Traveling to Andorra: requirements and 9 tips for tourists

Are you going to travel to Andorra soon and you don't know very well how to manage this trip? In this article we will give 7 tips or advice you should keep in mind when visiting this country as a tourist so that the management is as easy and enjoyable as possible and you can enjoy the Principality without too many complications. These tips will be very helpful when planning your trip

Requirements to travel to Andorra

Andorra has agreements with its neighbors Spain and France because you can only enter the country precisely through them. According to these agreements, to enter Andorra a person only needs that documentation that is required to enter Spain or France. So, for example, the requirements to travel to Andorra from Spain are to bring the documentation that has had to be obtained to travel to Spain. Obviously, if you are going to be Andorran resident, more documentation is required but not to travel as a tourist. Thus, the list of requirements would be as follows:

• Spanish people or people from within the European Union: they only need the ID or valid passport.
• People from countries outside the European Union and within the Schengen Area: bring the valid passport.
• People from countries outside the Schengen area: provide the Valid passport and Schengen visa.

Regarding the requirements to travel to Andorra due to the covid, there are currently none. You can travel to Andorra from Spain and from France without any extra requirements. PCR is not needed to travel to Andorra and neither is TMA or other tests.

Travel to Andorra from Barcelona

To travel to Andorra from Barcelona, obviously, there are many options. You can go by taxi, but then prepare your wallet because it's not going to be cheap. You can also look for options in blablacar, since it is usual for people from Andorra to travel to Barcelona and vice versa and it is easy for someone to have a Blablacar service.

But without any doubt the most reasonable and most used option is the bus. In this sense there are two main lines; on the one hand Andorra By Bus, which also allows you to take buses from Toulouse and on the other Directbus, which only Barcelona offers. However, DirectBus offers a stop at Barcelona Sants, Barcelona's train station, while AndorraByBus only has stops at airports.

Finally, there are other bus options such as Alsa buses and also those of Flixbus. All trips are around €30 per person for a one-way ticket and €55 per person for a return ticket.

Travel to Andorra from Madrid

Similarly, to travel to Madrid we can do it with a taxi, although it is not recommended, and we can also search if there is any Blablacar. On the other hand, the company Alsa also offers Madrid-Andorra trips for €52 one way and €98 round trip. However, the best option without a doubt for those who do not want to waste time is to use the newly opened flight from Andorra to Madrid, since for €59 the trip is made from La Seu d'Urgell airport to Madrid and vice versa in one hour.

In any case, we tell you more about how to get to Andorra here.

Travel insurance and healthcare

You'll probably be interested take out travel insurance before coming to Andorra. As we told in our article on the functioning of Andorran healthcare, the European health card does NOT work in Andorra: it is not valid. the principality is not within the European Union and therefore this card is useless.

Therefore and as if that were not enough, when having any urgency tourist taxes apply that is, on Andorran non-residents. And it is necessary to say that ski slope insurance only covers you on the ski slope, not out of it.

Therefore, in addition to request scroll wheel (E/AND.101) in the Spanish Social Security, for example) take out travel insurance it can be very interesting. So you will not have to worry about your health while you are here because you will have full medical insurance as a tourist.

About telephony and mobile internet

Do not enter the country with the foreign mobile internet activated, nor activate it at any time once inside. The strictest recommendation we can give regarding telephony when traveling to Andorra is turn off the phone at the border, before entering the country and turn it on again but without entering the PIN or activate the SIM card. Thus, the mobile will be completely blocked at the telephone level and they will not be able to charge you any absolutely crazy cost.

We make that recommendation because there are telephone companies that charge to receive the call in a foreign country, with which even if you turn off the data or do not answer the calls, they can charge a plus for receiving said call on a foreign network, and return from your trip to Andorra with a disgust.

Only if you are totally sure that this is not your case, it may be advisable not to do the restart, although it is the safest. If this is the case for you and you decide not to restart your phone, the advice is that you must remember not to take any incoming calls and turn off the data of the device before entering the country and not turn them back on that SIM card until you return to the country of origin.

But then how do I connect?

Andorra is a pioneer country in technology and internet connection. The first solution is that you wait to go to your hotel or lodging place, restaurant, etc. where you can access the internet via local WIFI and you can connect, using the local wife of that site.

