The bus reached the border of Andorra. The roadside was decorated with flags. Steep mountain hills made the valley narrow. While watching the cars passing the border, mainly Spanish and Andorran cars, I was wondering if Andorra isn’t part of the European Union. Because it was missing the European Flag on the license plate.
I need to keep myself on the nose. I’m always telling you in my blog posts to research the place you are visiting beforehand. And here I’m knowing almost nothing about this European Microstate. But my short stay in that country would change that.
While I was traveling from the border to La Massana, I watched landscape and townscape passing by. Astonishing clean and modern architecture greeted me in Andorra. Outdoor sport facilities and hotel and apartment complexes lined the road. Although most of the hotels seemed closed and winter tourism, just farewelled its last guests, it was busy.
Austrian alpine towns alike ghost towns in-between seasons. But that wasn’t the case in Andorra. Quit the opposite. The streets were very busy. And I thought I would escape the city to calm countryside life. But due to the size of Andorra, its population, and the fact that more than half of the country can’t be “used” (mountains), the bustle makes sense.
Interesting Facts about the European Microstate
My later research taught me that none of the European microstates are member of the EU (because it is not designed for microstates). However, many microstates are in the European economic and monetary union. So, Andorra uses euros and is even allowed to have their own coins.
On my way back, I took a blablacar. So, I learnt through the driver (a local) the reason why Andorra isn’t in the free roaming zone of Europe: It is because there is one telecommunication provider in Andorra, and this company wants to keep its monopoly. That makes sense, the country is small, there aren’t many different business opportunities. So, they will keep what makes them money.
Additionally, the biggest economic contributor in Andorra is tourism and there is no way you can miss that. One hotel complex after another line the valleys and mountain slopes. The country has most likely two seasonality’s, winter and summer. Probably Andorra has also foreign employees for tourism, but I haven’t had the time to talk to locals and service providers to get insights about how busy season looks like there.
Additional, but considerable smaller GDP contributor is finance and retail sales.
Going on a spring hike in Andorra
Although I was hesitant to book my short trip to Andorra, there was no question about whether or not I should go hiking. I don’t like to go hiking alone. But there I was on the 1st of May waiting for the bus that would bring me to the starting point.
I sat happily on the bus and drove up the valley, watching the landscape go by. The weather was fickle. I hoped for sunshine, since I had no rain protection with me and was dressed for warmer temperatures (spoiled by Barcelona).
The bus reached its final stop, and I got off, walked through the tunnel, a little further and stood almost directly in front of a beautiful waterfall. I was so happy to hear the sound of the water and smell the fresh air. The sound of the water accompanied me, together with birdsong, on my way.
Probably I was already too long in Spain, because after every corner I thought: WOW, WOW, WOW. The flesh green and the simple beauty of the untouched nature astonishes me again and again. I came at the right time to the right place. The snow was melting away; the trees had buds, and the birds were twittering. The sound of the river was so calming and grounding. The air was incredibly fresh and smelled like spring. Something that you cannot have in the polluted city of Barcelona: to breathe the spring air, the air of the forest, the air of the fresh water of the melting of the snow.
It’s the little things in life.
How to get to reach the Microstate
Andorra can be easily reached by bus or car from Barcelona. Direct Bus or Flixbus are some companies that operate between the destinations. And the buses leave from Barcelona Sants. At this spot, there is a small building with an information/booking desk, toilets and a small convenience shop. The journey takes around 3 hours.
Getting Around in Andorra
Bus system in Andorra is simple. This website can help you to find busses. Unfortunately, bus stops aren’t shown on google maps. If you are traveling from Andorra la Vella to La Massana you need to get to the street Carrer Prat de la Creu in front of the Cepsa petrol station or at this spot is also a bus stop.
On the bus you can only pay cash, one ride is 1,90 Euros. The busses are numbered with a L and the number, for instance, L5 goes to Arinsal, L6 to Ordino, and L4 to Pas de la Casa.
Hiking in the Pyrenees – La Massana and Arinsal area
You can find multiple hiking paths in Andorra. And no worries if you are looking for easy hikes/walks, Andorra has plenty of options. I can recommend the Arinsal area. The path starts at the valley head. There you can walk along the river, either do a short round hike or hike to the Parc Natural de les Valls del Comapedrosa, where you can find refugi’s. That are small mountain shelters.
In Andorra, you can find unique wooden mascots. In every region of the country, there is a so called Tamarro’s, in total 7. It is said that this mascot protects the nature. It is a fun activity for kids to find the sculptures or for hikers that want to take it easy.
In every town there is a tourist information office, you can go there to find maps and hiking recommendations. Two easy hikes that got recommended to me are the Cami de la Caterina, that’s a circular path from La Massana to Ordino and the Cami Ral de la Massana that starts at La Massana and goes to Andorra la Vella.
