ANDORRA

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a landlocked microstate in Southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. For more than 700 years the leader of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel has ruled Andorra jointly. The first Andorran Constitution was passed in 1993, establishing a parliamentary co-principality. The co-princes remain Andorra’s heads of state but the roles are largely honorary. Andorra has become a popular tourist destination in Europe. Andorra has several major ski resorts, including Soldeu/El Tarter and Pal/Arinsal. These are very popular with tourists from Spain, France and the United Kingdom, particularly because their relatively gentle slopes are ideal for less experienced people as well as families.

An estimated 10 million people visit each year, drawn by the winter sports, summer climate and duty-free goods.

Capital : Andorra la Vella

 Best Time of Visit :

  1.   If you’re planning to go hiking or trekking in Andorra, then the best time to visit the country is between April and October
  2.   The warmest months and the peak tourist season is from  July to September.

 Min Days Required : 6 days

 Places of Interest : 

  1. Andorra-la-Vella
  2. Sordeny Nature Park
  3.  La Cortinada
  4. Soldeu

 Climate :

  1.   Andorra’s climate is temperate, with warm, dry summers and snowy winters.
  2.   December to March are the snowiest months, and also the time when Andorra’s ski slopes are the most crowded.
  3.  Although the snow starts disappearing by April, many of the higher peaks remain snow clad well into July.

 Currency :  Euro

 Things to carry :

  1.  In winter, of course, you need a good coat with some degree of water resistance. In summer, light clothes by day, a light jacket at night.
  2. Gloves, caps, sunglasses are a must.
  3. During spring, the weather is unpredictable it can rain and snow anytime. So carry a protection cap and umbrella just in case.
  4. During summers it gets really hot so carry light clothes and a jacket just in case.

 How to get there :

Road :

  1. Roads in Andorra are generally of a good quality. Entering on the main road from the Spanish side is a relatively straightforward drive; however entering from France is a more stressful affair involving many hairpin bends. Border control officers at both sides are generally fine.

By car :

  1. If entering from France, one can pass through the 2.9 km-long Tunel d’Envalira, which requires a fee payable by by cash or credit/debit card Car rental The usual car hire companies operate from Andorra la Vella / Santa Coloma; the desks are sometimes quiet and unmanned so it may be a good idea to book in advance online.

By bus :

  1. From France there is a coach service, Novatel from Toulouse at the bus station (Matabiau) as well as from the Toulouse–Blagnac airport. A second coach service operates via L’Hospitalet and La Tour de Carol.From Spain, coaches to Andorra can be caught from a variety of locations, such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Lleida and Valencia.

Air : There are no airports in Andorra, the nearest airports are:

  1. Perpignan (France) 128 km to the east, no coach connections but you can take a Yellow train to La tour de Carol and further to l’Hospitalet.
  2. Toulouse–Blagnac (France) 196 km to the north. You can pre book a coach or a taxi from Toulouse Airport to all the resorts in Andorra with Andorra Airport Transfers.
  3. Barcelona (Spain) 202 km to the south. Travellers will appreciate the frequent connections to Andorra from Barcelona town and airport.

 Rail : There are no train lines or stations in Andorra, and none close to the Spanish border. The nearest rail stations are:

  1. L’Hospitalet (France), 3 km (1.8 mi) from the Andorran border. Served by SNCF  trains from Toulouse, in addition to a sleeper service to/from Paris.
  2. Puigcerdà (Spain), 80 km (50 mi) from Andorra.