Why You Shouldn’t Take a Day Trip to Andorra

Don’t get me wrong – I’ve loved traveling to some of the popular tourist spots like London, Florence, and Paris. But I have a special place in my heart for lesser known destinations. I find satisfaction in spreading the word about these hidden gems. And I like letting the world know what they are missing out on by never deviating from well-worn tourist paths.

I am part of the minority who HAD heard of Andorra before. But I admittedly had never thought about going on an extended vacation there. That is, until I read about a Boston ski club’s trip to this tiny nation in the Pyrenees mountains.

Prior to hearing about this ski trip, I imagined I would make it to Andorra at some point in the future, most likely for a day trip while in Spain or France, primarily to cross another country off my bucket list. So, I hold no judgement towards those “country collectors” who plan a quick trip to Andorra to tick a box on their list of countries visited.

However, when doing research prior to my trip, I found that the majority of blogs and articles I read that were written by daytrippers did not have a very positive experience in Andorra. So today I am here to tell you why you SHOULDN’T take a day trip to Andorra. And the reason is that by spending such a short amount of time in this tiny country you are doing a disservice to this beautiful nation.

Most daytrippers primarily visit the capital city of Andorra la Vella. The capital is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by the Pyrenees mountains. But it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the duty-free shopping that dominates the city. To truly get to experience all of the magnificence that Andorra has to offer, you really need to spend a few days immersed in the mountain villages. This could be for either skiing in the winter, or hiking in the warmer weather.

What if you really only have time in your itinerary to fit in a quick trip to Andorra? Well, it is better than not visiting the country at all. And I have some tips on how to make the most of your one day in this micro-nation so that you leave feeling happy that you got to experience a sliver of what it has to offer.

But first, here are a few facts to know about Andorra:

• Andorra is a landlocked country, nestled between Spain and France in the Iberian Peninsula in Europe;

• It is the 6th smallest nation in Europe;

• It is the 11th smallest country in the world by population (only 77,000 citizens and residents);

• It is the 16th smallest country in the world by land (only 181 square miles/468 square kilometers);

• Andorra is located in the Pyrenees mountain range;

• Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe, at 3,356 feet (1,023 meters) above sea level;

• Andorrans have the highest life expectancy in the world (81 years);

• It is the only country in the world with Catalan as the official language;

• Most residents also speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, and/or English;

• The official currency is the Euro but it is not technically part of the European Union;

• It is the only co-principality in the world (the co-heads of state are the President of France and the Catholic Bishop of Urgell in Spain), however the position holds no real power;

• Andorra has been an independent state since 1278, but developed their first constitution in 1993 when they joined the United Nations, and in actuality is ruled by a democratic parliament;

• They declared war on Germany in 1914 during World War I but did not actively fight, and did not rescind this declaration until 1958, since they were left out of the Treaty of Versailles which ended the war in 1919;

• Andorra remained neutral in World War II and was an important smuggling route between France and Spain;

• The micro-nation does not even have a national army, but in case of an emergency or natural disaster, all able-bodied men between the ages of 21 and 60 of Andorran nationality are required to serve;

• There is no international airport and no train station in Andorra (you need to fly into a nearby airport such as Barcelona or Toulouse and then drive 3 hours);

• Despite being hard to reach, Andorra has the most visitors in the world per capita, with over 10 million visitors per year;

• It has one of the highest standards of living, thanks to the tourism industry, which accounts for up to 80% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP);

• Skiing and hiking are the main attractions for tourists, but Andorra also has a rich Roman Catholic cultural heritage and more museums per capita than any other country;

• Andorra’s other major source of income is through its banking sector, which provides a low-tax option to businesses and wealthy individuals;

• Because of the low taxes, Andorra’s capital is popular for its luxury and duty-free shopping;

• Despite this commercialization, only 8% of the country is urbanized, with the remaining 92% comprised of green space, mountains, lakes, and rivers.

Whew, that was a lot of information for such a tiny country. See why it deserves more than a mere 24 hours of your time? Regardless, here are 4 ways you can fill your day trip to Andorra:

History

The historic center of Andorra la Vella, the Barri Antic, is the oldest part of the city. It is comprised of about 1 block of narrow streets and squares lined with quaint stone buildings. It is well worth a quick visit to soak in a little culture in an otherwise commercially-driven city.

The main square in the historic center is Plaça del Poble. This is actually on the roof of the Parliamentary government building below. It has some outstanding views across Andorra la Vella and of the surrounding Pyrenees mountains.

From here, you can also see the 7 Poets sculpture by Jaume Plensa. This work of art consists of a group of seven figures sitting atop individual poles. It is said that they represent the 7 parishes of Andorra. I was there during the day but these sculptures apparently change colors at nighttime.

Nearby Plaça del Poble is Casa de la Vall, which was the original seat of the Andorran Parliament. It was built by a family in 1580. In 1702 it was bought by the government to be used as the seat of the General Council. It was closed when I was there on a Monday. So we just took a stroll around the building and gardens while we were there.

Gastronomy

While in Andorra la Vella, you’ll obviously need nourishment at some point. Make sure to stop and eat at one of the many restaurants in the city center. During my day in the city, I ate lunch at La Casa del Boeuf, a French steakhouse near the Barri Antic. It was delicious and great value for the price. And the boisterous French-speaking chef/owner could not have been friendlier.

For a more traditional Andorran culinary experience, you should seek out these traditional dishes:

• Escudella (national dish of Andorra) – a light pork stew with seasonal vegetables;

• Trinxat de montanya – a mix of winter cabbage, potatoes, and garlic;

• Cargols a la lluna – snails cooked with olive oil, salt, and aioli;

• Trucha à la Andorrana – pan-fried trout with almonds and cured ham;

• Cannelloni à la Andorrana – pasta filled with a mix of minced lamb, pork, and chicken covered in bechamel sauce;

• Game dishes such as wild boar or hare stewed in red wine served with vegetables and wild mushrooms;

• Crema Andorrana – custard-like dessert similar to crème brûlée or crema Catalana.

Don’t miss out on the chance to sample some of the fantastic wines from the Andorran valley! Andorra is nestled between Spain and France, which are two countries known for their quality wine production. However, the first Andorran wine wasn’t produced until 2009.

There are four vineyards in Andorra: Borda Sabaté 1944, Casa Auvinyà, Casa Beal, and Celler Mas Berenguer. These small-batch vineyards don’t export their wine outside of the country. So your one day in Andorra might be your only chance to try them! Better yet, if you have time, schedule a visit to one of these wineries which can be found in the southern part of the principality.