Figueres
Discover Figueres
Figueres is a small city in Catalonia, Spain, with a population of 40,000. It is the seat of the Alt Empordà county in the Girona Province and has a wealth of history spanning many centuries that has been preserved and shown in several museums in the area and in the compact Old Town. Being the last major town before the Spanish/French border, it serves as a fantastic base to explore the upper Empordá region that is awash in great food, wines, and beaches that represent the Catalan culture. It is a stage in the Catalan Way of St. James. The city's main attraction is the world famous museum of native son, Salvador Dalí . After the Prado in Madrid, it is the most visited museum in all of Spain. It is often seen as part of a day-trip from Barcelona or the packaged hotels of Costa Brava.
What to Experience in Figueres
Taste of Figueres...
Local Catalan specialties include: oxtail soup, butifarra, fuet, seafood, paella, and of course gaspatxo. If 'patatas de Olot' are on a menu, make sure to give them a try: they are a slice of potato wrapped around ground meat and fried. While not terribly healthy, they are incredibly delicious. There is also an onion from the Figueres area called the 'ceba de Figueres' which is sought after because it is a great deal sweeter than a regular white onion. It can be eaten raw in a number of dishes. Avoid all the restaurants along Carrer de Jonquera from Perelada to Muralla. While edible, the restaurants on this stretch of street make sub-par food for beach tourists who don't want to walk far from the Dalí Museum. They are not a good representation of the food from the region. Plaça del Sol is the main "scene" of Figueres at night. There are a number of bars along this square which is really just a parking lot with the town library on it as well. Some of the bars allow smoking and some not. Overall, the offer is much the same with one bar usually being the "hot bar" of that particular month. True to the name, it's a much more popular place in the summer. The other option is Plaça de les Patates, which is a great deal more laid back. There has been an extensive history of wine cultivation in the area around Figueres dating back 2,600 years.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Figueres into what it is today.
Figueres descended from two Roman towns, Juncària and Figàries, but the establishment of the town really started to happen in the 10th century as stated in records from the Sant Pere Monastery that was located where the Sant Pere church is today. As it was not an outpost border town in the Marca Hispanica (such as neighboring Besalú or Peralada), it was of little significance until it was made a Royal Town in 1267 and then much later, when the Sant Ferran castle was built from 1753 to 1766. Once the castle was finished, fortunes changed a great deal for Figueres as it became the supply base for the castle. The population grew and it started its course towards being the major town of the region, despite occupation by Napoleon's forces from 1808–1814. Between 1831 and 1840, the Rambla was created by covering a dry riverbed, and became a center for the town. The shade trees that stand on the Rambla were planted in 1864. In 1877, the railway station was opened. In 1904, the town's most famous resident, one Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech was born. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was quite hard on the town. The castle became the last outpost for Republican Spain and Franco's forces bombed the town with great ferocity. As was the case with a lot of the surrounding area, many structures were lost in the war, including the main theater, which stood in ruin for several decades....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsGirona Costa Brava Airport (GRO) has budget flights by Ryanair. It's 13 km south of that city: either take the local bus downtown then the train to Figueres, or the Barcelona airport bus which calls here then in Girona and Figueres. Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) has a much greater choice of flights. Take the direct bus to Figueres, or go downtown for trains. Four high speed international trains run daily from Barcelona Sants via Girona, taking 55 min to Figures Vilafant. They continue north to Perpignan and Narbonne, then fan out to Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Reservations are compulsory. AVE fast domestic trains run every 30 min from Barcelona Sants, likewise taking 55 min via Girona to Figueres Vilafant. 42.26562.94221 Figueres Vilafant. This station is 2 km west of town, with a ticket office, machines and a cafe. A bus runs downtown. (updated Jan 2024) Rodalies are the regional trains....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
All the sites for the vast majority of tourists going to Figueres are easily reached on foot, and there are plenty of benches and public spaces for a rest in the shade if one gets tired while walking around. For those looking to travel outside of Figueres to smaller, historic towns, castles, restaurants, or wineries, there are several car rental offices (Europcar, Enterprise, Avis) next to the train station, although it is strongly advised to book ahead online to get better rates than just showing up. There is an informal but large vintage and classic car museum on the road from Figueres to Empuriabrava-beautiful cars some fully restored and some for sale going back to the 1910s. Every town in Spain, no matter what the size has a day of celebration for their patron saint known as the 'fiesta mayor' in Castellano or 'festa major' in Catalan. They are a celebration of the town with events that are free to the public such as concerts, art shows, and theater performances.
