A small dot on the map of Europe is the dwarf state of Andorra, located in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. The size of the principality does not exceed 500 square kilometers, and the population is 76 thousand people.
Despite its modest size, Andorra is one of the most visited countries in the world and manages to receive almost 9 million tourists annually. The principality has a lot to see and do. The most popular type of leisure is ski resorts , of which there are several; the season lasts from December to April, at which time the flow of tourists is most noticeable. The locals do not mind, because tourism provides the country with a stable income, along with banking.
Andorra is a tax haven with a high level of banking privacy . In addition, the country is a duty-free zone , and many goods can be purchased here 25-40% cheaper. Shopping tourism is also a developed trend in the principality; connoisseurs tend to come here for luxury goods.
An interesting fact - there is no army and prisons in the country! The external security of the country is provided by neighboring Spain and France, and prisons are not required, because crime is at zero level. For the internal security of citizens, only 240 police officers are responsible for the entire state.
Andorra is a picturesque corner of nature, spread out at the foot of the mountains. There is clean air, green hills and snow-white mountain peaks. There is no sea in the country, which is compensated by numerous mountain lakes with turquoise water . The capital and the most visited city by tourists is Andorra la Vella . Once a small village has gone through centuries of development and turned into the capital of the principality. In addition to nature, the old architecture will surprise you (some buildings have survived from the 9th - 10th centuries), which harmoniously combines with modern buildings.
Andorra has great roads , so it would be a cool idea to rent a car and drive through the old towns, admiring the views from the window, especially since it will take no more than half an hour to get to each one.
Service in Andorra is top notch , but for a reasonable fee. Each hotel has its own personality, and the Andorrans themselves are friendly and hospitable people. In addition to the indigenous population - the descendants of Catalan peasants - the Spaniards, French and Portuguese live in the principality. Locals speak three languages: Catalan, Spanish and French, respectively. Andorra is also a country of long-livers : the average life expectancy here is 82 years. Probably, this is facilitated by a good level of ecological situation, prosperity and security of both the country as a whole and each citizen separately.
