Living in Escaldes-Engordany: the city next to the capital

Who lives there and what it is like

Escaldes-Engordany runs straight on from Andorra la Vella: you cross the river and you are in the other parish, and together they form one urban area in the valley bottom. It has its own centre, with the Vivand shopping street, and it is home to Caldea, the spa fed by the hot springs that gave Escaldes its name, and to the country's general hospital.

People choose Escaldes for the same reasons as the capital, city services within walking distance, with slightly more residential streets and newer buildings in parts. It is busy, urban and lived in all year. Above the town, on the mountainside, Engolasters is a quieter residential area of houses and small buildings with views over the valley.

Getting around

The centre of Andorra la Vella is a walk away, and the national bus network links Escaldes with every parish, free for residents since 2022. Encamp is about ten minutes by car up the main road, and the ski areas of Grandvalira are reached through Encamp or further up the valley. Engolasters is a short but steep drive above the town, where winter tyres or chains matter more than in the valley bottom.

Ski and outdoors

There are no ski lifts in the parish. The nearest are the Funicamp in Encamp and, further up, Grandvalira's other sectors; La Massana's gondola to Pal-Arinsal is also close. For walking, the Engolasters lake and the paths along the slopes are on the doorstep, and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, starts from the parish.

Schools and services

The three public school systems (Andorran, Spanish and French) have schools in the capital area, which includes Escaldes, and secondary schools are within easy reach. Private international schools are in the capital area and in La Massana. The hospital, clinics, pharmacies and larger supermarkets are all in or next to the parish.

The homes

The stock is urban: flats in blocks of several storeys, many of them renovated or newly built, with a steady flow of new developments replacing older buildings. Houses are few and mostly in Engolasters and on the upper edges of the parish. Nearly all homes are lived in all year, and the rental market is active. Per square metre, Escaldes-Engordany is the dearest parish together with Andorra la Vella, with new flats in the centre at the upper end.

See homes for sale in Escaldes-Engordany, homes for rent and the market page. The price guide compares the parishes, and the costs of buying covers taxes, including the different tax on a new build. Next door 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.