From the French Monastery to the Spanish Monastery, I’ve been driving a lot over the past few days. Leaving Cannes and St Tropez behind, I made it all the way to Aix-en-Provence to spend a night at a French Monastery, just before visiting Andorra, a new country for me. I was excited.
I crossed the Pyrenees many years ago by bicycle (read here), and now I was driving into the heart of the mountains to explore the small, independent country of Andorra. Established in 1278, it is certainly unique. But what do you need to know before visiting Andorra, nestled high between France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains?
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Visiting Andorra
It was quite amazing adding a new country to my list, even though it was only a small one. Andorra is a tiny, independent principality situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains. It’s known for its ski resorts and a tax-haven status that encourages duty-free shopping. What else is there to know before visiting Andorra? Well..
Firstly, the road to Andorra is quite windy. It takes time to get there. No matter if you’re coming from France or Spain. Although there are a few tunnels, you basically drive a lot of country roads before the windy road up to the Pyrenees Mountains and Andorra. A quick border check and you are in.
Important travel tip: Most international roaming services don’t cover Andorra, so put your phone on ‘airplane mode’ and make sure you know where your Hotel is.
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What else you need to know
I visited in early April, which turned out to be that in-between season. Inside the Pyrenees Mountains, it was too late for skiing and too early for hiking. As a result, Andorra felt a little ‘brown.’ The snow had just melted, and spring hadn’t fully arrived yet, so the landscape seemed to blend into one muted tone.
Andorra was also bigger than I expected. Although it looks small on the map, driving through it actually takes some time. I stayed in a lovely hotel right in the capital, Andorra la Vella, The Blackpine Hotel. It’s a small luxury hotel that only opened a few months ago, and I’m so glad I discovered it.
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Furthermore, shopping in Andorra is amazing! A true tax-free haven with shopping malls full of beauty products, alcohol, and a wide range of fashion brands, there is something here for everyone. Of course, there are also a few hiking trails. I found a small, well-paved path just above the city, offering lovely views over Andorra la Vella.
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All in all, visiting Andorra was great. Having amazing weather really helped as well. That said, I don’t think I’ll be back. I’m sure I’ll cross the Pyrenees a few more times, but I’ll likely stick to crossing the mountains via the France to Spain border route instead, like I’ve done before by bicycle. Thinking back, that trip was still amazing… 2,600 km of cycling adventure! (read more here)
So, now in Spain, I’ve settled into another monastery, surrounded by beautiful walks and great food. Let’s keep heading south a little longer.
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