Overview

Andorra, one of the world's smallest countries, has a population of about 80,000, with nearly half residing in Andorra la Vella and its surrounding areas. Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees, just a short drive from Spain, the Andorran capital offers breathtaking mountain views. Despite its compact size, Andorra la Vella is a vibrant city filled with historic brick buildings, charming narrow streets, and a delightful blend of culture, shopping, cozy restaurants, and world-class ski resorts. Whether you're looking to relax or explore, it's a perfect destination for a day trip!

Things To See & Do

Go Shopping in Andorra! Whether you're buying souvenirs for your family and friends or more durable goods for yourself, Andorra la Vella has over 400 duty-free shops, making it a popular destination for those who love to shop. These stores are largely clustered in an area of town east of Placeta Sant Esteve and west of the Caldea Spa, often referred to as The Shopping Mile.

The Shopping Mile consists of an area about 150 acres in size, with the most popular shopping streets being Avinguda Meritxell on the western and eastern sides of the Gran Valira River, and Avinguda Carlemany, the continuation of Avinguda Meritxell on the eastern side of the Gran Valira. Popular shopping centers with stores ranging from souvenirs to luxury goods include Pyrenees Andorra Shopping Center on the western side of the Gran Valira, and Centre Comercial Illa Carlemany, Centre Comercial Leclerc, Centre Comercial Andorra Super U, and Andorra 2000 Centre Comercial on the eastern side. The former two are considered the most upscale shopping centers in the Principality of Andorra.

Explore the historic old quarter of Andorra la Vella, positioned approximately 1,000 feet from the western banks of the Gran Valira River. The old quarter fans out from the nucleus, the Placeta Sant Esteve, where one of the oldest churches in the Principality, the Església de Sant Esteve, is located. It is considered one of the most-recognizable buildings in the country. Nearby you can visit the old stone manor, the Casa de la Vall, which from 1702 to 2011 was home to Andorra's parliament. (The new building is located right next door.)

Wander through the side streets of the old quarter and marvel at the stone architecture until you reach one of the shopping streets in the city, Avinguda Meritxell. If you walk east about a third of a mile, you will reach a bridge, and on the other side of the Gran Valira River, on the Plaça de la Rotonda, you will see a sculpture by the famed artist Salvador Dalí, ‘La Noblesse du Temps’ (‘The Nobility of Time’), created in 1984 and installed here in 2010. About 400 feet to the east, you will encounter the Pont de Paris, with the words ‘ANDORRA LA VELLA’ installed along one of the sides. This is a great place for a photo op!

Head east to the Pont Pla Tunnel Roundabout, at the very edge of the city where it borders the next town, Les Escaldes. Inside the roundabout you will see two beautiful 21st-century modern statues made of steel, bronze, iron, and wood called ‘Calidea and the Ice Lady’. As you head east on Avinguda Esteve Albert and over the Eastern Valira tributary, you will arrive at the Caldea Spa. Open for over 25 years, it is not only Andorra's largest and tallest building, it is also Europe's largest spa complex. Enjoy some spa treatments in majestic surroundings, and not too far from your hotel!

Enjoy skiing and other winter sports. There are dozens of ski slopes across multiple mountains in the western part of the Principality (at the Vallnord ski complex) and in the eastern part of the Principality (at the Grandvalira ski complex). These ski resort complexes are state-of-the-art and were once submitted to be venues for a future Winter Olympics. Many people stay at private cabins and ski chalets located in and around towns where these resorts are situated. One plus about visiting a tiny nation like Andorra: Vallnord and Grandvalira are situated just seven miles to the west and east, respectively, of Andorra la Vella!