Girona, Spain travel guide

Catalonia's walled river city: colour-stacked houses, a Jewish quarter and Game of Thrones steps.

Best time to visit: April-June and September-October
Average daily budget: $110 to $190 USD
Ideal trip length: 2 to 3 days

Girona packs a medieval old town, one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters and a walkable stretch of Carolingian city walls into an hour's train ride from Barcelona. The Onyar river's stacked ochre houses are the postcard, the cathedral's vast staircase doubled as King's Landing on screen, and the food scene punches far above the city's size thanks to El Celler de Can Roca. The Costa Brava and Pyrenees are both close.

Girona itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Girona Cathedral. Climb the 86-step baroque staircase and see Europe's widest Gothic nave.

Afternoon: Explore Barri Vell (Old Town), Stone lanes, arcaded Rambla and the cathedral staircase at its heart.

Evening: Walk the city walls. Follow the Passeig de la Muralla for rooftop and hillside views end to end.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: El Call Jewish quarter. Wander the medieval alleys and the Museum of Jewish History.

Afternoon: Explore El Call, The dense former Jewish quarter with its museum and narrow stepped alleys.

Evening: Onyar river houses. Shoot the colour-stacked facades from Pont de les Peixateries Velles.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: The Arab Baths, a 12th-century bathhouse with a skylit octagonal pool.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Mercadal & Eixample, The modern side across the river with shops, tapas bars and better-value hotels.

Evening: Sant Feliu church's Roman and early Christian sarcophagi set into its walls.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Best neighbourhoods

Barri Vell (Old Town): Stone lanes, arcaded Rambla and the cathedral staircase at its heart.
El Call: The dense former Jewish quarter with its museum and narrow stepped alleys.
Mercadal & Eixample: The modern side across the river with shops, tapas bars and better-value hotels.
Sant Pere de Galligants: Quiet monastery district by the Arab baths and the river's northern gate.
Montjuïc hill: Short climb north-east for the classic panorama over the cathedral and roofs.

Must-do experiences

Walk the city walls: Follow the Passeig de la Muralla for rooftop and hillside views end to end.
Girona Cathedral: Climb the 86-step baroque staircase and see Europe's widest Gothic nave.
El Call Jewish quarter: Wander the medieval alleys and the Museum of Jewish History.
Onyar river houses: Shoot the colour-stacked facades from Pont de les Peixateries Velles.

Hidden gems

The Arab Baths, a 12th-century bathhouse with a skylit octagonal pool.
Sant Feliu church's Roman and early Christian sarcophagi set into its walls.
Casa Masó, the riverside home of architect Rafael Masó, open by tour.
Cinema Museum, an unusually good collection of pre-cinema optical devices.

Daily budget

$110 to $190 USD per day.

What to eat

Xuixo, a fried cream-filled Girona pastry
Botifarra with mongetes and escalivada
Suquet de peix, Costa Brava fish stew
Empordà wines and Rocambolesc ice cream from the Roca brothers

Getting around

Girona-Costa Brava airport is 20 minutes out with mostly low-cost routes, and high-speed trains reach Barcelona in 38 minutes and Figueres in 15. The old town is entirely walkable, if steep and stepped, and the train and bus stations sit a 15-minute walk west. Buses serve Costa Brava towns in summer, but a car makes coves, Besalú and Pyrenean villages far easier.

Safety

Girona is one of Spain's safest cities, with occasional pickpocketing on the Rambla and around the cathedral the main risk. The real issues are physical: steep stairways, polished stone that turns slick in rain and long wall walks with little shade in summer heat. Some Call alleys are poorly lit at night, and Catalan protest marches can close central streets.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Girona?

Two days is ideal: one for the cathedral, El Call, Sant Feliu and the Onyar houses, and one for the city walls, Arab baths, Montjuïc viewpoint and a proper long lunch. A third day opens up the Costa Brava, Besalú or the Dalí museum in Figueres.

Is Girona worth visiting or just a day trip?

It works as a day trip from Barcelona, but staying overnight is much better. The old town empties in the evening, the walls at sunset are the highlight, and the restaurant scene is the real reason to stay. Two nights turns a rushed stop into a genuinely good short break.

How do you get from Barcelona to Girona?

High-speed AVE and Avant trains take about 38 minutes from Barcelona Sants, with regional trains around 1h20 for less money. Buses take roughly 1h30. Driving on the AP-7 takes about an hour and a quarter, though old town parking is restricted, so use the underground car parks across the river.

Was Game of Thrones filmed in Girona?

Yes. Season six used the city extensively: the cathedral staircase stood in for the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing, and Sant Pere de Galligants, the Arab baths and Carrer del Bisbe Josep Cartañà appeared as Braavos. Several walking tours cover the locations, all within the old town.

When is the best time to visit Girona?

April to June and September to October give warm days and comfortable walking. Mid-May brings Temps de Flors, when the old town fills with flower installations, which is spectacular but very crowded. July and August are hot and busy with Costa Brava overflow; winter is quiet, cool and cheap.

Is Girona expensive?

Moderate for Catalonia at roughly $110 to $190 a day, cheaper than Barcelona for hotels but similar for food. Menu del día lunches around $18 are the best value, cathedral and museum tickets are modest, and the walls are free. Rates spike during Temps de Flors and Formula 1 weekends in Barcelona.

Is Girona good for food?

Exceptionally. El Celler de Can Roca, a three-star restaurant twice ranked best in the world, is here and books months ahead. Beyond it there is a strong mid-range scene of Empordà cooking, good market produce at Mercat del Lleó, and the Roca brothers' Rocambolesc ice cream shop for a cheap taste.

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