Le Massif De Charlevoix, Québec

The Northeast had an epic start to the winter with powder for days in November and early December. However, due to some family commitments and the holidays, I wasn’t able to finagle a trip to the mountains until I headed to Québec City in Canada over New Year’s Eve weekend. I took a trip with the Boston Ski & Sports Club to Le Massif de Charlevoix, about an hour outside of Québec City. So I was able to sneak in one day on the slopes on December 31st before the ball dropped at midnight.

There are a few unique features of Le Massif de Charlevoix which make it unlike any other mountain I have skied before. First, the set-up of the resort is such that the main parking area and lodge are at the summit of the mountain, instead of the base. Once you park and grab your lift ticket, you can just ski right down the mountain and then hop on the gondola for a ride back up. Second, the St. Lawrence River runs right along the bottom edge of Le Massif, so you get gorgeous views of the ice-capped river as you ski down the mountain.

Mont Tremblant, Québec

Coincidentally, I headed back up to Canada for another ski trip a scant 2 weeks later. The NYE Québec City trip came together at the last minute, but I had actually made plans months before to go to Mont Tremblant with a group of girlfriends. Last year, we went to Montreal for a long weekend and took a day trip to Mont Tremblant. We decided that one day in sub-zero temps (seriously, the temp was -15°F) was just not enough. So, this year we decided to spend the weekend in the picture-perfect, brilliantly colored village. Ok, maybe the real reason for the extended stay was so that we didn’t have to leave the raucous après ski party at Le P’tit Caribou!

Stowe, Vermont

The weekend following Tremblant, I made the trek up to Stowe, Vermont over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. Stowe is one of my favorite mountains on the East Coast. Even though it is on the Epic Pass (I have the Ikon Pass), I try to get up there at least once a season. We totally lucked out with a massive Nor’easter storm that brought in about 18” of fresh powder over the long weekend. We did not luck out with the temps though as the high was -1°F!

While in Stowe, I checked out a few of my favorite haunts, like The Bench and The Rusty Nail. I had been wanting to try Idletyme Brewing Company for a while and I finally made it on this trip. I was expecting it to be sort of a big, bare taproom. But it is actually a really chic restaurant inside and the food was mouth-wateringly good. I’ll definitely be going back next time I’m in Stowe!

Loon, New Hampshire

Next up on the skiing agenda was a girls’ trip to New Hampshire with my Mom, sister, aunt, and cousin. The others don’t ski but I snuck off early Saturday morning to make it in time for first chair at Loon Mountain. Even though the temperatures in Canada and Stowe were more frigid, I actually felt the bitter cold the most at Loon. I seriously thought I had frostbite on my toes. It took about 30 minutes sitting close to the fire for me to actually start to feel my feet again. I called it quits on the early side that day and met up with the fam for a late lunch!

Grandvalira, Andorra

Two weeks later I set off on my most anticipated trip of the season – skiing in Andorra! I know what you’re thinking – where the heck is Andorra?! Well, it is a tiny micro-nation in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe, tucked between Spain and France. I had heard of Andorra before but once I found out that you could ski there, it shot to the top of my bucket list!

This trip was filled with blue skies, sunshine, beautiful views, and champagne. Lots of champagne. Oh, and there was also some skiing mixed in there as well. =) Seriously, this trip ranks up there with one of the best I’ve taken to date. I’m now on a mission to spread the word about this beautiful country that hardly anyone outside of Europe has heard of. On second thought, maybe I should keep this secret to myself. But if you’re curious to know more, check out the detailed recaps I wrote about skiing at Grandvalira and spa-ing (is that a word?) in the capital city of Andorra la Vella.

Park City, Utah

Somehow I was lucky enough to squeeze in another big ski trip this winter – this time out West in Utah! Park City and the surrounding mountains have come to feel a bit like a second home to me. I think this was my 5^th or 6^th time there. Every time I fall more and more in love with the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountain range.

Arriving at the SLC airport is a scene like no other. It is overtaken in equal measure by ski bums lugging their equipment and Mormons gathered to welcome their loved ones home from a mission! It is quite the dichotomy. My first trip to Utah in 2008 was my longest. I was there for 10 days, skied 8 of them, but took a 1-day break in the middle. This recent trip was only 8 days long but I skied 7 consecutive days of fresh powder, at 5 different mountains!

