The best duty-free products in Andorra: your 2026 shopping guide

Andorra applies a 4.5% consumption tax —the IGI— compared to Spain's 21% VAT. This difference is why perfumes, tobacco, alcohol, and electronics cost less here than anywhere else in Europe. This guide explains which products are worth buying, how much you can bring without declaring in 2026, and what happens if you exceed the limit.

Why is it cheaper to buy in Andorra?

The Principality of Andorra is not part of the European Union or its customs union. This allows it to set its own consumption tax: the IGI (Impost General Indirecte), whose general rate is 4.5% compared to Spain's 21% VAT or France's 20% TVA.

Source: Andorran IGI Law 11/2012; AEAT; DGFIP France.

This difference of between 15 and 16 percentage points is directly reflected in the final price of many products. Not all: the tax difference is especially noticeable in medium-to-high ticket categories such as perfumery, electronics, and spirits. In chain fashion or basic food, the differential is minimal or non-existent.

Furthermore, for tobacco and alcohol products, the savings are even greater because Spain and France apply their own special taxes on these categories, which Andorra does not replicate to the same extent.

Which products are worth buying in Andorra?

The order of profitability varies by product. These are the five where savings are real and consistent.

1. Perfumes and cosmetics: the best savings-to-size ratio

Major brand perfumes are sold in Andorra between 25% and 35% cheaper than in Spain as a direct consequence of the IGI differential. This means that a 100 ml mid-to-high-end fragrance can represent a saving of 25 to 40 euros per bottle.

The additional advantage is their size: perfume falls within its own specific limit (75g of concentrated perfume + 375ml of eau de toilette) which is above the industrial allowance of €900. In other words: perfume does not consume your general shopping quota.

Avinguda Meritxell in Andorra la Vella concentrates the largest offer of perfumeries in the Principality, with the presence of major chains and multi-brand stores. If you are looking for the widest selection of major perfumery and cosmetic brands, it is the mandatory starting point.

Also noteworthy are parapharmacy and pharmacy cosmetics: products with active ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, or hyaluronic acid are subject to the same IGI differential, and Andorran pharmacies usually have a broader international catalog than Spanish pharmacies.

2. Tobacco: the biggest percentage discount

Tobacco is, proportionally, the product where savings are most significant. The price difference between Andorra and Spain is not only due to the IGI, but also because special taxes on tobacco in Spain are significantly higher. The result is an indicative discount of around 30-36% on the most common brands.

An important limit: each adult over 17 years old can bring 300 cigarettes (equivalent to 1.5 cartons), or 150 cigarillos weighing less than 3g each, or 75 cigars weighing more than 3g, or 400g of pipe tobacco. These options are not cumulative.

3. Alcohol: whiskey, gin, and wine at real prices

Imported spirits —whiskey, gin, rum, vodka— show indicative discounts of 30% to 44% compared to Spain, a difference that in mid-range bottles can mean 10 to 20 euros per liter.

Andorran supermarkets offer the most competitive prices for standard brands. Specialized stores, on the other hand, expand the selection of special editions, wines, and champagnes.

The limits per adult over 17 years old are:

• 5 liters of still wine (table wine)
• 1.5 liters of spirits over 22° (whiskey, gin, rum, vodka)
• 3 liters of other alcoholic beverages under 22° (aperitifs, liqueurs, cava, and sparkling wines)

The CCIS Andorra and the Spanish Tax Agency present these three limits as separate and cumulative categories (i.e., you can carry wine + spirits + aperitifs simultaneously up to their respective caps). The French customs, however, present them as alternative options. If you cross the French border or have doubts, consult directly with the customs of your route before making a large alcohol purchase.

4. Electronics: smartphones, laptops, and headphones

Electronic devices are between 15% and 20% cheaper in Andorra than in Spain. This is a real difference, especially in high-ticket products such as high-end smartphones, laptops, or premium headphones, where the difference in euros can exceed 100 euros per device.

Before buying any electronic device, verify that it includes a valid warranty in the European Union. Some products sold in Andorra only carry a manufacturer's warranty for the Principality, which can complicate claims with Spanish technical service. Ask for written confirmation or check the documentation included in the box. This is the most common mistake among electronics buyers in Andorra and the one that causes the most problems later on.

5. Parapharmacy and specialized cosmetics

Andorran pharmacies have a catalog of parapharmacy products, supplements, and cosmetics with active ingredients that usually surpasses the variety found in Spanish pharmacies, and at lower prices thanks to the 4.5% IGI. This is a category that often goes unnoticed but offers a good balance between savings and ease of transport.

What is not worth buying in Andorra?

This question is just as important as the previous one. There are categories where savings are minimal or non-existent:

Chain fashion brands apply the same price in all their European stores, including those in Andorra. The 4.5% IGI does not compensate for the uniform margin these companies maintain. The same applies to luxury jewelry and watches: the tax differential is real but the distributors' margin almost entirely absorbs it.

How much can I bring from Andorra without paying taxes in 2026?

The current limits are based on the EC-Andorra Agreement of June 28, 1990, and Law 33/2012 on the Principality's customs franchise regime, updated by Law 10/2025 of the Andorran Customs Code (in force since October 1, 2025). The franchise limits for private travelers did not substantially change with the new law.

