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Girona Tourist Guide

By , About.com Guide

Girona guide

Riverside in Girona

Image: Damian Corrigan

Overview:

To many, Girona is an airport and not a city - a cheap way of getting to Spain with Ryanair and nothing more. But Girona is actually a city worth visiting for its own merits. Read on for details of what to do in Girona.

A popular day trip from Barcelona takes in Figueres and Girona, giving you the chance to see both Girona and the excellent Salvador Dali Museum in one trip. You can also combine a tour of Figueres, Girona, Vic and Montserrat in a Two-Day North Catalonia Guided Tour (book direct).

See also

Best Time to Visit Girona:

Whenever Ryanair have their flights to Girona at rock bottom prices (which is quite often). Read more about Cheap Flights to Spain.

Five Things to Do in Girona:

  • Take a look at the cathedral - it has the widest Gothic nave in Europe.
  • On the other side of the cathedral is the Passeig Archeologic, a beautiful set of gardens.
  • Watch the world go by in Plaça de la Independencia, Plaça del Vi and Plaça de la Catedral.
  • Check out Girona's museums - there's one on art, one on cinema and one on archeology.
  • Wander through The Call, Giron's Jewish quarter.

How Long to Stay in Girona (excluding day trips):

If you're coming in to Girona on one of those early morning Ryanair flights, then you should at least spend your first day and night here. You could fill a second day with the city's museums.

Read more on How Long to Stay in Each City in Spain.

Hotels in Girona:

For Hotels in Girona, check out the following links:

If you're after a budget-priced bed in a dorm, try Hostelworld.

Day Trips from Girona:

One of the best things about Girona is that it makes many places in northern Catalonia much more accessible than if you were trying to get to them from Barcelona, particularly the Dali Museum in Figueres.

See also: Girona to Figueres

Where to Next?:

To Barcelona, of course.

Car Hire in Girona:

For car hire in Girona, check out the following link:

Distance to Girona:

From Barcelona 100km - 1hr by car, 1h30 by train. No convenient bus.

From Madrid 700km - 7hrs by car. No train or bus.

From Seville 1124km - 12h by car. No train or bus.

Check Prices on Flights to Girona

Check Prices on Trains to Girona or look at getting a Rail Pass.

Check Prices on Buses to Girona

First Impressions:

Don't let the disgruntled British tourists who thought Girona was a suburb of Barcelona put you off - Girona is a perfect first stop on your Spanish vacation.

Take the short walk from the bus/train station across c/Barcelona and Gran Via de Jaume I. Cross the river and you'll find the tourist information center on Rambla de la Libertat, where you can get a good map of the area.

The streets and squares around the information center, such as c/ dels Ciutadans, Plaça del Vi and the aforementioned Rambla de la Libertat, have a number of pleasant cafes and bars. They vary greatly in price and quality - avoid the really cheap stuff aimed at tourists and go for something two or three euros more - it'll be a lot better.

Beyond these streets is where things get really interesting, with a number of squares, narrow streets and churches, before you come across the cathedral. But don't stop there, continue on past the cathedral to find some beautiful gardens.

Once the interesting sights dry up, turn back on yourself, cross over the river and visit Plaça de la Independencia, a vibrant square that is perfect for finishing off your walk.

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