Girona Area Guide

Often Overshadowed by its elegant northern neighbour, Barcelona, or bypassed en route to the isolated, sandy coves of the nearby Costa Brava , Girona belongs on any short list of Spain's most beautiful cities, joining Seville, Cordoba and Granada in the south, or San Sebastian in the northern Basque country.

The city offers some spectacular architectural styles mixing modern and classical, with a medieval part which spreads out beneath ancient walls and watchtowers on a hillside on the east bank of the River Onyar. Few cities of its size have more museums. It was originally named Oppidum Gerunda by the Romans and is located just 42km from the French border with Spain's only Cinema Museum, the City History Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Art Museum (located in the Episcopal Palace) and the Jewish History Museum which located on the site of Girona's third and last synagogue.

Girona is a good base from which to explore north eastern Catalonia. The Salvador Dali Triangle is nearby; which includes Figueras (Dali's birthplace and home of his museum ), the Pubol Castle and his home on the sea in Cadaques. The Costa Brava is less than an hour to the east of Girona is less than an hour away, offering secluded coves and long stretches of sand.

To the North West in the foothills of the Pyrenees is Catalunya's lake and volcano district between the towns of Banyoles and Olot. And the modernist, art nouveau gem city of Barcelona is just under an hour away to the south west.

The old part of the city of Girona is compact and easily walkable with its centrepiece being the vast Gothic cathedral with its Baroque facade poised above an imposing staircase. The site has long been an area of worship with a mosque and synagogue once occupying nearby ground. Our guide to local attractions in Girona gives you full information on where to go and what to see.

The province of Girona borders the Costa Brava which is one of Europe’s finest coastal areas with some excellent beaches. Our guide to beaches in Girona will help you decide which are the most suitable ones for you.

 

The mild climate of Girona and the surrounding region is perfect for golfing all year-round. Throughout the province there are a total of 45 golf courses with many more under construction. Our guide to golf courses in Girona provides details of the main courses close to the city centre.

 

The province of Girona offers some excellent cuisine, due in part to the great variety of local produce that it uses with the sea nearby for fish and seafood, and mountains offering all manner of game and meats. Our guide to restaurants in Girona lists some of the most popular ones.

 

The city of Girona offers a wide range of shops and boulevards with all kind of stores with everything within walking distance. Local souvenirs include beautiful black terracotta pots and jugs, iron craftwork and other objets d'art produced by craftsmen at the Pont de Pedra every Saturday.

For more details on where to shop in Girona read our shopping guide to Girona and guide to markets in Girona.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Girona Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Girona which includes a Girona Area Guide, the best Girona Shops, Girona Markets, Girona Golf Courses, where to find Girona Beaches, recommended Girona Restaurants and Girona Local Attractions