Travel guide Andorra

Thanks to its thermal waters and well-equipped centers, Andorra has established itself as an ideal destination for relaxing vacations. Caldea is the place to be, and the largest spa resort in southern Europe. Most of the principality's hotels are equipped with spa facilities.

A typical Andorran peasant house without a chimney, built of dry stone, where wheat and livestock were once kept, borda means "hut". Today, typical Andorran farmhouses and gastronomic restaurants are known as bordes. These are the best places to discover Andorran cuisine.

This small piece of mountain land wedged between France and Spain has a very strong Catalan influence. In fact, it is the only place in the world where Catalan is the official national language. But be careful not to mix things up: Andorrans are proud of their Pyrenean identity, so don't tell them they are Catalan!

More than ever, Andorra is a tax-free country. There's no VAT, no income tax, and very little business tax or social security contributions. As a result, unemployment is very rare. This extraordinary situation attracts the shopping crowds!

With its magnificent mountains full of natural treasures, Andorra lends itself wonderfully to ecotourism. To make its rich natural heritage accessible while protecting it, the principality has opened nearly twenty ecotourism circuits in recent years, spread throughout its valleys.

From the 17th to the 19th century, the extraction of iron ore, its transformation and marketing were the pillars of the country's economy. This part of the Principality's history has not been forgotten and today there is an "iron route" in the Ordino Valley for those who wish to learn more about this thousand-year-old history.

The parishes are the geographical and administrative boundaries of Andorra. There are seven parishes: Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, La Massana, Andorra la Vella (the most populated), Sant Julià de Lòria and Escaldes-Engordany (the latter has only existed officially since 1978). The town halls are called comuns (comu in the singular).

Andorra is the only country in the world with a political system based on the co-principality. It is a small independent state under the sovereignty of two co-princes: the French head of state and the Bishop of Urgell (Catalonia). In this sense, the status of Andorra is not comparable to that of Monaco (monarchy) and Liechtenstein (principality).

Given its location in the heart of the Pyrenees, Andorra is a mountainous country, to say the least. In fact, the country boasts no fewer than 65 peaks! Wherever you are, in the heart of the city or in a remote village, you'll always have mountain views, sometimes even from your hotel room.

Vast and beautiful stretches of snow, a real white horizon. Andorra's ski resorts guarantee snow from November to April, thanks to their state-of-the-art snow cannons. But beware: while snow is a skier's friend, it can quickly become the sworn enemy of walkers and motorists if they are not properly equipped.

Andorra offers a wide range of sporting activities. Nature lovers can explore the valleys on foot, snowshoe, bike or horseback, or take up canyoning, fishing or climbing. Snowboarders can ski, snowboard or snowmobile down the slopes. A hyperactive paradise!

Tobacco from Spain was introduced to Andorra via a cottage industry in the 17th century, and was widely grown. Then, from the 20th century onwards, consumption became widespread, the production chain was mechanised and American blond tobacco won out. Tobacco production is nowadays marginal in the Andorran economy.