Andorra
Cards, ATMs and cash in Andorra: what to expect
Yes — cards are widely accepted in Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, ski resorts and most shops and restaurants, so you can travel on card for a short trip. Carry €50–100 in cash anyway: small mountain bars, taxis, buses and market stalls may be cash-only, and you need euros for the bus back to Spain or France.
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- Plan calculated
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GuideAndorra
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (€); Andorra is not in the EU but uses the euro
- Cards acceptedcheck
- Visa and Mastercard widely; Amex less so; contactless common in towns
- Cash still neededcheck
- Small bars, taxis, buses, market stalls, some ski-area kiosks
- ATM feescheck
- Local operator fee often €2–5 per withdrawal on foreign cards (2026 estimate)
- DCC at terminals
- Always choose to pay in euros, not your home currency
- Card surchargescheck
- Some small businesses add a minimum spend or a fee for card payments
- Best backup
- Two cards on different networks plus €50–100 cash
Details
Andorra uses the euro even though it is not an EU member, so there is no currency exchange to think about if you arrive from Spain or France. Prices are quoted in euros and coins and notes are the same ones you already have in your pocket from Barcelona or Toulouse.
In Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany and the main ski villages, card acceptance is close to what you would find in a Spanish or French town: supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and larger shops take Visa and Mastercard, and contactless is normal. American Express is accepted in fewer places, so treat it as a backup rather than your main card.
The gaps are the small ones. A mountain bar with ten seats, a taxi, a village bakery, a market stall or a ski-area kiosk may be cash-only or may ask for a minimum spend before they will run a card. National buses (L1–L6) are cheap — roughly €1.50–3 a ride — and you should assume you need coins or a small note for them. Keep €50–100 in mixed notes and coins for a short trip.
ATMs are easy to find in the capital and the resorts, and they dispense euros. The catch is the fee: many Andorran ATMs charge a local operator fee on top of whatever your own bank charges, often in the €2–5 range per withdrawal (2026 estimate). Take out larger amounts less often rather than small amounts repeatedly, and read the screen before confirming — some machines offer to convert the withdrawal into your home currency, which is a worse rate.
| Situation | Card or cash | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, supermarkets, petrol stations | Card | Visa and Mastercard fine; contactless normal |
| Restaurants in the capital and resorts | Card | Amex less reliable; some small places cash-only |
| Taxis | Cash | Assume cash; ask before you get in |
| National buses (L1–L6) | Cash | €1.50–3 a ride — check |
| Mountain bars, village bakeries, market stalls | Cash | May be cash-only or have a minimum spend |
| Ski-area kiosks and lockers | Mixed | Carry coins for small purchases |
| ATMs | Cash | Local fee often €2–5 per withdrawal (2026 estimate) |
Acceptance varies by business size; when in doubt, ask before ordering.
Tips
Always choose to pay in euros when a terminal or ATM offers you a choice between euros and your home currency. That 'pay in USD/GBP' option is dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is set by the machine, not your bank — it usually costs you more.
Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it, and carry two cards on different networks (for example one Visa and one Mastercard) in separate places. If one is blocked or swallowed by an ATM, you still have a way to pay.
Use bank-branded ATMs rather than standalone machines in bars or shops, which tend to have the highest fees. Withdraw a larger amount once or twice rather than small amounts often, and check whether your own bank adds a foreign transaction fee on top.
If you are heading back to Spain or France, spend down your euro coins before you leave — you will not need a separate currency for Andorra, but you will want small change for the coach. For exchange questions and what things cost on the ground, see the currency page and the money and tipping page.
- Pay in euros, never in your home currency, at terminals and ATMs.
- Carry two cards on different networks, stored separately.
- Keep €50–100 in cash for taxis, buses and small bars.
- Withdraw larger amounts less often to limit per-withdrawal fees.
- Spend your coins before the coach back to Spain or France.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Andorra?
Yes in Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, the ski resorts and most shops, hotels and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard are the safest bet; American Express is accepted in fewer places. Small mountain bars, taxis, buses and market stalls may still be cash-only.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Andorra?
Bank-branded ATMs in the capital and resorts are generally cheaper than standalone machines in bars or shops. Expect a local operator fee of roughly €2–5 per withdrawal on foreign cards (2026 estimate), plus whatever your own bank charges. Withdraw larger amounts less often.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always pay in euros. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the machine, not your bank. Decline it and let your bank convert.
Do I need cash in Andorra?
Carry €50–100. Cards cover most of a short trip, but taxis, national buses (€1.50–3 a ride — check), small bars and market stalls may be cash-only, and you will want coins for the coach back to Spain or France.
Can I use euros in Andorra?
Yes. Andorra is not in the EU but uses the euro, so the notes and coins you bring from Spain or France work everywhere. There is no separate Andorran currency to exchange.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Andorra (official tourism)
- officialGovern d'Andorra
- officialEuropean Central Bank – euro
- secondaryWikivoyage – Andorra