How to get to Andorra?
I want to disappoint you, but not a single airline, train or ship can deliver to Andorra. Andorra does not have its own airport, train stations or ports. The nearest airports are in Spain, namely Barcelona and Gerona.
Therefore, you can only get there by chain: a flight from Moscow, St. Petersburg or another city to Barcelona, and then to Andorra.
You can fly to Barcelona by regular and charter flights. Personally, I prefer to use Aeroflot services. But you can choose another airline if you wish. Aeroflot planes depart from Moscow on Saturdays and Sundays. Charters operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Sheremetyevo-1, Sheremetyevo-“, Domodedovo.
Flight time is about 4 hours.
From Barcelona to Andorra you can travel by bus or car. Travel time is about 3-4 hours. The distance from Barcelona to Andorra is about 200 km.
You can choose for yourself which city it is better for you to fly to: Barcelona or Girona. But I want to warn you about this: if you look at the map, Girona is closer than Barcelona. Most often, inexperienced tourists fly there in order to quickly get to Andorra. But there is one thing. The fact is that all roads from Girona to Andorra pass through the mountains. Therefore, a shorter route will take longer due to the complexity of the road.
The easiest way to get from Barcelona to Andorra is to book a transfer. But this is not always affordable for tourists. You can also get there by regular bus. He travels for about 4 hours. Departs from Barcelona Airport from Terminals 1 and 2. Buses stop in all settlements, be it a resort or a village. Be sure to go to the airport website in advance to check bus routes, because in Girona buses go to Andorra on certain days (I don’t remember exactly which days). If you wish, you can rent a car.
Another option: from Barcelona by train to a station called Puigcerdà. The journey will take approximately 3 hours. And there it’s another 80 km to Andorra by regular bus.
You can also get to Andorra through France, but personally I think this is not very convenient (unless, of course, you have plans to visit France). The fact is that there are flights to Andorra from Toulouse. But you won’t be able to fly to Toulouse directly. Only with a transfer in Paris.
Where can you go from Andorra?
From Andorra you can safely travel to France. In addition to Carcassonne, there are excursions to Perpignan and Toulouse (about 100 euros per person). Or you can go in the other direction – to Barcelona, Girona. And in Andorra itself everything is so puppet-like and similar that if you are not a skier, you are better off spending your time in La Vella on shopping, the promenade and thermal springs. And in Encamp there is a nice city park where you can take a walk with a friend if he suddenly doesn’t skate one day.
What time of year should you choose to travel to Andorra?
Andorra may be a tiny state, but this does not diminish the popularity of this country, but rather, on the contrary, it increases. Favorable climatic conditions play an important role in this regard. The mere fact that the sun has been shining in the country for 250 days speaks volumes.
Many tourists prefer to visit Andorra not in winter, but in summer. Why? This is due to the fact that part of the country’s territory is occupied by ski slopes, the ski season on which begins in late November – early December and ends around mid-March. Recently, thanks to modern artificial snowmaking systems, you can ski even in April. But still, the best months for skiing are January and February. At this time, there are no problems with natural snow, and the air temperature remains stable at sub-zero levels.
But it’s not just skiing that Andorra can boast of in winter. At this time, you can go on excursions to small villages where the medieval way of life has been preserved (those villages located on the Spanish side are of greatest interest). In addition, the dry mountain climate of Andorra is rightfully considered healing and is recommended for people with various diseases of the respiratory system. Even in winter you can sunbathe; at this time the sun shines no less brightly than in summer, but at this time the sun’s rays are not so dangerous. In winter, you can visit the local thermal springs, which help you relax and also cope with various diseases.
As soon as the snow melts from the mountains, the hiking season begins. This season approximately begins at the end of April and lasts until about mid-October. In the summer, many localities organize various holidays and festivals. They last until September and tourists are happy to participate in them.
The rainiest time in Andorra is autumn, but even at this time you can enjoy walks in parks, visiting various galleries, museums, cafes, restaurants, and shopping centers.
A few words should be said about the summer period. At this time, many tourists come to the country both as independent tourists and as part of excursion groups. Summer has a comfortable temperature of around 25 degrees and, in addition to various holidays and festivals, tourists go hiking, cycling, rock climbing and rafting down a mountain river.
What can you buy in Andorra?
Andorra is a tiny state that attracts tourists not so much for its attractions as for its excellent shopping opportunities. Compared to other European countries, prices in Andorra are 25-40% lower, and during the sales season the difference can reach 70 percent or more. In addition, low prices do not in any way affect the quality of the product.
The most popular products in Andorra include perfumes and cosmetics. The most popular products are skin care products, hair care products, perfumes and decorative cosmetics (Spanish and French production).
You can also buy tobacco and alcohol at a good price in Andorra. It is best to purchase such goods in local supermarkets, for example, in the French chain “E. Leclerc.” Tourists are often presented with a lighter, ashtray, T-shirt and other gifts as a gift along with a purchased carton of cigarettes. At reasonable, if not low, prices, you can buy high-quality cognacs and whiskeys in Andorra. A good selection of alcoholic products is presented in the Cava Benito store, the advantage of which is not only a large assortment and affordable prices, but also the fact that before purchasing one or another type of alcoholic drink you can taste.
