Getting to Girona City
Girona is also surprisingly easy to reach. Girona-Costa Brava Airport is often marketed as an alternative gateway to Barcelona, but the city itself is well worth your time. Located just a short drive from the historic centre, the airport offers direct connections to several European cities.
Curious about routes, transfers and what to expect on arrival? Read our full guide to Girona-Costa Brava Airport.
Walk the City Walls
Probably the best way to start is with a walk atop the medieval city walls of this beautiful city, because from up here you can really get a feel for Girona, Girona Old Town, its layout and size, a real sense of history, and you can even see the Pyrenees in the distance.
The first city walls were built here in the first century B.C. by the Romans, expanded under the rule of Charlemagne in the early 800s and then largely rebuilt again in the 1400s, still using the early Roman foundations. Although the walls lost their military purpose in the 16th century and were absorbed as the city grew outwards, most are still intact today thanks to restoration works, including the watchtowers, which offer even higher vantage points.
Today, the walls are in two sections: a small section protecting the old town to the north, and a larger section encircling it to the east and south, with the River Onyar completing the job on the western side.
A walk along the entire city walls, or the Passeig de la Muralla, will probably take between one and two hours, depending on how many photo stops you make – probably a lot! There are three main access points, but we would suggest starting at the one near Plaça Catalunya, walking effectively around the old centre of the city, and finishing at the Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants. That way, you can work your way back from there through Girona’s old town and not miss a thing!
Monestir Sant Pere de Galligants
Built in the 12th century, this Benedictine Monastery is among the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Catalunya. It is believed that the original structure dates back two centuries. The basilica church features three naves with separating pillars supporting arches. Above the entrance is an impressive rose window with a diameter of almost 3.5 metres, and a small Romanesque cloister with impressive stone carving. The Galligants in the name refers to the tiny river that runs by the abbey, which is also home to the Archaeology Museum of Catalunya.
Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths)
Right next to the St. Pere de Galligants abbey are the well-preserved Arab Baths, which date back to the 12th century. Their design is both Arab and Roman, and although they were partially destroyed in 1285 during a French siege, they were restored and remained in use until the 14th century.
During the Middle Ages, some of the rooms were used temporarily for ceremonies by the city’s Jewish community, and later, in 1618, they were bought by a community of Capuchin nuns and incorporated into their convent. In 1929, they were purchased by the Girona Provincial Council, restored, and opened to the public in 1932. More recently, they were also used as filming locations for Game of Thrones. Check the website for opening hours and prices.
Cathedral de Santa Maria
A stone’s throw from the Arab Baths is undoubtedly one of the top highlights of Girona city: the Cathedral de Santa María, usually referred to as Girona Cathedral, famous for its 22m-wide Gothic nave, which is the widest in the world. The style isn’t all Gothic, though; it took centuries to build in its entirety, and Romanesque and Baroque influences are evident, too.
There was already a Christian church on this site before the Muslim conquest, which was converted into a mosque in the year 717. When the Franks, in turn, conquered the region and ‘re-Christianised’ it in 785, the mosque was reconsecrated. In the 11th century, the original church was in poor condition and construction of the cathedral began. Work continued in phases over the centuries, and the finishing touches to the main façade weren’t completed until the 1960s.
In La Plaça de la Cathedral, the view from the bottom of the long flight of stone steps leading up to the cathedral entrance above is surely one of the most majestic sights in Girona. And if the sight of the 90-plus steps seems a little daunting, you can sit on the square below, have a beer and enjoy the view from there instead!
The Museums
There are too many things to see and do in Girona to fit into a Top 10, so we decided to cheat a little and put all the museums together under one heading. And we’re not sorry! Almost all the main ones are in Girona Old Town, making things nice and manageable. Here, we’ll just give you their names with links to the location for each one, so you can click for further info on the ones that interest you. We have already mentioned the Catalan Archaeological Museum in the monastery of St Pere. Also worth checking out are the History Museum, Cinema Museum, Art Museum, Casa Masó, and Jewish History Museum.