Where to Stay
Figueres provides a variety of hotels, with rates much cheaper than in Barcelona, but generally comparable to Girona. In addition to actual hotel and hostel establishments there are a great many 'masias' in the area which are farm houses that were converted over to rural guest houses. The prices can be quite good and the accommodations very nice, although the proprietors rarely speak English and thus they can be tricky to find at times. Figueres is overall, a very safe town. Violent crime is extremely rare and most issues resolve around petty theft when they happen. As is the case in many places, beware of crowded areas and events as pickpockets can frequent these venues. In the summer, it can get quite hot as is typical with coastal Catalonia. Make sure to drink plenty of water and cover your head if sensitive to heavy direct sunlight. In the winter, it can be quite cold at times.
Money & Budget
For anyone who is in the market for Dalí knickknacks, Figueres is the place to find them. It is quite common for the people living in the south of France to visit Figueres for shopping purposes as the taxes are lower than in France. Because of this and the large tourism pull due to the museums and beaches, a great number of large brands have shops in Figueres including: Zara, Benetton, La Coste, Pull & Bear, and Women's Secret. While not the level of shopping one finds in Barcelona, the selection is quite decent overall and for those who require larger sizes in clothing and shoes, it is often the case that they can be found easier in Figueres than in Barcelona. Figueres also has some older, locally owned stores that haven't been swept away by the tide of massive chain stores.
Language & Talk
Everybody in Figueres can speak Spanish, albeit to varying degrees. Although Catalan was banned by the Franco regime and Spanish was the only language, the older generation above 60, when speaking Spanish, will often speak a form of "Spatalan", which is mostly Spanish but with a lot of Catalan tossed in. It can be difficult to understand at times for foreigners. Catalan is as separate a language from Spanish as French and Italian are. It is not a Spanish dialect. Northern Catalan, which is spoken here, is strongly influenced by French through the interchange with French and Catalan speakers across the border . Such dishes as 'pa amb tomaquet' (bread with tomato) become 'pa amb tomate' with a soft 'uh' sound at the end.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Figueres is overall, a very safe town. Violent crime is extremely rare and most issues resolve around petty theft when they happen. As is the case in many places, beware of crowded areas and events as pickpockets can frequent these venues. In the summer, it can get quite hot as is typical with coastal Catalonia. Make sure to drink plenty of water and cover your head if sensitive to heavy direct sunlight. In the winter, it can be quite cold at times. While snow is exceptionally rare in Figueres proper, driving on the E-15 or the AP-7 north to France could very well require chains or snow tires near La Jonquera at certain times due to the pass often receiving a decent amount of snow. Likewise, driving west from Figueres, the mountain roads climb in elevation quite rapidly and snow is common, so plan car trips accordingly. As of Jan 2024, Figueres and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Figueres
a red building with a lot of trees in front of it
a row of trees line the side of a building
a red building with gold decorations on it
Salvador Dalí's theater museum in Figueres
Majestic and mysterious, this monumental female figure anchors the courtyard as Dalí’s homage to Catalan philosopher Francesc Pujols. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
A vintage car turned surrealist sculpture, complete with water dripping inside and mannequins, parked dramatically in the museum courtyard. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
A monumental female figure in the courtyard, blending classical beauty with surrealist elements under Gala's suspended boat. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
A grand, repurposed cemetery sculpture stands guard in Dalí’s courtyard, celebrating Francesc Pujols with surreal charm. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
A monumental female figure in the courtyard, blending classical beauty with surrealist elements under Gala's suspended boat. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
An ethereal installation featuring Gala’s boat, suspended above the surreal courtyard scene. Dalí’s Teatro–Museo in Figueres / Dalí Theatre-Museum
a red building with a lot of trees in front of it
a row of trees line the side of a building
a red building with gold decorations on it