Girona
Discover Girona
Girona is the chief city of Província de Girona in Catalonia, northeast Spain. In 2023 the city had a population of 104,320, with about another 50,000 in the adjoining town of Salt. The city is astride trade and pilgrimage routes from France into Spain, and pilgrimage traffic is as strong as ever: "But we're nowhere near Barcelona!" is the plaintive cry of sun-seekers who boarded a flight to a place that Ryanair called Barcelona-Girona. It's actually less than 100 km, the transfer bus will be along any minute, and for beach resorts along the Costa Brava, Girona is the closest airport. But it would be a mistake to rush away to those places and fail to explore this fascinating ancient city, with its cathedral, walls and higgledy-piggledy medieval streets ranged upon the hillside.
What to Experience in Girona
Taste of Girona...
41.98532.82531 La Garrina, 11 Carrer Bonaventura Carreras I Peralta, ☏ +34 648 199443. Bar specialising in natural / low intervention wine in a charming street. Indoor and outdoor seating. (updated Mar 2024) Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks. As of Jan 2024, Girona and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options41.8980772.7660011 Girona Airport (GRO ), ☏ +34 913 211000. Ryanair is the main operator. It's a single terminal with the usual facilities, plenty big enough for its limited traffic. Ryanair, along with other airlines also operate flights to more European destinations in the high season only. (updated Mar 2024) To town: Sagalés Bus 607 runs at irregular hours to meet the flights, taking 30 min to the bus station. Bus 602 from Barcelona Airport/Barcelona/Aeroport de Girona/Girona/Figures also stops here. It's the same ticket for either (€2.60 in 2024), buy from the kiosk by the bus stops. Four high speed international trains per day run from Barcelona Sants (one starting from Madrid via Zaragoza), taking 40 min non-stop to Girona. They continue north to Figueres, Perpignan and Narbonne, then fan out to Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Reservations are compulsory. AVE fast domestic trains run every hour or so from Barcelona Sants, taking 40 min non-stop to Girona and continuing to Figueres....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Walk both Old Town and New Town west of the river are compact and mostly pedestrianized. In Old Town, expect gradients, lumpy cobblestones and steep stairs. Don't take a car into the old streets, you'll need a tin opener to get it out again. There are many well-signed bicycle trails in and around the city. See "Buy" for the bike shop near Plaza de Catalunya. Girocleta is the bike-share service, based at the bus station. 41.98532.82531 La Garrina, 11 Carrer Bonaventura Carreras I Peralta, ☏ +34 648 199443. Bar specialising in natural / low intervention wine in a charming street. Indoor and outdoor seating. (updated Mar 2024) Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks. As of Jan 2024, Girona and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Where to Stay
Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks. As of Jan 2024, Girona and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Money & Budget
41.98532.82531 La Garrina, 11 Carrer Bonaventura Carreras I Peralta, ☏ +34 648 199443. Bar specialising in natural / low intervention wine in a charming street. Indoor and outdoor seating. (updated Mar 2024) Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks. As of Jan 2024, Girona and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks. As of Jan 2024, Girona and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Girona
View of Girona from the city wall
assorted-color buildings under clear blue sky
Río Onyar de Girona, España
The city grows on the river shore
Girona viewed from the air
Girona, Spain.
A river running through a city next to tall buildings
red and brown high rise buildings under white sky
Girona through the Eiffel Bridge, Catalonia, Spain
Fiesta Temps de Flors de Girona (Mayo)
View of Girona from the city wall
assorted-color buildings under clear blue sky
Río Onyar de Girona, España