Private driver Barcelona Day Trip to Andorra

ViaMichelin estimates the one-way driving time at about 3 hours via the fastest route. By the time you add time for lunch, there wouldn't be much time left for stops along the way.

Is there a particular reason you want to go to Andorra? The capital city itself wasn't special back in 1972 and I've read that these days it has the look of an outlet mall. The countryside is a different matter, of course.

You can zoom way in on the ViaMichelin map and see which roads that company considers most scenic. They are marked in green. I was curious, so I plotted a trip that doesn't go all the way to Andorra-la-Vella but traverses what is apparently a very pretty area. The route was Barcelona-Manresa-Berga-Sant Llorenc de Morunys-Cambrills-Coll de Nargo-Oliana-Solsana-Cardona-Manresa-Barcelona. That timed out at 5 hr. 37 min. with no stops.

Making a more northerly loop and going as far as the very pretty town of La Seu d'Urgell (Barcelona-Manresa-Berga-Sant Llorenc de Morunys-Cambrills-Coll de Nargo-La Seu d'Urgell-Martinet-Bellver de Cerdanya-Greixer-Baga-Barcelona) increases the estimated driving time to 6 hr. 33 min.

Both those routes have a substantial amount of driving out and back on the same road, between at least Barcelona and Manresa. Avoiding that duplication would obviously add more time.

There's a company called MyDayTrip that works as a sort of clearing house, connecting travelers to drivers for day-trips like this. I've never used the company, but there have been a few positive comments (and no complaints I can remember) from others on the forum. I have no idea whether you'd pay a bit more if you worked through MyDayTrip. I assume they take a commission out of what you pay the driver.

Perhaps one of our Barcelona folks can contribute the name of a company or two.

You could also take a look at what Viator lists, but it is reported to take a really substantial commission from the tour companies whose trips it markets, and I have a feeling that would run up your cost quite a bit.

Did you check Rick’s guidebook on Spain. We just booked 2 tours with one he recommended in Dubrovnik. The company answered our email quickly and gave us great info and great prices.

Thanks for both replies. Partner is intent on "adding another Country": what can I say . . . ? Both responsive posts were helpful and will be pursued.

Partner is intent on "adding another Country": what can I say

We locals usually make the trip up to Andorra for the cheap cigarettes and brandy, due to it's duty-free status. I am confused about the need to "add another country" surely the better option would be to just take the high speed train from Barcelona to the charming city of Perpignan in France, which only takes a little over 1 hour each way. Much better than making the arduous 6 hour round trip via car to Andorra, no? 🙃

Carlos, I imagine they've already got France taken care of.

I sort of get it; I used to collect stamps from Andorra; that's why I've been there. At least there's some nice scenery along the way.

There definitely are one-day tours offered (in normal times) from Barcelona that go to Andorra. Some (maybe all?) also hit France, so there is clearly a market.

I see that there are two bus companies making the run: DirectBus and ALSA. ALSA is a major bus company in Spain; I've used it often. The buses are comfortable.