Escaldes-Engordany

Understand

Andorra la Vella means "the city of Andorra", to distinguish it from the Principality of Andorra as a whole. In 2023, Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany had a population of about 28,500, or about a third of the total of the country. It is the country's cultural and commercial centre. At an elevation of 1023 m, it is Europe's highest capital, and the only one located over 1 km above sea level. The city's old town is characterised by old stone streets and houses. It was built in a Romanesque style in the eleventh century. The old town also includes the country's historic parliament building. Native Andorrans account for only a third (33%) of the population, with the plurality being Spanish (43%), and notable minorities of Portuguese (11%) and French (7%) (2013).

History The settlement of Andorra la Vella has been the principal city of Andorra since 1278 when the French and the Episcopal co-princes agreed to joint suzerainty. Andorra la Vella's old town—the Barri Antic—includes streets and buildings dating from this time. The city continues to maintain its medieval character, but simultaneously undergoing a process of development and modernisation. As a modern city, Andorra la Vella was largely developed relatively late, during the 20th century. Many ski resorts developed around the city around this time, including a thriving tourism industry. Since 1993, Andorra has also developed as a tax haven, resulting in the construction of modern banking offices in Andorra La Vella.

Economy Andorra la Vella is the main economic centre of the country, where most of the nation's economic activity takes place. Similar to Andorra as a whole, a significant portion of the economy is based on the tourism industry, which brings about ten million tourists to the country each year, with almost all of them visiting the capital, Andorra la Vella. In addition to tourism, the capital of Andorra is an important and thriving banking and business hub, serving as the headquarters

Getting there

By bus 1 Intercity bus station (Estació Nacional d'Autobusos del Principat d'Andorra). The bus station is not far from the centre, and provides toilets and free wifi. (updated Feb 2025) Bus companies operating international lines via Andorra la Vella:

Flixbus. (updated Apr 2024) Andbus (Novatel), Estació Nacional d’Autobusos d’ Andorra, C/ de la Cúria, ☏ +376 803 789, [email protected]. Service to Andorra la Vella from Toulouse (€36 one-way, €64 roundtrip), Barcelona (€30 one-way, €56 roundtrip) and Girona from Estació Nacional d’Autobusos d’ Andorra station. (updated Jan 2025) Alsa. Operates between Andorra and Spain. (updated Sep 2016) Montmantell. Operates to Andorra from Lleida. Also operates a twice-daily bus from L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre train station in France. (updated Sep 2016) Within Andorra, Interurbana operates seven bus routes. All of the lines either start at or have stops in Andorra la Vella.

By car From La Seu d'Urgell, Spain: follow N-145 north for 20 km. From Barcelona, it's about 200 km north. The fastest option is following C-16 then N-260 until La Seu d'Urgell an then N-145 . This route travesses the Cadi tunel which is a Toll Tunel. From Toulouse, France, it's about 190 km south. From Carcasonne, it's 180 km. From Perpignan is 155 km following N-116 until Bourg-Madame and then N-20

By plane Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport LEU IATA near La Seu d'Urgell, Spain is 12 km south of Andorra la Vella. Andorra does not have its own airport. LEU is nearby, and is served by Iberia Regional-Air Nostrum airlines twice weekly from Madrid-Barajas Airport, and twice weekly seasonally from Palma de Mallorca Airport. Andbus provides a free shuttle between the airport and Andorra La Vella co-ordinated with the flight arrivals and departures.

Getting around

You should be able to walk around most of Andorra la Vella. The town is really in two parts. There is the newer section at the north end of the town that is very commercial with lots of shops. The other half is the older half, down across the river and to the south and west. This also has shops, places to eat and the historic part. If you stay in either of these areas, you can easily cover them on foot, but walking from the end of one half to the other will take a good half hour or more, so it may be worth taking the local bus which is cheap. Be sure to read the timetable and routes carefully at the bus stop. With the exception of e (express) bus to Sant Julia de Loria, all of the Andorra's local bus routes (L1 through L6) have stops in Escaldes-Endogrdany. International bus line between Toulouse and Andorra la Vella also stop here.

By bus There are three lines of the communal bus, which connect the towns and industrial and residential areas of the parish. All vehicles are adapted for people with disabilities .

LM (La Margineda): Santa Coloma - La Rotonda LS (Serradells): Serradells - Hospital - Plaça Guillemó LV (Ciutat de Valls): Consell d'Europa - Plaça Guillemó - Gil Torres

Parking 2 Parking Saba Cèntric, Carrer Pau Casals, 7. 290 places, 24x7, , , , credit card, Near AVinguda Meritxell shoping area. €3.1/h. (updated Nov 2025) 3 Aparcament Vinyes, Carrer Prat de la Creu, 46-52, ☏ +376 806 100, [email protected]. €2.4/h, Max €30/day. (updated Nov 2025) 4 Aparcament Valira, Carrer del Valira. 184 places Paid parking. (updated Nov 2025) 5 Aparcament comunal El Trillà, Carrer Dr. Molines, ☏ +376 73 00 48, [email protected]. Near Pyrenees Department store. €2.8/h Max €24/day.. (updated Nov 2025) 6 Aparcament Comunal Parc Central, Carrer Pere d'Urg, ☏ +376 73 00 48, [email protected]. €2.8/h Max €24/day.. (updated Nov 2025) 7 Aparcament Comunal Prada Casadet, Carrer Doctor Vilanova, ☏ +376 73 00 48, aparc

See

Andorra la Vella

1 Church of Saint Stephen (Església de Sant Esteve), Plaça Príncep Benlloch, ☏ +376 730 003, [email protected]. 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00. This church in the old part of the city dates from the 12th century, but was restored in 1940 by the Moderniste architect Josep Puig y Cadafalch who also undertook important works in Barcelona. Free guided tours; otherwise, the church is open to tourists outside of mass hours. free. (updated Jan 2025)

2 Noblesse du Temps (nobility of time), Plaça de la Rotonda. A sculpture by Salvador Dalí featuring his melting clock. (updated Jan 2025) Rocks in the Street Museum, also in Plaça de la Rotonda, is formed by different specimens of sedimentary, magnificent, metamorphic rocks and high-quality fossils from Andorra, it is accompanied by a panel with explanations. 3 Church of Sant Andreu, Sant Andreu St., ☏ +376 827 117. M-Sa. Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. It is obligatory to reserve by phone.

4 Casa de la Vall, Carrer de la Vall. M-Sa 09:30-13:00, 15:00-19:00; Su (May-Oct only) 10:00-14:00. Dating from the 16th century, it was the seat of the Consell General (Andorran Parliament). Access is by guided tou