You can really make the most of the Ikon pass in Utah since there are 5 nearby mountains on the pass. These include Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, as well as Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. These 4 mountains are about 45 minutes from Park City. The 5^th mountain on the Ikon Pass is Deer Valley Resort, which is right in the heart of Park City. I skied 4 of the 5 mountains on this trip (I didn’t make it to Solitude). I also forked over some cash for a day pass to Park City Mountain Resort (aka The Canyons) to ski one day with some friends who have the Epic Pass. My legs definitely needed a break by the 7th day of skiing in a row!

Snowbird

Alta

Brighton

Deer Valley

The Canyons

Sunday River, Maine

To finish off the season, some friends and I headed up to Sunday River in Maine. They throw a Spring Fest/Parrothead Festival the first weekend in April every year. The conditions were definitely on the slushy side, but that didn’t matter too much since we were eager to partake in the festivities. The resort sets up an outdoor stage with musicians performing throughout the afternoon. And there’s a Tiki Bar serving up classic Painkillers (à la Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the BVIs), nutmeg and all. To top it off, some of the girls I met on my trip to Andorra happened to be there, as well as a friend I met on my NYE trip to Le Massif in Québec! Things really came full circle this season.

So, that’s the round-up of my 2019 ski season adventures! I’ve already bought my Ikon Pass for next year and am daydreaming of a trip to Aspen, Taos, or Big Sky. And a repeat trip to Utah, of course. Although, I heard that Squaw Valley is open until July 7^th this season. So I might just have to take a trip to Tahoe in May or June to squeeze in one more ski-venture!

What’s your favorite memory from this ski season?

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The post Another Ski Season Come and Gone…Or Has It? appeared first on Find The Pearls Travel.

I’m always planning my next travel destination and fastidiously studying maps of the world. So, Andorra had already made it onto my list of places to eventually tick off my bucket list. This would most likely have been on a day trip from Spain or France just to say I’ve been there. But after visiting this beautiful dot on the map, I can tell you that one day in Andorra is NOT ENOUGH.

Skiing in Andorra

Luckily, I happened to hear about a ski trip being planned to Andorra by a local Boston ski club. Skiing in Andorra?! While I had heard of the country before, I hadn’t realized that it was nestled smack dab in the middle of the Pyrenees mountain range. I certainly had never thought about taking a ski trip there! So I was sold. Sign me up. I’m in.

As it turns out, skiing is the number one source of tourism in Andorra. Alpine skiing was actually declared to be a “national interest” by the Andorran government in 1965, and nearly 30 Andorran skiers have competed in 10 Olympic games. While it is a fairly popular ski destination for Europeans, Andorra is less well known for non-Europeans like me.

Andorra used to mainly attract skiers looking for a cheap and lively ski holiday. But over the past few decades there has been a strong focus on improving the infrastructure and amenities. Now the elevated offerings of the ski resorts and their mountain villages attract a more luxe clientele, as well as more families. Even with these improvements, the value of what you get for your money in Andorra is still unmatched. You can have a luxurious vacation at a much cheaper price tag than you could in other European cities and ski towns.

There are 2 main ski areas in Andorra: Grandvalira and Vallnord. Grandvalira is the largest ski area in the Pyrenees and was the location of choice for the Boston ski club trip to Andorra. Vallnord is smaller but is great for families and beginners. I didn’t have a chance to ski this resort but I have heard that the Ordino-Arcalis section of Vallnord has the best off-piste skiing in Andorra.

Grandvalira

Grandvalira is actually comprised of 6 smaller villages: Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, Grau Roig, and Pas de la Casa. Grandvalira itself was established in 2003 when the smaller ski resorts of Soldeu/El Tarter (founded in 1964) and Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig (founded in 1965) merged to form one massive resort. It is now one of the largest ski resorts in the world!

The resorts are interlinked so it is possible to ski between all 6 villages in one day. If you find yourself at the far end of the resort at the end of the day, there is a ski bus that will drop you back off in your village. Or you can take the bus if you decide to imbibe in some après ski beverages rather than returning straight home. With the cheap drinks and lively après atmosphere, this was a frequent occurrence during my trip!

Pro Tip: Take advantage of the cost-effective “Lift Pass & Lunch” offer at Grandvalira, which can only be booked online in advance of your visit.

