Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella, the capital of the principality, is the highest capital city in Europe, set at over 1,000 metres in a valley ringed by Pyrenean peaks. At its heart lies the small but charming medieval old quarter, the Barri Antic, of narrow cobbled lanes centred on the Casa de la Vall, the historic former parliament house. The modern town is famous above all for its duty-free shopping, a magnet for cross-border visitors, and for Caldea, one of the largest mountain thermal spa complexes in Europe, where visitors relax in warm, mineral-rich waters beneath a striking glass tower.

What you actually see

• The Barri Antic - the medieval old quarter and cobbled lanes.
• Casa de la Vall - the historic former parliament house.
• Caldea - the vast mountain thermal spa complex.
• The duty-free shopping - the shops that draw cross-border visitors.

When to go

Year-round; the town is a base for winter skiing and summer hiking alike, and its spa and shops are all-weather attractions. The old quarter and the surrounding mountains are pleasant to explore in the milder months, while the thermal spa is especially welcome after a day on the slopes or trails.

Honest expectations

Andorra la Vella is a small capital dominated by shopping and traffic in its modern centre, which can feel congested and commercial, so its historic old quarter is charming but compact and quickly seen; the real draws are the spa, the shopping and its role as a mountain base. As the highest capital in Europe, with a pretty medieval core, a superb thermal spa and easy access to the peaks, though, it is a pleasant and convenient hub.

Nearby

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, the ski resorts and the mountains are close.