Andorra

Andorra [1] is a small (pop. 73,100, size 464 km squared), mountainous country in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe, and is located on the Iberian Peninsula, on the border between France and Spain, in Southern Europe.

Cities

Andorra is arguably a city-state and has no distinct cities as such.

• Andorra La Vella -- capital city (pop. 23,300) of Andorra, and the main shopping destination.

Towns

• Santa Coloma -South of Andorra La Vella towards the border with Spain
• Sant Julia de Loria -South of Santa Coloma towards the border with Spain
• Escaldes-Engordany -This is really a northern suburb or continuation of Andorra La Vella
• Encamp
• La Massana -- small town about 5 miles up the road from La Vella. You can access Arinsal - Pal ski area from it directly
• Ordino

Ski Resorts

Most of these resorts were once small mountain villages which have grown in recent years due to skiing. In recent years the resorts have all joined together so that your ski pass covers neighbouring areas. As a result there are now just two areas known as Vallnord and Grandvalira.

Vallnord covers Arcalis and the Arinsal-Pal ski area. Arcalis is quite distant away from Arinsal-Pal but the latter have been joined up in recent years by a cable car connecting the two ski areas. The Arisnal-Pal ski area is directly accessible from La Massana right from the middle of the town.

Grandvalira covers Soldeu and Pas de la Casa. The Soldeu ski area is also accessible from Encamp and Canillo. This quite cleverly has opened up these areas to cope with the influence of visitors without putting all the strain on Soldeu.

• Pas de la Casa -- skiing resort located right on the French border.
• Soldeu -- skiing resort
• Arcalis-- ski area located at the head of the valley from El Serrat
• Arinsal -- skiing resort part of the Arinsal Pal ski area. Also known as Vallnord which means Valley North in English
• Pal -- skiing resort part of the Arinsal Pal ski area.

Hiking and Trekking

Andorra is a great place for hiking. The point of departure is the town of Arinsal at the foot of the Coma Pedrosa (2, 942m) and the Pic de Médécourbe (2,914m).

http://www.hola-andorra.com/arinsal/english/randogb.html

Culture and History

For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Economy

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited -- only 2% of the land is arable -- and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types.

Travel to Andorra, visa requirements

Due mainly to the mountainous nature of Andorra, there is only one road entering Andorra from France, and only one widely-used road entering Andorra from Spain. Almost all entry into the country happens at one of these two points.

Flights to Andorra, airtickets

There are no airports in Andorra - however there are daily coach services from the airports in Barcelona in Spain and Toulouse in France to Andorra.

By train

There are no train lines or stations in Andorra, and none close to the Spanish border. However, the French train station of l'Hospitalet is located a few miles from the Andorran border. It is possible to catch an overnight sleeper train from Paris to l'Hospitalet, as well as many other services. There is a connecting coach service from l'Hospitalet into Andorra, calling at Pas de la Casa, Soldeu and Andorra La Vella.

By car

Roads in Andorra are generally of a good quality. Entering from the Spanish side is a relatively straightforward drive; however entering from France is a more stressful affair involving many hairpin bends. Border control officers at both sides are generally fine, but be prepared for delays during busy times. However, be sure your car is in good condition, since Andorra has a very high altitude.

Also beware of black ice and snow drifts as the temperature in Andorra can be much colder than at sea level.

Buses to Andorra

There are many coach services operating into Andorra. From France there is a coach service from Toulouse, and one that operates via L'Hospitalet and La Tour de Carol. From Spain, coaches to Andorra can be caught from a variety of locations, such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Lleida and Valencia.

There are at least 2 bus companies operating daily service from Barcelona airport. Eurolines goes from outside the door of Terminal B, but you must be early and quick because the driver has a habit of arriving early and driving off if no-one is there. Also you don't pay for the ticket at the aiport but travel to the Barcelona Sants and have to get off to buy a ticket. Service is slow. One should also remember that you will need to show your passport here. Trip time is about 3.5 to 4 hours.

The bus company Alsina Graells has eight trips a day from Barcelona. The trip takes 3.5-4 hours and costs €19.85.

Get around

If you have a few days in Andorra, then you can easily visit most of the main villages by the local bus service.

There are 8 main bus lines or 'linies' and all of these pass through Andorra La Vella. The fare is anything from about a euro to two or three euros depending where you are going. For the towns nearest to Andorra La Vella, the service is very regular as frequent as every 30 minutes during the day. If you are travelling to the outlying places like El Serrat, Arinsal and El Pas del la Casa, then there are only 2 or 3 buses per day to these places. So check the timetable.

The lines are:

L1 Sant Julia de Loria - Escaldes-Engordany

L2 Andorra la Vella - Encamp

L3 Andorra la Vella - Encamp - Canillo

L4 Andorra la Vella - Encamp - Canillo - Soldeu

L5 Andorra la Vella - Encamp - Encamp - Canillo - El Pas de la Casa

L6 Andorra la Vella - La Massana - Arinsal

L7 Andorra la Vella - La Massana - Ordino

L8 Andorra la Vella - La Massana - Ordino - El Serrat

Talk

Andorra's official language is Catalan, but almost everyone speaks French and/or Spanish. English is widely spoken too, especially by those involved in the tourism industry.

Shopping, Andorra souvenirs

Euros are used throughout Andorra. Andorra La Vella is a good destination to buy all kinds of cheap goods, due to the country's status as a "tax haven".

Good restaurants and cheap meals

Andorra nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

• Hotel Santa Bàrbara de la Vall d'Ordino, ☎ +376 738 100 (santabarbara@andorra.ad). 54 Euros.

• Pension la Rosa, Antic Carrer Major 18, just south of Avenue Princep Benloch, Andorra la Vella, ☎ +376 821 810.

• Hotel Oriol, Plaça Co-Princeps, 4, ☎ +376 821 105. 39 Euros.

• CyberAndorra, ☎ +376 323 391, [2].

Learn

Work

To work in Andorra you are supposed to have a work permit issued by the government. If you are on business for only a few days then this would not apply.

Stay safe

There is not much threat from other people in Andorra, but keep safe on mountains. Don't go too high without knowing about what you are doing. See Altitude sickness for more.

Stay healthy

In Andorra La Vella there is the famous Caldea to visit which is a spa / swimming pool complex. This is very popular. It is located up the top end of La Vella and you cannot miss it because it is the large glass spire structure which is quite an attraction on the skyline itself.

Contact

Andorra is a well-connected country, and has accepted the Internet with open arms. Almost as many people subscribe to the Internet as own landline phones.

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