Andorra

Understand

History For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality ruled by the French head of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgell. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the Andorra government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. The French claim goes back to the Counts of Foix, whose claim passed to the Kings of Navarre, who came to be French kings in the 16th century. France abandoned the claim during the First Republic, but has continually exercised the position since the days of Napoleon, even under Republican governments. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many migrant workers (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Economy Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has eroded as the economies of neighbouring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited—only 2% of the land is arable—and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

Electricity Electricity is supplied at 220

See

Threatened by seemingly unchecked development, the country's main draw is still its magnificent mountainous landscapes, offering spectacular vistas in every season. At these heights, summers are cool, making for excellent hiking conditions through the romantic green valleys. Challenging day long hikes can be had on even higher grounds, and will take you through truly memorable scenery. Don't overlook the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, Andorra's only UNE

Getting there

Due mainly to the mountainous nature of Andorra, there is only one road entering Andorra from France, and only one widely-used road entering Andorra from Spain. Almost all entry into the country happens at one of these two points. Citizens of all European Union member states may enter Andorra using only their ID cards, but all other foreigners, including citizens of non-EU Schengen countries, are required to have a passport. Andorra doesn't require a visa from any visitors, but because the country can only be entered from Spain or France, you'll need to enter the Schengen Area first in order to get to Andorra. See the Schengen Area entry requirements. If you intend to stay in Andorra for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a residence permit. As Andorra is not a member of the EU, everyone entering Andorra is required to go through customs controls. See the Visit Andorra web-site for more information on your duty-free allowances. Visitors from outside the EU should note that Andorra is not a Schengen member, and exiting France or Spain into Andorra would theoretically terminate a single-entry visa. In practice, though, immigration does not enforce this. If you have a multiple-entry Schengen visa, or can visit the Schengen Area visa-free, you can request French or Spanish border officials to stamp you out so your time spent in Andorra does not count against your time limit in the Schengen Area. Should you decide to exercise this option, ensure that you get stamped back into the Schengen Area when departing Andorra – otherwise you will be considered to have entered illegally. Passports are usually not stamped at the border, but if you want a stamp, you can request it from the customs officer when you enter.

By plane There are no airports in Andorra. The nearest a

Getting around

By bus If you have a few days in Andorra, then you can easily visit most of the main villages by the local bus service operated by Cooperativa Interurbana Andorrana, S.A. There is a journey planner called Mou-te (iOS, Android). Tickets can also be bought directly in the app. However, there is about 30% discount on return tickets, which can only be purchased at the driver (in cash). The app supports single tickets and passes only. There are 7 main bus lines or 'línies', and all of these pass through Andorra La Vella. The fare is between €1.85 to €6.10 one-way depending on how far you are going. Drivers provide change. For the towns nearest to Andorra La Vella, the service is very regular, and as frequent as every 10 minutes during the day. If you are travelling to outlying rural places like Canolic, there are only 2 or 3 buses per day. The lines are (in nov 2025):

L1 Sant Julia de Loria - Andorra la Vella / Escaldes-Engordany L2 Andorra la Vella - Encamp LC Circular bus route within Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany L3 Andorra la Vella - Soldeu L4 Andorra la Vella - Encamp - Soldeu - Pas de la Casa L5 Andorra la Vella - La Massana - Arinsal L6 Andorra la Vella - La Massana - Ordino L7 Andorra la Vella - La Massana Lé Andorra la Vella - La Massana (express) Sant Julia de Loria - Andorra la Vella/Escaldes-Engordany Línea Verde is a free minibus connecting Caldea in Andorra la Vella/Escaldes-Engordany with Berenador (and Camp del Serrat). This minibus gets you closer to the UNESCO Madriu-Claror-Perafita valley as it takes you from some 1,000 m to 1,500 m above sea level. This line is not included in the Mou-te journey planner! Instead check the timetable here or download the Ride Pingo app, where you can also see the current position of the bus