The second option, but only if it is an emergency is to connect to one of multiple free wife networks that are spread through all the country. For example, the Andorra wifi offered by the Andorran select company, Andorra Telecom, is a free Wi-Fi network that connects the most important points of the country. Also, the libraries and (common) municipalities of Andorra have free Wi-Fi and even some shopping centers such as the River Shopping Center, located in Sant Julia de Lòria, or the same Ill Carlemany.

Use this second option only if it is an emergency and never enter personal or important information such as credit cards, passwords or ID. These networks are not secure.

And finally, if you want to have 4g mobile internet and not rely on WiFis to access the network, one of the tips is to buy a prepaid card for your visit, especially if you are going to travel to Andorra for several days. One option is the famous card Holly or similar with which you can get mobile connection in many countries. Another alternative is to buy a andorra Telecom prepaid internet card with which you will be able to navigate, call and send SMS, although it is better to see the communication rates of the card before carrying out any action.

Andorra and the snow

Don't leave Andorra without having enjoyed the snow, unless your trip is in summer. If you are going to travel to Andorra in non-snow seasons, you should also visit the wonderful Andorran mountainous landscape to discover the whole country. Having three natural parks, one of which is a World Heritage Site, unique lakes and peaks, not making trips to the Andorran mountains is a sin, excuse me.

Andorra in winter is splendid. Going up to a ski resort should be in your travel plans, even if its not for skiing. The Principality is one of the best sites in the Pyrenees for the experience of the mountains and the good snow. You can not only ski, but do all kinds of activities. For this we offer you to go to 3 ski resorts where you can not only ski, so you do not leave here without enjoying the snow.

Grandvalira

Grandvalira is the largest ski resort in Andorra, and one of the largest in the world. It has 7 different sectors from which to access its tracks and peaks (Encamp, Canillo, Solder, Gray Rig, Ex Tarter, Patrol, Pas de la Casey). With more than 120 slopes and more than 200 km of skiing, this is undoubtedly the great Andorran ski resort. The Grandvalira ski pass is one of the most expensive (although not so much) but it works for all these sectors. It is the definitive option for a great weekend. 

Grandvalira is the most common stop for anyone who is going to travel to Andorra. Regarding activities without skiing, in the Grau Roig sector you can do activities such as snowmobiles (€120 for 2 seats) or make an igloo, and in the Palau de Gel de Canillo you can ice skate with a rink that is all the year open, and other activities such as karting, quads etc. This track, in addition, is free for those of the Super 3 Club.

Andorra Vallnord

Although Vallnord it has fewer sectors (Pal, Arousal, Ordino Arcades), it is more affordable than Grandvalira. The price of the ski pass for an adult is €41 and for beginner skiers there is a ski pass for €19.50 that allows you to take the chairlift and conveyor belt for beginners, with the access cable car included. The ski pass for children under 6 years old is free and from 6 to 15 years old it costs €35. 

In Pal if you do not like skiing, you can sled on a good track for 5 euros the person with a conveyor belt.

 Naturlandia

In Naturlanda – La Rabassa There is not only a great cross-country ski station and snowshoe routes, but also a park for adventure activities (snowmobiles, zip lines, etc…) with an animal park. If you don't like skiing, this beautiful place is probably the best for you if you are wondering what to see or do on your trip to Andorra. 

It is divided into two levels: at the 1600 level is the amusement and adventure park and at the 2000 level is the animal park and the Nordic ski slopes and snowshoes. Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing while watching the animals fully integrated into their habitat in a large forest, a beautiful spectacle! The price of the Nordic ski pass is €12 and that of the animal park €14 for adults.

Be careful with shopping

You can buy a lot of reduced price products, but pay special attention to the amount (in monetary value) of what you buy. Shopping in Andorra can be very affordable, not only because VAT or consumption tax there (IGI) is 4.5% or less, but for the special taxes on tobacco, gasoline, alcohol, etc. But the purchases are not unlimited. One of the tips is nothing to buy perfumes, electronics, tobacco and alcohol for the whole neighborhood.

You have to know that there are limits on private importation of these products. Smuggling is a very typical activity when traveling to Andorra, but it is very controlled. If you exceed any of these limits, you will have to declare them at customs and pay a fee or fine that will make your product more expensive than if it were foreign, even being more profitable if they requisition it in some cases.

