Does anyone have any information on Andorra? I will be traveling from France to Spain to pick up a Rick Steves tour. I will be taking the bus to Andorra and staying for three nights (I know a long time but our starter hotel did not have a vacancy). I would like to know if there are any walking tours I could download or places that are a must-see. I wouldn't mind some spa recommendations, if there are any.
Has anyone travelled there and let me in on any secrets, would be appreciated.
Claudia,
IMO Andorra la Vella (capital) is worth no more than half day. But then, I am not a hiker. I know the French go there to buy some goods that are taxed in France. When we went there (just to say we had been there), the long out of the way drive seemed to be a waste of time. (We were going from Barcelona to Carcassonne.) You may feel differently.
Thanks Judi,
My original plan was two nights, one full day in Andorra but was unable to get a room at my next stop. I feel the same...I am going to say I have been. I am hoping there are surprises. Maybe I will find out I like to shop! Anyway, thanks for the information.
Claudia
The main city is generally accepted to be bland and skippable. However, if you are a fan of the outdoors, it is a wonderful little country to hike in. You mentioned walking tours, but if you have the appropriate fitness level and can/would like to elevate that to a hike, I'd recommend it, as I was very impressed. Note the terrain is steep and mountainous, and of course this is all assuming your visit occurs in summertime, as it is a ski destination in winter months.
If any of this is of interest to you, I can say that I stayed at Hotel Himalaia in Soldeu, up the road a ways from Andorra La Vella. I found it to be a great value and enjoyed my stay.
Andorra la Vella isn’t very interesting as was mentioned. If you can still change where in Andorra you stay, I would recommend going up a bit further to Ordino-there are local buses from Andorra la Vella (I think). I remember seeing buses in Ordino. We stayed at the Hotel Barbara and it was lovely. Yes, there is hiking. We did not, but it is available.
And the shopping leans more to smoking and alcohol.
All of the above is pretty accurate. Parking in the city is flat out impossible. I drove over last year and was happy to leave. The drive can be very slow, as trucks, busses, and hordes of bicyclists make it even more of an adventure than the narrow, steep, roads would normally entail.
I'd look at staying in one of the ski resorts up the valley from Vella.
And check prices before you buy. I had to look close for bargains and only bought stuff that's excessively difficult to find in the USA at any price.
La Birreria de Andorra for a pint. It's probably in the cutest area.
Caldea is good, but not great.
There was a medieval restaurant on the main strip that was campy, but kinda fun.
If you can get a car or cab to some of the outlying areas, those are nicer. Definitely a place where getting up into the mountain overlooks and doing the trails is better than bumming around a pretty underwhelming (pretty, but not old or exciting) town. It's a ski resort and tax haven for the wealthy.
Mirador Roc del Quer overlook is hands down the place to go.
A beautiful country for hiking and nature, worth a short visit, but I think you will feel like you've seen it after three nights. That's how long we spent.
