[ANDORRA] Day trip to Andorra La Vella from Barcelona

13:51 Travel Bunny 1 Comments

Andorra is a small landlocked European country which is located between France and Spain. Even though small, the country is much bigger than Monaco. With a population of about 80,000, Andorra is a nice stopover if you're in Barcelona.

Getting in:

The only way to enter Andorra is by road, either from France or Spain. Decided to have a short visit  to the capital of Andorra which is Andorra La Vella. Bought a bus ticket through Directbus and the journey took 3 hours from Barcelona Sants.

You can store your bag in the bus station if you want.

Things to note: Andorra is NOT part of European Union. So if you have a Schengen single entry Visa, you might want to reconsider visiting this country. When you enter Andorra, it means you have exited the European Union. Entering back to either France or Spain, you'll technically need another visa. I think that's the main reason why I didn't see any Chinese tourist in Andorra La Vella. Mind you, there are custom checks when you exit Andorra. 

At an elevation of 1,023m, Andorra La Vella is the highest capital city in Europe. So, what is there to see in the capital city of Andorra? Not much really. 

The city of Andorra La Vella is basically divided into 2 parts. The old part which is located at the south and the newer area which is at the north.

First stop, The Church of Sant Esteve. Built in the 11th century, the church with its bell tower is probably the main landmark of the city.

Just a short walk away is the New Parliament of Andorra (on the right). 

Beside the new parliament, is the old parliament building, Casa de la Vall which was built in the 16th century. 

Strolling for a bit at the older section of the city.

Off to the newer section of Andorra La Vella. 

The Nobility of Time, Salvador Dali.

Just a few minutes walk north of the capital city is Les Escaldes. You'll be able to see a rather modern and unique building. The building is actually a spa resort Caldea.

Walking in Andorra La Vella is relatively easy. There is nothing much to see or do in this quiet city but it is nice to break away from the hustle and bustle of bigger and busier European cities such as Barcelona. In my opinion, most Europeans who come to this country just want to purchase cheaper items due to the low tax of this country.