First, note that the maximum limit of the value of what you import per person over 16 must be less than €900. And for each product there is also a different limit:

• The limit for alcohol below 22 degrees is 3 liters
• For beer is 16 liters
• At most you can import 300 units of cigarettes
• In sugar or candy you must carry less than 5 kilos
• Milk less than 6 liters
• Coffee you can only 1 kg
• And some more limits

In addition, you must also know that the total value of what you wear both when entering and leaving (cash and valuables) must be less than €10,000.

Travel to Andorra with children and pets

The first tip to remember is that you must have all the documentation in hand. If you come from countries with which Andorra has an agreement, such as Spain, France or Portugal with the DNI of all people you can enter the Principality. If not, you must have your passport and/or other documentation in order and in force. So if you are traveling with children on board, do not forget that they must have a valid DNI.

Best travel plans to do in Andorra with children

Well, the truth is that when traveling to Andorra you can do almost anything with children: from mountain walks, hiking in nature and routes to lakes to snow sports such as skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling. You can also go to Naturlandia, the Caldea spa... almost all plans can be done with children in Andorra. Even so, we recommend a few that are key:

1. The Chaldea Lipids, in the spa of Chaldea, to spend 3 hours in the SPA with your partner alone while the children have fun in an exclusive children spa with monitors and have a great time.
2. The second plan is to got ice-skate in the ice skating rink of the Paley de Gel in Canillo. A plan that we also remember is free if you have the Super 3 Club cards.
3. Go to ; the two dimensions of Naturlandia and enjoy its adventure activities, animals and the small snowshoe circuit, charming for everyone. The Naturlandia Animal Park is also a very interesting place to visit, since animals from the area such as deer, wolves, bears or boreal lynxes coexist in semi-freedom. In addition, they have a spectacular Tobotronc through which launching will be the illusion of children in Andorra.
4. Walking among animals and dinosaurs through the Jerri contemporary gardens located in Sant Julia de Lòria. In these private gardens but whose visit is free of charge, you can find a collection of contemporary art sculptures taken care of by their owner, as well as dinosaurs and many other animals.
5. Climb the Naturlandia Airtrekk, which is the largest adventure activity facility in Europe. It is a wooden structure full of nets, platforms, ropes, zip lines, walkways, etc.
6. You can also do easy hiking trails such as the Ruth Del ferry, on foot or with snowshoes on a small route where your children will discover everything about the exploitation of the old iron mines or the green ring path.
7. Finally, the museums could not be missing. The Miniature Museum, the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the National Automobile Museum, or the ARTALROC exhibition hall

Travel to Andorra with dogs

If you bring a dog when traveling to Andorra, you must complete certain documentation before visiting the country of the Pyrenees. The requirements to enter animals in Andorra is that they have to be over 3 months old, they have to have the animal passport that your veterinarian will make for you, the rabies vaccine up to date and next to it there must be a serology that is negative for animal rabies made by your veterinary. As for activities, if your dog lives in the mountains, obviously almost any plan will delight him.

The chains or contact tires

If you visit the country in winter, make sure that you carry chains or winter contact wheels in your vehicle.

No excuses that if it is a good day, if it is only a moment or that you will not climb much, The Pyrenees climate is very treacherous and can change in a short time and start to snow. On the other hand, on a cold day, nobody assures you of not finding an ice or snow plate on the road. Therefore, never forget the chains, and being able to be 4, one for each wheel if you go to Andorra by motor home or 2 minimum if you go by car.

In addition, in 2015 a modification of the Andorra Traffic Code entered into force, in which it forces to bring adequate equipment (chains or tires adapted) to all vehicles that circulate on the roads and streets of the small country of the Pyrenees. The obligation begins each season on November 1st, and finish the May 15th of the following year

Normally the andorra police fine only when in case of snowfall or ice on the road (although you can do it at any time within that mandatory period), a vehicle gets stuck hindering the movement.

The amount of the penalty goes from 180 euros at 500 euros in the case of vehicles of more than 3.5 tons. And to avoid it, the vehicle must be equipped with winter tires or with metal or cloth chains, which are suitable for the dimensions of the wheels. At a minimum they must be carried on the tractor wheels. The measure affects both Andorran residents vehicles and no residents ones.

One last point

Finally we remember and recommend contact us if they want to settle in Andorra, move to this country, open your company in Andorra o reside and live in Andorra. You can make it pressing here. They can also see the all general advantages offered by the Principality of the Pyrenees.