Andorra

Western Europe’s tiny mountain kingdom, Andorra is world-famous for duty-free shopping and excellent spread of ski resorts. A pinprick in the high Pyrenees on the France-Spain line, this rugged principality may be one of the smallest countries on the continent, but it draws millions of tourists every year.

Whatever the season, outdoor lovers have a slew of gorgeous peaks to gambol about in. You’ll find some of the finest skiing in Europe in Andorra, to be sure, but on the other side of the calendar there are also some alluring options for hiking amid craggy pinnacles, high-elevation lakes, and foaming whitewater. Trek to the crown of Coma Pedrosa, which, at 9,656 feet, is Andorra’s highest summit (where you’ll take in an unforgettable prospect of the eastern Pyrenees). And some of the international long-distance footpaths of the “GR” network lace the Andorran high country, offering the opportunity for extended hiking odysseys along the Pyrenees spine.

These mountains aren’t merely a playground or scenic backdrop: They’re also infused with human lifeways far removed from Andorra’s high-end shops and spas. In 2004, UNESCO declared the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley a World Heritage Site for its historic settlements, smelters, and terraces as well as its age-old sheep pastures.

The capital of Andorra la Vella may be chiefly known for its shopping, but you can also sift out a little history here: Its old quarter retains centuries-old churches and government buildings.

Andorra’s one heck of a pleasure-ground, as devotedly focused on tourism as you’ll find anywhere. The fancy capital-city boutiques and the lavish winter-sports resorts may anchor that focus, but it’s the majesty of the Pyrenees ramparts—and the quiet glimmers of deep-rooted regional heritage—that really speak to the heart.