Move to Andorra: A Guide to our Neighbourhoods and Towns
- elizabethhelenpier
- Dec 17, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 11
Andorra is split into seven different parishes which are micro regions within our tiny state. They all have a centralised village that is their names sake, and various other villages offset from the centre town. Each of these parishes has differing property prices, conveniences and microclimates. If you are not familiar with Andorra and are considering a move to Andorra, please see below for a quick brief on each of the parishes and their centre villages to give you a feel before you begin your property search.
Sant Julià de Lòria
Known for its sunnier, warmer climate and more Hispanic feel, Sant Julia is often a forgotten gem. In this parish, winters are chilly but do not drop below freezing too often at the base of the valley, and summer days can often be as hot as the low plains of Spain (+30c). It has some of the cheapest housing options in the country. You will get a lot more with your money in Sant Julià de Lòria if you do not mind the drive. These lower prices are due to the lack of proximity to ski resorts as well as the city centre (Andorra la Vella). The town has not yet caught up with the modernisation trend so snazzy bars and international restaurants are not its forte, but it is, like most of Andorra, only a 10-15 minute drive to the centre where you will find options galore. If you move to Andorra but are looking to commute often to Barcelona, this town can be a great one to consider as it is set right on the Spanish border and can save you considerable time when travelling to and from home.
Andorra La Vella
Our beloved capital and the most populated town of Andorra. If you are considering a move to Andorra and are looking for an urban feel in our micro-state, this is your place. It is a lot more urban than what people expect in a small mountain country. Andorra la Vella has all the conveniences you would expect from a larger city such as shopping centres, cinemas, hundreds of restaurants and bars for all tastes, and a large central park just one minute away from downtown. The main road, Avinguda de Meritxell, was renovated a few years back when they permanently cut off car access to much of the street, leaving it fully pedestrianized and looking modern and fresh. It has a beautiful small old town also just a 5-minute walk from the centre of Meritxell Avenue and some lovely housing estates on the east side. You unfortunately do not have direct access to a ski resort from here although the closest ski lifts are only a 10 minute drive away. To be noted, with urban conveniences comes with urban traffic, noise and fumes at rush hour, especially during the holiday periods.
Escaldes-Engordany
You will probably not notice when you cross into this parish since Andorra la Vella flows straight into it with no visible border between the two. The border actually lies right at the Illa shopping centre, meaning if you are walking up the Meritxell central avenue, half-way up, you have actually changed cities without noticing. Escaldes has a much quainter and more continental European feel over Andorra la Vella. It is more residential than Andorra but the streets are still bursting with shops and eateries for residents and tourists alike. You have some of the most luxurious property estates up in the hills with access to the best sunlight angles in the country hence the opulent plot pricing. It is also home to the Madriu natural park which is great for hikers. As with Andorra la Vella it has no ski resort access, it also does not get much snow at low levels, and the same traffic in Andorra can affect you here too. Lastly, it is home to the famous set of Andorra skyscrapers, with planning in motion to build a few more. Due to the price of these high-rise apartments and the luxury estates in the hillside, price per square meter in Escaldes has tripled in the last 10 years, becoming the most expensive area of Andorra currently to purchase property in.
La Massana
One of the most popular parishes in current times as it is only a 5-15 minute drive from the capital. It also has a small ski resort turned into a world-renowned bike-park in the summer that directly connects with the centre of La Massana (Pal-Arinsal) via a cable car. It has many small villages such as Anyós, Escàs and Arinsal that are great places to live away from the hustle and bustle but at a 5-minute drive or walk from conveniences. For anyone considering the move to Andorra, it is one of only 6 all-year centre towns (many in the North-East are not) so you will find most of the residents are here winter and summer. It has a diverse population of locals and foreigners, and weather is cold enough for fairly regular snowfall in the upper hills in winter. Luxury builds are concentrated up in the southern villages, while the centre is mostly apartment block housing. A large bypass is currently being constructed with completion set for 2027-2028. This will change the landscape of La Massana considerably in the future both at the centre of town taking away the car traffic, but also for property facing the river which will eventually have views of the bypass instead of abundant nature. Traffic issues hit during rush hour everyday but by the end of the bypass construction, this should be heavily alleviated.
Ordino
Ordino is a quaint little village that never lost its old town charm thanks to some accidental architectural decisions in the 70s and 80s. A short drive from one of the best ski resorts in the country but still only 20 minutes from the city centre of Andorra. Ordino also has the high price-tag for all these factors. It is high up enough for some beautiful snowfalls during the winter while retaining a fresh but still hot climate in summer. It is an outdoor person’s paradise with climbing, hiking, biking and skiing at your door. They have a strict land planning department and most property in the centre town is built facing north-west with little sunlight in the winter. There is a real lack of a supermarket, and there are only a number of bars and restaurants so this parish generally only suits someone happy to use their car daily for conveniences. Going further into the valley and you will find tiny villages all dotted along the road. These are considered quite remote for Andorran standards, and the prices reflect this the further up the valley you ascend.
Encamp
Encamp is a parish that is not sufficiently appraised among expats. It has a similar town centre to La Massana in that it is only a 5–10-minute drive from the capital, has an all-year-round population, and has a good number of supermarkets as well as eating options. They are however less internationally orientated. It is quite a bit cheaper than La Massana in terms of property price. It still attracts, due to living costs, more of a working-force population and the towns conveniences reflect this as do the property prices. Encamp’s main street is one of the only ones in Andorra that is set off from the main bypass meaning it is much more pedestrian friendly and clean. It is also the first port of access to the Grandvalira ski resort with a cable car leaving from just above the town centre. It has a climate that is snowy at times and hot in summer but milder than more northern or high-altitude areas. Encamp has some amazing nature to explore, with sports galore at your door on either side of its valleys. It is important to note when looking for property by parish that Pas de la Casa is part of Encamp as well despite it being a 30-minute drive from Encamp town, and not somewhere many expats would consider living with an extremely harsh climate and long commute to any centre facilities or businesses.
Canillo
Canillo is the last village on the road to France which can be classed as an all year round town. This is partly due to the 20-minute drive to the centre (which in Andorran terms is considered eternal) and in part due to the last of the primary schools being located here. The centre town of Canillo has modernised a lot in the past 10 years with cable car access to slopes and plans for a ski to town slope. They have international restaurants, nice shops, and new bars popping up yearly. It was once a much cheaper option but with huge price rises in the central and western parishes, people are starting to see this as a great alternative meaning property prices are rising quickly in Canillo now. It is at a perfect winter altitude, so you often get snow fall even in town throughout the winter. It also retains a fresher climate in summer. Moving up the road towards France you will find the towns of El Tarter and Soldeu which are much more dedicated to winter tourism than all year-round residency. They have a good selection of cheap and luxury property, but they are remote, and it gets very quiet in off season and summer months.