Mountain Stats and Observations

Grandvalira boasts 210 km of skiable terrain at an altitude up to 2,640 meters. The average snowfall is 216” per year, and more than half of the terrain is serviced by 1,000 snowmaking machines. There are a total of 62 lifts, including 3 gondolas and 20 high-speed lifts. They can carry 100,000 skiers per hour!

Grandvalira is suited for all levels of skiing. Of the 128 trails, 16% are designated beginner (green), 38% intermediate (blue), 30% advanced (red), and 17% expert (black). One of my observations is that there certainly were A LOT of beginners on the mountain. There is not one specific beginner area so I definitely had to swerve to avoid beginners all across the mountain.

There is also no concept of queuing up at the lift line. I don’t think this can be attributed to there being a lot of beginners. Instead, I think it was a consequence of the casual attitude in general at this European resort. It was mayhem trying to funnel hundreds of people onto the lift in an orderly fashion. And since people were not lined up appropriately, they often let a half-full lift go by while they waited for their companions to catch up in line. It was clearly not a model of efficiency. On the flip side, the expert terrain was WAY less crowded with smaller lift lines. So I tended to stick to those parts of the mountain.

The casual vibe of the mountain also had its benefits though. There are countless dining options on the mountain. Many of them involve either silver service or lounge chairs and ALL of them involve champagne. My impression was that a lot of patrons were at Grandvalira for the atmosphere rather than the skiing, and I tried to embrace that mindset. So, while I might not have had the most intense week of skiing, I filled my days with long, lazy lunches in the warm sunshine, glass of champagne in hand. And I couldn’t have been happier.

FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup

I also happened to be in Andorra at a great time in the country’s ski history. Grandvalira hosted the 2019 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals for the first time ever two weeks following my visit. Pretty good for a country/mountain most people outside of Europe have never heard of, eh? So there was an all-around buzz of excitement and pride on the mountain. And Veuve-Clicquot was a sponsor which could explain the ubiquity of champagne!

For me, it was exciting to ski the Avet trail, one of the two championship runs that were being prepped for the professionals. The other championship run, Àliga, was unfortunately closed to the public. Most exciting of all was the opportunity to ride the chairlift with Tessa Worley, a member of the French Olympic team. She and Coralie Frasse-Sombet were at Grandvalira for training runs in preparation for the upcoming World Cup Finals. The laid back atmosphere of the mountain meant that the Olympians had to wait in line at the lift just like me!

Village Overview

Encamp

Encamp is the closest village to the capital city of Andorra la Vella (about a 10-minute drive). It is one of the larger villages and has more of a “town” feel than the other villages. The issue with Encamp, however, is that the village is not directly at the base of skiable terrain. You need to take a 15-minute ride on the Funicamp cable car to reach the slopes. You’ll get a nice view along the way though and end up in the middle of the mountain near the Solanelles lodge.

Where to Eat/Drink

El Racó de Solanelles has THE BEST panoramic view from its terrace. I highly recommend stopping here for a break from skiing to enjoy the view with a glass of champagne in hand (obvi). It is also possible for non-skiers to reach this restaurant quite easily upon exiting the funicular.

Where to Après

L’Après Amélie is an aptly named bar at the base of the mountain. It is located in the same building as the funicular, on an outdoor terrace behind the cafe. I was there on a Sunday so it was pretty quiet but I’ve heard it has a vibrant scene on Fridays and Saturdays. There was a phenomenal sunset and a “buy-one-get-one-free” happy hour drink special while I was there. Two drinks and an amazing sunset for 8 euros was worth the trek down to Encamp village!

Canillo

Canillo is the next village you pass along the mountain road. This is where I stayed while in Andorra. It is one of the quieter villages so if you are looking for rowdy nightlife, this isn’t the place. It has a handful of restaurants and shops and a nice walking path along the river.

There is also a scenic viewpoint called Mirador del Roc del Quer de Canillo on a mountain overlooking the village. I hired a taxi to navigate the switchback roads up the mountain to the viewpoint. Unfortunately it was closed due to weather but the ride up the viewpoint was still worth it!

Like in Encamp, you need to take a gondola from the base of Canillo to reach skiable terrain but the ride is much shorter. There are only a handful of runs in the Canillo area. It is definitely an area that is great for families and beginners. If you want to tackle more difficult runs and explore the rest of the mountain then you need to take several lifts in a row. I found it difficult to make my way back across the resort to the Canillo gondola before it closed. In fact, I only did this on the last day I was there since I wanted to finish off the trip with a zipline adventure.