The two franchises: industrial and agricultural

There are two separate and non-cumulative franchises:

• Industrial franchise: up to €900 per adult for products such as electronics, clothing, general perfumery, jewelry, and household items. For minors under 15: €450.
• Agricultural franchise: up to €300 per adult for food products and non-alcoholic beverages. For minors under 15: €150.

That they are not cumulative means that a food product cannot use the industrial franchise margin, nor vice versa. These are independent quotas applied simultaneously but separately.

Complete table of customs franchises 2026

Source: CCIS Andorra and Law 10/2025 of the Andorran Customs Code. The same limits apply at the Spanish border (Farga de Moles) and the French border (Baladrà), given that Andorra does not belong to the EU and both borders apply the EC-Andorra Agreement of 1990.

The allowance is individual, not per family

The allowance applies per person, not per family group. Each traveler has their own quota and cannot transfer it to another family member or add it to another's. If you carry an item whose price individually exceeds 900€, you must declare it even if the sum of the group's allowances still had room.

Practical example for a family of 3 (2 adults + 1 minor under 15 years old):

A family of three can legally transport more than €3,000 in combined purchases without declaration, with real savings in perfumery, alcohol, and tobacco that can easily exceed €400-600 compared to Spanish prices.

What happens if I exceed the limit?

You have two scenarios:

If you declare voluntarily: you pay Spanish VAT (21% on general products, 10% on food) only on the value that exceeds your allowance. The rest is exempt. This is the recommended option if you are carrying a high-value item that you know exceeds your quota, such as a high-end smartphone or a collector's bottle.

If customs detects undeclared goods: consequences include significant financial penalties and the possibility of product confiscation. The cost of not declaring can far outweigh the savings you expected to obtain.

Voluntary declaration does not penalize: it only implies paying the taxes that would correspond in Spain on the excess.

Where to shop in Andorra? Avinguda Meritxell and the center of Andorra la Vella

Andorra la Vella concentrates the highest commercial density in the Principality. The central axis is Avinguda Meritxell, the pedestrian street that acts as the backbone of shopping: in it and its adjacent streets are the main perfumeries, electronics stores, opticians, and fashion establishments.

For perfumes and cosmetics, Avinguda Meritxell and its surroundings offer the widest selection, with the presence of major chains and stores specializing in international brands.

For electronics, the center of Andorra la Vella has establishments specializing in telephony, computing, and photography. Before buying, compare prices between several stores and, again, verify the EU warranty.

For alcohol and tobacco, supermarkets offer the most competitive prices for standard brands. Specialized stores have a wider selection of special editions, designer wines, and Habanos.

You can consult the complete directory of Shopping in Andorra: your store guide on Andorra.com to locate establishments by category and area.

Practical tips for summer shopping

In July and August, visitor traffic is at its peak. Some practical aspects to know before going:

• Border queues can extend between 1 and 2 hours on weekends and August holidays. If you have flexibility, the days with less traffic are Tuesday to Thursday.
• Carry cash for small shops and markets: large stores accept cards without issue, but it may be necessary in independent establishments.
• Always keep your purchase receipt. Customs may request proof of the actual value of the items. Without a receipt, the agent may value the product at the Spanish market price, which can artificially increase the tax calculation basis.

How to cross the border without problems when returning from Andorra?

Green lane or red lane

When crossing the Spanish border (Farga de Moles) or the French border (Baladrà), you will find two lanes:

• Green lane ("Nothing to declare"): for travelers whose purchases do not exceed the allowances or category limits.
• Red lane ("Goods to declare"): for those bringing products above the allowance or items subject to special restrictions.

If your purchases are within the limits of the table above, you can use the green lane. If in doubt, the red lane is always the safest option: voluntary declaration only implies paying the corresponding taxes on the excess.

What documents to carry

• Tickets or invoices for all relevant purchases
• ID or passport
• In case of medication: copy of medical prescription (medication exceeding the quantity considered for personal use requires justification)

Products requiring special permits or that are prohibited

Certain products are subject to special restrictions regardless of their economic value: protected animals and plants (Washington Convention), weapons and ammunition, art and collection objects, and currency exceeding €10,000. Inform yourself before purchasing any item that may fall into these categories.

Plan your shopping getaway to Andorra la Vella

The shopping in Andorra makes more sense if combined with a break in the Principality. Andorra la Vella, with Avinguda Meritxell just a few minutes' walk from most downtown hotels, is the natural starting point for a relaxed and well-organized shopping day.

Staying in Andorra la Vella allows you to spread your shopping throughout the day without the pressure of border queues, take advantage of more flexible weekday shopping hours, and discover that the Principality offers much more than just shops: gastronomy, thermal spas, and mountains less than half an hour away.

See hotels in Andorra la Vella and plan a getaway where shopping is just one ingredient, not the sole reason for the trip.

Want to discover everything you can do in Andorra beyond the shops? Check out our guide to plans in Andorra and our section on tips for planning your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anna
Article written and updated by the local team at Andorra.com