An easy excursion departing from Barcelona. And stay until the end of the post, because we will talk about how much time you should spend in Girona.
First of all, and for the unfamiliar, Girona is in the northeast corner of the Iberian Peninsula, south of the border with France. It is one of the four provincial capitals of Catalonia and is north of Barcelona.
how to get to Girona?
The options to get to Girona are diverse. You can arrive by car taking the toll road, which takes about an hour and a half, depending on the location of Barcelona and the traffic leaving the city. You can also arrive by bus, leaving from Barcelona Nord station and arriving in Girona one hour and 35 minutes later. Another option is to take the high-speed train that departs from Sants station and arrives in Girona 40 minutes later.
The bus station and the Girona high-speed train station are in the same location, a modern infrastructure built underground, next to the station where conventional trains run. From there it is less than a 15-minute walk to the old center of Girona.
The choice of one means of transport or the other is up to you, but if you plan to make Girona a day trip from Barcelona, the time savings of the high-speed train versus the bus, almost two hours less, is well worth it.
Recommendations
We always recommend high speed train travel for its comfort and speed. Also from the articles we have dedicated to the different high speed services in Spain, we also have one explaining how to buy high speed train tickets, do not miss them.
- Whatever your choice, remember that there are numerous services from Barcelona to Girona.
- If you are thinking of turning Girona into a day trip, the high speed train will save you almost two hours.
- Don’t forget to take a look at the articles we have dedicated to the different high-speed services in Spain.
Girona: discover its fascinating medieval walls
But first a brief explanation to better understand Girona. The historic center of Girona is formed by two neighborhoods separated by the Onyar river. To the west, at the bottom of the image, is the Mercadal, which is the part where the city grew when the medieval area became too small. To the east, in the upper part of the image, is the Barrio Vell, which is the oldest center of Girona, corresponding to the medieval city.
All the tourist sites that we are going to visit are located in the center of the city, which is very convenient for touring Girona. Independence Square is probably the most popular and lively square in Girona. Its name refers to the defenders of the city during the invasion of Napoleon’s troops in the early nineteenth century. The square has a neoclassical air and is full of bars, restaurants and terraces. These are quite touristy, but it is a very pleasant place to rest.
Just behind the Plaza de la Independencia, along the Onyar River, is one of the most famous images of the city, the Casas del Onyar.
These houses were formerly on top of the medieval wall of Girona and later gained height. Most of the houses that can be seen today are from the 20th century. The current appearance of the houses, with a color palette dominated by yellows, oranges and ochers, is the result of an urban intervention carried out in the 21st century with the purpose of recovering a part of the city that had suffered a process of degradation.
One of the best places in Girona
It is the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, also known as the bridge of the old fishmongers. This recalls the past existence of a fish market very close to the bridge. The bridge was built with the intention of connecting the two neighborhoods of Girona, the Mercadal and the Barrio Vell, which were separated by the Onyar River.
- Independence Square: This is the most popular and lively square in Girona. Its name refers to the defenders of the city during the invasion of Napoleon’s troops in the early 19th century.
- Casa del Onyar: These houses were formerly on top of the medieval wall of Girona and later gained height. Most of the houses that can be seen today are from the 20th century.
- Pont de les Peixateries Velles: Known as the bridge of the old fishmongers, this recalls the past existence of a fish market very close to the bridge.
Girona is a city rich in history and culture. Exploring the historic center, you will discover many interesting things about the history of the city. These places are the best proof of its past and culture. For travelers, these places are a unique opportunity to discover the real Girona.
Girona, a city with a history of legends
Girona is a city with an incredible history, one of the main attractions is its beautiful 9th century medieval wall. The perfect entry point to this dream place is the famous Eiffel Bridge, one of the most famous monuments of the city, built by the Eiffel studio, the same that designed the famous tower of Paris. This construction is characterized by an iron structure painted red, forming diamonds, and offering beautiful views of the Onyar River, its houses and the cathedral from its heights.
If you take advantage of your trip back in time to visit this wall, you will not regret it. It is a tour from end to end, you enter at one end and exit at the other. In the morning, we recommend you to enter through the southern end of the wall, as shown in the picture. This way, at the end of the walk you will be in the center and you will have the sun at your back almost all the time.
This walk is sensational, with wonderful views and also free of charge. The little ones will have a great time, since along the route there are several towers where they can climb to turn them into spectacular viewpoints over the city.
The legend of Cul da Lleona
Girona is full of legends and the most famous one is starred by a friendly lioness. The legend of Cul da Lleona tells that whoever kisses the lioness’ ass, sleeps in Girona. For this reason, the city council of Girona placed a staircase to facilitate the fulfillment of this legend. The sculpture of the lioness, from the 12th century, is a replica, not the original.
Finally, we recommend you keep in mind the following:
- Avoid walking the wall if you have any mobility problems, as it is not an adapted itinerary.
- To make the most of the tour, enter from the southern end of the wall.
Exploring the Historic Center of Girona: La Força Vella and El Call
When we visited Girona this time, the monumental ensemble was surrounded by a fence because of pandemic restrictions, leaving the place a bit uglier. If you decide to go up to kiss the ass of the feline embedded in the facade of Girona Cathedral, do it carefully. As there are many stories of people who have fallen while trying to kiss the lioness, and even in 2015 a French tourist sadly lost his life after falling from the staircase.
