Is Andorra worth the stop?
 

We will be in northern Spain this summer and are trying to decide if we want to make a short detour and check out Andorra. I don't really know anything about it other than it is one of the 5 smallest countries. Has anyone been and what was your take? Thanks!

I was looking into Andorra last year. One of the things I read about it was the horrendous lines getting into and out of it.

It's not an EU country so EU citizens go there to shop. The French and Spanish border patrols do extensive searches of the cars to make sure you're not carrying more goods than legally allowed.

That alone turned me off.

I'd love to hear someone else's opinion too especially if it's positive.

A trip from Barcelona to Seu d'Urgell is wonderful. Takes about two hours to drive, or you could make a worthwhile stop by Montserrat.

It's a worthwhile overnight, and you can drive from there about two hours up to Andorra (or four in the frequent traffic jams, on their way to the duty free shopping "up there"). It's similar to a Wal-mart, but not quite as good. I'm not even sure it's as cheap as Wal-mart.

In "La Vella" (sp?), the old town capital of Andorra, you can send your friends postcards with Andorra postage stamps on them.

Then you can drive back down the French side to Perpignan. If you drive recklessly, and as fast as you can, it might take about 1.5-2 hrs, and exceed the longest best thrill you've ever had on any E-ticket ride at Disneyland. I was trying to make it to the Perpignan Gare SNCF to catch a train. I made it with maybe eight minutes to spare.

These are 13 year old reminiscences for me (though I didn't know what a Wal-mart was back then; did they exist?). Maybe something has changed.

Best wishes,

Rex

Does anyone know if you can take the train from Pamplona to Andorra therefor missing the bad border crossings?

stormygirl
Andorra has no train service.
On the spanish side you can take a train to perpignan 50kms away. But this line only starts at Barcelona, and it is a slow mountain train taking over 4 hours. Plus the combination Perpignan-Seu d`Urgell and then Andorra by bus takes very long.
What you can do is take a train from Pamplona to Lerida and from there the bus to Andorra.
Andorra is mainly known for shopping, outside the EU gives some pricing advantages specialy in spirits and cigarrettes.
Apart from the shopping Andorra is a very good skiing destination in winter and hiking in summer. Lots of lakes and preserve natural areas, in a really beautiful mountain scenery, if you just drive across the country all you will see is traffic and shops. It also has several Romanic churches, but you do need a car or an organized tour to get to them.
You can check in
www.andorramania.com

For Rex
Sorry there is no Andorra post Office
as such they use either the Spanish or French stamps.

Driving thru the lovely mountains would be fine but do NOT go into La Vella (IMHO). See my response to "Places You Would Never Go Again." CJ

Hmmm... well, this was in 1991, I think they SAID Andorra - - see http://www.stampmasteralbum.com/Fore...AB/Andorra.htm - - I guess you are right; whatever the stamps say, they fall under a joint administration control of the French and Spanish post offices.

Still, the postmark will SAY Andorra - - a rather superficial thing, admittedly. For a few recipients (maybe even your own mailbox!), it will seem like one more "mark" of what a "world traveler" you are!

A barely worthwhile reason!

In a word - no.

I have to disagree. My (then 16 yr old) daughter was staying with a family in Perpignan 2 years ago. They took her to Andorra & she fell in love with it. If she could she would live there. She said it was beautiful & the hotel was gorgeous & cheap. She loved the shopping & came home with several nice things.

If it can impress a teenager then I would think it would have to have something special. Do some research & try to find some trip reports. I found an interesting one at http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/25e06/155

Also check http://www.frommers.com/destinations...174010011.html

Yes. And yes, I have been. Andorra is magical if you like unique, quaint and special.

You may see my Trip report about Spain for more details.

The border crossing is not bad.

Happy Planning,
Oaktown Traveler

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