For most people, Andorra means snow in winter and shopping the rest of the year. But there’s another Andorra, quieter and more personal, and that’s the one we went to see from 1 to 3 October at EDIT Andorra, the first press trip showing Spanish media the Principality’s most cosmopolitan side.
A colleague from my team travelled for Barcelona Inspira. From what we saw there and the information on each place, here are the hotels, restaurants and shops worth the trip, around three hours from Barcelona.
The trip at a glance
To stay MiM Andorra, Lodge Park and Les Pardines 1819
To eat Jou la Borda, Restaurant Andrea, La Petite Forêt and UNNIC
To shop Viladomat, Cristina Cerqueda Jewelry and Angeline Perfumes
Before you go Get an Andorran eSIM, because EU roaming doesn’t cover Andorra
This trip was hosted by EDIT Andorra.
MiM Andorra, Leo Messi’s hotel in Andorra la Vella
It was our first stop and our base. MiM Andorra sits right in the centre of Andorra la Vella, belongs to Leo Messi and is part of The Meliá Collection. It has 34 contemporary rooms, and the detail everyone talks about is in the bathrobes: the number 10 embroidered on the back.
The food is by Nandu Jubany. The spa has just opened, with a water area, sauna, Turkish bath and massage room, and the jewel of the hotel is the Leo Messi Suite, with views over the city.
What is it? Leo Messi’s design hotel in The Meliá Collection, with a brand-new spa.
Why go? It’s central, so you can explore the capital on foot.
- WhereCentral Andorra la Vella
- Rooms34, including the Leo Messi Suite
- FoodNandu Jubany
Lodge Park, a five-star at 1,800 metres in Soldeu
In Soldeu, at 1,800 metres and with direct access to Grandvalira, Lodge Park Hotel & Spa was the luxury mountain hotel of the trip. Its big draw is a spa of more than 1,000 m², designed by Pilar Líbano, with hydrotherapy pools, sauna, hammam and infrared. Every room faces outward, onto the mountains.
For food there are two big names: Kao Soldeu, with the Chinese cooking of Josep Maria Kao, and Don Giovanni Soldeu, by Andrea Tumbarello, known as the king of truffles. At sunset, the Champagne Bollinger Terrace has live music and DJ sets.
What is it? A five-star mountain hotel with a 1,000 m² spa and chef-led restaurants.
Why go? In winter you ski straight onto Grandvalira; the rest of the year it’s hiking, cycling or golf.
- WhereSoldeu, at 1,800 metres
- RestaurantsKao Soldeu and Don Giovanni Soldeu
Les Pardines 1819, a 200-year-old farmhouse in Encamp
Les Pardines 1819 Mountain Suites & Spa sits at 1,600 metres in the Cortals d’Encamp. The estate appears in deeds from before 1600 and the main building dates from 1819. In 1932 it was bought by Jacint Puy, a shepherd who made his own cheese, and the family’s fourth generation has turned it into an 18-room boutique hotel. The old stables now hold the reception and the spa.
Its restaurant is recommended in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Chef Oscar Villalba, who trained with Oriol Rovira of Els Casals, cooks with produce from the hotel’s own organic garden and the surrounding area. It’s 5 minutes from Funicamp, the cable car up to Grandvalira, and 10 from Andorra la Vella.
What is it? A boutique hotel and mountain restaurant in an 1819 farmhouse.
Why go? For Oscar Villalba’s cooking, and for sleeping surrounded by nature 10 minutes from the capital.
- WhereCortals d’Encamp, at 1,600 metres
- Rooms18
- RestaurantRecommended in the 2026 Michelin Guide
Jou la Borda and Restaurant Andrea, lunch with a valley view
In Sispony, facing the Anyós valley, Jou la Borda fills a mountain barn that’s more than 150 years old. It has three spaces: Jou Restaurant, a mountain bistro with meat, fish and rice dishes; Jou Mezzanine, for an aperitif or a drink; and a terrace overlooking the valley.
Close by, in Xixerella (La Massana), chef Andreia Antunes has just opened the new Restaurant Andrea, with three spaces: Andrea Signature, with a seasonal menu and a daily set menu; El Bistró, for breakfast, vermouth and tapas; and L’Oasi, a terrace with a pool and forest views.
