A Local’s Guide to Girona, Spain
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I was born and raised in Girona, and other than a few years spent at university in Barcelona, I’ve lived in this city for my whole life. And I deeply love this place - I love living here, endlessly rediscovering its charming medieval streets, and above all, showing it off and sharing it with friends and acquaintances who come and want to explore it.
Located between the mountains and the sea, and washed by the waters of 4 rivers, Girona is a medieval little gem that feels completely distinct from Barcelona, only an hour to its south. Whereas Barcelona is cosmopolitan and endlessly bustling, Girona is distinctly Catalan and it has the pleasantly relaxed energy of a big town rather than a city.
The Barri Vell, our historic quarter, is a web of little cobblestone streets capped by our glorious hilltop cathedral and impressive ancient city walls. And let’s not forget the Jewish Quarter, amongst the best preserved in Europe, or the colorful Cases de Onyar along the river. In short, this is a really pretty town and you’ll be forgiven for regularly feeling like you’re on the set of a movie while you’re here.
On top of all this, we have great gastronomy, a few very nice cultural institutions/offerings, and an exceedingly welcoming atmosphere and friendly locals.
Throughout this article, I’ve shared my tips, recommendations, and most anything noteworthy that I can think of about this city, all with the hope that I help you visit and experience it in the best way possible. I hope you find it helpful!
And for anyone who’s interested in a tour while you’re in town, I’d suggest reaching out to my cousin Dolça who is a guide here in the city. She’s from here like me, and she offers really fun walking and food tours in town. You can see some of Dolça’s tours here.
You can also check out some of our other Catalunya guides below:
Table of Contents
Girona planning cheatsheet
Plan your itinerary with expert advice
- Book a Spain travel consultation with a local expert
My favorite hotels in the Costa Brava
- Mas de Torrent - total luxury in Calella de Palafrugell. $300/night
- Hotel Aiguablava - an elegant classic in Begur. $175/night
- Hotel Aiguaclara - eclectic, boutique style in the heart of Begur. $120/night
- Hotel Casamar - breezy ocean views in Llafranc. $115/night
Guided tours and activities
- Private tours of Barcelona and Girona with Dolça
- Private Costa Brava day trip from Barcelona
- Small group full-day Costa Brava tour
- Highlights of Catalonia: Montserrat, Girona, & Costa Brava in a day
- Half-day Catamaran cruise (from Lloret de Mar)
How to get around
- Car rentals with DiscoverCars
- Train tickets from Renfe
- Bus routes at Sarfa and Sagales
Why visit?
Girona seen from above. Photo: Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite being a small city that is of course vastly overshadowed by nearby Barcelona, this is a place that has quite a lot going for it: our historic center is so impressive that scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed here; the Temps de Flor flower festival is absolutely stunning; and we have an excellent cuisine with some neat local specialties - perhaps best emphasized by the success of the Roca brothers (more on this later).
And more recently, the meteoric rise of our soccer team, which, in only two years, has gone from playing in the second division to debuting in the Champions League!
Many Girona residents, like me, are fiercely proud of our city ("orgull gironí" is, in fact, the motto of our football team, now in the first division of La Liga), and there are few things we like more than praising it and talking about its virtues. The rational side of me knows it’s a bit exaggerated, but even I still do it!
From a touristic perspective, it’s our 2,000 years of history and exceptionally well-preserved historical sights and medieval core, along with the excellent gastronomic scene that are probably the main selling points for a visit, and I think it’s fair to say that the beauty of our streets, the fascinating history, and the flavors of our local specialties definitely punch far, far above their weight.
But this is also a supremely well-located city, so close to both the sea and the mountains that you can get to them any time you feel like it, either on a scenic road trip in the car, or, for those who want to get more active, a glorious bike ride through the beautiful landscapes. When staying here, you can easily pop over to the mountains for a morning hike and then cruise down to the beach for an afternoon by the sea.
