Andorra

February 6^th, 2026 

From Figueres I drove west, running parallel to south of the Pyrenees, before the road took me north into the tiny country of Andorra.

Seeing the snowcapped mountains of the Pyrenees, not to far from Figueres.

Getting closer...

Into a Winter Wonderland!

Hard to see, but that's La Molina ski resort.  I could see a few chairlifts, and it was the first place to have a ski lift in Spain back in 1943!

Nice chalet at La Molina.

Some lovely mountains in the distance.

I was a bit worried that I might be driving into that precipitation.  If I do, will it be rain or snow?

Arriving at the Andorran border.

I didn't have to stop, but it was manned by border police and I think licence plates are photographed.

Andorra!

Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe, with an area of 468 square kilometres and a population around 90,000.  For a crazy comparison, my home country Canada, the second largest country in the world is 9.984 million square kilometres which is over 21,300 times bigger!

My camping spot, right in town.

After settling in at the main campground in the capital, Andorra la Vella, I went for a walk into the city centre which is flanked by mountains on all sides. 

 

A sports complex right near the campground.

This is the main road running through Andorra la Vella, with an alternating middle lane.  It doesn't look busy in this photo, but it was constant traffic.

That's not a road on my right, it's a river.

Near the start of my walk into the city centre.

Interesting to see a massive billboard sign advertising cigarettes...obviously some different laws in Andorra.

This is Salvador Dalí's "The Nobility of Time" sculpture, right in the heart of Andorra la Vella.

And behind the statue is this interesting bridge...I'll show it in a video later.

They had one of those "selfie posts" which I took advantage of.

A couple of restaurant pubs by the statue which is in the shade on the right.

The city does have some fancy buildings.

Heading up the main shopping street.

Andorra is famed for its tax-free shopping, so many items are available at lower prices than in many other European countries.  This is because Andorra is not a member of the European Union and thus does not have the same VAT obligations.  Made me feel like I was in an airport!

This is a perfume store...there were many of those.

Shopping, shopping, shopping...

A bit of a contrast here...Taco Bell next to a Rolex store...

Rolex got their target marketing a bit off...paraglider pilots are the types to buy expensive watches!  I haven't even worn one in almost 40 years.

Some fancy apartments.

This is the Caldea Spa Complex that has natural hot springs.  Looks like some repairs happening on their triangular spire. 

I like the "Walk" - "Don't Walk" signs.

Coming from the other direction to the bridge in previous photos.

It was an interesting bridge as it was supporting to roads at different angles to each other.

Those restaurants from earlier from the other direction.

I liked the crosswalk at this triangular intersection...the striped lines covered all of the road.

The shops just did not stop.

There's another Rolex store, with the same paragliding advertising photos, but this time, instead of a Taco Time neighbour, it's a shop mainly selling baseball hats.

A skiing flower bear...of course.

This is the rooftop of the Administrative Building of Andorran Government and it looks like it is set up to host events at times.  It doesn't look like a rooftop here, but behind and to the left of this angle is an area that is a few storeys above the street below.  I guess they have to try and maximize their space in this hilly country.

At the end of the rooftop.

This is the view down from the sign in the last photo.  The seven yellow figures sitting on posts are supposed to be poets...as the spot is called "Plaza of the 7 Poets"

A lovely church in the city.

    

A nice looking pub on a quiet pedestrian street.

Crossing back over the river, almost back at the campground.

The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina were on in the evening and I happened to catch Andorra's team walking out.

The forecast is for rain tomorrow, so it looks like I’m going to cut short my time in Andorra and drive north into France.  Still, it was a nice drive to get here and I enjoyed a quick visit to this tiny country.