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calm pond

Girona

A walled city in Catalonia where the old town sits along a riverfront of painted houses, close enough to Barcelona for a day.

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Girona is a city in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, about 40 minutes from Barcelona by fast train. The old town sits inside medieval walls, with stone lanes climbing toward the cathedral and the Onyar River running through the center, lined with tall houses painted in bright colors. The cathedral has one of the widest Gothic naves in the world, and a long flight of steps leads up to its front.

The Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, has narrow lanes and a small museum, and the Arab Baths are a medieval bathhouse you can visit. Girona suits a day trip from Barcelona, but one night gives you time to walk the walls and the river without watching the train schedule. It also works as a stop on the way to the Costa Brava. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the old town, while summer is hot. Plan a full day for the old town and the cathedral, and two nights if you want day trips to the coast or the Empordà region.

Girona in five

  1. Take the fast train, not the regional oneHigh-speed Avant and AVE trains take roughly 40 minutes from Barcelona Sants. Regional Rodalies trains take about 1.5 hours and cost less if you are not in a hurry.Getting around Spain
  2. Climb onto the city wallsThe walkway along the old walls gives the best views of the cathedral and the river, and links the old town's upper streets in a loop of under an hour.
  3. Visit the cathedral steps and the Jewish quarter earlyThe cathedral stairs and the narrow El Call lanes fill with day-trip groups by late morning. Arrive before 10am for photos and quiet streets.
  4. Combine Girona with a Costa Brava dayA hire car or guided day to Tossa de Mar, Cadaqués or Figueres works better from Girona than from Barcelona.Costa Brava travel guide
  5. Book early for the May flower festivalGirona's Temps de Flors fills the old town's courtyards and streets with floral displays each May, and hotels sell out. Check dates for the year before you book.

Need to know

Airport
Girona–Costa Brava (GRO), about 15 km; Barcelona (BCN) is about 100 km
Getting there
Train from Barcelona Sants: about 40 min fast, about 1.5 h regional
Getting around
Walkable old town; footbridges over the Onyar; taxis for the airport
Best base
The Barri Vell (old town) or near the station
Time needed
Half a day from Barcelona; 1–2 nights to slow down

Weather by month

  • Rainy days
  • Festival
  • Best
  • Good
  1. JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Cold, quiet
  2. FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Cold, quiet
  3. MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, spring
  4. AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, green
  5. MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Flower festival
  6. JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, long days
  7. JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot
  8. AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, crowded
  9. SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, calm
  10. OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Mild, autumn
  11. NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cool, rain
  12. DecemberClear6 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Cool, Christmas

Average daily high and low in Girona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Mar Dansa de la Mort · Apr Dansa de la Mort

Right now in Girona

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Rain

12

Feels like
11°
Humidity
78%
Wind
4 km/h
Chance of rain
0%

Girona

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

  1. Today18°8°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
  2. Tue12°8°58%Tuesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 58%.
  3. Wed16°5°25%Wednesday: Fog. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 25%.
  4. Thu19°4°35%Thursday: Fog. High 19°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 35%.
  5. Fri19°5°18%Friday: Fog. High 19°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 18%.
  6. Sat16°7°5%Saturday: Fog. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
  7. Sun18°10°28%Sunday: Rain. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 28%.

Updated 07:13 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Girona

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

  • Mar–AprDansa de la MortGirona
  • May–JunPrimavera SoundBarcelona, a day trip
  • JunSónarBarcelona, a day trip
  • Jul–AugFestival de PeraladaFigueres, a day trip

Before you go to Girona

Trains to Girona and FranceBarcelona, and on to PerpignanRead the guide
Costa Brava day tripsTossa, Cadaqués and Dalí's FigueresCompare day trips
eSIM for CataloniaMaps and train apps for a day tripRead the guide
Insurance for a Catalan breakCancellations and train delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Girona, checked

  • Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
  • Non-EU travellers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.

Girona FAQ

Is Girona worth visiting?

Yes. It has a walkable medieval center, a river lined with painted houses, a cathedral and one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters. It is less crowded than Barcelona and easy to see in one day.

Can you visit Girona as a day trip from Barcelona?

Yes. High-speed trains take about 40 minutes, so a day trip is easy. Stay a night if you want the old town quiet in the evening or a Costa Brava day by car.

How many days do you need in Girona?

One day covers the walls, cathedral and Jewish quarter. Two days leave time for Figueres or a Costa Brava village by car or tour.

Where are the Game of Thrones locations in Girona?

Parts of season 6 were filmed in the cathedral steps and in the Jewish quarter's lanes. The city sells themed walking tours, but the streets are worth seeing on their own.

Girona or Figueres for a day trip?

Girona has far more to see and walk, while Figueres is mainly about the Dalí museum. Do both by train in a long day, with Girona in the morning and Figueres in the afternoon.