I also think Girona’s size is perfect, straddling the divide between a big town and a small city - there are just over 100,000 of us who live here. Because of that, we get a relatively peaceful and calm atmosphere and the friendliness of a town where neighbors chat and people actually know one another, but also have much more activity and excitement than a small town isolated in the middle of the countryside. To me, it’s the best of both worlds here!
Where is Girona? How to get here?
Girona is about 100 kilometers north of Barcelona and 40 kilometers south of France, lying between the two of them. It’s an inland city with a privileged position that’s just a short drive west of the sea and famous Costa Brava, and right on the southern edge of the Empordá wine region.
When it comes to getting here, that’s always easy, as the city has excellent public transit connections with Barcelona. There are direct trains that travel between the two cities every hour, and you can even get here from Barcelona airport, as there are buses at the airport that will take you straight here.
From Barcelona, the high-speed train takes only 40 minutes, and there are also cheaper (but slower) options that take a little less than 1.5 hours. The two cities are so well connected that lots of people live in Girona but still work or study in Barcelona, making the daily commute between them (I’m one of those people!).
If you happen to be coming from Madrid, the high-speed train that runs between there and Barcelona actually stops in Girona, so it’s super easy to get here from the Spanish capital as well.
And for anyone who will be in France first, all trains heading to Barcelona pass through here, so you can also seamlessly get to Girona by train from Paris or other French cities.
Once you arrive in Girona, moving around the city is very simple because everywhere can be reached on foot. You will never need a car or even public transport to explore this town.
Now, when it comes to the places of interest around Girona (the sea, the towns of the Costa Brava, the mountains, wineries, etc.), you will absolutely need to rent a car as public transportation is quite limited. But that’s no issue, as there are lots of rental companies here, most of them with offices right next to the train station.
A (not so) brief history
Girona’s history dates back more than 2,000 years – in fact, the city is celebrating its bi-millennium in 2025 – so, if we wanted to cover everything from the very beginning, this article would never end! So I’ll give you what I’ll call the “executive summary”, highlighting the most important bits, which we were of course taught at school when growing up.
The most important thing for you to know is that throughout its 2,000 years of existence, from Roman times through to the modern era, Girona has been constantly fought over. This is because it’s a border city (France is just a short ways away) that occupies a very strategic position, so it has always been a prized asset for the kingdoms and empires that have ruled this part of the world.
So, Girona has constantly changed hands, passing from Romans to Visigoths, Carolingians to Moors and then the Aragonese, and more recently, between the French, Catalan, and Spanish. We’re like a little ping-pong ball, always being bounced back and forth according to the whims of empires, treaties, and wars.
Even so, the city has been fairly rich and powerful throughout much of its history, largely owing to its privileged position at the confluence of the Ter and and Onyar rivers and lying near to the sea between Barcelona and France.
We also had a thriving Jewish community for centuries (from the 9th century through to the end of the 15th), with Jews and Catholics coexisting peacefully here for more than 500 years. I know this is a little bit out of place in this historical summary, but I’m mentioning it specifically because the Jewish Quarter here is one of the best preserved that you’ll find anywhere in Spain, so it’s something you should absolutely be aware of.
Here’s a seriously condensed chronological overview: We’ll start with the Romans, who around the 1st century BC built a defensive settlement here, right where the city stands today. Thus was born “Gerunda”, a small military outpost that grew little by little and was eventually fortified by city walls in the 3rd century AD.
After Rome fell, the city was ruled by the Visigoths until around 715 when the Moors arrived and conquered it. They only ruled briefly though, and toward the end of the 8th century, the Carolingians (Charlemagne) took over, and immediately set about expanding the original fortifications and reinforcing the city walls. The next 200 years or so would see constant battles here, with the Moors sacking the city on various occasions.
Beginning around the 11th century, the Crown of Aragaon controlled the city, and the next few centuries would see significant development, with lots of growth and many beautiful Gothic buildings were built (which you can still see today!).
