La Seu d'Urgell airport on the border with Andorra was put into operation and began to receive commercial flights
Andorra hid high in the Pyrenees. The route to the principality raises many questions, some of which I will answer. So, with which visa and from which city is it easiest to get to Andorra from Russia, Spain or France.
Visa to Andorra
To come to Andorra as a tourist from Russia, you need to obtain (or already have) a Schengen visa. A double or multi entry issued by any Schengen member country will do. The Principality of Andorra, by the way, is not included in it, but all visas valid on the territory of its neighboring France and Spain suit her quite well.
A one-time Schengen visa is not suitable for entering Andorra, because you will enter its territory from Spain or France, which means that you will leave the Schengen zone for a while, and then you will have to return to it. True, they check very, very selectively at the border, but violators can be punished.
For a visa to Andorra (if you are heading specifically to Andorra and for less than three months), you need to apply to the Spanish or French Consulate, because. The principality does not have its own consular department in Russia.
For a longer visa, you need to apply to the Andorran embassy, which has representative offices in Paris and Madrid.
If you are going to visit Andorra for a day on an excursion from a Spanish / French hotel, then there is nothing to worry about at all. Organized tourist groups cross the border freely, but I'm almost sure that a one-time Schengen visa will not work in this case either.
Helicopters and private flights to the Principality
Andorra does not have its own airport, but there are several helipads serving communities and ski resorts principalities: La Massana ( La Massana), Escaldes-Engordany ( Escaldes-Engordany) and Pal-Arinsal ( Pal-Arinsal).
Ten kilometers south of the principality, already in Spain, there is a small airport Pirineus - la Seu d'Urgel airport accepting private jets. He is called Pirineus - Andorra airport, the administration plans to open it for regular and charter flights.
In the meantime, you can get to Andorra by other, more accessible ways. The nearest airports to Andorra, which are the easiest to fly from Russia, are located in Spain and France.
Planes and buses through Spain
Reus Airport ( Reus Airport) is located at a distance of 190 kilometers from Andorra. Irish flies into it Ryanair from London, Dublin, Glasgow, Eidinhoven, so we will not dwell on it in detail. But if you are brought here (and it is worth going to Reus for a walk), then in the city you can take a bus or train and get to Barcelona.
There are other buses from the cities of Spain to Andorra, I will not list them all. Prepare your passport, be prepared for the fact that the service in Spanish buses will not be very hurried, and come early: drivers have a habit of not waiting for anyone.
Planes and buses through France
By train
There is no railway connection with Andorra. The nearest railway station to the capital of Andorra in Spain is located at a distance of 60 kilometers in the city of Puigcerda ( Puigcerda). It's far and meaningless.
In France, the nearest railway station is at a distance of 38 kilometers (only 3 km to the border with Andorra) and is called Hospitalet ( L'Hospitalet). They pass by her Shuttle Buses from Toulouse to Andorra.
- the identity card specified in the order,
- birth certificate when traveling with children,
- printed itinerary receipt(optional).
What can you take on a plane
Hand luggage is the items that you take with you on the plane. Weight norm hand luggage can vary from 5 to 10 kg, and its size most often should not exceed the sum of three dimensions (length, width and height) from 115 to 203 cm (depending on the airline). A handbag is not considered hand luggage and is carried freely.
The bag that you take with you on the plane should not contain knives, scissors, medicines, aerosols, cosmetics. Alcohol from stores duty free can only be carried in sealed bags.
How to pay for luggage at the airport
If the baggage weight exceeds the norms established by the airline (most often - 20-23 kg), you need to pay for each kilogram of excess. In addition, many Russian and foreign airlines, as well as low-cost airlines, have tariffs that do not include free baggage allowance and must be paid separately as an additional service.
Baggage must be checked in at the airport at a separate drop-off check-in counter. If you are unable to print boarding pass, you can get it at the usual check-in counter of the airline, and check in and check in your luggage there.
Where to find out the arrival time if you are a greeter
You can find out the time of arrival of the aircraft on the online scoreboard of the airport. The Tutu.ru website has an online scoreboard of the main Russian and foreign airports.
You can find out the exit (gate) number on the arrivals board at the airport. This number is located next to the arrival flight information.
What to do if the flight is canceled
If the flight was canceled more than 24 hours before departure, then passengers are transferred to similar flights of the airline. The costs are borne by the carrier, the service is free for the passenger. If none of the options offered by the airline suits you, most airlines can issue a "forced refund". After confirmation by the airline, the money will be returned to your account. Sometimes this may take several weeks.
How to check in at the airport
Online check-in is available on the websites of most airlines. Most often, it opens 23 hours before the start of the flight. You can go through it no later than 1 hour before the departure of the aircraft.
To check in at the airport you will need:
It does not, and therefore tourists come here only ground transport.
The nearest cities with airports are in and in. Therefore, the answer to the question, "What is the name of Andorra's airport or where is it located?" sounds exactly like this - "Airport and Airport Toulouse Blagnac".