The zipline is located at the top of the gondola and is the longest zipline in southern Europe. You reach speeds up to 80 km/h at a height of 40m above the ground. I didn’t find it to be that fast or scary, probably because I am not afraid of heights. But it was still fun! There is also a toboggan run at the top of the gondola but I sadly ran out of time to test it out.

There are more non-ski activities at the base of the gondola in the village of Canillo. The Palau de Gel (Ice Palace) houses an Olympic-size swimming pool and ice rink, among other sporting activities such as squash. I partook in the ice-karting race (driving go-karts on the ice rink) while I was there. It was hilarious and entertaining to see all the karts sliding across the ice. It is definitely harder than it looks. I don’t think I’ll become a professional ice-kart racer any day soon!

Where to Eat/Drink

The only options in Canillo to eat on the mountain are La Cuina del Forn (self-service) or Roc de Les Bruixes (mountain cuisine). In town, Restaurant El Solà has great grilled meats and paella, and Restaurant Moli del Peano serves traditional fondue. If you go to the Mirador del Roc del Quer, plan to stop for lunch at Borda Pi, a rustic farmhouse restaurant near the viewpoint that shares the same spectacular views.

My other recommendation for a great dinner near Canillo is Restaurant Borda l’Era del Rossell. It is located in the hamlet of Meritxell, which is a 5-minute taxi ride from Canillo. A “borda” is a rustic restaurant that serves authentic Andorran mountain cuisine and is a must-do. I went here on my last night and had an outrageously delicious meal. It consisted of foie gras, beef carpaccio, beef filet served with potatoes and vegetables, and a molten chocolate cake for dessert. Needless to say, I definitely indulged.

I also finally got to try the Andorran wine. Though Andorra is nestled between Spain and France (two countries known for their quality wine production), the first Andorran wine wasn’t produced until 2009. I tried one of the first red wines produced in Andorra from the Casa Auvinyà vineyards. The small-batch vineyards in Andorra typically do not export their wine outside of the country so I couldn’t miss my chance to try it. My server pointed out a handwritten number on the back label. I had bottle 352 out of only 1,000 produced!

Where to Après

As mentioned, Canillo is a pretty quiet village. If you are looking for an après spot, try Blot Viking Bar which serves craft beer and pub food. It is very unassuming from the outside but chicly decorated on the inside. This is the closest you’ll get to finding nightlife in Canillo!

Where to Stay

I stayed at the 5-star Hotel Ski Plaza & Wellness, which was about a 5-minute walk to the gondola. The rooms were on the smaller side but there were a few cozy common spaces with fireplaces to relax in, as well as a children’s playroom. There is also a lobby bar that had a pretty lively scene most nights! The hotel has a relaxing spa with a whirlpool, sauna, and steam room. But access costs an additional charge. However, guests of the hotel also get free access to the Palau de Gel (Ice Palace) leisure center right across the street.

Soldeu/El Tarter

The villages of Soldeu and El Tarter are next along the mountain road and are often lumped together. These sections of the mountain have terrain for all levels of skiers but the expert-level runs are the big draw. The two championship runs for the 2019 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals are located in Soldeu/El Tarter. I took advantage of the opportunity to take a few laps down Avet, in Soldeu, the championship run that was open to the public. It was definitely one of my favorite trails on the mountain! The other championship run, Àliga, in El Tarter, was closed while I was there. It is one of the 2 trails that make up the iconic “X”  that inspired the Grandvalira logo.

Where to Eat/Drink

The highlight of the dining options in Soldeu is hands down the Veuve Clicquot Snow Club. It is located on the sun terrace outside the Brasserie Gall de Bosc steak house so you can enjoy a delicious hamburger with your bottle of ice-cold champagne. I seriously could have sat here in the sun with a glass of champagne for the entire day.

For a similar experience in El Tarter, you can check out the Terrassa IQOS or Snow Club El Tarter. These establishments both have sun terraces and either a DJ or live music daily. For non-skiers, it is possible to reach the Snow Club El Tarter from the top of the gondola.

