How Many Days to Spend in Andorra (7 Things Not to Miss)

9/13/2023

Chances are, you probably haven't heard much about Andorra. And if you're planning a trip there, you're most likely adding it onto a trip to Spain or France. Honestly, we had never heard of it either until we were planning our trip to Europe, and found that it was only about a 2 hour drive from Barcelona. Since there is no airport and the only way to visit Andorra is by driving from Spain or France, we thought this was our perfect chance to explore a new country. Below we've gathered some of our favorite things to do in Andorra, and make sure to watch our full vlog below!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
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Where is Andorra? And What's it Like?

Andorra is a small country in between Spain and France. As one of 6 micro-states in Europe, Andorra is the largest of those 6 - but it’s still pretty small. Its landmass is 1/6 the size of Rhode Island, and there’s just over 79,000 people here that choose to call it home, many that have immigrated from Spain or France.

Because it’s landlocked with no airports, as long as you’re already in the Schengen Zone you won’t need as special visas to visit, and they also use the Euro making things easy for visitors. Since it’s nestled in the Pyrenees Mountain Range, Andorra is known as one of the capitals of skiing as well as cycling, and many professional cyclers that compete in the Tour de France base and train here in Andorra. Don’t worry though, if cycling up gigantic mountains (or skiing down them) isn’t your thing then there is plenty to do here to keep the whole family entertained. We’ve listed 7 of our favorites below, but really the list is endless.

Looking for a place to stay? Try Hotel La Burna Panoramic for incredible views and a pretty reasonable price!

How Long to Visit Andorra

We would recommend spending at least 2-3 full days in Andorra, not including travel time to get there. It’s worth noting that Andorra does not have an airport, so the only way to get in and out of the country is via car from France or Spain. With lots of outdoor activities perfect for any type of traveler, we think 48-72 hours lets you at least see most of what the country has to offer - plus that makes it the perfect weekend getaway. Of course, if you’re looking to do some long hiking or biking trails, we would recommend extending your stay.

Check out our complete 48-72 hour itinerary for Andorra!

1. Tobotronc at Naturland

Expected Time : Half Day to Full Day
Tobotronc, an incredibly fun ride - is known as being the longest alpine toboggan ride in the entire world. This was the #1 activity we wanted to do while we were in Andorra, and it stays at our #1 spot when giving recommendations. We promise anyone of any age will have a blast on this ride, not only is it a thrill but the views are incredible as well. It’s worth noting that nothing is allowed on the ride with you - no bags, purses, backpacks, scarves, cameras - really nothing that could come loose. The toboggans are made for 2 people, and the person in the back will have complete control of the speed of the toboggan. If you do decide to try Trobotronc for yourself, then we highly recommend spending at least half a day (or a full day) at Naturland. If you buy the Aventura ticket for 36 Euro a person (about $38 USD), then you have access to pretty much all the activities onsite like archery, zip lining, skliding, tubing, etc. - and you might as well take advantage. ;)

2. Lake Engolasters

Expected Time : 2 Hours
Lake Engolasters is an incredible lake to walk around, and although the water looks pristine you won’t actually get to enjoy it. (Well, you will, but not in the way you think.) Lake Engolasters is one of the lakes that supplies the hydroelectric power plant in Andorra their fresh drinking water, so it’s against the law for anyone to enter the lake - whether that’s to swim, kayak, tube, canoe, or boat, or anything else. The one thing you can do there is go fishing! We walked around the entire lake in about an hour with plenty of stops along the way, the walk is quite flat and we think most people would be able to enjoy the trail and the views. This would be a great spot to have a picnic, since on the opposite side of the lake there is a large grassy area. If you’re making your way to Lake Engolasters, then chances are you’ll be passing by Sant Miquel Engolasters as well, an old church built in the 11th/12th century - parking can be hard to find but we recommend stopping here to explore as well! (You can read more at #4 : Explore Old Churches!)

3. Search for Wild Horses

Expected Time : N/A
Andorra is known for their wild horses, or rather the wild horses of the Pyrenees mountains. We honestly had no hope of seeing them since they could literally be anywhere, but we saw plenty soon enough and we were thrilled. We saw many horses near the France border - so many that we couldn’t even count them all!

4. Explore Old Churches

Expected Time : 1 Hour per Church
Old Churches in Andorra are like the spots on a ladybug’s back - they’re just about everywhere and they all look pretty similar. We were able to stop at 3 during our visit, and although it’s pretty mind-blowing to know just how old they are, these stops are pretty quick and not much more than a bit of sightseeing. We’ve also listed some information below on each church, if you only have time for one we would recommend Church of Santa Coloma as it’s thought to be the oldest building in all of Andorra.

Santa Coloma Church - Located near Andorra la Vella, the Santa Coloma Church is believed to be both the oldest building in Andorra and the oldest church. Built sometime in the 8th century, this church is beautiful to look at and even has some mountainous backdrops, with a large parking lot in the front. Although it was closed when we visited, online it says it might be open from July 15 to September 15. If you're feeling hungry, there's even a small restaurant open near the back of the church grounds with a view of the church as well!
Sant Joan de Caselles Church - Located in Canillo, this church is believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th century. This church is located right off the main road and has a large parking lot for visitors. Similar to Santa Coloma, this church was closed when we visited, but online it says it is open from July 15 to Sempember 15 with free admission.
Sant Miguel Engolasters - Located near Lake Engolasters, the Sant Miguel church is also believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th centuries. This church is a little harder to visit since there's not much parking nearby, but it's beautiful nonetheless. Similar to the other two churches the Sant Miguel is open from July 1st to August 31st with free admission.

5. Drive from Spain to France, or Vice Versa

Expected Time : 3 Hours
Driving from one end of Andorra to the other end of Andorra is a fun little feat, and most of the “best things to do” that we’ve listed here are right along the way. Whether you start at the Spain Border town of Sant Julia de Loria or the French Border town of El Pas de la Casa, with a couple stops and breaks it’ll take you just a few hours. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for some wild horses along the way!

6. Go Shopping

Expected Time : N/A (maybe shop till you drop? haha)
Not only is Andorra beautiful, but shoppers will also love this country due to the fact that there's no VAT taxes. Meaning if you're looking to purchase some big ticket or brand name items you could potentially get it here in Andorra for much cheaper. Everytime we went through a shopping area in Andorra it was fully packed, with loads of shoppers carrying multiple bags - so we assume it's a pretty good deal.

7. Try the Local Cuisine

Expected Time : 3 hours
A “local” meal in Andorra is often consistent of a mix of French, Spanish, and Catalan cuisines, which makes this the perfect time to go out for a nice dinner. We recommend making reservations at Malandra, one of the best, local restaurants in town in a traditional borda - or traditional mountain house. We were lucky we went for an early dinner and were able to get a table with no reservations, but we’ve heard typically they are booked solid for later dinner slots. The restaurant itself is a bit difficult to find, but just follow maps down the alleyways and it’ll get you there. We tried their cod fish and duck magret plates with their pear dessert and it was incredible, if you’re not sure what to order we 100% recommend these dishes. They even brought out a complimentary appetizer!

Some other restaurants we enjoyed in Andorra were La Tablita, La Gelateria, Santagloria Bakery, Granier Bakery, and McDonalds (seriously haha).

Watch our Adventures in Andorra here!