Daytrip to Andorra

in Outside Barcelona November 12, 2013 0 36,889 Views

Every year almost 8 million visitors flock to this tiny country located in the heart of the Pyrenees in between Spain and France to experience its great ski resorts, excellent low-tax shopping and spectacular scenery. If you want to find out what all the fuss is about for yourself, here are the top things to see and do during your daytrip to Andorra.

What to do:

Skiing:

Skiing season starts from December until April. Andorra makes an incredible and affordable skiing destination with loads of activities for thrill seekers on offer such as snow bikes, skiing, ‘Speedriding’ (which combines skiing and paragliding) and dog sledging. There are 5 ski resorts in total, Grandvalira Pas de la Casa and Soldeu being the largest with over 100 ski slopes to enjoy. Andorra also plays host to international winter sports events including the Ski Mountaineering World Cup.

Shopping:

Andorra is also a shopper’s paradise with over 2000 shops, one for every 40 inhabitants. Meritxell Avenue, located in the capital Andorra la Vella, is a large commercial street packed full of shops, restaurants and bars lining the whole avenue. You will also find an array of massive shopping centres across Andorra such as Les Pyrenees, River and Andorra 2000.

Also throughout the month of November this year there is a Shopping Festival celebrating the best that Andorra has to offer in terms of shopping with live DJs, street performances and art exhibitions.

But remember not to get too carried away as there are customs limits. Therefore make sure you check these limits out before you go so you know what you will need to declare on your trip back.

Find more info on Visit Andorra.

Hiking:

There is so much to explore in Andorra in both summer and winter. The breathtaking scenery makes it perfect to go hiking and fully explore the country’s impressive landscape. You can go by yourself or take guided routes which can vary in difficulty. You can find many different hiking routes on Andorra’s tourism website.

Spas:

Located in the town of Escaldes-Engordany is the blissful Caldea Spa Centre. It offers a new ‘thermoludic’ experience combining relaxation and leisure in one space. You will be able to completely unwind as you indulge yourself in the calming treatments using water in all its forms from saunas to water massages and jacuzzi pools.

How to get there:

Bus: a daily bus service is available from Barcelona Airport and also Nord station which takes approximately 3 hours to arrive.
Air: Airports nearby include Barcelona El Prat, Girona (Costa Brava), and Carcassone Airport in France.

Many people stop off on the way to or on the way back from Andorra in the stunning city of Barcelona, if you need accommodation for your stay in Barcelona, then check out www.barcelona-home.com.