| 6 mins read
Erin Skahan
If you’re looking for a little known country to add to your growing collection of passport stamps, have you considered Andorra? Tucked into the folds of a valley in the Pyrenean Mountains between France and Spain, this little principality has a lot to offer the curious traveler. As a Barcelona to Andorra day trip, or a quick weekend getaway, there’s a lot to explore. Here is our exclusive Andorra travel guide!
The Great Outdoors
You’ll find Andorrans generally to be active people. Locals are often seen running or cycling, enjoying the beautiful surroundings and keeping fit.
Andorra is full of mountains, so be sure to pack your hiking boots. The Grandes Randonnees are six long-distance hiking trails, winding through pure Andorran wilderness. The best part? There are 30 strategically placed huts offering free accommodation along the way. Hut locations are mapped here. If the long-distance trails are not for you, Andorra hiking guides can help choose from over 60 other routes to determine the best-suited one, in terms of difficulty, distance, and duration.
Andorra is an absolute dream for cyclists, as the traffic in the cities is low compared to other European cities, making it safe and enjoyable for everyone from professional level riders to families. Known for challenging uphill climbs on two wheels, these inclines reward the avid cyclist with breathtaking vistas of mountains, lakes, and valleys. Find information about the best trails here and plan your adventure. More so, if you’re looking for someone to show you the best routes in the area, it’s easy to find an experienced cycle tour guide to lead the way.
Colourful Local Festivals
Travel to Andorra isn’t complete without experiencing one of the many local traditional festivals. The summer through the fall months are the prime festival season, and it’s easy to find something of interest to every traveler.
The International Jazz festival in July draws big international names including Madeleine Peyroux, John Scofield, and Chano Dominguez. On the first weekend in August, you’ll find the multi-faceted Festa Major in the capital city of Andorra de la Vella. This weekend of events offers everything from live music, local goods and craft markets, games for children, athletic activities, food stalls, and a chance to see Andorrans proudly exhibiting their red and blue traditional garments.
Continue your visit into the second week of August, and you can add the annual Bagpiper’s Gathering to your list. For a very traditional experience, the Our Lady of Meitxell Day, held on September 8th, offers an insight into the Catholic influence on Andorran culture through the centuries. Plan ahead for this one, as the local shops all close during this time, and being Andorra’s most popular festival, accommodation should be booked well in advance. A nice way to commence this festival would be a visit to the Church of Sant Joan de Caselles located in Caselles. This 12th-century Romanesque style structure boasts some beautiful architectural features, including a wooden ceiling and a well-preserved bell tower. Admission here is free of charge.
Creative Catalan Cuisine
Influenced by its French and Spanish borders, Andorran food offers a unique melding of cultural culinary traditions, resulting in some truly bold flavors. Expect to find traditional favorites like snails, veal, local cheeses, beans with ham, hearty stews full of savory meats, often including rabbit and winter vegetables, and pa amb tomàquet, a traditional bread with a thin spread of tomato paste, served alongside most meals.
Fondue is especially popular in the Apres-Ski restaurants near the resorts, and the perfect way to warm up after an active, snow-filled afternoon. In the summer months, definitely try the granizado, an icy sweet beverage made from a variety of fruit juices and shaved ice. This is blended together to make a sort of slush, and it’s truly refreshing. You can also find these made with coffee and cream if you’re looking for a pick-me-up. Wine is common with meals in Andorra, with the only locally grown varietal being Pinot Noir. There are French and Spanish options available everywhere, so get ready to wet your palate.
Duty-Free Deals
We wouldn’t be doing our job as your Andorra Tour Guide without telling you about the incredible duty-free shopping. This tax-free haven offers huge savings on goods ranging from tobacco, alcohol, and a variety of luxury items. Deals are due to a very low import tax ranging anywhere between 1%-4.5% depending on the item, and the added benefit of no sales tax at the register. The prime shopping areas are located along Avenue Meritxell and Avenue Carlemany.
Our insider tip: pack light, and bring an extra suitcase or backpack to bring home the deals!
Endless Options in Close Proximity
There’s yet more. Transportation buffs will definitely enjoy a day spent at the National Automobile Museum, a short 10-minute drive from the city. Not only does this house an incredible array of vintage motor vehicles, but it also traces the progress of the automobile and bicycle through the generations.
With so much to see and do, Andorra really allows you to cover everything in a remarkably short time frame. In fact, you can cross the country in just 1 hour by car! It’s size and landscape make the offerings vast, but also extremely accessible. You want to take a traditional cooking course in a remote village, and your friend prefers a day on the slopes? No problem! The ski resorts are a short 2-hour drive or bus ride from the capital city. To make it even more convenient, Andorra has famously fast internet speeds to keep you connected, wherever you are.
"Erin is an experienced solo traveler, interested in how food shapes culture. She cooks and writes her way through cities and villages, primarily focusing on Western Europe."
Image details and licenses:
Festa Major: https://flic.kr/p/deMjee (Ajuntament d’Esplugues de Llobregat, CC BY 2.0), Granizado: https://flic.kr/p/absAE7 (Alb CH, CC), Avenue Meritxell: https://flic.kr/p/9scGNc (Leslie Vella, CC BY 2.0), National Automobile Museum: https://flic.kr/p/nHh7g (Tony Harrison, CC BY SA 2.0)