Andorra is a country I haven’t traveled to (yet). I came quite close in 2015 when I was hitchhiking along the edges of Europe (sorta). The original plan was to continue hitchhiking along the coast from Lisbon to A Coruña in Spain, then go to Basque Country (Euskadi). From there I wanted to leave the coastal area to visit Andorra at the center of the Pyrenees mountain range. I am not super familiar with the Pyrenees be it France, Spain, or Andorra. I was also hoping to make a stop in Llívia to the east of Andorra. That’s a Spanish exclave surrounded by France.
I hope that in the future, you can find posts about Andorra on this page. For now, perhaps read about other countries in Europe, such as Spain, France, or Portugal?
Things I’d Like to Do in Andorra
- Hitchhike with locals, so predictable!
- Explore the capital Andorra la Vella: the history, the food, the life
- Visit the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site
- Go hiking in the mountains (preferably in summer or autumn/spring; Andorran winters intimidate me slightly)
- Visit some old Andorran churches and historical sites. There are also cool old technologies, such as the Catalan forge, many dovecotes, and other vernacular architecture
- For food, I expect being a vegetarian to be tricky. There are a few dishes/sides that pique my interest: calçotada (grilled spring onion), samfaina (eggplant-zucchini dip), romesco sauce, xató sauce, ailloli, escalivada (grilled vegetables), pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread), various coca (Catalan version of empanada), and plenty of vegetarian desserts
- See what kind of events are ongoing during my visit. Andorra has lots of folk fairs, cavalcades, choir performances, carnival of Canillo, veneration of saints, harvest/livestock festivals, solstice bonfires (24 June) and other cultural events throughout the year. The tourism board has a cultural agenda you can check online
- There are two more national parks in Andorra besides the UNESCO site: Comapedrosa and Sorteny. There are also three protected areas where hunting is prohibited: Xixerella, Enclar, and Vall de Ransol
- Get a child-like adrenaline rush at Naturlandia’s long-ass toboggan ride the Tobotronc. The same goes for the ‘Tibetan’ suspension bridge near Canillo (€16 entrance per person in 2025)
- Hike to the lake with an island called Estany de l’Isla and the Tristaina Sundial Balcony. For some hikes in Andorra, you can enjoy parts of the route by chairlift. Perhaps we’ll even stay in a refugi or cabana overnight
Hiking route map from this Wikipedia page. CC BY-SA 4.0, Lien
- Take a day trip to Os de Civís, which is a Spanish village only reachable through Andorra
- Drink locally-made craft beer, mead, and perhaps visit a winery!
- Hike up or at the very least see the Coma Pedrosa (2.943masl)
- After finishing the Danube, perhaps take our first step into whitewater kayaking. Perhaps there’s something on the Gran Valira River. If not, we shall go swimming in a cold mountain lake
- Spot some wildlife far away from the car traffic and alleged ugliness and soullessness of the towns. There are brown bears, boars, bison, wolves, otters, badgers, foxes, wildcats, mouflons, ibexes, deer, and more
- Visit some smaller towns and villages, such as Ordino, Pal, Arinsal, Canillo, La Massana, Bixessarri, and more
- Andorra also has 13 via ferratas, which we enjoyed in Rodrigues, so why not in Andorra? There are tour guides and also equipment rental places, if I feel courageous enough to DIY it
- After an arduous hike, perhaps take a spa day at Caldea in Andorra la Vella in a rather spectacular building
- Pick up some Catalan. I already know sortida from visiting Barcelona like three whole times as a teenager
- Maybe relax and do some writing? It looks like a nice country to stay in for a month to just write, eat cheese, and drink wine
Map of Things to Do in Andorra
Use the menu button on the left side to make topics (dis)appear. Star the map while on mobile phone to download all points of interest to your Google Maps, so you know what’s what!
Staying Online in Andorra: eSIM Options
The Principality of Andorra is a bit of a special case with regards to the European Union, Schengen, and the Eurozone. Short version: Andorra is not an EU member, not part of Schengen, but is part of the Eurozone. Upon entry/departure, there are no immigration checks, but you might have a customs check on the way out since Andorra has lower taxes on most things than Spain or France. The Principality has no visa requirements, but since you can’t fly into Andorra, you need to have a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa for France or Spain to enter. For those who don’t need a Schengen visa, entering on a passport or EU national ID card is fine.
However, the biggest issue with Andorra is that it’s not part of ‘Roam Like At Home’ and using mobile data is expensive. It’s important to either turn off roaming in your settings or to go into settings and do manual network selection to connect only to Spanish/French telecom towers. Since our EU SIM cards won’t cover Andorra, the options to stay online are:
- Buying a local prepaid SIM card with 3GB for €10 from Andorra Telecom (expensive + effort + cost of SIM card unknown)
- Staying in the border areas where there’s reception from Spain/France
- Only using WiFi like a peasant in the early ’10s
- Getting an eSIM for 15 days for €7.50 with Airalo
We will be doing the latter!
If you’re only staying in Andorra for a short time, it’s easiest to get an eSIM. Airalo is currently the most reputable eSIM company. So far, we’ve used it in Switzerland, Madagascar, and Croatia 😄🗺️ Though for now, it’s a bit more expensive than getting a local SIM card, eSIMs are the future. The advantage is that you can set it up before you enter Andorra and immediately be online 📶
If you’re new to eSIMs, use NEWTOAIRALO15 at checkout to get a 15% discount on your first Airalo eSIM 🌐 And if you’re a recurring Airalo customer, use AIRALOESIM10 for a 10% discount on your next eSIM 🫡
If you know cool places and things to do in Andorra, comment below so I can always find your suggestions again once I start making the dream come true! Tips are especially welcome if you are Andorran or have lived there for a while
Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Andorra? Drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
Why We Started Catsitting + How to Start Housesitting to Travel
It all started with a cat named Monday. At least, that’s what we called her. And after finding a forever home for her, we wanted to have more cats in our lives without the drama and the tears. More happy stories of beloved felines that receive regular veterinary care. Fewer stories of kittens discarded on a hiking trail or born in a colony on a rooftop. Just taking care of cats for a few days or weeks or months and then handing back the responsibility to their pet parents who missed them dearly and are grateful for the help. ThatContinue reading