Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona 2024

Planning A Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona In 2024?

“Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona” has been updated in 2024.

We took a bus from Barcelona Nord Station to Andorra La Vella (the capital of Andorra).

A few hours were enough to see everything as the city is small and easily walkable.

Read along to find out what was our experience, visiting one of the smallest countries in the world.

There is a map of Andorra La Vella at the end which shows the location of all the things I have mentioned.

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Everything You Need To Know About Andorra

Below you find the answers to some of the frequently asked questions when it comes to doing a day trip to Andorra.

Where is Andorra located?

Andorra is a landlocked country located right between Spain and France, nuzzled high up in the Pyrenees mountains.

Also, Andorra La Vella is the highest capital city in Europe, so you will see mountains all around it.

Street view of Andora La Vella with Riu Gran Valira creek, creek, mountains, Barcelona to Andorra bus — Street view of Andora La Vella with Riu Gran Valira Creek – Barcelona to Andorra bus

Is Andorra an independent country?

Andorra is officially recognized as the Principality of Andorra, which is a sovereign microstate.

However, it is highly influenced by its neighbors Spain and France.

Andorra is not part of the EU because the EU does not include microstates.

However, Andorra uses the Euro as its official currency.

Andorra became an independent country on September 8, 1278.

You do not need a visa to enter Andorra.

What is Andorra famous for?

Andorra is famous for its skiing resorts and tax-free shopping.

What language do they speak in Andorra?

Andorra is the only country in the world that has Catalan as the official language.

Therefore, most people speak Catalan although you will hear conversations in Spanish, French, and Portuguese as well.

unicorn, view, Pyrenees mountains, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — Me overlooking some of the houses in Andorra La Vella and the lovely mountains

How To Get To Andorra La Vella From Barcelona?

You have a few options when it comes to doing a day trip from Barcelona to Andorra.

They are to take the bus as we did, rent a car or do an organized tour.

There is no other way to get to Andorra La Vella as they don’t have a train station or an airport.

Bus Ride from Barcelona to Andorra la Vella

We booked our bus tickets with a company called Alsa which offers bus trips from Barcelona Nord Bus Station to Andorra La Vella (the name of the bus station is Estacio Nacional d’autobusos).

The location of the Barcelona Bus Station was excellent because it was super close to our Airbnb so we walked to it.

The closest subway stop is Arc de Triomf (L1 Red Line) if you need to commute.

It was pretty easy to navigate both stations (the Andorra one is tiny).

The best way to get to Andorra is by bus for sure.

Andorra, mountains, bus station, bus from Barcelona to Andorra la Vella — This is where the bus stop is in Andorra – down the street from the 7 poetes – bus from Barcelona to Andorra la Vella

Make sure you book a bus that does not have stops along the way (express one) or only one stop.

Otherwise, you will be stuck on a bus that has to make 30 stops and will take you hours to get to Andorra.

We got on the 10.30 am direct bus and arrived at 1.45 pm.

There is an earlier bus that leaves Barcelona at 7 a.m. but we are not early risers and wanted to sleep in and grab some breakfast before we go.

Therefore, we chose to take the 10:30 a.m. one which gave us the time to eat something and walk to the station.

How much is the bus from Barcelona to Andorra?

The price is currently €31 plus a €2.90 processing fee for a single ticket so €33.90 total (includes VAT).

All the single tickets are Super Flex which means that changes and cancellations are permitted.

So about 67.80 euros for two single tickets (in case you don’t know your return date).

For a round trip, Ida y vuelta especial tickets don’t allow for changes or cancellations and cost €30.90 and the return is €5.10 plus + €2.90 processing fee for a total of €38.90 (VAT included).

If you prefer the Super Flex tickets (changes and cancellations permitted), then it will cost you €31 to get to Andorra and €24.90 to return plus €2.90 processing fee for a total of €58.80 (VAT included).

Obviously, you save some money if you book a round-trip instead of single tickets so if you know the dates you are traveling it makes sense to book a round-trip.

Keep in mind that you are stuck with the changes and cancellation permitted ticket for the return (meaning you can’t select the discounted €5.10 one)

You can see all of your options when you click on the Alsa ticket page.

