Travel Facts & Information on Andorra

Travel Facts & Information on Andorra

Andorra Travel

Where is Andorra?

Andorra is the 6th smallest country in Europe, the 195th largest country in the world. Most people have never heard of it let alone pinpoint it on a map.

This article will answer common questions and much more for those considering a trip to Andoora.

What language do they speak in Andorra?
How big is Andorra?
How do you get to Andorra?
What’s the population of Andorra?
What about the weather in Andorra?

So, Exactly where is Andorra Located?

Andorra Tourism

For those people comfortable with coordinates and GPS Andorra is located at coordinates 42 30 N, 1 31.3 E which will put you smack bang in the middle of Andorra la Vella.

For those who need a little more geographical information to visualise the location of Andorra you need to look towards central Europe and France.

If we Travel down through France right to the bottom where it joins northern Spain we find the Pyrenees: the mountain range separating the main part of Europe from the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

This is where we find Andorra, it is a minute mountainous country sandwiched between France and Spain and resting hidden in the mountains and valleys of the Pyrenees. Andorra has existed as a principality since 1278.

How can you travel to Andorra?

Unless you are very wealthy and can fly in via private helicopter, access to Andorra is either via France or Spain.

Andorra is a landlocked country so it has no coast: sailing to Andorra is not an option.

Andorra also has no railways so travelling directly by train is also not an option: that said the French railway station Hospitalet is only 16 kilometres from the border so a train will nearly get you there followed either by a long walk or by the dedicated bus service that takes visitors from Hospitalet station to various locations in Andorra.

Andorra does have good roads in from both France and Spain so driving is definitely an option. If driving in winter you’ll need to follow local road recommendations regarding driving in the principality as there can be heavy snow and the routes into and out of the country can become blocked.

Airport Transfers to Andorra

The main routes into Andorra by air are via Barcelona Airport, Girona Airport and Toulouse Airport.

Less popular airport routes that connect into transport services serving Andorra are Reus Airport, Leida Airport and there are also ongoing connections via train and coach from Perpignan airport.

La Seu D’urgell Airport has recently reopened and is the closest airport to Andorra. At the moment it only serves small private planes but consultations are underway to extend the airport and improve facilities making it viable for larger commercial aircraft.

Novatel and Frogbus both run services from Toulouse, Girona and Barcelona into Andorra: the price for a return journey is in the region of 30 euros from any of the airports to Andorra (give or take a few euros).

Frogbus fares are cheaper if you buy them in advance online, although they do have ticket concessions at the airports for you to purchase tickets immediately before travelling.

There are local companies that also offer coach service from other airports such as Reus and Lleida*.

At the moment there are not many commercial flights to Lleida Airport.  Neilson Ski Holidays have announced that they will fly there for the 2011/2012 ski season and it is hoped that the airport’s usage will grow.

Transfer times from Barcelona Airport, Toulouse Airport and Gerona Airport are all approximately 3.5 hours using the above coach services.

What is there to do in Andorra?

Andorra is primarily known as a ski holiday destination and also generally regarded as the best skiing area in the Pyrenees. In recent years there has been heavy investment in the Andorran ski resorts to boost the industry. The ski season traditionally starts on the first weekend in December.

All ski resorts in Andorra boast new state of the art ski lifts and facilities. Andorra is divided into two main ski areas: Grandvalira and Valnord which contain the individual ski resorts of Soldeu, Canilo, La Massana, Encamp, Les Escaldes, Ordino Arcalis, Pal-Arinsal and Pas de la Casa.

One of the other main attractions for skiers in Andorra apart from the quality of the pistes and abundance of snow is the comparitively low cost of ski holidays in Andorra due to the lower tax rates.

Outside of the ski season Andorra’s unique geography and mountainous terrain make it excellent for camping, walking and hiking holidays. Mountain biking is extremely popular in Andorra and there are many excellent purpose built cycle trails through the valleys.

Ski Resort Andorra
Ski Resort Andorra

Just how small is Andorra?

In Europe only the Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein and Malta are smaller than Andorra.

To put it in context Andorra covers only 181 square miles which by an odd coincidence is approximately the same area as that covered by Scottsdale Arizona in the USA or East Hertfordshire in the UK.

