Holiday rentals and lettings in Andorra

The tiny country of Andorra is almost entirely geared towards tourism. Visitors come from all over Europe and further afield for the unique tax-free shopping, eclectic collection of ski resorts, Alpine panoramas and inimitable local character. If you are skiing at the main resort in Grandvalira, there are numerous delightful holiday rentals right on its doorstep in Pas de la Casa or Soldeu. If shopping is your main draw, stay in the capital, Andorra La Vella or nearby Escaldes Engordany.

Imagine a flat at the foothills of a beautiful ski resort. In winter you cook a hearty breakfast, kit up and then walk to the gondola in just 3 minutes. In summer, you can start early and get straight onto a gorgeous hiking trail. Then after your day of fun-fuelled activity, you arrive back at your holiday rental, pour a drink and feast on the spectacular mountain views from your terrace. Imagine Andorra!

Andorra is a tiny country located in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. The capital is a small town called Andorra La Vella, the highest in Europe and a great place to stay discover the city’s rich historical heritage set amidst magnificent mountain scenery.

There is no international airport in Andorra, and first visitors fly to Toulouse in France or Barcelona in Spain, each about a two hour’s drive from the Andorran border. With its heavily mountainous terrain, there are no trains in Andorra. So all visitors to the country arrive by land either by car or by bus.

Andorra is almost totally mountainous and one of Europe’s best skiing destinations, particularly for those learning to ski. The largest ski resort Grandvalira has no fewer than 128 slopes with a total of 210 kilometres of ski runs, three freestyle snowparks, and six schools with over 300 instructors! For experienced skiers, there is a resort just for your right on the border with France. Pas de la Casa boasts myriad red pistes that span the surrounding terrain. It is also home to a rollicking après-ski culture and wild nightlife!

Andorra draws shoppers from afar due to its incredibly low taxes, and with 2,000 stores packed into a country that you can drive across in about an hour, Andorra really is the promised land for shopaholics! Christmas coming? Looking for some jewellery for your other half? Or perhaps some electronics such as a new computer? You can find significant savings on these goods! And it gets even better, because twice a year, at the end of April and beginning of November, Andorra hosts a shopping festival to attract visitors to its stores in the capital, in which its goods are sold at steeply marked-down prices! A bargain piled on a bargain awaits you!

A capital city with a population of just over 20,000 people, Andorra la Vella is compact and full of charm. It has a thriving bar and cafe culture, a buzzing main street lavished with galleries showcasing local art and handicraft shops, and restaurants overflowing with character.

Noblesse du Temps is a striking sculpture made by the acclaimed Salvador Dali, which depicts a melting clock on a tree trunk, surrounded by statues. It represents how precious our time is on this earth and how quickly it can fade away.

The real beauty of Andorra lies in its small villages, with the medieval Ordino being the highlight. Located high up in the mountains at over 1,300 metres, it is a consummate example of harmony between the hand of man and nature. Beautifully looked-after, its streets are bursting with technicolour flowers and plants leaning out from the gorgeous stone houses that lined the village’s cobblestoned streets.

There are some genuinely impressive spa experiences in Andorra where you can spend the day and unwind. Head to Caldea in Escaldes-Engordany, a wonderfully large spa complex boasting ice baths, steam rooms, and a large pool which extends outside. When it is snowing, you can float in the warm water of a natural spring and feel the snow fall on your face. A true holiday experience!

In the first week of August Andorra La Vella lights up with its Craft Festival, a celebration of time-honoured handicrafts and local food products. Learn all about the history of Andorran agriculture and take advantage of the opportunity to buy souvenirs to remind you of your wonderful holiday in Andorra, such as heritage woodwork and local specialities like garlic and brandy cheese.