Europe

Andorra

Quick facts

  • Full name: Principality of Andorra
  • Capital: Andorra La Vella
  • Largest city: Andorra La Vella
  • Official language: Catalan
  • Area: 467.63 km2
  • Population: 77,281 (2016)
  • Currency: Euro (EUR) 1 (EUR) = 100 cent
  • Foreign tourists: 2.8 million (2016)
  • Travel risks and hazards: Petty crime.

Andorra is a small country squashed between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains. Andorra is the only country in the world to be a co-principality. It is ruled by two people sharing the title of a prince: Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicília and the president of France Emmanuel Macron. The country technically has not been at war with anyone for a 1000 years, despite declaring war on Germany in world war I, the country has not sent a single troop to conflict and was even forgotten in the treaty of Versaille only officially signing peace with Germany in 1957.

Traveling info

Despite being squashed between two European nations, Andorra is not part of most of the EU conventions or not even part of the EU. Despite that Andorra allows any tourists to enter the country without a visa and only requires a passport, or a national ID card in case of EU citizens, there is no way to enter Andorra except for getting in through France or Spain. This means that citizens of EU nations and Schengen zone nations may enter Andorra without a visa however nationals of non-EU countries will need to apply for a Schengen visa in order to visit Andorra to either come in through Spain or France. Tourists who wish to drive in Andorra are recommended to get an international driving permit. Whilst drivers who hold driving permits issued in the EU are fine, those who hold non-EU driving permits should obtain such document. Beware that an IDP is required in Spain and is recommended to have in France. Beware also that an IDP is only a translation of the original driving permit and does not substitute for it.

Environmental hazards

The only animals which could pose a threat to people in Andorra are the brown bear and the aspis viper. Despite the possible danger no person has been involved in a fatal incident with either of these animals. Although the aspis viper is venomous, fatal bites are almost unheard of due to the close proximity of clinics and hospitals in the country. Andorra is a landlocked nation however its lakes and rivers are safe for various water activities.
Earthquakes are the sole natural hazard occurring in Andorra however no earthquake took place in the last decade.

Health hazards

There are no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter Andorra. There are however several vaccines recommended for a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. Andorra has some of the most technologically advanced hospitals in Europe. Quality of service provided by public facilities is excellent. Private facilities also provide great quality of care however these come at an expense. The European health insurance card is not valid in Andorra, therefore, any tourist should purchase medical insurance in order to cover for the possible medical expenses in Andorra.
In case of an emergency dial 118 (ambulance) 112 (mountain rescue).

Crime

Andorra is among the safest countries in the world. Despite that, the most common crimes committed were shoplifting and drug smuggling. Violent crime is almost unheard of, especially towards tourists. Petty crime is also rare however it does occur like in any other popular tourist spots. Pickpocketing is probably the most common crime targeting tourists. Despite the rarity of such instances, tourists should keep cautious, especially in crowded tourist spots. There is no risk of terrorism in Andorra. Andorra has strict drug policies and unlike its neighboring countries, considers the use of light drugs as a criminal offense which is punishable by jail time.

Summary

Andorra is famous for its incredible hiking trail and incredible skiing resorts. Visiting Andorra both during winter and summer will provide tourists with a variety of attractions. The country is full of Romanesque buildings, museums and incredible spots to try some of the local cuisines. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources
(Visa)
(Vaccinations)