I will be in Figueres at the end of July for 6 days.
I would like to go on a day tour to Andorra - preferably by car with a driver.
Is that possible?
Would it be very expensive?
I wouldn't recommend this.
I have actually been to Andorra twice, and in my opinion it only makes sense to go for three principal reasons:
- (1) Outdoors activities: Andorra offers excellent hiking and skiing -- I've been in both July and February for both and had a lovely experience
- (2) Shopping: Andorra has a very low VAT (4.5%) and low excise duties on goods like tobacco and alochol, so attracts those individuals looking for a bargain. However, this does make many of the towns and the capital of Andorra la Vella feel just like a giant duty-free mall. It's not downscale, but just feels excessively commercial.
- (3) To visit another country -- I get it because I have the same interest (to say I've been there!) But now having been there, I wouldn't have made the trip, if it weren't for my outdoor interests. If you're interested in Catalan culture, there are far more accessible towns in Catalonia itself, closer to Figueres, that don't have the "shopping mall" vibe of Andorra.
But the main reason I wouldn't recommend in your case is that Figueres to Andorra la Vella is going to be at minimum a 3h30m drive each way -- so that's a 7-hour round trip minimum, which does not include any possible delays (particularly bad on Sunday) re-entering Spain.
These delays are because Andorra is not part of the EU (or the Schengen area), so there are often stringent Spanish customs checks as they want to check that returning travelers aren't exceeding their duty-free allowances.
Two questions, if I may (and you want to share): where do you live, and why would you want to go to Andorra?
I agree pretty much with @Aaron, but I'd like to propose some (easier and similar) alternatives... for which I need to understand your reasons for wanting to visit Andorra.
Another thing to take into perspective is the high temperatures we're having these weeks in the Pyrenees, and in Catalonia in general. We've been running a rollercoaster of heat waves.