El Call – The Jewish Quarter
The Jewish History Museum is particularly worth a visit, as it offers a history of Girona itself during the time when the Jewish community of Girona was one of the largest in the whole Iberian Peninsula. Jews were a very much part of the fabric of society here and contributed enormously to the region’s wealth and development. When you’re finished in the museum, have a stroll around El Call, the Jewish quarter from the 12th until the end of the 15th century, when the Jews were expelled from the country by the new ‘Catholic Monarchs’ of Spain, Queen Isabel of Castilla and King Fernando of Aragón.
Although there was a Jewish population living in the old kingdoms of Catalunya and Aragon from the 9th century, the Jewish ghetto of Girona dates back to the 1100s, and it continued to grow for the next three centuries. Today, it is one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe and is beautifully photogenic, with its maze of cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, stone walls and staircases, and almost hidden gardens, all still very much as they were over 500 years ago, right in the heart of Old Girona.
El Riu Onyar (River Onyar) and its bridges
The River Onyar separates the Old City from its modern neighbourhoods to the west and also provides us with some of Girona’s most iconic sights, with the multi-coloured houses along its banks. The best way to take in these views is to cross the numerous footbridges over the Onyar, each one distinct from the next and offering a different perspective. The colourful buildings date mostly from the early 20th century and are an example of the modernist and Noucentisme architecture of the era.
Probably the most striking bridges are the beautiful stone Pont de Pedra (literally ‘Bridge of Stone’) with its three arches and the Pont d’Eiffel, so-called because it was designed by Gustave Eiffel of Parisian fame. It is also known as Pont de Ferro (Iron Bridge), although its official name is Pont de les Peixateries Velles.
By the way, on the subject of Gustave Eiffel, you may hear a story about how he planned his famous tower for Barcelona and the Universal Exposition in 1888, with the tower to serve as its grand entrance. The tale goes that Barcelona rejected the offer of the Eiffel Tower due to its size and cost – but that’s all it is, a ‘tall’ tale. A classic urban myth!
A study of all official planning documents for the Barcelona Exposition revealed that no formal or official offer was ever received from Eiffel, and that he had already presented his plans for the tower to the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris before Barcelona had even selected the site for its world fair.
Plaça de la Independència
If you have crossed one of the aforementioned footbridges and are feeling a little fatigued from all that walking, you could do worse than take a seat on one of the many terraces on Plaça de la Independència for some quality people-watching. This very elegant square, the largest and busiest in Girona, was named for Spanish independence after the Peninsular War against Napoleon that ended in 1814, and not, as you might think, for anything to do with Catalan independence from Spain.
It is also known as Plaça de Sant Agustí. The monument in the middle of the square is dedicated to those who defended the city during three sieges in 1808/9 by Napoleonic forces, the last of which lasted from May to December of 1809. The city did eventually fall and remained under French control until the end of the war. Nowadays, it’s just a great place to watch the world go by!
Gastronomy
It would be remiss not to include local gastronomy on our list, recognised as among the world’s best. This is thanks, in no small part, to El Celler de Can Roca, which was ranked the best restaurant in the world in 2013 and again in 2015, and has frequently been in the top three since then. It picked up where the famous El Bulli of Cala Montjoi, near Roses (also in Girona Province), left off when it closed in 2011, firmly establishing Girona as a culinary giant.
ElBulli was considered the world’s best eating establishment by Restaurant Magazine a record five times in the 2000s, but finally closed its doors in July 2011. In June 2023, it reopened as a museum called elBulli1846, allowing visitors to see for themselves the iconic kitchen, dining room and terrace during the summer months. For the rest of the year, it continues its main function as a gastronomy research centre. Although not in Girona city itself, ElBulli just has to be mentioned in any conversation about gastronomy in Girona!
