El Principality of Andorra It is between Spain and France and it is a small sovereign state whose territorial extension is barely 500 square kilometers. For a long time it was poor and underdeveloped, but in the middle of the XNUMXth century the tourism boom began and its destination changed.
Today in Actualidad Viajes, what to see in Andorra in 2 or 3 days.
Andorra
As we said, it is a small principality that is organized into seven parishes. Its population does not reach 80 thousand inhabitants and its capital is Andorra la Vieja. It rests in the Pyrenees and while Lleida is its border with Spain, the Ariège and the Eastern Pyrenees separate it from France.
Its official language is Catalan, but obviously, by their neighbors, Spanish and French are the other secondary languages. Its territory is very mountainous and its highest peak is Comapedrosa, with almost 3 meters of altitude.
Enjoy a Mediterranean and oceanic climate And while it has mild summers, its winters are very cold, so winter sports are the order of the day and are absolute kings of tourism.
First day in Andorra
First thing's first, How do you get to Andorra? There is no airport or train that concentrates a single option so either can be reached by road from Spain or from France. You can get there by bus from Barcelona in just a few hours of beautiful landscapes. Once inside, you can either rent a car, with an international driver's license, or move by taxi or bus.
If you do not go in high season you will have no problem finding accommodation, but if you go in ski season it is best to book well in advance. And now yes, what can you do in Andorra?
If you are staying in the capital then the first thing you are going to do is walk and get to know it. It has the famous bridge and the clock statue, call The Noblesse du Temps, which is the most classic postcard. It is a work of Dalí and behind it is the famous Pont de Paris, completed in 2006, on the Gran Valira river that runs through most of the principality.
Andorra it's a shopping paradise, tax free, almost an entire mall, so you can take advantage and make very cheap purchases. Today the city center, Escaldes, with Avinguda Carlemany, have become almost pedestrianized with many shops and restaurants on both sides. A very famous shopping center is that of the Pyrenees, where almost all the best known brands are located. Continue along Meritxell Avenue, almost a main artery that eventually becomes Carlemany after crossing the river.
Of course, do not think that in Andorra you will buy Gucci or Prada, here it is more about popular brands and shopping in stores at more accessible pricesYes, it is not a paradise of expensive brands at cheap prices. And beyond clothing and accessories, too you can buy food and tobacco. After all the principality produces tobacco, it is still possible to see plantations, and it even has a museum that you can visit.
One of the best known buildings is the Caldea Spa, similar to a cathedral. Opened in 2013, It has 18 floors and it is very sophisticated and I would say almost science fiction. There are themed pools: a Roman bath, an Aztec bath, an Icelandic-style frozen pool, a hammam and there is no shortage of music and laser show nights.
It has a more familiar sector and another for adults called Inuu and for something about 400 thousand people visit it a year. There is a three-hour pass, a one-day pass, and multi-day passes. Find out why there are some hotels that include access to this wonderful spa.
In touring the capital, shopping and going around, you can be quiet one day.
Second day in Andorra
It's time to get out of town and head towards the Pyrenees. The walks They are a great option, but it is advisable to go in summer. Andorra has 54 marked trails to do hiking and if you like the idea, you can buy the guide "The roads of Andorra" at any tourist office for around 5 euros. Just a few miles away already provides a beautiful view of the city in the distance.
One of the most spectacular routes to do is the one that crosses the Paso Maiana, through the Madriu-Perafita Valley, World Heritage. Although it is the most beautiful, it is not the easiest and although it is often said that it is done in about five hours, it quietly takes more than seven.
There are other lighter or shorter walks, for example the one you can do from Andorra la Vieja to Erts. La Via ferrata of Sant Vicenc d'Enclar It takes you to the top of the valley and provides beautiful views of the capital. It will be two hours at most.
Other walks are those made by the Canillo Valley and Incles, with its peaks Siscaro and Escobes and the routes to Lake Juclar, the largest in Andorra. To walk in winter is the Sortney Nature Park. And yes, you can't stop visiting the panoramic point of Roc del Quer, suspended 12 meters above the valley with a small part with a glass floor, not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo. Of course, you can always sign up for organized tours.
In winter everything revolves around skiing. Being at an average height of 2 meters, there are peaks that reach 3 meters, so it is a mountainous country similar to Switzerland or Bhutan.
In total Andorra has 110 lifts and you can transport about 156 thousand skiers per hour to its 303 kilometers of slopes. There are many ski resorts and opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and more.
A few years ago the two most important resorts got together and created Gran Valira, the largest ski resort in the world with 118 slopes and 210 kilometers of slopes, so imagine that. If you don't want to imagine it and want to see it with your own eyes then the advice is to rent a helicopter and take a few laps through the air to enjoy the mountainous landscape. And if you prefer to be on the floor, you can hire a professional guide to take you through the mountains.
Third day in Andorra
To close the trip to Andorra, you can do something calmer and dedicate yourself to touring the territory a bit to appreciate its culture, its gastronomy and its architectureto. Romanesque art and architecture are very present, especially in its churches.
There are around of 40 churches of the Middle Ages that you can explore on a little car trip. Of course, get a map to locate the destinations better and keep in mind that the roads can be windy. The best time of year to do this type of excursion is in summer, but not only because of the weather, but also because most of the churches are open. In winter, at least the smaller ones are closed to visitors. The Andorran tourism office can give you more information to help you plan things well.
But note these names: Church of Sant Climent de Pal, one of the oldest in the principality, from the XNUMXth or XNUMXth century, with a three-story bell tower and colorful stained glass windows; the Church of Sant Miquel d'Engolasters, a beautiful Romanesque temple known for its paintings and its mural, today it is the replica since the original is in a museum in Barcelona, from the XNUMXth century; the Church of Sant Antoni de la Grella, small but in a place between mountains that is beautiful; the Church of Santa Eulalia d'Encamp, with its museum of sacred art or the small Sant Martí de Nagol hanging on a rocky wall
And yes you can too to visit museums, not everything is nature and churches: the Arenys Plandolit House, an ethnographic museum today, the Tobacco museum, which operates in an old factory, the Romanesco Interpretation Center, Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum, of contemporary art.
Finally, you are not going to leave Andorra without trying its cuisine. Its gastronomy is rustic and tasty. For lunch you cannot miss a visit to a edge, a typical mountain restaurantña with stone walls, great barriers against the wind and snow. Here the menu is basically made up of meat dishes and large portions.