Which European capital has the highest elevation?

The European capital with the highest elevation is Andorra la Vella. The capital of the small Pyrenean principality stands at about 1,023 metres above sea level.

Andorra la Vella lies in a steep mountain valley between France and Spain, where the Valira del Nord and Valira d’Orient meet to form the Gran Valira. Its altitude gives the city cooler conditions than many other European capitals and contributes to snowy winters, although the surrounding mountains create considerable local variation.

The name means “the city of Andorra” in Catalan. Here, “vella” comes from a form related to “old” or “town,” helping distinguish the city from the country as a whole. The area’s economy is strongly connected to tourism, shopping, and mountain recreation.

Several other European capitals are also relatively high. Madrid sits at roughly 667 metres, while Bern is around 540 metres. Vienna is much lower, at about 171 metres. Andorra la Vella’s elevation is sometimes confused with the height of nearby peaks, but the quiz compares capital cities themselves, not the highest mountains in their countries.