Run by the Roca brothers, this acclaimed gourmet eatery serves creative, high-quality Catalan home cooking with a unique avant-garde twist, offering two tasting menus. Reservations must be made months in advance if you want to dine here, but if you can’t wait that long, there are, of course, plenty of other top-quality establishments you could try instead! Can Roca also run the Casa Cacao hotel, along with a very fancy chocolate shop (hence the name!) on Plaça Catalunya.
If you’re a real foodie, the place to be mid-March is the Palau de Fires i Devesa for the Fòrum del Formatge (Artisan and Catalan Cheese Forum) and especially the Fòrum Gastronòmic – generally considered to be the reference event for Gastronomy in Catalunya. The theme highlights for the 2025 edition are flavours of the sea and the mountains (morralla [mullet rockfish] and wild boar), and a Best Steak Tartar competition, where top chefs compete for the ultimate tartar creation. Get your tickets online and experience the best of Catalan gastronomy!
Craft Beer
As we wrote in one of our previous blogs, Catalunya is at the forefront of the craft beer revolution in Spain, and Girona is very much part of this trend. There is a growing range of Catalan craft beers, many from Girona, and quite a number of bars serve microbrews, many brewed in-house, as well as brews from other parts. We won’t go into detail here; instead, let you read the blog yourself. Here are a couple of Google Maps links to places worthy of mention that you might like to check out: Bagels & Beers and B-12 Rte Bar Vegano
Bonus features:
The following are events that, if you happen to get your timing right, could also be considered highlights of any visit to Girona City.
Girona Flower Festival (May)
If you happen to be in Girona in May, you get a Top 11, as it is during this month that the annual Temps de Flors has been held for over 6 decades. The city is at its most striking, with over 100 flower and plant exhibitions along with their spectacular colours and scents. Everywhere is bedecked in flower arrangements, both around private homes and public buildings, with the most impressive exhibitions held at the Cathedral steps, Sant Nicolau chapel, Sant Lluc and Sant Martí churches, Sant Feliu Basílica, Les Sarraïnes and the Banys Àrabs (which have free admission during the festival, as do many other cultural sites and monuments).
The town hall put on its own display on the Plaça de Vi right in the centre of town. Be sure to check out the multicoloured river houses, as many of these will have their own floral displays. It’s probably a good idea to get your hands on a festival map at the Tourist Office, as there are exhibitions all over the city, some of which are tricky to find without following the map. More information can be found on the website.
Who knows, you might even be inspired to attempt something similar in your own garden! If you’re feeling so enthusiastic that you don’t want to start from seed, check out ODōNATA Sensacions Florals, a lovely florist in Platja d’Aro where they’ll help you bring colour to your home.
Gastroflors
Alongside the flower displays runs Gastroflors (13–21 May 2025), which, as its name suggests, involves certain restaurants in the city offering speciality dishes with floral twists, some even featuring flowers amongst their ingredients! If you’re not limited to visiting at weekends, you’ll find there are far fewer people mid-week and therefore practically no queueing.
Festival A Cappella Music
And just in case the flowers and food aren’t enough, the International Festival of A Cappella Music is held simultaneously, with musicians coming from all over to create beautiful music with only their voices. You can check out the lineup with dates, times and locations on the website.
The Temps de Flors runs concurrently with Gastroflors and the A Cappella Festival every year. For 2025, those dates are 10–18 May.
Did you know that 1 May was one of the four most important festivals in the pagan Celtic calendar, marking the beginning of the Celtic summer? Before the arrival of the Romans, the Iberian Peninsula was mostly populated by Celts, Celtiberians, and Iberians, and when the Roman Empire officially converted to Christianity, it tried to impose its new faith on all within its borders. After repeatedly failing to get their subjects to fully renounce their old pagan rituals and superstitions, the Roman Christian Church simply combined many pagan festivals with Christian ones.