Where to Après

The best après ski spot in Grandvalira, in my opinion, is L’Abarset, located at the base of the mountain in El Tarter. It has an expansive outdoor terrace with heat lamps to keep revelers warm into the night. The terrace starts to get crowded around 4 pm when the DJ or other entertainment gets the party started. Pro tip: you need to purchase a prepaid card at the entrance of the terrace before ordering drinks at the bar. Money and credit cards aren’t accepted at the bar itself after 4 pm.

Where to Stay

The villages of Soldeu and El Tarter are known for their higher-end accommodations with slope-side access. So if you’re looking for luxury and convenience with excellent value for your money, this is the place. I am definitely staying in one of these two villages on my next trip to Andorra (yes, I’m already planning my trip back). Here are a few hotel recommendations in Soldeu/El Tarter:

• Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa (5-star hotel in Soldeu)
• Sport Hotel Village (4-star hotel in Soldeu)
• Hotel Nòrdic (4-star hotel El Tarter)
• Euroski Mountain Resort (4-star hotel in El Tarter)

Grau Roig

The Grau Roig (or “Grau”) sector of Grandvalira is at the heart of the mountain, between Soldeu and Pas de La Casa. There are fabulous trails and great views to be had in this part of the mountain. However, the “village” is not really a village at all. Grau Roig is the only non-residential sector on the mountain, consisting of just one slope-side hotel.

Where to Eat/Drink

Though there isn’t really a commercialized village in Grau Roig, this sector of Grandvalira is a mecca for fantastic on-mountain dining. Restaurant Tres Estanys (Mediterranean), Restaurant Braseria Piolet (mountain cuisine), and Vodkabar (gourmet tapas) are three great options in this sector with a nice atmosphere for both indoor and outdoor dining.

My top recommendation for lunch is Refugi Llac del Pessons, which has been offering gourmet mountain cuisine for 25 years. Pro tip: make a lunch reservation ahead of time to avoid a long wait!

For a lighter lunch or just for a bubbly break, you must try Amélie Experience, which is a collaboration between Grandvalira and the Amélie oyster brand. It is located on the sun terrace next to Refugi Llac del Pessons, and both establishments overlook the frozen Lake Pessons. Grab a lounge chair if you can, and order a few refreshing oysters and a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne. It’s the perfect place to relax in the sunshine and blue skies, with one of the best views on the mountain!

Another must-see locale on the mountain is the Hotel Iglú in Grau Roig, which is made 100% from snow. You can either stop for lunch at the Iglú Terrace or grab a glass of bubbly from the Iglú Bar and relax on a lounge chair in the sunshine (see the theme here?).

Where to Après & Stay

There is really only one après and lodging option in Grau Roig and that is Grau Roig Andorra Boutique Hotel & Spa, a slope-side luxury hotel and spa.

Pas de la Casa

Pas de la Casa (or “Pas”) village is the farthest from Andorra’s capital and is actually directly on the border with France. It is the largest of the villages, with many lodging, restaurant, and bar options. Pas also capitalizes on Andorra’s low tax status with an abundance of duty-free shops. It is certainly lacking the charm of some of the smaller villages, but if you are looking for a lively and affordable option, then Pas is for you. It’s known for its party atmosphere with après often extending into the early hours of dawn.

The village is perfectly situated at the bottom of the Pas de la Casa sector of Grandvalira; the trails funnel down into the village in the valley. The terrain is suitable for all levels of skiers, and you can easily access the Grau Roig sector from the Pas lifts as well. Plus, the view at the top of the Pas sector is unmatched, spanning across Grandvalira and into France.

Where to Eat/Drink

There is no shortage of restaurant options in the actual village of Pas de la Casa. On the mountain, you can’t miss the panoramic views of both the French and Spanish Pyrenees at the UFO-like Coll Blanc KSB Restaurant.

Where to Après

There are a plethora of après options in Pas de la Casa, starting with Cala Bassa Costa Rodona (CBbC), at the base of the mountain. It is the sister establishment to Cala Bassa Beach Club in Ibiza, and brings that party atmosphere to this mountain town.

The former Les Abelletes is now the Mazaya Igloo terrace and is a contender for the title of “Ibiza on snow.” Other popular après options in town include the Red Lion, Milwaukee Bar, Paddy’s Irish Pub, and the Underground.

Which restaurant or après spot would you check out first?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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