Living in Sant Julià de Lòria: the southern parish

Who lives there and what it is like

Sant Julià de Lòria is the southern parish, the first you reach coming from Spain and the lowest in altitude. The town sits in the valley of the Gran Valira, a few minutes from the border crossing at the Riu Runer, and has the Universitat d'Andorra, shops, restaurants and a steady year-round population. Around it, the villages of Aixovall, Fontaneda, Auvinyà and Bixessarri climb the slopes on either side of the valley.

People choose Sant Julià for its prices, which are generally the most affordable of the seven parishes for flats and houses, for its milder climate, and for the short drive to Spain. It is a working town rather than a resort, and nearly everything is lived in all year.

Getting around

The town is about ten to fifteen minutes by car from Andorra la Vella, down the main road through Santa Coloma and La Margineda. The national bus network runs frequently along this road, free for residents since 2022. The Spanish border is a few minutes south, and La Seu d'Urgell, the nearest Spanish town, is a short drive beyond it. Winter driving is easier here than higher up, though the roads to the upper villages and to Naturland still see snow.

Ski and outdoors

There is no ski area in the parish. The ski areas are all in the north of the country, so skiers face a longer drive than from the northern parishes. Naturland, the adventure and nature park above the town, offers the Tobotronc mountain coaster and activities in both summer and winter, and the slopes around the villages offer walking and cycling.

Schools and services

Sant Julià has public primary schooling, while most secondary schools are in the capital area. The Universitat d'Andorra has its main campus here. The town has a health centre, pharmacies and supermarkets; the general hospital is in Escaldes-Engordany.

The homes

The stock is mixed: flats in blocks of several storeys in the town and along the main road, and houses, terraced homes and some older farmhouses in the villages. Much of it is older than in Escaldes-Engordany, with fewer new developments. Nearly all homes are lived in all year and there is little holiday stock. Per square metre, Sant Julià is generally the most affordable parish, which makes it the usual place to look for more space on a given budget, both to buy and to rent.

Browse homes for sale in Sant Julià de Lòria, homes for rent and the market page. The price guide compares all seven parishes, and the renting guide covers leases and deposits. The nearest parish to the north is Andorra la Vella.

Laws, services and figures change. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice; check with a notary or an adviser before you sign anything.