Tourists at the Pont de les Peixateries Velles in Girona, Catalonia

Girona, 10 essential plans

Girona is one of the four provinces of Catalonia. Its excellent transport links to numerous European destinations and its proximity to Barcelona make the region a fantastic destination for a few days’ escape from everyday life. These are the essentials to make the most of your trip.

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View of Cala Giverola, Tossa de Mar, in Girona, Catalonia

10Costa Brava beaches, on the Mediterranean Sea.

Girona has around 200 kilometres of coastline with an abundance of beautiful coves, golden sandy beaches and destinations with all the amenities for enjoying the sea, such as Calonge, Lloret de Mar, Palafrugell, Sant Pere Pescador, Roses, and Tossa de Mar, among others.
Detail of Salvador Dalí’s house at Portlligat in Cadaqués, Girona

10A day with Dalí.

Figueres, Cadaqués and Púbol make up the so-called Dalí triangle. The first is the birthplace of the artist Salvador Dalí and is home to what many consider to be the greatest surrealist object in the world, the Dalí Theatre-Museum. In Cadaqués you can visit the Salvador Dalí House-Museum, which was his home and workshop. Finally, the route is completed with the Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol.
10Discover the city of Girona

All of the walled city is interesting, especially places like the Jewish quarter or the Sant Domènech staircase, and heritage buildings like the Cathedral, the Arab baths, and the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants. A great spot for photography is the rows of colourful houses overlooking the river Onyar (Casa Masó is the only one that can be visited), from the Pont de Piedra and from the Pont de les Peixateries Velles.
View of the medieval village of Peratallada in Girona, Catalonia.

10Let time fly by on a tour of its medieval villages.

Besalú, Monells, Pals, Peratallada, Santa Pau... small villages with cobbled streets clustered around a fortress or a pretty square. Time practically stands still in these villages, a gift for those looking to unwind.
Croscat volcano in Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park in Girona, Catalonia

10Walking among volcanoes in Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.

In total, there are more than 40 craters surrounded by vegetation that changes the colours of the landscape every season. Some of the best views can be enjoyed from the Montsacopa volcano and from Betet de la Serra, although a balloon flight over the volcanoes provides perhaps the most spectacular ones. A visit to the town of Castellfollit de la Roca is a must.
Romanesque Abbey of Sant Pere de Roda at El Port de la Selva in Girona, Catalonia

10Follow the footsteps of the Catalan Romanesque.

The large monasteries of Santa Maria de Ripoll, San Pedro de Rodas and San Juan de las Abadesas are outstanding. Also, many of the small villages of Girona have Romanesque churches. Strolling through places like Santa Pau, Besalú, Oix and Beget is like walking through open-air Romanesque museums.
View of Cap de Creus Natural Park in Girona, Catalonia

10Reach the easternmost tip of peninsular Spain.

This is the Cap de Creus Nature Park, a group of cliffs, islets and secluded coves that give rise to a landscape of great beauty. The views are astonishing and many people glimpse fantastic shapes among the rocks eroded by the sea.
View of the Aesculapius in the archaeological site of Empúries in L’Escala, Girona.

10Discover the Greek and Roman past in L’Escala.

Here you will find the archaeological site of Empúries and the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia. The city was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BCE, with the Romans coming later. Today, details of the presence of both can be seen in the remains of small houses, marble mosaics and temples, as well as numerous archaeological artefacts.
Detail of the kitchen of El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Catalonia. © El Celler de Can Roca

10Delight your palate with local dishes or haute cuisine.

It is no coincidence that Girona is home to one of the restaurants with the most international awards: El Celler de Can Roca. Nor is the fact that for many years the best restaurant in the world was based here: Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli. Its avant-garde cuisine is mainly based on local products, because few other places offer such high quality seafood, fish, meat and local produce.
10Explore the Pyrenees on board a train.

This is the rack railway that goes all the way to the Nuria Valley. The route is a visual spectacle that includes vertiginous cliffs, waterfalls and the possibility of spotting golden eagles, chamois or marmots. The valley is very popular for hiking, has a large lake where you can stop for a rest, and is a pilgrimage destination due to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Nuria (located at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres).