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Andorra la Vella
Europe’s highest capital, with a stone old quarter, the historic Casa de la Vall and the Caldea thermal spa next door
Europe’s highest capital, with a stone old quarter, the historic Casa de la Vall and the Caldea thermal spa next door
Built in 1580 as a family house, this stone building was the seat of Andorra’s parliament, the General Council, from 1702 until 2011. Guided tours show the old council chamber, kitchen and courtroom.
Tours must be booked; check times in advance.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
The old quarter around the church of Sant Esteve, which has Romanesque origins, is a small area of narrow lanes, stone houses and squares above the river.
Photo: FrankAndProust, CC0
Opened in 1994 in Escaldes-Engordany, Caldea is a large spa using local thermal water, with indoor and outdoor lagoons, saunas and treatments under a tall glass spire.
Book online for cheaper tickets.
Photo: FrankAndProust, CC0
The main shopping street runs through the centre into Escaldes, lined with shops selling electronics, perfume, clothing, alcohol and tobacco.
Photo: FrankAndProust, CC0
About 3km south-west of the centre, this small church with a round bell tower is one of the oldest in Andorra, with parts dating from before the Romanesque period.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Andorran mountain cooking is hearty: try trinxat (cabbage and potato with bacon), escudella stew, grilled meats and local cured sausages. Many restaurants serve Catalan, Spanish and French dishes.
Traditional bordes, old stone barns turned into restaurants, are found in the valleys outside town.
Buses run from Barcelona (airport and city) and Toulouse, each about 3 hours. The small Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell airport just over the Spanish border has a few weekly flights from Madrid and Palma.
Within Andorra, buses link the parishes and ski areas. Andorra has no airport and is not part of the EU or the Schengen area, but you can only reach it through Spain or France, so Schengen entry rules apply on the way. Bring your passport, as there are customs checks at the borders.
Andorra uses the euro. Taxes are lower than in Spain and France, which makes shopping popular, but hotels and ski passes are priced at normal Alpine-resort levels. Customs limits apply to goods you take back into the EU.
Prices are approximate and higher in ski season and August.
History, shopping and the spa.
Tour the Casa de la Vall, walk through the Barri Antic and visit Santa Coloma church, then shop along Avinguda Meritxell.
Spend the morning at Caldea, then take a bus up to a valley such as Ordino or a lake hike in summer.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Andorra has no border controls of its own for most visitors; you arrive through the Schengen area, so its rules apply.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Carry your passport; customs checks are common at the borders.
Weather changes fast in the mountains; bring layers.
Roads into the capital are congested on weekends and holidays.
Check EU customs allowances before buying alcohol or tobacco.
Quick answers for planning time in Andorra la Vella.
By bus from Barcelona or Toulouse, about 3 hours each.
No; the nearest is the small Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell airport in Spain, and the main gateways are Barcelona and Toulouse.
The euro.
Yes, at about 1,023m.
June to September for hiking, or December to March for skiing.
Catalan is the official language; Spanish and French are widely spoken.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Andorra travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.