Girona

Day 1: First steps on stone – walls, cathedral and the Call

Ease into Girona’s rhythm with an early start in the Barri Vell, when the light is soft and the lanes are quiet. Today is about Girona’s layers: Roman, medieval, Jewish, and Baroque—best absorbed on foot, unhurried, and with good shoes.

• Morning: Walk the Passeig de la Muralla from Plaça de Catalunya towards the Jardins dels Alemanys and the Torre del Llamp. Pause on the towers for panoramas and to grasp the city’s topography; cobbles can be slick after rain, so tread carefully. Grab a quick coffee on the Rambla de la Llibertat before the day-trippers arrive.
• Midday: Visit the Cathedral (single widest Gothic nave) and the serene Romanesque cloister; include the Treasury to see the 11th‑century Tapestry of Creation. Continue to the nearby Arab Baths—Christian‑built in the 12th century, cool and atmospheric; a combined “Girona Episcopal” ticket can save time and money.
• Afternoon: Explore El Call Jueu and the Museum of Jewish History (don’t miss the lower‑level excavations). Wander Carrer de la Força and side alleys looking for mezuzah slots and Hebrew traces; if crowds build, detour via quiet patios and stairways between the walls and the cathedral.
• Evening: Cross the Pont de les Peixateries Velles (Eiffel bridge) at golden hour for that classic river view; for a less busy angle, try Pont de Sant Agustí. Dine on a menú del dia turned evening set menu or book Le Bistrot by Pujada de Sant Domènec; finish with a slow stroll back via the Cathedral steps—safe and beautifully lit.

Day 2: Market to monastery – flavours, Romanesque and river life

Today blends taste and stone. Start where locals shop, then trace the city’s Romanesque mastery along the Galligants before lingering by the Onyar’s bridges and Noucentista gems.

• Morning: Browse Mercat del Lleó; chat to vendors and try an esmorzar de forquilla (hearty fork breakfast) at a market bar—ideal on cooler days. Walk to Sant Feliu; look up at the bell tower for stray cannonballs and visit the chapel of Sant Narcís if open.
• Midday: Tour Sant Pere de Galligants (Archaeology Museum) and the petite Sant Nicolau opposite; step into Plaça dels Jurats by the Galligants bridge. Lunch nearby on seasonal cuina de mercat (spring peas, autumn mushrooms, winter stews); mid‑week tables are easier to snag.
• Afternoon: Follow the Rafel Masó trail: Casa Masó (book ahead) and his riverside works; then collect alternative river views from Pont de Pedra and Pont d’en Gómez. Climb Pujada de Sant Domènec and peek into the University’s Sant Domènec cloister—adaptive reuse at its finest.
• Evening: Join locals for a pre‑dinner vermut at a small vermuteria (order olives and conservas); avoid generic “Tapas & Paella” boards. Dinner in Plaça de la Independència for a 19th‑century arcaded backdrop, then a Rocambolesc ice cream (yes, the “Hand” for Game of Thrones fans) on your wander back.

Day 3: Panoramas and pause – green edges, shelter stories and slow bites

Your final day widens the frame with viewpoints and lived history, then slows down with parks and neighbourhood tastes. Travel light, leave room for a xuixo, and follow the locals’ lead.

• Morning: Hike to Castell de Sant Miquel (1–1.5 hrs up; superb city‑and‑Pyrenees views—crystal clear on Tramuntana days) or opt for the shorter climb to Montjuïc Castle. Prefer a gentler start? Re‑enter the walls from the University access and linger in the Jardins dels Alemanys.
• Midday: Picnic under the plane trees in Devesa Park with market spoils, or book a leisurely Sunday family‑style lunch like a local (main meal of the week; reserve). In May, Temps de Flors opens private patios—crowds swell but the access is unique.
• Afternoon: Visit the Museu d’Història de Girona and, if slots are available, the Jardí de la Infància air‑raid shelter (book via the museum)—a stark, memorable Civil War layer. Snack on a xuixo from a traditional pastisseria and pick up edible souvenirs: L’Escala anchovies, ratafia, or botifarra dolça.
• Evening: A sunset circuit for photographers: Pont de Pedra (wide scene) → Eiffel bridge (iconic frame) → Pont de Sant Agustí (angled layers). Celebrate with a mar i muntanya supper or an arròs de Pals; finish with ratafia. Seasonal note: late Oct/early Nov brings Fires de Sant Narcís (book well ahead); in summer, the walls stay open later but heat peaks mid‑afternoon—shift your walk to evening.

By Air

• Girona–Costa Brava (GRO): 12 km south of the city. Taxi 15–20 min; local bus/shuttle to Girona Bus/Train Station ~25 min. Mostly seasonal/low‑cost flights to European cities.
• Barcelona–El Prat (BCN): ~120 km. Driving 1h10–1h30 via AP‑7. Direct coaches (Sagalés/FlixBus) to Girona 1h30–2h. By train: suburban R2 to Barcelona Sants, then high‑speed to Girona (total 1h20–1h45 typical).
• Perpignan–Rivesaltes, France (PGF): ~95 km. Driving ~1h10 via A9/AP‑7. Rail via Perpignan–Figueres Vilafant to Girona (typically 1h15–1h45 with a change).

By Train

• Girona Station (Estació de Girona) is central; the Bus Station is adjacent. 10–15 minutes’ walk to the Old Town.
• High‑speed (Renfe AVE/AVANT/Avlo): Barcelona Sants–Girona in 38–45 minutes (frequent daily). Madrid–Girona from ~3h30 (direct/1 change). Limited cross‑border high‑speed via Figueres Vilafant to Perpignan/Lyon/Marseille (check current timetables).
• Regional (R11): Barcelona (Clot–Aragó/Passeig de Gràcia/Sants) to Girona in ~1h20–1h40, cheaper and frequent.

By Bus/Coach

• Girona Bus Station (Estació d’Autobusos) next to the train station.
• Barcelona Airport (T1/T2) and Barcelona Estació del Nord to Girona: 1h20–2h (Sagalés, FlixBus; frequencies vary by day/season).
• Costa Brava resorts and provincial towns have regular services to Girona (seasonal frequency increases).

By Car

• From Barcelona: ~100 km via AP‑7 (toll‑free in Catalonia); 1h10–1h30 depending on traffic.
• From France (Perpignan): ~95 km via A9/AP‑7; ~1h10.
• The historic centre is largely pedestrianised. Use edge‑of‑centre car parks (e.g., Plaça Catalunya, La Devesa, Santa Caterina) and walk into the Old Town.