But the legends of Girona don’t end there. If you look around the landscape, you will see images of flies in many corners of the city. These flies are the symbol of Girona, they even have a street named after them. It is said that if you touch the foot of Sant Narcís, you will have luck, health and happiness. Sant Narcís was bishop of the city in the 4th century and is now the patron saint of Girona, and is closely related to the legend of the flies. If you want to know all the details about this legend, you will have to discover them during your visit to Girona.
The Banys Àrabs
Another point of interest that you can visit in the old town of Girona are the Banys Àrabs. These baths, although of Arab inspiration, were built by Christians in the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, the baths were used by the Jewish community of Girona and later became a cloistered convent of Capuchin nuns. In the 20th century they were restored and opened to the public.
The Banys Àrabs have 5 different rooms:
- Apoditerium or dressing room
- Frigidarium or cold room
- Tepidarium or warm room
- Caldarium or hot room
- Oven
Each of these spaces is unique, but the most spectacular and beautiful is the Apoditerium, which you will see as soon as you enter. The entrance is paid, but with very accessible prices. If you want to know the updated schedules and prices, you can visit the website.
The Força Vella
To finish the adventure, go to the Força Vella, the old fortress that protected the heart of the city. This fortress was built in the 14th century as a fortification to defend Girona from external enemies. It still retains a great charm, as it was very well restored to remain an important tourist attraction in Girona.
Girona, a city with history
Girona is an ancient city with an incredible history. Its historic center, known as La Força Vella, is a kind of acropolis and was built by the Romans in the 1st century BC. It is protected by imposing walls that can be seen as you walk along the wall, and reach the cathedral, which is the most important construction of the fortress.
As you walk through the interior of the Força Vella, the journey through time becomes even more intense with so many beautifully preserved corners.
Girona Cathedral
The cathedral of Girona is the most important construction of La Força Vella. It was built between the 11th and 18th centuries, and as a result of this extensive time span, it reflects the combination of various architectural styles, from Romanesque to Baroque. At its highest point is a sculpture of an angel. If you wish to visit the interior you will have to pay an entrance fee. We recommend that you at least take a walk around the back of the cathedral, from where you can enjoy a different perspective.
The French Gardens
Right next to the cathedral are the Jardines de la Francesa, a wonderful place with beautiful views.
The Call
Also part of La Força Vella is the Call, which was the old Jewish quarter of Girona. This neighborhood is formed by a maze of alleys full of ups and downs, which gives it a strong medieval flavor. It is one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in the world and the perfect place to get lost.
Other Interesting Places in Girona
The Barrio Vell, the oldest quarter of Girona, is also a place worth exploring:
- Basilica of Sant Feliu: a temple that seems to want to rival the Cathedral.
- The ramparts: a fortress that can be toured for a unique view of the city.
- El Barrio Vell: the oldest quarter of Girona, with many interesting places.
Visit the historic center of Girona to explore all the treasures hidden in this ancient city.
What to see in Girona
Girona is a city with a long history, with the main temple of the city before the construction of the cathedral, the cathedral. The Plaça del Vi is where the city’s town hall is located, as well as the Rambla de la Llibertat, parallel to the Onyar River, with its characteristic arcades. This Rambla is the main commercial axis of the historic center of Girona.
Other interesting places
Girona also has some interesting places that are not known to the naked eye, such as the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia in Girona, an ancient Romanesque monastery of San Pere de Galligants. This place is known for its beautiful façade. The Cinema Museum is also located in Girona.
If you are a visitor interested in knowing the markets of the cities you visit, near the historic center is the Mercat del Lleó, the lion market, heir to the old medieval market of Girona. Inaugurated in 1944, here you can find the products bought by the inhabitants of the city.
Game of Thrones in Girona
It is inevitable that, whether you are a fan or not, you will hear about Game of Thrones when you visit Girona. The sixth season of the series was filmed here. The city council agreed to close the historic center for several weeks so that the producers could work at their leisure. Also, wooden planks were put up so that no one could see what was being filmed inside the neighborhood.
Today there are some Game of Thrones tours that take visitors to the locations where important scenes from the series were filmed. Even if we are big Game of Thrones fans, we see nothing wrong with visiting these sites.
Girona: A wonderful experience
We hope no one thinks that the only interesting thing about Girona is its participation in the filming of Game of Thrones. Girona has existed since before Christ and its value is intrinsic, much greater than that of a simple television scene.
are you a Game of Thrones fan, no?
It doesn’t matter if you are a Game of Thrones fan or not, Girona is a destination for everyone. You should not miss the experience that the city offers, which does not depend on a TV series.
Food
And to finish, let’s talk about gastronomy. Girona is home to the Celler del Can Roca, voted best restaurant in the world for several years. If eating here is not affordable for everyone, the Roca brothers offer other more affordable proposals.
- The Normal restaurant, a sort of low-cost Celler
- The Rocambolesc ice cream parlor, with fun ice creams and popsicles
- La Casa Cacao, for chocolate lovers
This last place offers sweet delicacies at affordable prices. The hot chocolate we tried was fantastic.
how much time should I spend in Girona?
Most people spend a day touring Girona. It’s a great day trip from Barcelona, we hope you liked the article and that you like the city too!
A one day trip
If you want to visit Girona, but you have little time, contemplate the possibility of a one-day excursion, departing and returning from Barcelona. For example, you can leave early by high-speed train and return using the same transport at the end of the day. This doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
One night in Girona
However, if you could stay one night, you would be in a position to enjoy a night walk through the medieval center, a wonderful experience.
Have no doubts
If you have any questions about Girona, feel free to leave us a comment.
