Andora

Catalan is Andorra's only official language, though Spanish and French are spoken just as widely in daily life, and English is common in ski resorts, hotels, and shops. Menus and signs are often in several languages, so getting by without Catalan is easy.

Andorra is not part of the EU, so 'roam like at home' plans from EU or UK carriers usually do not cover it, and using your normal phone plan here can bring high roaming charges. Buying a local prepaid SIM from Andorra Telecom, or an eSIM that explicitly includes Andorra, is the cheapest way to stay connected for more than a day or two. Mobile coverage is reliable across the country, including most ski slopes.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country. Pharmacies (farmàcies) are easy to find in every town and can advise on minor ailments without a doctor's visit. No special vaccinations are required for Andorra. Many towns and ski resorts sit between 1,000 and 2,500 meters, so visitors with heart conditions or limited fitness may notice mild effects from the altitude for the first day or two.

Andorra is not a member of the EU or the Schengen Area, but it has no border posts with France or Spain, and since June 2026 its territory is treated as part of the Schengen system in practice, with no passport stamps on entry or exit. Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada, and most other visa-exempt nationalities can enter for up to 90 days with a valid passport, or a national ID card for EU citizens.

Because Andorra sits outside Schengen on paper, travelers on a single-entry Schengen visa should check that leaving Andorra back into France or Spain will not cause a problem before planning a day trip.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Andorrans are relaxed and informal, similar to their Catalan neighbors. A handshake suits a first meeting; two cheek kisses are common once people know each other.

Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches such as Church of Sant Joan de Caselles or Our Lady of Meritxell. Shopping streets fill up with day-trippers from France and Spain on weekends, so a little patience at the checkout goes a long way.

Public holidays can close shops and restaurants for the day, especially in smaller villages, though shops in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany more often stay open for shoppers.

Most shops open Monday to Saturday, with a midday break of a couple of hours outside the main shopping streets. Sunday opening is common in the tax-free retail districts but rarer in smaller villages.

• By air: Andorra has no airport of its own. Most travelers fly into Barcelona-El Prat or Toulouse-Blagnac and continue by direct coach, a journey of about 3 hours. A small regional airport just across the Spanish border, Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell, has limited seasonal flights.
• By bus: direct coaches run from Barcelona, Toulouse, and Girona airports straight to Andorra la Vella; book ahead during ski season.
• Within the country: a national bus network (andbus) links all seven parishes cheaply and runs frequently, and taxis are available in every town.

There is no railway in Andorra.

Andorran food follows the Catalan and Pyrenean mountain traditions of its two neighbors, built around hearty, warming dishes. Breakfast is simple, usually bread and coffee. Lunch, often the largest meal of the day, is eaten around 1-2pm, with dinner starting from 8pm onward.

Trinxat, a fried mix of cabbage, potato, and bacon, and escudella, a slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew, are classic mountain dishes worth trying, alongside cured meats and mountain cheeses from local farms. In ski season, look out for cargols (snails) and meats grilled over an open fire, often served in the small, family-run restaurants known as bordes.

Andorra is made up of seven parishes, each with its own character.

Andorra la Vella is the capital and main shopping hub, built around the historic Casa de la Vall. Next door, Escaldes-Engordany is home to Caldea, one of Europe's largest thermal spas.

Canillo and Encamp, in the east, sit closest to the Grandvalira ski slopes, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley — Andorra's only UNESCO World Heritage Site — and the cliffside Mirador Roc de Quer viewpoint.

La Massana and Ordino, to the north, are quieter and greener, with access to the Vallnord ski area.

Sant Julià de Lòria, in the south, is the main entry point from Spain and home to Naturlandia, a mountain adventure park.