The newer area of Andorra La Vella, street view, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — The newer area of Andorra La Vella – how to get to Andorra from Barcelona

Other ticket Infomation

On the way back we boarded the direct bus at 7.15 pm from Andorra La Vella and arrived in Barcelona at 10.30 pm-ish.

We had enough time (5hrs) to see everything so I am happy we chose the later departure in the morning.

You can buy your tickets at the station from the ticket machines but I recommend booking online.

We pre-booked our tickets online about two weeks before our excursion (we went in late October).

I would suggest booking ahead to make sure you have the time slot that you like.

However, there are a few options to choose from and there are buses every single day.

Shopping is popular in Andorra La Vella because it is tax-free, Barcelona to Andorra day trip — Shopping is popular in Andorra La Vella because it is tax-free – Barcelona to Andorra day trip

How long is the bus journey from Barcelona to Andorra?

The journey takes about 3 and a half to 4 hours each way depending on traffic and construction along the way.

It is about 140km from Barcelona to Andorra La Vella.

However, the drive is scenic and pleasant but keep in mind that certain sections of the drive are a bit windy (coz you are going through the mountain).

So if you get car sick make sure you bring some anti-nausea medication.

I usually do get car sick when there are a lot of twists and turns but I was mostly okay.

On the way back we slept lol.

🦄 If you want more info on what medications you need when traveling, check out this blog post (includes a Free Download):
What Meds You Need To Bring On Your Vacation

Riu Gran Valira, river, creek, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — View north-east following Riu Gran Valira Creek – walking from the bus stop to the clock you will see this (***see below)

We brought our passports but no one asked to see them.

There was no washroom on the bus (which was not ideal because I had a large coffee before we boarded but I survived).

There was some wifi onboard but it was weak. We brought snacks and water on the bus both times.

The bus wasn’t completely full but there were quite a few people.

Renting a Car

Renting a car would be a good idea if you are a confident driver and don’t mind driving on the swirly mountain roads.

Also, keep in mind that you will need to cross the border between Spain and Andorra which could be an extra hassle.

However, you will get there in 2.40 – 3.00 hours so it is faster than the bus.

👉 Rent a car for your Andorra day trip, after exploring the world’s biggest car rental website: Rentalcars

Do I need an organized tour to do a day trip from Barcelona to Andorra or can I do it on my own?

I have looked at a few organized tours and they all seem too expensive. Doing the bus is simple and cheap.

Renting a car is a great option as well if you are comfortable with it.

👉 If you still want to do an organized excursion, this Andorra tour is the only one that is worth the price: Barcelona: 3 Countries in 1 Day Small-Group Tour. You will visit 3 countries – Spain, Andorra, and France.

An interesting building in Andorra La Vella, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona, visiting Andorra — An interesting building in Andorra La Vella – visiting Andorra

What To See In Andorra La Vella During Your Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona?

The city is divided into two parts – new and old.

The new section of the city features a long shopping street called Av. Meritxell which turns into Av. Carlemany in its east end.

In the opposite direction (west), you will reach the Old Town where Av. Meritxell turns into Av. Princep Benlloch.

Essentially, it is one long street and if you stay on it you will be able to see the entire town (new and old).

Andorra La Vella is so tiny that there is no way you will get lost.

New Part of Town

Let’s start with the new part of Andorra La Vella.

Shops in Andorra La Vella, street view — More shops

The Nobility of Time (Noblesse du Temps)

This is the famous melting clock statue created by Salvador Dali. This bronze statue represents the passage of time.

It is located right in the middle between the old and the new part of the town.

You will find it on Placa de la Rotonda (town square).

Right in front of the clock, you will see an information booth from where you can grab a map and ask any questions you may have.

The Nobility of Time, Andorra, Salvador Dali, statue, clock — This is the statue called “The Nobility of Time” – reminding us of how quickly time passes

That was also our first stop – we walked from the bus stop in a northeast direction following the creek called Riu Gran Valira (***picture above).

If you keep following it you will get to the clock & info booth in about 10 to 15 minutes.

An interesting fact about “The Nobility of Time” statue is that it was displayed in many different cities before it was permanently installed in Andorra La Vella.