Jumping a fair ways forward, Girona has been repeatedly besieged by French armies over the centuries, perhaps most famously so by Napoleon in the early 19th century. After Napoleon's final siege of the city, its historic walls were gradually destroyed and the city was slowly “modernized”, designed to better accommodate commercial, urban, and industrial development rather than strategic military purposes.
And that’s the city that you’ll see today; the culmination of 2,000 years of near-constant development and destruction and war and trade.
There’s lots that I’ve left out of course, but my cousin Dolça, a local tour guide in the city, can certainly tell and show you a whole lot more! She offers great walking tours in Girona, so have a look. She also guides in Barcelona, in case you’ll be there before or after coming here!
How long to spend here
Girona is small and you can easily tour the city, thoroughly exploring its historic core and visiting all the main sights, in as little as 4 or 5 hours. If all you want to do is see the sights and move on, you really don’t “need” a lot of time here and wouldn’t even have to stay overnight. This can easily be a half-day stop on a road trip itinerary, or even just somewhere you visit via the train from Barcelona.
That’s certainly one answer to the question “how long to spend in Girona?”, but I don’t think it’s necessarily the right one! Because this is a really nice place and almost everyone who visits wishes they had more time here!
We have a beautifully preserved old town, a wonderful atmosphere that’s lively but never overwhelming, and a truly fantastic food scene. On top of that, Girona is perfectly located for day trips, lying beside the Pyrenees Mountains and the sea, within easy distance of the gorgeous towns and nature of the Costa Brava, and right in the wonderful Empordá wine region.
So, if you have some time in your itinerary, don’t want to move bases every day, and like the idea of staying in a nice little city rather than a village (which is most of what you’ll find in this region), I think you could easily base yourself here for 3 or 4 days and have a really wonderful trip.
Weather and when to visit
The Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants in the late fall
I would recommend visiting Girona in autumn or spring. The city is great at any time of year, but these two periods are without question the best.
Autumn
In autumn, the weather is warm but not excessively hot, warm colors dominate the city, with fallen leaves lining the streets and La Devesa park dyed lovely shades of orange and yellow. It’s truly lovely.
In addition, the last week of October and the first week of November is when our famous festival takes place - the Girona Fairs -, with lots of fun family-friendly attractions and events, evening concerts, parades, popular traditions like the giant puppets and human towers, and food stalls selling seasonal products like roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes. The atmosphere on the streets is unbeatable and I simply love this time of year.
Spring
The springtime weather is also very pleasant, with the city warming up considerably from the winter and the days becoming long, bright, and sunny. The surrounding countryside also springs into life, so this is a great period for hiking in the nearby mountains, drives in the countryside, and even trips to the beach (although it’ll be too cold to swim).
Just be aware that mid-May is when the Temps de Flors is celebrated, a very well-known and very successful festival, which fills the streets of the city center with floral installations of all colors. It’s beautiful, festive, and incredibly lively, but the crowds can be genuinely overwhelming. Lots of us locals actually abandon the city for at least a few days during the festival because it really can be a bit too much.
Winter
Winters in Girona are cold and damp as the city’s location between four rivers makes the humidity pretty intense. Temperatures are still manageable, especially compared to places like Paris or Berlin, but they’re certainly not ideal. If you come in winter, just be sure to bring a warm coat. You’ll see very few other tourists during this time, so that can be refreshing, and of course, the city takes on a lovely and festive atmosphere during the Christmas period.
Summer
What about summer? Well, honestly, this is not my favorite time of year here. We’re an inland city and the midday heat during the summer can be truly stifling. You can of course still visit during the summer months (ideally in the morning or evening), but I wouldn’t recommend making this your base if you’re staying in the region during this period. Much better would be to stay in one of the coastal towns nearby and come here for a visit.
Where to stay in town
Since Girona is a very compact city, there aren’t lots of different areas or neighborhoods that you need to choose between. Realistically, there are really only two distinct neighborhoods: L’eixample - the “new” part of town, built similarly to any other modern European neighborhood, and El Barri Vell - the old town, which still preserves vestiges of the Roman and Medieval periods.
