Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, isolated Andorra has experienced a turnaround in the last 50 years, thanks to a growing tourist industry and an influx of immigrants. After spending over 700 years as a co-principality under French and Spanish leadership, the system was replaced by a parliamentary democracy in 1993, with the titular co-princes remaining. Catalan may be the official language, but Spanish and French are commonly spoken as well.
Thanks to its status as a low-tax haven, Andorra is attractive to French and Spanish tourists, who flock to the nation for duty-free shopping and winter sports. The country’s mountains provide what is perhaps the best skiing in the region, as well as hiking in the summer. Andorra La Vella, the nation’s capital and only town, is home to the heart of Andorra’s shopping scene and the gateway to the mountainous regions. Try Arsinal for skiing, Pal for summer sports or the charming village of Ordino.