🇦🇩 Andorra

10 best places in Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella is Europe's highest capital, tucked among Pyrenean peaks, where medieval stone houses sit alongside duty-free shopping streets and a landmark thermal spa.

Sight

Casa de la Vall

A 16th-century stone building that served as the principality's parliament and courthouse for centuries.

District

Barri Antic (Old Quarter)

The cobbled streets of the historic center, lined with Romanesque churches and stone houses.

Sight

Santa Coloma Church

The country's oldest church, notable for its round Romanesque bell tower dating to the 9th-10th centuries.

Sight

Caldea Spa

A vast thermal spa complex crowned by a glass tower that has become the city's skyline icon.

District

Avinguda Meritxell

The capital's main shopping street, packed with duty-free boutiques and cafés.

Sight

Sant Esteve Church

A 12th-century Romanesque church right in the city center, among Andorra's oldest buildings.

Museum

National Automobile Museum

A collection of vintage cars and motorcycles, including rare early-20th-century models.

Sight

Pont de Paret

An old stone footbridge over the Valira river, one of the emblems of the historic center.

Park

Parc Central

The capital's central park with a pond and modern sculptures right in the heart of town.

Restaurant

Borda Estevet

A traditional mountain restaurant in an old stone barn, known for its charcoal grill and Andorran fare.

FAQ

How do you get to Andorra la Vella?

There is no airport and no railway, so everyone arrives overland: the coach from Barcelona takes around three hours, and Toulouse is comparable. The nearest airports are Barcelona, Toulouse and Girona, with bus or private transfer from there. In winter, check mountain pass conditions before you set off.

How many days do you need in Andorra la Vella?

The capital itself is small: Casa de la Vall, the Barri Antic old quarter, Santa Coloma church, Meritxell avenue and the Caldea spa fit into a single day. People stay longer for the mountains, skiing in winter and hiking in summer. As a city break it is short, as a base in the Pyrenees it works nicely.

Is shopping cheaper in Andorra?

Yes. Andorra is outside the EU and its sales tax is low, so electronics, perfume, alcohol, tobacco and sports gear cost noticeably less than in Spain or France. That is why Meritxell avenue is basically one long shopping street. Duty-free allowances apply at the border, so check the limits before loading up.

How do you move to Andorra?

Two main routes exist: passive residency for people who do not work locally, which requires an investment, a deposit with the state, local housing and health cover, and active residency through your own company doing real business in Andorra. Taxes are low but not zero, and holding residency does not automatically settle your tax residency elsewhere. Amounts, quotas and minimum-days rules get revised periodically, so verify the current terms.