L’Eixample neighbourhood
This is the new part of the city, with big apartment buildings, wide streets, and lots of shops geared toward everyday life., This is where most residents of the city actually live and it’s a very local area. It’s close to the bus and train stations and is a very practical area even for visitors, with a good selection of hotels and short-term apartment rentals.
Everything you could need is nearby, and, at most, you’ll be a 15-minute walk from the historical quarter.
The Hotel Peninsular, or the Hotel Ultonia, 3 and 4 stars respectively, are two very nice hotels that are close to the Old Quarter and usually cost less than 100 euros per night.
El Barri Vell (Old Quarter)
Without a doubt, this is where you’ll spend the majority of your time in Girona. It’s an incredibly charming area, with winding little medieval streets, tightly packed buildings that give it a very closed in and intimate feeling, and all the big sights, monuments, and gorgeous buildings. The entire area is pedestrianized, with no cars allowed, making it a wonderful area to stroll about.
The potential drawbacks are that there are lots and lots of stairs, you’ll have to carry your luggage a decent distance from the train station along cobblestone streets (or if you have a car you’ll need to park that elsewhere and then walk in here), and the buildings are old and right on top of one another, meaning your accommodation may be a bit date and won’t always have lots of natural light.
The Hotel Llegendes de Girona, next to Plaça de la Lleona, is a luxurious but not insanely expensive 4-star option, as is the Hotel Històric, right next to the cathedral.
What to see and do
Ok, now that you have a good feel for this city and what it offers, it’s time to dig into the specific sights and things to see/do while you’re here. Girona has a few unmissable sights, so I’ve of course included those, but I’ve also sprinkled in some less typical ideas for you, with the hopes of helping you see my city beyond the highlights and giving you a feel for the types of things that we locals do.
You could realistically do everything on the list in a single day, but you’d have to rush quite quickly from one place to the next, so if you have the time, I’d suggest spreading them out over two days.
If all you’ve got is a day here, then your choice is to rush between them or just cut out anything that doesn’t sound like it’s something you’re interested in. Remember, Girona is not a place where you have to tick off sights, so there’s no need to feel compelled to do something just because you’ve heard of it. It’s much better to do less and actually enjoy yourself.
Also, take into account that almost everything I’ve suggested is in the old quarter, which means you’ll need to be prepared for some steep climbs, lots of stairs, and narrow streets. Not everywhere is 100% accessible, and although you certainly don't need to be in marathon shape to get everywhere, you do need to be prepared to walk a lot and put in some effort. Definitely wear comfortable shoes!
And, of course, the best way to see the city really is with a local guide who can explain everything you’re seeing. There’s a lot of history here, and the context that a guide can provide really does make it all much more meaningful. Even I, who am from Girona, have lots still to learn, so it’s not as if a guide is just useful for uninformed tourists.
Anyways, here is what I’d suggest to you:
1. Pont de Pedra and the Casas de Onyar
The Stone Bridge - one of the most beautiful entrances to the Old Town, offering sweeping views of the Onyar River and Girona’s iconic row of colorful riverside houses – the Casas de Onyar. From here, you can already spot the Cathedral in the distance.
The colorful Casas de Onyar
The Pont de Pedra. Photo: Czeva, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Pont de les Peixateries Velles
Also called the Eiffel Bridge or Iron Bridge, this red metal structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel’s company before the Eiffel Tower. It’s a great spot for photos and catching a different view of the colorful houses along the river.
Girona’s “Eiffel Bridge”
3. Plaça del Vi and the Rambla Llibertat
This lively square holds our Town Hall as well as a number of bars tucked under old stone arcades. It’s a good place to take a break and enjoy the local atmosphere. The square leads onto the pedestrianzed La Rambla Llibertat, one of the city's main streets, lined with medieval porches, pretty balconies, lovely stone arches, and lots of shops and bars.
