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Andorra - Places to see and things to do.

Very beautiful and rather small in size, Andorra is a mountainous country in the Pyrenees, in the Southern part of Europe. The country is set on the Iberian Peninsula; it is a landlocked state which borders France and Spain. The official language in Andorra is Catalan, however almost all inhabitants speak Spanish and French. Portuguese, as well as English are also widely spoken. The currency is Euro and the country is tax free on income, so it is excellent shopping destination for all kinds of goods. Andorra is a city-state and thus there are not many distinct cities.

The most popular settlement is Andorra La Vella which is the capital and main shopping spot in the country. The capital is located on the steep gorge, filled with souvenir shops and restaurants, hotels and private houses, etc. Other towns in Andorra are Santa Coloma, and Sant Julia de Loria which are set n the border with Spain; Encamp and Canillo set on the border wit France; plus Escaldes Engordany close to the capital, La Massana close to Arinsal-Pal ski zone and Ordino, which is set to the north. Andorra is famous for its ski resorts which are connected in two main skiing areas, named Vallnord and Grandvalira. The Vallnord area covers the ski resorts of Arcalis and Arsinal-Pal, which are connected by a cable car. The Grandvalira area covers the ski zones Soldeu and Pas de la Casa.

During the summer Andorra is a excellent destination for trekking and hiking. Some of the possible routes include Pic de Medecourbe, Pic de Coma Pedrosa, Montmantell lakes, Arinsal Percanela Les Fints, Sami del Coll de les Cases. Andorra does not have airports though there are coach services on a daily basis which connect the Barcelona and Toulouse Airports to the country. The closest airport however is that in Perpignan in France which is set 128 km away in east direction. As a result of the increased tourist traffic, there are plans however for an airport to be constructed in Andorra, ten minutes away from the capital. Because of the mountainous nature of the country, Andorra is accessed from France only via one road and the same applies for Spain. The roads in the country are in good overall condition, but the country has a very high altitude thus the car should be in a good technical state. When driving from France, the passengers pass through Tunel Denvalira, which requires a fee paid by a debit or credit card. No train lines and stations are available in Andorra; with the only possible train station being closeby is the French station lHospitalet which is set close to the border with Andorra. Bus services are available and many in number.

The coach service from France starts from the city of Toulouse, while from Spain the buses start from Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga, Lleida and Valencia. Shuttle bus services are available as well, connecting Andorra to Barcelona and Toulouse Airports, Madrid and Valencia, Alicante and Castellon, Zaragoza and Lleida.

The capital of the state, Andorra La Vella, is a beautiful town that comprises of two parts, an old one and a new one. The old one has a historic part and many pleasant restaurants and shops. The new one is more commercial and there are located most of the houses of the locals. The city is easy to manage on foot, though from one side to the other the distance is not short and taking the option is to take the bus. The places to be visited in Andorra La Vella include the church of Sant Esteve and the church of Sant Andreu, Casa de la Vall and the Bridge of la Margineda which dates back to the medieval times. Pleasant places for a cup of coffee would be the town centre, while relaxation will be guaranteed in the sports complex Caldea that includes a spa, sauna and swimming pool.

The other settlements to be presented here are ski resorts. Arcalis is situated in the north-western part of the country. It is very popular among both the French and Spanish tourists, which hind it a great place for skiing. The ski zone concentrates several buildings and a ticket office, ski rental shop and a restaurant plus café and bar. Skiers should know that the Vallnord ski pass covers the Arcalis and Pal-Arinsal ski zones. Arinsal is a small resort in the Pyrenees Mountains set in a valley. The resort comprises of an old village part and a part with hotels, restaurants and après ski bars. This resort is very popular among the British skiers. During the summer the place is great for hiking and climbing. Close to the resort is situated the highest mountain in Andorra named Pic de Coma Pedrosa, which is 2942 meters high. Both Arinsal and Pal are excellent for the beginners and intermediate skiers. Arinsal is suitable for snowboard activities as well and has a lovely freestyle area. When the ski season is over the area is suitable for hiking. By many Soldeu ski resort is considered the best area for skiing in Andorra. The area is lively and busy, the people are very friendly and the facilities for skiing and snowboarding are superb. Thanks to the half pipe and the additional and natural half-pipe, Soldeu is quite popular among the snowboarders. Hiking is a popular activity here during the summer months. The last resort to be presented here is Pas de la Casa, which is situated high in the Pyrenees, close to the border with France. Being the highest ski resort in Andorra, Pas has great snow coverage which lasts till May and is thus the best resort for advanced skiers. Besides great skiing, the resort has many après ski bars and restaurants.

Hiking is a popular activity here during the summer months. The last resort to be presented here is Pas de la Casa, which is situated high in the Pyrenees, close to the border with France. Being the highest ski resort in Andorra, Pas has great snow coverage which lasts till May and is thus the best resort for advanced skiers. Besides great skiing, the resort has many après ski bars and restaurants.