Andorra Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Andorra.
Andorra runs a compact, well-funded public system administered by SAAS, supplemented by private clinics in Escaldes-Engordany and Ordino.
Main hospital is in Escaldes-Engordany (10 min drive from Andorra la Vella); smaller urgent-care centres exist in Canillo and Sant Julià de Lòria.
Green-cross pharmacies dot every parish. Common medications such as ibuprofen and altitude pills are dispensed over the counter. Yet bring prescriptions for anything unusual.
Travel insurance with medical cover is not compulsory but is strongly recommended, EHIC/GHIC cards are not accepted.
- ✓ Pack blister pads and knee supports if skiing. Pharmacies sell them but at resort mark-ups.
- ✓ Keep receipts for any private consultation. Insurance reimbursement is faster with original paperwork.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Opportunistic pickpocketing around Funicamp gondola stations and crowded duty-free perfumeries.
Narrow switchbacks on CG-2 and CG-6 become slick with sudden snowfall.
Brief headaches or dizziness above 2,000 m on hiking trails to Estany de l'Isla.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Shops claim pre-existing scratches on skis or boards were caused by you. They demand inflated repair fees in cash before returning your passport as 'deposit'.
Unlicensed drivers at the Andorran coach drop-off in Barcelona Sants quote triple the normal shared transfer rate.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Sign trail registers at staffed refuges so rescuers know your planned route.
- • Carry a printed map. Mobile signal drops behind granite walls near Estany de Juclar.
- • Pas de la Casa bars close at 03:00; main street is patrolled. But side alleys are unlit and icy.
- • Taxis back to Soldeu or Arinsal run on fixed night tariffs, confirm amount before boarding.
- • Fuel up before 20:00; pumps at La Massana and Encamp shut early on Sundays.
- • Roundabouts give priority to traffic already inside. Signal left when exiting.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo women report feeling comfortable walking through Andorra la Vella's scented jacaranda-lined avenues even after evening shopping hours. Lighting is excellent and police visibility is high.
- → Choose centrally located Andorra hotels near Plaça del Poble where pedestrian traffic remains steady until 23:00.
- → Trust your instincts in après-ski bars; staff will call taxis without question if you feel uneasy.
Same-sex relations are legal. Civil unions were recognized in 2005 and marriage in 2023.
- → Nightlife gravitates to English- and Spanish-speaking bars in Escaldes-Engordany where staff are openly welcoming.
- → Hotel booking platforms flag LGBTQ-friendly properties. The Sport Hotel in Soldeu and Hotel Plaza in Andorra la Vella display pride badges.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Mountain rescue via helicopter is free for residents but billed to non-residents; a single evacuation can exceed mid-range hotel budgets.
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