Flowers were used in pagan times to decorate altars to welcome the summer, and when the month of May became a month of veneration to Mary, it was an easy transition to decorate grottoes and Marian shrines with flowers, especially blue flowers, as that colour became associated with her. The old traditions didn’t entirely disappear, though, as yellow flowers, which were seen as particularly potent against evil (pagan) spirits, were also offered, believed to appease nature spirits and pre-Christian gods throughout Europe.
Fira de Sant Narcis
Later in the year, around the feast of Girona’s patron saint, to be precise, the Fira de Sant Narcis that bears his name is held at the end of October. The actual saint’s day is the 29th, so the Fira (Fair) happens on and around that day, lasting ten days in total – two weekends and the week in between. It’s a fair that offers a bit of something for everyone, with lots of music concerts and other performances, events, stalls, crafts, food trucks, gastronomy, and more. Most events take place in the lovely Devesa Park, very close to Girona’s Old Town, and everything finally comes to an end with an impressive fireworks display.
Fira de Mostres
Held during (and as part of) the Fira de Sant Narcis is the Fira de Mostres, a multi-sector fair with representatives, exhibitors, and novelties from sectors including entrepreneurship, tourism, services, decoration, construction, food, industry, motor, technology, and real estate. This fair usually happens right in the middle of the overall Sant Narcis event, also in Devesa Park. The dates for 2025 are 29 October – 02 November. As we said, there’s something for everybody!
Girona Film Festival (November)
On the go since 1989, the Girona Film Festival is the second-oldest film festival in Catalunya (after Sitges) and is one of the world’s top 100, according to the FilmFreeway festival platform, which boasts 12 million users. It showcases an impressively vast range of alternative, often previously unseen films across a broad spectrum of genres, including documentaries, shorts, animation, experimental, and full-feature films, each competing for the prestigious prize in its own category. It takes place in Girona’s Old Town, and the entries come from all around the globe, so if you’re a movie buff, you’re sure to find some that will interest you. Check out the programme’s official website and more information.
Girona Christmas Market
The aforementioned Plaça de la Independència hosts the characteristic wooden stalls of the Girona Christmas Market from late November through early January. Visitors can buy handcrafted Christmas decorations, ceramics, a whole range of other seasonal gifts, and a huge selection of locally produced foods and drinks. It runs from 29 November to 5 January and is open every day except 25 & 26 January and 1 January, and it’s all beautifully atmospheric!
As well as the Xmas Market, Girona also has an ice rink! During the worst of the drought, the ice rink didn’t happen for obvious reasons, but this year (2024/25), it’s back! Thirty containers, each capable of holding up to 1,000 litres, will ensure that nearly all the ice comes from reused water. The rink is located in Palau de Firas, beside the Parc de la Devessa, and this year it will be accompanied by a new Christmas market called Imagina. It is named after Market Girona Nadal and will be larger than the original market mentioned above. It runs from 21 December until 6 January.
So there you have it; our Top 10(ish) things to see and do in Girona city. If you’re wondering how it is possible that we haven’t mentioned Game of Thrones in more detail, well, we figured that if you have taken in all the above sites, you’ll also have covered most of the filming locations in Girona that were used for Game of Thrones. If you’re a hard-core fan, though, and you want to be sure you didn’t miss any, have a look at this website.
By the way, if you’re a football fan, Girona FC are currently playing in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football. Their stadium is beside the University in Montilivi on the outskirts of the city, but an easy walk or bus or taxi ride from the city centre – so there’s yet another highlight for you! What a city Girona is!
Girona for your smartphone
And finally, the Ajuntament de Girona has a smartphone application under the new name of Girona App that is designed to provide lots of citizens’ information under a range of categories, including traffic circulation, tourism info, local events and news, among many others.
In addition, if you plan to drive to Girona to try and take in all those wonderful highlights, another relatively new app called Aparcar (which replaced EasyPark) is very handy for parking your car and managing payments from your smartphone, meaning you don’t have to worry about getting back to your vehicle before your parking ticket expires – because there is no ticket! You pay for as long as you are parked, and no more. Easy-peasy!