Dali’s agent is the one who gifted the statue to the city.

Pont de Paris

Right behind “The Nobility of Time” statue is the steel bridge called Pont de Paris which has the words Andorra La Vella written on it.

It is a cable-style bridge that looks like a large white fan.

When you stand in front of the clock, it makes for a good photo op as you can get the melting clock, the bridge, and the mountains in the background in one shot.

Andorra clock, Pont de Paris bridge, mountains, Andorra trips — Good photo opp here to get the melting clock, bridge, and the mountains – Andorra trips

Caldea and the Ice Lady statue (Escultura Caldea i la Dama de Gel)

If you continue walking north, following the creek Riu Gran Valira you will get to an interesting statue called Escultura Calidea i la Dama de Gel.

It is located in the center of a roundabout. It consists of two separate statues that were created by two different artists.

The two statues are connected via a fountain.

Calidea and the Ice Lady statue, Andorra, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona, Andorra trips — Caldea and the Ice Lady statue – Andorra trips

Caldea is the standing figure and is related to old legends about water (that’s why there is a fountain in between them).

The Ice Lady is in the form of a spirit that is riding a horse.

In the winter the water sometimes freezes so in the winter the Ice Lady wins and in the summer the Water Lady does lol.

Caldea Thermal Spa (Centre Termoludic Caldea Inuu)

Continuing walking north along the creek you will see an interesting building that looks like a pile of broken glass.

It is the Caldea Thermal Spa which is the biggest spa in Europe.

We didn’t have time to go inside but the interior looks cool as well (do a Google search to see images of the interior).

You will be able to see the building from far away as it is the tallest building in Andorra La Vella.

Caldea Thermal Spa, glass, mountains — Caldea Thermal Spa is the tallest building in Andorra la Vella

Once you see the Caldea Thermal Spa you can either walk south back to where the melting clock statue was.

From there you can get onto the main street in the town – Av. Meritxell.

Or you can walk south from the spa through one of the smaller streets and still get to the main street.

However, keep in mind that this will be a faster route but it will be more confusing especially if you don’t have a map.

Shopping

Once you are on Av. Meritxell, you will see many shopping stores and small malls.

If you want to go shopping, it will be a good idea to do so here as there is no tax applied.

A lot of people come from Spain and France to do their shopping here.

Most of the stores were closed when we were there so we walked into a few souvenir shops and strolled up and down the street.

Av. Meritxell, shopping street, malls, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — This is Av. Meritxell the main street in Andorra La Vella – there are a lot of shops and boutiques

Historical Buildings

If you keep walking east on the main street you will end up in an area that has a few historical buildings.

Unfortunately, we did not go inside because they were all closed.

Here are the names of some of them: Casa Lacruz, Museo Carmen Thyssen, Church of Sant Pere Martir, Centro de Arte de Escaldes-Engordany.

Also, there are two old stone bridges called Pont d’Engordany and Pont de la Tosca.

View of the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Andorra La Vella — This is the Museo Carmen Thyssen

They are in close proximity to each other. I took a few shots from the outside and turned back walking west on the main street.

Walking up and down makes for a nice stroll however there weren’t many people around and it looked quite empty.

Church of Sant Pere Martir, Andorra la Vella — Church of Sant Pere Martir

Disaster 🙁

We kept walking west passing the melting clock statue and continuing until we reached the old part of town.

At this point in time, we were getting hungry and we wanted to stop somewhere and have lunch.

I had a list of restaurants people recommended where we could try some local food.

Unfortunately, all the restaurants were closed and we walked endlessly from one to the other to no avail.

Most of the locals that we encountered were not friendly and in one restaurant the waitress kicked us out and was super rude.

Pont d’Engordany, bridge, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — View of one of the old stone bridges Pont d’Engordany

At this point, we were both starving and ended up eating at a McDonald’s since that was the only open place.

So much for researching different foods and restaurants lol.

Therefore, beware because apparently, the entire country shuts down from 12.30 p.m. until 6 ish p.m. (we were there on a Thursday)!!!

Like when do people work?

Absolutely nothing was open and the streets were empty. I am not sure if it was because it was not the high season but we were upset and disappointed.

