Southern Europe · Europe

Andorra

Discover Andorra - a microstate perched high in the Pyrenees, co-ruled by a French president and a Spanish bishop, with world-class skiing and tax-free shopping.

Where Is Andorra?

Andorra is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is Andorra la Vella.

Where Andorra isSouthern Europe · Capital Andorra la Vella

Plan a trip · 1 guide

Capital Andorra la Vella
Population 82.9K
Area 468 km²

Andorra is what happens when two medieval powers can't agree on who owns a patch of mountains, so they just share it for 700 years. This microstate wedged between France and Spain in the Pyrenees has two heads of state - the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain - making it the only country on Earth co-ruled by a foreign president and a foreign bishop. Neither of them lives there.

Despite being smaller than most national parks, Andorra punches well above its weight. In winter it transforms into one of Europe's best ski destinations, with Grandvalira ranking among the largest ski areas in southern Europe. In summer the valleys fill with hikers. Year-round, the capital Andorra la Vella draws shoppers from France and Spain with its tax-free prices. It has no airport, no railway, and no military - but it does have more Romanesque churches per square kilometer than almost anywhere, thermal spas carved into mountainsides, and some of the cleanest air on the continent.

At a glance

Language

Catalan

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Calling Code

+376

Drives On

Right

Internet

.ad

Timezone

CET (UTC+1)

Script

Latin

Government

Parliamentary Co-Principality

Independence

1278

Travel guides

Plan a trip to Andorra

Groomed snowy pistes, lift towers and a wooden chalet at the foot of the slopes in Grandvalira under a clear blue sky

Andorra · 5 days

5 Days in Andorra

A country the size of a ski resort, run by a French president and a Spanish bishop. Five days on its slopes and in its valleys.

Bases: Soldeu, Pas de la Casa

Updated Oct 2026Read the plan →

By population

Largest cities in Andorra

Andorra la Vella

The highest capital city in Europe at 1,023 meters, known for duty-free shopping and the Caldea thermal spa

23,000

Escaldes-Engordany

Adjoins the capital and home to Caldea, the largest thermal spa complex in southern Europe

15,000

Encamp

Gateway to the Grandvalira ski area via the Funicamp gondola, with the National Automobile Museum

12,000

La Massana

Parish in the northwest giving access to the Vallnord-Pal Arinsal ski resort

11,000

Sant Julia de Loria

Southernmost parish near the Spanish border, known for its Romanesque church heritage

9,500

People

Famous people from Andorra

Boris Skossyreff
Politics
Russian adventurer who briefly declared himself King of Andorra in 1934 before being arrested by Spanish authorities
Marc Forné Molné
Politics
Prime Minister who modernized Andorra's economy and guided its entry into the Council of Europe
Joan Enric Vives
Other
Current Co-Prince of Andorra as Bishop of Urgell, one of the two heads of state
Marta Roure
Music
Singer who represented Andorra at the Eurovision Song Contest, the country's most recognized pop artist
Alex Antor
Sport
Alpine skier who represented Andorra at multiple Winter Olympics, the country's most prominent athlete

Food

Traditional cuisine of Andorra

Escudella: Hearty mountain stew with meats, vegetables, pasta shells, and chickpeas - the national dish, perfect after a day of skiing
Trinxat: Pan-fried cake of cabbage and potatoes mixed with bacon, a simple Pyrenean comfort food
Cunillo: Roasted rabbit with tomato sauce, a traditional dish reflecting Andorra's Catalan culinary roots
Coca: Catalan-style flatbread topped with peppers, onions, and sardines or sweet fillings depending on the season
Xuixo: Deep-fried pastry filled with crema catalana, a sweet influence from neighboring Catalonia
Embotits: Cured meats and sausages including bull sausage and local ham, served as mountain charcuterie

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Andorra

GrandvaliraMountain: Largest ski area in the Pyrenees and southern Europe with 210 km of slopes across six sectors
Madriu-Perafita-Claror ValleyNational Park: UNESCO World Heritage glacial valley covering 10% of Andorra, a pristine landscape of forests and alpine meadows
Coma PedrosaMountain: Andorra's highest peak at 2,942 meters, reachable by a challenging but rewarding mountain hike
Vall del RiuMountain: Remote valley accessible only on foot, one of the most unspoiled natural areas in the Pyrenees
Engolasters LakeLake: Glacial lake surrounded by pine forests at 1,616 meters, a peaceful hiking destination near Encamp
Sorteny Valley Natural ParkNational Park: Protected botanical paradise with over 700 plant species in a compact alpine valley

Sport

Sports in Andorra

Skiing: Alpine skiing is the national sport, with Andorran athletes competing regularly at the Winter Olympics
Trail Running: Hosts the Andorra Ultra Trail, one of Europe's toughest mountain ultramarathon races
Football: FC Andorra (owned by Gerard Piqué) plays in Spain's La Liga system, not the Andorran league
Cycling: The Tour de France regularly passes through Andorra's mountain roads, attracting thousands of cycling fans

Facts

Did you know?

Andorra has two co-princes as heads of state - the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain
It is the only country in the world where Catalan is the sole official language
Andorra has no airport, no railway station, and no military - Spain and France handle its defense
Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe at 1,023 meters above sea level
The entire country has a population smaller than most mid-sized towns - around 80,000 people
Tourism and duty-free retail account for roughly 80% of the economy

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