When purchasing tobacco and alcohol products, you must also take into account the fact that no more than 1.5 liters of strong alcohol, three liters of liqueur (less than 22 degrees ABV) and no more than 5 liters of champagne can be exported from the country without duty. The situation with tobacco is as follows: no more than 150 cigars, weighing less than 3 grams each, 300 cigarettes, 75 cigars, weighing more than three grams each, and no more than 400 grams of loose tobacco (for pipes).
Andorra has two of the largest ski resorts in the Pyrenees and, as a result, the country has a large selection of skis and ski equipment. It is much more profitable for tourists who come to the country to buy all the necessary equipment than to rent it.
Andorra offers a large selection of shoes and clothing from Spanish, French and Italian designers, which cost significantly less than where they are produced. Many people come to the country for high-quality leather goods and fur coats. The most popular are the Via Moda department stores and the Alex chain (the latter specializes more in shoes rather than clothing).
A special category of goods includes watches, jewelry and clocks. Their hours are approximately the same as in neighboring Spain, but if we ignore the 16% VAT, it will be noticeably cheaper, and for those who are not citizens of the European Union this is another 10% discount. Here you can buy watches from such famous brands as Rolex, Breguet and Hublot at reasonable prices. You can safely bargain with store managers; they usually make concessions and give good discounts.
If you have a car, then in Andorra you can buy many interesting accessories for it. Most shops selling such products are concentrated in the Santa Coloma area, which is located at the entrance to the capital of the country. Here you can buy almost anything, and we are talking about European, not Chinese quality.
Where to eat delicious and inexpensive food in Andorra la Vella?
Andorra la Vella is the capital of a small state that borders France and Spain. You will not have any problems with food in Andorra. Usually, hotel breakfasts are always plentiful. On the table you will see several types of cheese, jamon, hot buns, croissants, a variety of yoghurts and several types of tea and coffee. Hot dishes are often served with scrambled eggs, small sausages and fried pieces of bacon. This varied breakfast will give you a good start in the morning.
At lunchtime from 13:00 to 16:00, many restaurants offer set meals called Menu del Dia. Usually you will be offered a choice of 2-3 options for such a lunch, and very often wine is included in the set lunch. The price of such a lunch is from 10 to 25 euros per person.
You can try traditional Andorran cuisine at the Borda Estevet restaurant. This is a good mountain restaurant specializing in Mediterranean cuisine and meat dishes. This restaurant is located in the middle of nature in the parish of Andorra la Vella. This cozy restaurant can accommodate 120 people. The restaurant menu is quite varied and you can eat great here. The restaurant is open daily from 13:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to 23:00. At lunchtime, the restaurant offers set lunches on its menu. The average bill per person is 20 euros.
Among the inexpensive restaurants in the capital one can name the Papanico restaurant. It is located in the city center near the Pyrenees shopping center. The restaurant’s interior is rustic and has a separate tapas area. This restaurant specializes in Spanish cuisine, and if you love Spanish cuisine, be sure to visit Papanico. I recommend trying the chicken kebab and risotto with porcini mushrooms here. The restaurant is open from 13:00 to 16:00 and from 19:30 to 23:00. At lunchtime you will also be offered set lunches. The average bill at this restaurant is 15 euros.
Where to ski in Andorra?
One of the most famous and popular ski resorts in Andorra is the Soldeu-El Tarter ski resort, which is located 19 kilometers from the capital. This resort combines two resorts, which are located at a distance of 3 kilometers from each other – these are the resorts of Soldeu and El Tarter, which are located at an altitude of 1800 and 1710 meters, respectively. The total length of the trails in this resort is 90 kilometers. There are 10 green, 19 blue, 10 black and 13 red slopes, 420 snow cannons, and about 30 lifts. This resort is perfect for both beginners and extreme sports enthusiasts. Most of the routes pass through forests, but the routes are equipped taking into account all safety conditions. The resort has all the necessary infrastructure not only for a ski holiday, but also for a comfortable holiday, including for holidaymakers with children. Prices at this resort are quite European and for one day ski pass, adults will have to pay 45 euros, and children 30, and for 6 days of free skiing, you will have to pay 213 and 148 euros, respectively.
What interesting attractions are there in the capital of Andorra?
Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, is located in the Pyrenees Mountains and is the highest capital in Europe. This city is divided into two parts, old and new. The old part is considered the historical part of the city; there are many shops, cozy cafes, and restaurants. The new part is the business center of the capital, with commercial buildings located there.
There are many hotels in this city where you can stay for every taste and price.
The Andorra Park Hotel is located in the center of the capital and has an outdoor swimming pool, spa, sauna and gym. Each room has air conditioning, a private balcony, and slippers and bathrobes are provided. The Plaza Hotel is located next to the commercial center and is popular with artists, politicians, and artists. This is a stylish hotel decorated with carpets and paintings and has a decent kitchen. Hotel Valmar is also located in the center; this hotel is not expensive, but also has all the amenities for tourists.
In Andorra la Vella you need to go skiing, walk around the old town, visit the seat of government, and visit the Sete Panis house. It is worth visiting the Church of Sant’Armenol, the Church of Santa Colomna and the Church of Santuario de Meristel. For nightlife lovers, the city has many clubs and discos.