The Plaça del Vi during the Temps de Flors festival. Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
La Rambla Llibertat. Photo: Soniettte, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped
4. Pujada de Sant Domènec
This is one of the most romantic corners of the city: with its picturesque stone staircase, vaulted porch, and the bohemian-style terrace of the El Bistrot restaurant. This is one of the spots where they filmed scenes in Game of Thrones, and when you arrive, you’ll understand why.
The Stairs of Saint Martin. Photo: Emvallmitjana, CC BY-SA 3.0 ES, via Wikimedia Commons
6. The Jewish Quarter (“Call Jueu” in Catalan)
As I wrote earlier in this article, Girona had a thriving Jewish community for many centuries, and although the entire population was forced out of the city in 1492, the district remains and it’s an exceptionally atmospheric part of the city. A tangle of narrow, winding alleys, it’s one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe and feels distinctly medieval.
Carrer de la Força is one of the Old Town’s main streets and it was once part of the ancient Roman road. It’s very pretty, is lined with stone buildings and cute little shops, and climbs uphill straight to the Cathedral.
Carrer de la Força in the Jewish Quarter. Photo: Enfo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7. The Cathedral
Sitting high on the hill atop a monumental staircase, Girona’s cathedral is impossible to miss and it’s a towering sight - the symbol of the city for sure. It has the widest Gothic nave in the world and is designed in an interesting mix of Baroque, Gothic, and Romanesque styles. Head inside and cheek out the Romanesque cloister and the incredible 11th-century Tapestry of Creation.
The main façade of the cathedral and the monumental staircase leading to it. Photo: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The stairs and square leading up to the cathedral. Photo: Doronenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
8. Walk the city walls (and visit the Jardins dels Alemanys)
Right near the cathedral are the Jardins dels Alemanys, a lovely garden/park that sits on the grounds of a former military barracks that was occupied by German mercenaries during the 17th century War of the Spanish Cessation (now you know why they’re called the German Gardens).
From the gardens, climb up to Girona’s 9th-century city walls, from where you’ll have incredible views of the historic center and the entire region beyond, including of the Sant Daniel Valley - the peaceful little rural area outside the city where I’ve lived all my life!
There are various entrance points to the walls, and they stretch a very considerable distance, basically from one end of the old town to another, so you can spend a while up there. There are also lookout towers dispersed throughout, which you can climb for even higher views.
If you want to walk the entire length of the Passeig de la Muralla, which I strongly recommend, it’s about 3 kilometers in total.
Looking out over the city from the walls
A section of the massive city walls. Photo: Zorro2212, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
9. The Banys Àrabs
Despite the name, these 12th-century "Arab” baths were built in Romanesque style and have nothing to do with Islamic architecture. It’s a small but atmospheric spot with beautiful stonework and a unique layout that’s actually inspired by traditional Roman baths (again, not Arab!).
10. Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants
This 10th century Romanesque former monastery lies just outside the city walls at the entrance to the Sant Daniel Valley. It now houses the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, which could be worth a visit depending on your level of interest in that type of thing, but the real highlight is just the building itself: an imposing and austere structure with a beautiful but somewhat harsh feeling. The central nave is especially impressive and the cloister is really lovely and peaceful.
The Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants. Photo: CARLETES-CGJ, CC BY-SA 3.0 ES, via Wikimedia Commons
11. Collegiata de Sant Feliu
This is a striking Gothic church (well, partly Gothic anyways) with a simply unmistakable silhouette. Inside is the tomb of Girona’s patron saint, Saint Narcís, along with the legendary tale of the flies that supposedly defended the city from invaders!
The church was built over a period of almost 500 years between 1200 and 1700, which explains why it has a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements. It was also the city’s primary place of worship prior to the construction of the cathedral.
The Church of Saint Felix. Photo: Doronenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
12. Plaça Independència
One of the main squares in the city - full of cafés, bars, and restaurants with outdoor terraces. A lively, central spot to grab a drink or a meal and soak up the atmosphere.
