There are four excellent reasons to go to thimble-sized Andorra: exceptional hiking, budget-friendly skiing, spectacular scenery - and bargain duty-free shopping. One of the oldest nations in Europe, it's also one of the smallest, occupying a mere 467 square kilometres in the fairytale Pyrenees between Spain and France.
Its terrain is rugged and immensely beautiful, its towns have the commercial tumult of a Hong Kong marketplace, yet it has no airport - so if you want the Andorran experience, you'll need to get there by road via Toulouse or Barcelona.
The capital, Andorra la Vella ('Andorra the Old'), perches at around 1050m, but is surrounded by peaks that jut nearly 1500m further into the sky. Originally a mountain village, it's been the principal town of Andorra for some 700 years, and has the mementos to prove it.
Among tiny cobbled streets and stone houses, its Barri Antic (Old Quarter) holds the fine 12th-century church, the Esglesia de Sant Esteve, and the Casa de la Vall (House of the Valley) where the Andorran parliament has assembled in comfort since 1702.
Other spots of interest include Ordino, a tranquil town handily situated for the Ordino-Arcalis and Arinsal-Pal ski areas, and Encamp, which is near the major resort of Soldeu. Hikers will find fantastic terrain to tread wherever they go, and the option of sleeping in mountain refuges.
Alternatively, to the east of Andorra la Vella you'll find the delights of Caldea, a massive spa complex fed by natural thermal springs - the perfect end to a day spent on the slopes, the hiking trails... or in the shops.
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