Is Andorra worth visiting? Is it worth a day trip?

Is Andorra worth a visit on a day trip?


Updated August 2024

Yes absolutely! Andorra is a unique and special place to visit and definately worth visiting. Very few people in the world get to visit Andorra. It's the 16th smallest country in the world and the 6th smallest of Europe's microstates. So if you are visiting Barcelona, then you have a unique and perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a tiny landlocked country perched in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain with a fascinating history that dates back to the 10th century.

So a visit to the famous microstate of Andorra is a 'once in a lifetime' experience - in our opinion. Andorra is worth seeing, a good choice for a day out of Barcelona and a special and unique experience.

Scroll down for photos and information.

For small groups who wish to experience Andorra and France on a full day tour, we can recommend a 1 day private Barcelona to Andorra tour offered by a small, experienced and reliable local family private tour company who are highly rated with consistently good reviews on Tripadvisor and Viator.

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Where is Andorra? And why is it worth visiting?


Many people have never heard of this miniscule country nestled in the Pyrenees mountains on the border of France and Spain. The principality of Andorra is only 181 sqm / 468 km² in size making it a micro-state - or ministate - which by definition is a sovereign state with a very small population or a very small land area. Andorra meets both these requirements. It is situated entirely in the Pyrenees Mountains that divide France and Spain. Andorra is a high-altitude country and the capital city of Andorra la Vella is the highest in Europe at 1,023 m / 3356 ft.

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Barcelona to Andorra day tour - private small group


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The highest mountain in Andorra is Coma Pedrosa at 2,943 m / 9,656 ft) The entire country of Andorra is in the mountains and most of the 80,000 inhabitants live in Andorra's three valleys. This tiny nation is only accessible by car and to drive into Andorra, you must crosse the border from France or Spain. Don't forget your passport because Andorra is not in the European Union or in the Schengen Zone.

In medieval times, Andorra was jointly ruled by those two countries but in 1993 Andorra became a parliamentary demogracy with a constitutional monarchy consisting of two co-princes.

To visit Andorra from Barcelona the journey time is about 3 hours drive each way. This means that on a day tour from Barcelona with a few short breaks you will be on the road for 6 hours out of a 12 hour day tour, so it's really more of a road trip. But what a road trip! The countryside you are driving through is very scenic - you'll see valleys, cross high mountain passes and get to be in 3 countries in one day. 

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A day tour to Andorra starts from Spain, crosses into France to visit a French mountain village, then crosses a high altitude border into Andorra. In the winter Andorra is a popular ski destination, so from December to April you are likely to experience snow. There are several ski areas in Andorra. The biggest is called Grandvalira. More information and booking here: Day tour Barcelona to Andorra offer by DayTripsBarcelona, a small local family tour company based in Barcelona who get 5 star reviews on Tripadvisor and Viator booking platforms.

How to visit Andorra from Barcelona


You can take a bus yourself from Barcelona to visit Andorra, but if you go by public bus then we recommend that spend a night in Andorra. The most popular option to visit Andorra from Barcelona is on a small group day tour with a guide that visits three countries in one day. In one day you will start in Spain, then visit France and Andorra and the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains. More information and booking here: Day tour Barcelona to Andorra offer by DayTripsBarcelona, who are a small local family tour company based in Barcelona that get 5 star reviews on Tripadvisor.

Important tip. Don’t forget that Andorra is not in the EU or the Schengen zone, so you will need your passport and a multiple entry Schengen visa and in the winter you will need to dress warmly!

Pictures Andorra
Pictures skiing Andorra

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 September 2024 10:48
 

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