Plaça Independència. Photo: Enfo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
13. A few more ideas
Despite not being a city with a large concentration of museums, Girona has a few very interesting ones, like the History Museum and the Art Museum, both of which have good and put on regular temporary exhibitions.
Then there’s the Jewish History Museum, in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, which offers an in-depth look at Jewish life in Girona during the middle ages.
A special place for me is the very original Cinema Museum, which houses the Tomàs Mallol collection, with proto-cinema equipment and activities for lovers of the “seventh art”. As a child, when renting films and visiting video clubs was still a thing, I went there every week!
We also have our representative of “Modernisme” (Art Nouveau): Rafael Masó, an architect from Girona. Far less famous, of course, than Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, but his house museum on Carrer Ballesteries is still a recommended visit.
Another curiosity that I like to highlight about my city is La Devesa, one of the largest urban parks in Catalonia. Full of towering trees, it is an ideal space for running, walking or taking the dog. In autumn, during the Fairs, the attractions are all set up here, turning it into the festive heart of the city.
Girona does not have a gigantic commercial hub, but if you feel like doing a little shopping, the street of Santa Clara and most any major road in the L’Eixample Area offer a good variety of local shops and well-known brands.
Where to eat and drink
Outdoor dining in Girona. Photo: Davidpar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As I wrote earlier, Girona has an excellent culinary tradition, and there are lots of great restaurants here. I have a sweet tooth though, so I’m going to do things in reverse, giving you my favorite spots for sweets and dessert before we get into the restaurants:
Rocambolesc: This is the ice cream shop of Jordi Roca, the youngest of the Roca brothers (a famous restaurant family in town), and a specialist in desserts. In addition to the creative ice creams that you can get here, he has also opened a candy store next door.
Then, in Plaça Catalunya, he has Casa Cacao, an artisanal chocolate shop that’s considered one of the best in Catalonia.
And then there’s Can Castelló, which is where you must go to try xuixo de Girona. This is a kind of fried croissant, sweetened and filled with cream. Its origins are actually French, but it’s been adopted as a local symbol in town.
Now let’s get into the restaurants:
The Roca brothers, who I mentioned above, are well-known around the globe, and if there’s only one restaurant of theirs that you can try, it must be the Celler de Can Roca, with its three Michelin stars. It’s one of the best restaurants in the world. But the brothers don’t only do high-end, extremely expensive cuisine, and they have many other restaurants in town, suitable to all tastes and budgets. These guys have a little gastronomic empire here, so you should certainly try to eat at a Roca establishment.
As for my personal recommendations, here are some of my favorite spots:
El Terram with its very thoughtfully designed tasting menu. El Provocador, with always changing and surprising lunch dishes. Mimolet and Dit i Fet, both of which serve very elaborate but always local cuisine.
In the Cort Reial, we find Brots de Vi, which is ideal for couples as they serve meals on their very romantic terrace. For meat lovers, there’s El Balcó, which does great Argentine style cuts.
Behind the City Hall, El Bèstia serves up creative tapas in their signature style. And then there’s VII, right in front of the City Hall, which stands out for its wine list selected by the Roca brothers’ sommelier.
There are also many terraces where you can have vermouth (typically drunk just before lunch and had with some little snacks) lunch) or a drink later on in the afternoon. Plaça Independència has tons of spots, most of them admittedly aimed at tourists, but also authentic places like Ca la Marieta, with cheap Catalan cuisine and a long history (in business for over 100 years!).
You might also be interested in trying König, a Girona franchise that’s known for their hot sandwiches and German-style hamburgers,and is much loved by local families and students.
And lastly, when you want to dine somewhere with a really charming atmosphere, in the small square before Carrer de la Força is La Tabarra, which serves good tapas and sandwiches.
Some nice day trip options from Girona
The incredibly pretty town of Besalú
As I’ve already said multiple times throughout this guide, Girona is the perfect base for day trips, as you have mountains, the Costa Brava, and Empordá wine region all within an hour’s drive. There are tons of options, but here are a few of my favorites:
Banyoles and Besalú
Just 20 minutes away from Girona, the town of Banyoles is famous for its lake, the largest in Catalonia. Fed by underground springs coming from the mountains, it is a magical place and there’s even a legend that says that, like Loch Ness, the lake has its very own lake monster.