Andorra sign, Andorra La Vella, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — Andorra sign

Old Town

Anyway, after we had our lunch at McDonald’s we proceeded to explore the Old Town.

Casa de la Vall

Casa de la Vall is the headquarters of the General Counsel of Andorra.

It is a Heritage House and it looks lovely. There is a nice open square in front of it.

Unfortunately, you guessed it, it was closed.

Also, we checked before we went looking for lunch and after, and the building was still closed.

Casa de la Vall, Heritage House — Casa de la Vall and the square in front of it

Viewpoint

I am not sure if this Viewpoint has a name (couldn’t find one) but it is located right behind Casa de la Vall.

The stairs start at the parking lot.

Essentially, it is a staircase that leads to a hill and from there you can take some nice pictures of the entire area.

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as there is a bit of uphill walking and cobblestone streets in Andorra. Also, don’t forget to bring water.

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viewpoint, mountains, city, town — View from the viewpoint

Church of Saint Esteve

During your day trip to Andorra from Barcelona, you can check out the Church of Saint Esteve.

It is located in the old part of town and it was constructed around the 12th century.

Church of Saint Esteve, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona — Church of Saint Esteve

7 poetes statues

This art installment along with the melting clock are probably my favorite attractions that we saw on this day trip.

The 7 poetes are a group of statues of sitting men perched on individual pedestals.

They symbolize the seven parishes of Andorra.

7 poets, statues, Andorra, mountains — 7 poetes during the day

During the day they are white but at night they get illuminated in different colors.

The bus stop is right down the street from the 7 poetes.

So if you get confused about how to get back to the bus station, remember to look for this landmark.

7 poetes, art installation, statues, Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona, how to get to Andorra from Barcelona — The 7 poetes at night – how to get to Andorra from Barcelona

Is it worth visiting Andorra?

Overall, it was an interesting place to visit. However, we were pretty disappointed with the fact that all the attractions and restaurants were closed.

We were only able to see the attractions from outside and ended up having a lot of extra time before our bus ride back to Barcelona.

Otherwise, it was interesting to experience another country, especially one that is so unique.

The mountains surrounding Andorra La Vella, Barcelona to Andorra bus — The mountains in Andorra La Vella are stunning – Barcelona to Andorra bus

Also, it might be a good idea to take the earlier bus and leave in the early afternoon.

Hopefully, that way you won’t experience the same issue we had with the closures.

Perhaps, if we visited on the weekend or during the high season it would have been different.

Also, if you go skiing in Andorra, it could be a different experience as well.

Therefore, unless you are counting countries or coming to ski, doing a day trip somewhere else might be more worth your time.

How long do you need in Andorra La Vella?

I would recommend doing a day trip to Andorra from Barcelona as it is plenty of time to see all the main sights.

Unless you want to let’s say check out the spa, do a lot of shopping, go hiking, or skiing (in the winter).

Then you will need a few days in order to do that.

A view of the old part of Andorra La Vella, Barcelona to Andorra day trip — A view of the old part of town – Barcelona to Andorra day trip

Where To Stay In Andorra La Vella?

If you decide to stay overnight, below are a few hotel suggestions in Andorra La Vella.

Those hotels are located in the city center and are not ski resorts.

NH Andorra la Vella

NH Andorra la Vella is located right beside ”The Nobility of Time” statue
Close to the shopping area and the new part of Andorra la Vella
Free WiFi available in all areas
Also, parking is available for 21.95 euros a day (in case you choose to drive)

👉 Check availability for your dates: NH Andorra la Vella

Hotel Metropolis

Hotel Metropolis is close to Museo Carmen Thyssen and shopping
Great breakfast available
Free WiFi available in all areas
Also, parking is available for 24 euros a day

👉 Check availability for your dates: Hotel Metropolis

Map Of The Things To Do On Your Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona

Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

Conclusion: Day Trip To Andorra From Barcelona

Well, there you have it – our experience doing a day trip to Andorra from Barcelona.

Overall, it was easy to use the bus and explore Andorra on our own.

However, we wish everything was not closed including the restaurants we wanted to try.

🦄 If you want to learn more about Barcelona, check out these blog posts:
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