Frequently asked questions

The Pyrenees run along the border between France and Spain, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, with the small country of Andorra in the middle. On the Spanish side they cross the Basque Country, Navarre, Aragón and Catalonia; on the French side, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie.

France and Spain are in the Schengen area. EU and EEA citizens need only an ID card or passport. Many other nationalities, including UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, subject to the EU Entry/Exit System and, once it applies, ETIAS. Andorra is outside the EU but is entered through France or Spain. Check your government's latest advice.

Aneto, at 3,404 metres, in the Maladeta massif above Benasque in Aragón, Spain. Posets (3,375 m) and Monte Perdido (3,355 m) follow.

January to March for skiing, and mid-June to September for hiking, lakes and high passes. June and September are quieter than July and August. Spring and autumn are lovely in the valleys and foothills.

Toulouse for the central and Ariège Pyrenees and Andorra; Tarbes–Lourdes and Pau for the Hautes-Pyrénées; Biarritz or Bilbao for the Basque Pyrenees; Barcelona or Perpignan for Catalonia, Andorra and the eastern end; Zaragoza for Aragón.

Yes, especially for beginners, intermediates and families. Grandvalira, Baqueira Beret, Formigal and the Grand Tourmalet are the biggest areas, and prices are generally lower than in the Alps.

For most trips, yes. Public transport links the main towns, but trailheads, villages and many ski resorts are much easier by car.

No. Andorra uses the euro but is not in the EU or the EU customs union, so there are limits on goods you can take out, and EU roaming deals don't always apply.

French and Spanish, plus Catalan (official in Andorra), Basque, Occitan (Aranese in the Val d'Aran) and Aragonese locally. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Yes, a small population of brown bears lives mainly in the central Pyrenees, but sightings are rare. See our wildlife guide.

Yes. The GR10 (France), GR11 (Spain) and HRP (high route) cross the whole range in around six to eight weeks. See hiking.

Garbure, Ossau-Iraty cheese, Bayonne ham, mountain lamb, trout, cassoulet nearby, and tapas and pintxos on the Spanish side. See our food guide.

Type C/E/F European plugs, 230 volts, in France, Spain and Andorra.

Easily. Biarritz and San Sebastián are under an hour from the western Pyrenees, Toulouse and Carcassonne are 1 to 2 hours from the central and eastern valleys, and Barcelona is about 2 to 3 hours from Andorra and the Cerdanya. See Beyond the Pyrenees.