Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra, in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. It’s known as a duty-free retail hub, with shops lining Meritxell Avenue. The 12th-century Sant Esteve church has baroque altarpieces. Former parliamentary seat Casa de la Vall, dating to 1580, features 16th- and 17th-century murals. The nearby area of Vallnord has resorts with trails for winter sports, plus a bike park.
Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg. It is a well-known Austrian resort with beautiful historic hotels and villas built on steep forest slopes. The city center is located at Gastein Waterfall, about 1000 meters above sea level. The southern part of Bad Gastein belongs to the Hohe Tauern National Park.
Val Thorens Ski Resort, located in the French Alps at an altitude of 2300m, is the highest ski town in Europe. The resort is part of the 3 Vallees ski area, which is one of the largest associated ski areas in the world. The slopes of Val Thorens face north and northwest, providing good snow conditions, however, the resort itself faces south and, finally, skiing, many people like to sit outside in the sun.