorra La Vella (the capital) is very smart casual, so it is a good idea to bring one smart outfit. Think jumper dresses and boots, or maybe a nice trouser suit with some comfortable flats.
In the winter and for the ski season, you need to make sure that you pack base layers, ski suit or ski trousers, fleeces and ski jackets. Ski clothing can be expensive, and so if you want to save a bit of money on your first ski clothing, I recommend Vinted. I picked up a few good base layers and a great jacket for excellent prices on this app. If you are bringing your own skis and boots or any other equipment with you, remember to pay the extra for additional baggage with your airline as this is usually pre-bookable for an additional fee. Gloves, ski socks, balaclavas and scarves are also essential. You can rent skis, poles, boots and helmets in Andorra very easily – I took my own Smith helmet but rented the rest of my ski equipment from Pic Negra.
In the summer months, pack lighter clothing including hiking trousers and a mixture of T-shirts and long sleeve tops. Also, consider whether or not you are cycling and if you need any special equipment for that, such as your helmet or cycling gloves. In the summer months, pack some light to light-weight and all-season hiking socks such at these Bridgedale ones.
Of course you will need to remember to pack all your usual travel essentials. This should include passport, cash (take euros for Andorra), European travel adapters, credit cards and hard copies of your travel insurance. If you are skiing you will need to select the winter sports ski cover, otherwise you will not be insured for any skiing injuries.
Travelling in Andorra – Is Andorra LGBTQI+ Friendly?
Although Andorra is a small country and doesn’t have a large LGBTQI+ community outside of the capital, Andorra is an LGBT friendly country. Same sex marriage and adoption have been legal since 2023 and transgender individuals can change their legal gender without medical intervention. The Andorra Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora came out as openly gay in 2023, saying that it shouldn’t be a problem, and if it helps teenagers going through a difficult time, he is happy to openly express it. There are also positive reports from gay and lesbian travellers to Andorra.
Andorra travel guide – Where to visit and where to stay
What I would recommend is that you don’t worry too much about your location because Andorra is very small – in fact, the whole country is approximately the size of London. If you are skiing, I would recommend that you 1st to choose your ski resort and then book your accommodation close to the resort or the gondola to get you up the mountain. However, if skiing is not your thing and you are more excited about to the shopping and visiting architectural sites, then I would recommend that you stay in the capital city Andorra la Vella.
La Massana and Pal-Arinsal
Me and my husband stayed at hotel del Pui in Las Massana. The rooms were comfortable and the hotel had a ski and snowboard store on the ground floor. It was just five minute walk to the gondola which made it easier to go out skiing in the morning. Our evening meal was the buffet at hotel Magic Ski and the food was excellent. Hotel magic ski is right by where the Gondala is (which takes you up the mountain to the ski resort), so this is a great option for anyone who might struggle walking with their ski equipment.
La Massana was the perfect place for skiing in Pal-Arinsal, a great twin-peak ski resort. I found Pal Arinsal to be an excellent choice for new skiers due to the ski school and the gentle green and blue runs in Pal. My favourite runs were Transversal and La Serra. Sadly, I didn’t make it to the Arinsal peak, but I heard only good things from fellow skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. I also booked a one-to-one ski coach for two hours, which was €150, which worked out around £120. It was well worth it for building up confidence and developing technique.
Ordino-Arcalis
Just 20 mins away from La Massana and Pal-Arinsal, you can find the Ordino-Arcalis resort. This resort is famous for it’s diverse terrain including off piste options for expert skiers and snowboarders and the ‘Megaverde’, which is an 9km green run (I really want to do this one!). For the best access to Ordino-Arcalís, I would ecommend staying in El Serrat (5-10 min drive) for easy access, or Ordino Village (15-20 min drive).
Andorra La Vella (The capital city of Andorra)
Andorra La Vella, the capital city of Andorra, is the largest town and the hub of culture and shopping. Andorra La Vella is a shoppers paradise, because you can shop tax-free and there are endless duty-free shops with massive discounts on goods including alcohol, cigarettes, fashion brands and cosmetics. If you want to know just how much Andorra is great value, I paid just €100 for an Opatra eye cream, which would have cost me £500 in London or online!
Escaldes-Engordany
Escaldes is a separate administrative parish town next to Andorra La Vella. They were separated in 1978 and are two distinct towns. You can easily walk from one to the other in around 20 minutes. They have grown together into a single, continuous urban area with no visible border, and Escaldes is often considered a “sister city” or “twin town” to the capital.
It is worth walking from Andorra La Vella to Escaldes to see a few noteworthy buildings and works of art. The main Church in Escaldes (built 1956–1981), is known for its neo-Romanesque architecture, granite stone construction, and stunning stained-glass windows. It has a bell tower and a Baroque alterpiece.
Just next to the church, have a look for “Babyfoot”, the bright blue sculpture by Idan Zareski. The baby has oversized feet, which aim to represent innocence, humanity, and our shared roots. Another interesting piece of art is the way that the river Valira has been decorated with pipes and taps (faucets) at the Caldes Art project. The installation combines light installations with water features, including a monumental sculpture in Plaça del Madriu, celebrating the area’s thermal heritage. It is particularly attractive at night time, all lit up.
Finally, Escaldes offer one of the biggest spas in Europe – Caldea Spa.
Other parts of Andorra to Explore
If time allows, you might also be interested in visiting Sant Julià de Lòria or Encamp. Saint Sant Julià de Lòria is a Southern town, close to the Spanish border. It is great for adventure seekers as highlights include the Naturlandia adventure park and Tobotronc (the longest alpine coaster in Europe!)
What to Eat in Andorra
Andorran cuisine is an eclectic mix of Catalan and French mountain cuisine (you can expect snails!) and also has a few famous traditional dishes of its own. Make sure that you try the traditional dishes trinxat (potato & cabbage dish) and escudella (Andorran stew). There are also some gorgeous grilled meats, local cheeses (I recommend the cheese fondue!) Andorra offers locally produced wine, pastries and chocolate. When eating out in Andorra, you will find a big price difference between the mountain restaurants (expensive) and the town cafés and local eateries (more reasonably priced).
Andorra Travel Guide – Overall Verdict
Andorra was a refreshing surprise for me! It is definitely worth visiting for the mountains, skiing, culture, shopping and scenic villages. It can be a great adventure holiday in the winter and summer, ideal for couples, solo travellers and thrill seekers. If you only have a couple of days, you will probably combine skiing with a trip to the capital. I would recommend a week if possible, and encourage you to venture outside of Andorra La Vella. If your muscles are suffering after a few days of skiing, spend a day in the Caldea Spa to recover – it’s well worth it!
I hope that you have enjoyed my Andorra travel guide. Please check out some of my other blogs on Andorra La Vella and Is Andorra worth Visiting?