This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
La Massana is a town located in the Northwest of Andorra, the largest microstate of Europe that lies in the Eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France. With the elevation of Andorra averaging almost 2000 meters, this area of the country is especially mountaneous and is situated close to the highest peak of Andorra, the Coma Pedrosa. You can reach La Massana by taking a bus to Andorra's capital from Barcelona and then changing to a local bus. Although the buses are quite frequent, if you are planning to travel around a lot or venture to the less visited parts of the country, you will definitel need our own car and some good driving skills for the steep mountain passes.
Tourists come to La Massana for two main reasons--for hiking or skiing. With the closeness of the Coma Pedrosa peak and a variety of hiking trails starting right outside the town, this place is a real hiking paradise. Moreover, if you are more into winter sports, you are guaranteed to love this place, as the triangle of La Massana-Pal-Arinsal boasts its 89 kilometers worth of skiing tracks. In addition, the town hosts a large number of traditional festivals all year round, which are quite popular with travellers. If you want to experience a really spectacular one, then time your visit around the 15th of August or 17th of November.
Although there are no hostels in La Massana itself, you might be interested in staying at one of the local hotels that offer an authentic experience in a magical setting. However, if you are careful with your budget, you do not have to go far either: just check out the hostel in the nearby Sispony, which is guaranteed to impress you with its traditional architecture and relaxing atmosphere. Alternatively, you could stay in the hostel of Andorra la Vella and take the bus to La Massana every day.
Written by local expertz for La Massana
JudyM