Andorra Facts

  • Andorra has a population of approximately 85,000 people is currently growing at .33% per year (estimate).
  • Andorra covers only 181 sq miles – it would cover a little over 25% of the Greater London area.
  • Up to 10 million skiers visit Andorra’s slopes each year for skiing holidays.
  • Andorra is divided into 7 administrative regions or counties:  Ordino, Canillo, La Massana, Encam, Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra la Vella and Sant Julia de Loria.
  • Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra and is also the only city in Andorra.  It is the highest capital city in Europe and has a population of about 24,000.
  • Due to historical reasons the role of Head of State of Andorra is shared by the two princes of Andorra: the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain. However this joint role is mainly titular (title only with limited powers) as Andorra is ruled by it’s own Parliament.
  • Andorra has no army (as it has no coast and no airports it also has no navy or Air Force).
  • The official language of Andorra is Catalan, however French and Spanish are spoken by almost everyone.  There is also a large Portuguese population in Andorra.  English is widely spoken so holiday makers from English speaking countries need not panic.
  • EU – Andorra is not part of the European Union.  However it does enjoy a special relationship with the EU.  No Visas are required for EU nationals to enter Andorra.
  • As Andorra is not in the EU travellers from the UK should note that the EHIC card is not valid in Andorra and make sure they are adequately insured during their stay in the country.
  • Currency – Andorra uses the Euro as it does not have its own currency.
  • Driving as per all of mainland Europe is on the right.
  • Timezone:  Andorra is in the CET timezone which is one hour ahead of GMT/BST.
  • Taxes:  Andorra has long been known as a tax haven as there are no income taxes for residents
  • Emergency Telephone Numbers:
    • General Emergencies /Mountain Rescue – 112
    • Police – 110
    • Fire Brigade / Ambulance 118
    • Medical Emergency Services – 116
  • International Dialling Code: 376

River in Andorra

What’s the weather like in Andorra?

Andorra is cold in the winter and warm in the summer (you may not be shocked to learn this). In the summer months a normal high is 26 degrees C whilst, due to its altitude in the Pyrenees, in winter the climate is Alpine – snowy and cold.

What’s the temperature like in Andorra?

Andorra Monthly Temperatures
MonthMinMax
January-7C8C
February-4C8C
March2C15C
April4C18C
May8C22C
June10C24C
July15C25C
August10C26C
September10C20C
October5C18C
November-2C12C
December-4C11C

Average Rainfall in Andorra by Month

Andorra Rainfall in Andorra
MonthAv rain mmNo. Wet Days*
January344
February376
March468
April6310
May10515
June699
July658
August9810
September819
October738
November686
December697

* wet days signifies days with more than 1mm of rainfall. General estimates from other sources show that Andorra enjoys 300 sunny days per year.

Andorra La Vella, Andorra

Church of Sant Esteve
Church of Sant Esteve

Surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains…

Andorra La Vella is the capital of this tiny principality nestling between France and Spain and is its biggest town. Lying at the confluence of the Gran Valira, the Valira del Oriente and the Valira del Norte rivers, Andorra La Vella is dwarfed by stunning snow-capped mountains of up to 2500 metres high. The town has now grown to absorb the once independent villages of Escaldes, Engordany and Santa Coloma.

The Barri Antic (old town) was the original heart of the town when it was little more than a village. It stretches from the Esglesia de Sant Esteve to Placeta del Puial and is characterized by atmospheric cobblestoned streets and arresting stone houses. Visit the Casa de la Vall (House of the Valley) where the Andorran parliament has met since 1702. Originally built as a family home in 1580, it has to be one of the most comfortable parliament chambers in the world! The town’s Esglesia de Sant Esteve dates from the 11th century. Check out the church’s Romanesque apse and the paintings dating from the 13th century. Stroll in the Placa del Poble – the large public square atop the Edifici Administratiu Govern d’Andorra. It’s a great place for people watching of an evening and is home to the town’s theatre and concert venue.

For dinner, head for the Placa de Guillemo or the Barri Antic. Shop till you drop at the duty-free shops on Avinguda del Princep Benlloch and the Avinguda de Meritxell. For a spot of heavenly relaxation head for the Caldea spa complex where you can enjoy a Turkish bath, a sauna, a jacuzzi or even a hydromassage.

Mountains in Andorra
Mountains in Andorra

 

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