Pas de la Casa is a ski resort in Andorra and lies on the France-Andorra Border at 2085 m asl.
Andorra is a fantastic country for discovering as a backpacker. During my 10-day stay, I explored this mountainous, European Microstate to the full. Every day, I visited a different town in this superb landlocked country.
There are only two roads into Andorra. The one coming from Spain, at Sant Julià de Lòria, which is the border crossing I used, coming from Barcelona on the Directbus and the one coming from France. The border town is Pas de la Casa. And I was keen to go check it out.
You can get to Pas de la Casa from Andorra la Vella or Escaldes-Engordany, which is where I was staying at the Alberg Els Andes hostel, on the L4 bus.
I hadn’t been able to find any info about the fares and ticketing on the local buses within Andorra. But, Pablo at the hostel gave me all the details. Locals get free transport in Andorra and for us tourists, we just pay the driver in cash. You can get single tickets but return tickets work out a bit cheaper. So after a coffee and a sweet croissant at the café/bar across the street, I grabbed my daypack and rain jacket and hopped on the bus.
Escaldes-Engordany to Pas de la Casa bus ticket:
As I rode the bus, the bus company emailed me. A one-way ticket is 4.80€. A return is 7.30€. Good to know for further escapades. Cards are NOT accepted. You need to pay with cash. The MoraBanc and Andbank both have free ATM withdrawal charges.
Arrival in Pas de la Casa was after 30 minutes. It is a ski resort 2085 m asl, so about 1000 m higher than Escaldes-Engordany and the temperature was about 10 degrees cooler.
I went down the road towards France just to get the Andorra sign photo:
Andorra is a tax-free shopping destination. And here on the border with France, there are hypermarkets everywhere. Check out these insanely low prices.
Maybe I should have bought a bottle!
The tourist information office has brochures covering Andorra in many languages, with flags, postcards and fridge magnets for sale:
There was even a Yellow Jersey from the Tour de France, signed by Tadej Pogačar, who won the GC in 2021. Stage 15 had finished in Andorra la Vella, won by the American, Sepp Kuss, and stage 16, after a rest day, had started in Pas de la Casa:
There is one church, Església de Sant Pere in the centre. Worth a look:
Some other random photos from the town:
Andorran flag hanging from a building:
The postal system in Andorra is very unique. There is no Andorran postal service. It is operated by both La Poste from France and Correos from Spain. And you’ll find 2 post boxes side by side, the French one on the left and the Spanish one on the right:
There are many restaurants in Pas de la Casa. How to choose?
At the La Residencia, I gaily chose the Lasanya Vegetariana. I wasn’t disappointed.
Estany de les Abelletes
I needed a walk, but the weather was crap. But undeterred, I saw on the map, a small lake, Estany de les Abelletes. I went to take a look.
I first followed the ski runs out of town and then found the footpath markers. The snow was soft, so completely un ideal but what the hell.
After 25 minutes I arrived at the small lake:
These selfie posts are great for solo travellers:
Not too much to see and I didn’t stay long as the weather closed in a bit. 20 minutes later I was back in town and I rode the L4 bus home again.
A perfect little excursion.