In this guide I will bring you up to date on the Recommendations and tips for traveling to Andorrawhich will be as updated as possible to have a successful trip to this principality that is not part of the European Union.
Where is Andorra?
Andorra is a small country or rather, a principality 468 kmtwo located between Spain and France constituted by seven parishes, equivalent to the provinces in Spain. An independent oasis in the Pyrenees whose capital is Andorra la Vieja. According to the information, the official language is Catalan.
Andorra, mountain destination
In general, Andorra is a ideal destination for various mountain sports activities such as climbing and hiking. During the winter season there are about 300 km of slopes to practice the most requested sport during the winter season: the ski
for that too you have to have the ideal clothes and accessories to practice mountain sports with professionalism and safety. On the Campz website you can search and buy everything you need for your trip to Andorra.
Is Andorra a member country of the European Union?
Now comes something interesting that always raises doubts. Andorra is not a member of the EU or the Schengen Treaty. Although yes, to get to Andorra you must go through Spain or France, countries that are members of the European Union and the Schengen area. Therefore, to travel to Andorra you need some requirements or documents that I indicate below.
Info: how to travel in Europe for more than 90 days without legal problems
What are the necessary documents to travel to Andorra
The citizens of the European UnionThey do not need a visa to travel to Andorra. East small territory It has transit agreements with Spain and France, in this way people from any European state will not have to process any special permit to enter or leave. It only takes valid passport or Identity Document.
In the case of citizens of Non-EU countries but members of the Schengen AreaThey must carry a valid passport. If you are from a country not attached to the Schengen zone, you will need to have a valid passport and a multiple entry and exit visa to cross the border of Spain or France, mandatory transit countries on the way to Andorra.
Info: on this website you can see if you need visas for each country in the world
If you are from a country that does not need a Schengen Visa, you just need a valid passport and show that you have previously passed through Spain or France.
Travel to Andorra with children and pets
If you travel with children, in addition to the DNI or passport, you need show the Family Book or equivalent document to prove the relationship. If minors travel with third parties, a special permit is also required from the police of the place of residence.
For traveling with pets to Andorrait is mandatory that they be identified with a microchip, be vaccinated against rabies and carry a special passport for pets.
Does Andorra have an airport? How to travel to Andorra by plane
As of 2020 Andorra does not have its own airport so you would have to fly first to an airport in Spain or France.
You have to scroll to the nearest airports within a radius of 200 kilometers: Toulouse – Blagnac (TLS), Carcassonne (CCF) in France; Girona – Costa Brava (GRO), Barcelona – El Prat (BCN), Reus (REU) and Alguaire (LEU) in Spain. From those airports there some buses that take you to Andorra.
Info: How to get from Toulouse airport to the center or other areas
Other options to get to Andorra
There are also options to arrive by bus, by rental car or by your own car. For companies, timetables and bus fares to Andorra from Spain, France and Portugal, you can check this link in Catalan.
Roaming and internet in Andorra
As it does not belong to the European Union, the right to have internet without changing the SIM card does not apply to Andorra. In this case, you have to disable roaming or data usage (internet) when traveling to Andorraif you do not want to pay extra fees for using the internet, as well as making and receiving calls while in Andorra.
If you want to have internet access in Andorra you can buy a prepaid sim card specific for Andorra here or from the Andorra Telecom company on whose website you have up-to-date information on the matter. In any case, you will surely find several places with free Wi-Fi to connect to the internet in Andorra.
The European Health Card in Andorra
According to information from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Health Card is not valid or does not work in Andorra so it is not a country belonging to the European Union.
Info: European Health Card in Andorra
In this situation, if you are thinking of traveling to Andorra, I recommend getting travel insurance for medical benefits that include winter sports in the case of skiing or other similar sports that are very common in Andorra.
What is the official currency in Andorra?
We have already seen that Andorra does not belong to the European Union or the Schengen Area, but it does have official currency to the Euro thanks to the agreement that entered into force on April 1, 2012, although since 2002 it uses the Euro as de facto currency.