how-to-get-andorra-from-barcelona
Whenever you visit a ski resort, part of the charm is the remoteness and the chance to escape the bustling and busy nature of city life. That, though, can often make arriving there quite a journey, and it’s no different when holidaying at a ski resort in Andorra.
The European microstate, which is tucked in between France and Spain in the Pyrenean Mountain Range, doesn’t actually have an airport. There is one small airport in the nearby Spanish town of La Seu d'Urgell, called Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport, and this is just 18km away from the Andorran capital of Andorra la Vella.
However, the Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport is a very small airport and not many airlines operate in to or out of it. As such, most visitors to Andorra pass through other nearby airports in Spain or France, and the most popular one is the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Then, there are many different travel options to get from Barcelona to Andorra and we’ll outline exactly how to get from Barcelona to Andorra in this travel guide.
Barcelona to Andorra by bus
If you are travelling from Barcelona to Andorra then catching a bus is a great option, especially if you’re coming from the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. That’s because there are at least six daily bus transfers from Barcelona’s airport to Andorra, and more during the Andorra peak season.
There is also a Barcelona to Andorra bus option from the Catalan capital’s city centre, to cater for those doing the Barcelona to Andorra journey without passing through the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
Not only is this a fairly quick bus journey, at approximately three hours, but you’ll pass by a lot of stunning countryside and picturesque landscapes while on the Barcelona to Andorra bus, so the sightseeing can begin even before you arrive!
Barcelona to Andorra by train
What about the Barcelona to Andorra train, you might ask. Well, there is no long-distance train station in Andorra’s borders, just as there is no airport. Some visitors from France do take a long-distance train to arrive at the microstate, via the L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre train station, which is just 24km from the capital of Andorra la Vella. However, there is no real Barcelona to Andorra train option.
Barcelona to Andorra by car
Another way to travel from Barcelona to Andorra is on the road, by car. For those who live in Catalonia or in Andorra, this is the most common means of travel. Even for tourists, many decide to rent a car, often from the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, before driving to Andorra.
Logically, travelling from Barcelona to Andorra by car is the quickest option, and it shouldn’t take more than two and a half hours on a normal day.
Which is the best option to get to Andorra from Barcelona?
As for the question of what is the best option for how to get from Barcelona to Andorra, renting a car might be the very best because of the quickness and convenience and because it means you then have a car with you to fully explore the principality once you’re there. There is so much to see once you arrive in Andorra, even beyond the famous ski resorts, so having a car with you makes adventuring even easier.
Still, if you can’t drive or want to avoid driving while on your holiday, you can rest assured that there are several reliable and comfortable transport alternatives to get from Barcelona to Andorra.