There’s a very nice little walk you can do around the lake, which takes a little over an hour and affords wonderful views, with the nearby mountains reflected in the water. In the evening, the reddish colours are spectacular.
Nearby is Besalú, a medieval town with a magnificent bridge that seems to have come out of a fairy tale. The town is also right at the beginning of the volcanic area of La Garrotxa, which has neat landscapes to explore.
The Dalí Triangle
In Figueres, we find the Salvador Dalí Teatre-Museu, designed by the artist himself and where his body is buried.
In Púbol, you’ve got the Castle of Gala Dalí, named after his wife and muse.
Finally, there’s the little coastal town of Cadaqués, with whitewashed houses and beautiful coves where you can relax by the Mediterranean. Just ten minutes outside of the town is the even smaller settlement of Portlligat, where Dalí and Gala spent their summers in an amazing surrealist palace.
Monells, Peratallada, and Pals
Here we have three inland medieval villages, each of which is perfect for a leisurely stroll. All three have charming architecture and great gastronomic offerings. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that they are postcard-perfect and can compete with the hilltop towns in Tuscany!
Ceret and Perpignan (over the border in France)
These two towns are just over an hour by car from Girona and right across the French border. Ceret is a very charming village with a magnificent contemporary art museum, and it’s also a good place to buy typical French products.
Right nearby is Perpignan, which is much larger and has a lot of history and a remarkable Catalan influence, which is interesting to see in France.
L’Escala, Empúries, and Aiguamolls de l’Empordà
L’Escala is an authentic fishing village on the Costa Brava that has a lively atmosphere even outside of summer (whereas many of the towns in this area really die down in the off-season).
In Empúries, there are impressive Greco-Roman ruins right beside the sea, which I highly recommend visiting. Growing up, we went there with my school every year, and it was always a great trip.
Finally, near to Empúries are the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, a natural wetland park that’s absolutely filled with birds and a number of other protected species.
The Costa Brava
Some of the places I’ve already mentioned are on the Costa Brava, but I think the entire area merits its own mention here as it’s a spectacular place that has tons to offer. If you have time, you should absolutely try to visit towns like Begur, Calella de Palafrugell, and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, among others. Check out our Guide to the Costa Brava for more ideas.
Empordà Wine Region
Wine has been produced in this region since Roman times, and it’s still today an excellent wine growing area, with literally dozens of wineries dotting the countryside. You can drive between them, of course, but cycling is also huge in this area, so you can join a tour or rent bikes and hop between wineries on your own.
Tours & experiences
Girona walking tours
Explore Girona on a city center walking tour with Dolça, our favorite local guide (3 hours).
If you’re worried you might get hungry while exploring, opt for this small group city center food tour.
Day trips from Girona
If you’ll be staying in Girona, the Costa Brava is of course just beyond your doorstep, but you have some other neat (and different) options too.
The Empordà countryside is a gorgeous rural area that is great for outdoors exploration and also produces excellent wine. So, hiking, cycling, and wine tasting are all possibilities.
You also have the excellent Dalì museum in Figueres and his house-museum in Portlligat.
This half-day wine tour takes you through pretty countryside and lets you sample some good local wines at two different vineyards.
For a day of exploring the Costa Brava’s medieval villages, this full-day tour visits Begur, Pals, Peratallada, Llafranc, and Calella de Palafrugell.
Dive into the life and art of Salvador Dalí on an art-history day trip that visits the Dalí museum in Figueres, his house-museum in Portlligat, and the pretty town of Cadaqués.
See the gorgeous village of Besalu, hike around Banyoles Lake, and see some of the prettiest countryside in Catalonia on this alternative day tour.
More Spain travel info
For more advice on planning your trip to Spain and the Costa Brava, check out some of our other guides and itineraries!
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