What is it? Two La Massana restaurants with produce-led cooking and terraces with a view.
Why go? For seasonal Andorran food while looking out at the mountains.
- Jou la BordaSispony, facing the Anyós valley
- Restaurant AndreaXixerella, La Massana
La Petite Forêt and UNNIC, Andorra after dark
La Petite Forêt is a restaurant created by the artist Philippe Shangti: an art installation you walk into, explore and eat inside.
UNNIC is the country’s big leisure complex, with the Gran Casino inside, shows and several restaurants. The big news is that Rafel Muria, who holds a Michelin star at Quatre Molins in Cornudella de Montsant, is taking charge of El Restaurante de UNNIC.
Shopping in Andorra: sport, jewellery and perfume
- Viladomat. In 1951, Adelaida and Francesc Viladomat opened Andorra’s first sports shop. This year they turn 75, with 4 shops and, in winter, 9 rental points on the slopes. Their flagship carries exclusive brands such as Moncler, Bogner and Barbour.
- Cristina Cerqueda Jewelry. A designer and gemmologist since 2003, she makes bespoke pieces and reworks antique jewellery at Casa Guillemó, in the old town of Andorra la Vella.
- Angeline Perfumes. Niche perfumery at accessible prices, built around layering: combining fragrances on the skin to create your own.
La Querola, Jean Nouvel’s project in Ordino
In Ordino, La Querola is a housing project by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, with Ribas & Ribas Arquitectes and Jordi Sala, clad in local slate so it blends into the mountainside. On 22 September a fire damaged, by a first estimate, 40 to 50% of the complex, and the developers have confirmed they will rebuild. Days later it was shortlisted in the housing category of the Dezeen Awards 2026, which are presented on 16 November in London.
Getting there and getting around
- By coach. Autocars Nadal, part of Grupo Julià, has been running in Andorra since 1977 and was the trip’s official transport. It runs services from Barcelona and Madrid.
- Your phone. Andorra is outside the European Economic Area, so EU roaming doesn’t apply. The Andorra Telecom eSIM costs from €4.95 and you set it up with a QR code before you leave.
The trip at a glance
| Place | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| MiM Andorra | Leo Messi’s design hotel | Andorra la Vella |
| Lodge Park | Five-star hotel and spa | Soldeu |
| Les Pardines 1819 | Boutique hotel, Michelin-recommended restaurant | Encamp |
| Jou la Borda | Restaurant in a 150-year-old barn | Sispony |
| Restaurant Andrea | Three spaces and a pool | Xixerella, La Massana |
| La Petite Forêt | Restaurant as art installation | Andorra |
| UNNIC | Leisure, casino and Rafel Muria’s restaurant | Andorra |
| Viladomat | Sports shop since 1951 | Andorra |
| Cristina Cerqueda | Bespoke jewellery | Andorra la Vella |
For more trips out of the city, see villages near Barcelona for a day trip.
Heading to Andorra? Message me on Instagram @barcelonainspira and I’ll help you plan it.
Frequently asked questions
What is EDIT Andorra
It’s an annual press trip that shows Spanish media the most cosmopolitan side of Andorra, with design hotels, chef-driven restaurants, craft jewellery and architecture. The first edition ran from 1 to 3 October 2026 and visited eleven places around the country.
Where to stay in Andorra for something special
In Andorra la Vella, MiM Andorra, Leo Messi’s design hotel, with 34 rooms and a new spa. In Soldeu, Lodge Park, a five-star hotel at 1,800 metres with access to Grandvalira. And in Encamp, Les Pardines 1819, an 18-room hotel in an 1819 farmhouse with a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
Does my phone work in Andorra
Andorra is outside the European Economic Area, so EU roaming rules don’t apply and using your usual data plan can get expensive. Andorra Telecom sells a prepaid eSIM for visitors from 4.95 euros, which you set up before the trip with a QR code.
How to get from Barcelona to Andorra without a car
By coach. Autocars Nadal, part of Grupo Julià, has operated in Andorra since 1977 and runs trips from Barcelona and Madrid. By car, the drive from Barcelona takes around three hours.
