Hotels in Andorra la Vella

Verified by Pau García Solbes
from the blog El Pachinko

Andorra la Vella is located in the central south west of the tiny principality of Andorra high up in the East Pyrenees between Spain and France. It’s the capital and has a population of just under 30,000.

The highest capital in Europe at an altitude of 1,023 metres, Andorra la Vella has Neolithic roots and has been the principal settlement in Andorra since 1278. So small that it wasn’t even mentioned in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI, the principality is a democracy. Its main language is Catalan.

Modern Andorra la Vella is a tourist destination, particularly for winter sports and it’s also a tax haven. The city (and principality as a whole) has a high standard of living and there’s a life expectancy of 80+ years.

The 10 million who visit every year can find budget-friendly hotels in Andorra la Vella, offering a warm and hospitable welcome.

Neighbourhoods of Andorra la Vella

Andorra is divided into seven administrative parishes. Andorra la Vella is the main but smallest parish. It is a complete city but everything is compact so it can be very busy as the height of the tourist season.

• TheOld Town also known as the Historic Centre is the heart of Andorra la Vella. Characterised by old stone streets and houses and built in the Romanesque style in the 11th century, it is the most picturesque part of the city. Interesting buildings include the Casa de la Vall, the old Andorran parliament, Casa Guillemo, the oldest house in the city, and the church of Sant Esteve. The oldest building in the city is the Church of San Coloma which dates from the 9th century.
• Shopping Districts: There are about 2,000 stores in Andorra. This is in a country that you can drive across in an hour. Shopping at prices that are roughly 15 per cent less than France and Spain is an attraction for visitors who can browse tiny boutiques and smart, modern malls. The main shopping streets in the capital are Avenue Meritxell and Avenue Carlemany. The two best shopping malls are Illa Carlemany and Pyrenees Andorra.

What to see and do in Andorra la Vella

The architecture provides many great photo opportunities, but the main attraction is the bronze statue of Noblesse du Temps by Salvador Dali in the centre of the city. There are other interesting stone statues dotted around the streets. Andorra la Vella makes a great base for exploring the whole of the principality which is very driveable and also for winter sports.

What to eat in Andorra la Vella

Traditional Andorran food is mainly Catalan, with some influences from Spanish and French cuisines. There are a few typical Andorran dishes to try. Escudella is Andorra’s national dish. It’s a rich hearty stew of broth containing pasta and various meats. Cargols is a dish of snails, usually oven-baked and served with garlic mayonnaise. Trucha a la Andorranais grilled fish – usually freshwater fish – wrapped in ham. Embotits is a delicious homemade sausage usually made of pork, spiced with salt and red or black pepper. The favourite dessert is Crema Andorra an Andorran version of the famous French crème brûlée.

Typical events and festivals in Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella’s main event is the Annual Festival held every July. Shopping is such a draw here that there is even a Shopping Festival held over a week in November. The Christmas Market is also a welcome treat.

How to move around in Andorra la Vella

Two bus lines run regularly between Andorra la Vella to the different parishes of Andorra. Their stops are located in the main streets of the urban centres in the country. There are also six lines of intercity buses, which link all the towns in Andorra. There is no train station, but shuttle buses run from the city to train stations in Lleida in Spain and at L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre in France. Andorra la Vella also runs shuttle buses to Girona, Barcelona, and Reus.

The climate in Andorra la Vella

Due to its altitude, Andorra la Vella experiences warm days and cool nights in summer, and chilly to cold, snowy winters with temperatures regularly below freezing.