International airports near Andorra
Choosing air gate, through which you have to get to and then find yourself in the ski resorts of the Principality of Andorra, you should take into account the duration of the flight and the possibility of a further transfer. You will need a Schengen visa to both visit France and fly to Spain, and the travel time will be about five hours to Barcelona and at least six hours to Toulouse, given that you will only have to get to the French airport with a change in one of European capitals.
Flying through Catalonia
IN Spanish province Catalonia Barcelona Airport is the largest:
- Several times a week from here commits regular flights Aeroflot.
- IN summer season Numerous transfers from other Russian cities are added.
- In addition, almost all European air carriers operate regular flights here, and the base ones are Air Europa, Air Nostrum and Vueling Airlines.
Buses depart directly from terminals N1 and N2 of the airport to Andorra several times a day, which take travelers to all the ski resorts of the principality. The price of the issue is from 30 to 40 euros, depending on the distance of the selected slopes, and the travel time can be about four hours.
Not a bad option– rent a car and go to Andorra right on it. There are rental car offices at the Barcelona airport, and you can book the car you need in advance on the Internet.
The Barcelona Airport website, where you can find a detailed flight schedule or a list of airlines flying here, is www.airport-pula.com.
french way
There are no direct flights to Toulouse, and therefore this route involves a connection in one of the European capitals. The easiest way to get to Toulouse airport is connecting flight through with by Air France.
From the only airport terminal to Andorra, a bus leaves several times a day, passing through all the ski resorts of the principality. The transfer will take about three and a half hours and 35 euros, but a taxi will cost faster, but several times more expensive (all prices are valid for September 2015).
The address of the official website of Toulouse Airport, where you can find out the flight schedule and get acquainted with the infrastructure, is www.toulouse.aeroport.fr.
How to get to Andorra
Its own airport in Andorra. Immediate major airports located in Spanish Barcelona and French Toulouse. Aeroflot flies to Barcelona airport 4 times a week from Moscow (4 hours 30 minutes), and charter flights from different cities Russia. The easiest way to get to Toulouse airport Air France with a layover in Paris. A number of airlines offer flights to these airports with transfers in other cities.
The nearest main railway stations also are Barcelona and Toulouse. There are no direct trains from Russia there, you can get there with at least two transfers, the journey will take about two days and will cost more than an air ticket. From Toulouse, you can still travel by regional trains to L'Hospitalet or Tour de Carol stations - these are the stations closest to Andorra.
TO ski slopes vacationers are taken by a special bus
Ski area - 1780-2358 m
Short and steep slopes of Arinsal are more suitable for experienced skiers
Ski area - 1550-2560 m
lovers thrill can slide down the most difficult slope in Andorra (1010 m)
Snowboarders will undoubtedly be attracted by the 24-kilometer track
Hotels and restaurants are located in Arinsal near the ski lift station.
In Pale, you need to get to the hotels by bus
Bars and discos in these resorts are few, so spend free time best in nearby La Massana
There are two sports centers in this town: "D" Aldosa Multisport Center "(" D "Aldosa Multisports Center") and "D" Aldosa Sports Center "(" D "Aldosa Sports Center"), where tourists can play tennis or squash , visit the sauna, solarium, gyms, swimming pool
Take a break from sports in the numerous restaurants, bars and nightclubs
Those who wish can go to the capital, which is only 13 km away
Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig is a ski area in Andorra, located in the eastern part of the country, on the border with France
In terms of size and number of tourists, it surpasses all others. ski areas countries
This resort (the first in Andorra) opened in 1957, and in 1998 a cable car, which can be reached from Andorra la Vella, Escaldes or Encamp to the upper slopes of Pas de la Casa - Grau Roge
Every skier, regardless of skiing class, will find a track to their liking here, and then they can easily meet up with friends, since all the lower lift stations are located in one place
Some trails are illuminated at night
If you prefer an airplane, then in order to fly to Andorra, you need to fly either to French Toulouse or Spanish Barcelona. It is in these cities that the nearest airports are located, the distance to Andorra from which can be called small. Many airlines offer an abundance of flights to the aforementioned airports with transfers in other cities, and only Barcelona can be reached with a direct flight. Andorra airport tickets are better to buy with a flight from Moscow to Barcelona. from Spanish and French airports Andorra can be reached by bus, or by private transfer.
If you are closer railway transport, then tickets must also be taken to Toulouse, or to Barcelona. Unfortunately, Russian trains they don’t go there, so you have to go with transfers. This, of course, is not very convenient when you have a wagon and a small cart of personal belongings, but you can see a lot of interesting things from the train window. Upon arrival in Toulouse, you will need to get to L "Hospitalette or Tour de Carol - these are the nearest stations and final destination your journey. To do this, you need to use regional trains. And from there by bus to Andorra. Traveling to a country without an airport is not as scary as it seems!
