Girona is the chief city of Província de Girona in Catalonia, northeast Spain. In 2023 the city had a population of 104,320, with about another 50,000 in the adjoining town of Salt. The city is astride trade and pilgrimage routes from France into Spain, and pilgrimage traffic is as strong as ever: "But we're nowhere near Barcelona!" is the plaintive cry of sun-seekers who boarded a flight to a place that Ryanair called Barcelona-Girona.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Girona is at the confluence of the Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell rivers, so transport routes across Catalonia are focussed here. It was the Roman city of Gerunda, astride their cross-country road to Cádiz. It was captured by the Moors in 715 AD but reconquered by the Holy Roman Empire in 785, though it suffered a century of destructive further attacks. So like other northern towns, Girona doesn't have the Moorish heritage seen in Andalucia, which they held for another 700 years. It did however acquire a large Jewish population, until they were expelled from Spain in 1492. From the 17th to 19th centuries it was repeatedly assaulted from France, but this ended with the defeat of Napoleon.
Walk both Old Town and New Town west of the river are compact and mostly pedestrianized. In Old Town, expect gradients, lumpy cobblestones and steep stairs. Don't take a car into the old streets, you'll need a tin opener to get it out again. Buses have nine local lines: L1 is north–south from Montjuïc to Devesa Park, railway & bus station, Migdia and Avellaneda. L2 is north–south from Josep Trueta Hospital to Devesa Park then as L1. L5 is north–south from Germans-Sabat to Devesa Park, Salt and Aiguaviva. L7 is east–west from Torre Gironella to Hospital Santa Caterina. L8 is from the railway & bus station, and L9 from Salt, and L11 from Güell, all heading south to the university Centre an…
1 Catedral de Girona (Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona), Plaça de la Catedral, ☏ +34 972 427189. Nov-Mar: M-Sa 10:00-16:30, Su 12:00-16:30; Apr May Sep Oct: to 18:00; Jun-Aug to 19:00. The main entrance from C de la Força is up a long broad flight of stairs: approach from the side streets if you wish to avoid these. Construction began in the 11th century in Romanesque style, but most of the interior is Gothic from the 13th century, including the yawning 23-m-wide nave. The west facade and approach stairs are 17th-century Baroque. In the Treasury & Museum is the Tapestry of Creation from around 1100. Your ticket includes this and nearby Sant Feliu, and you can also include the art museum.
Football: Girona FC. They were relegated in 2026 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their Montilivi stadium (capacity 13,500) is 2 km south of the city centre. (updated Jun 2026) Golf: there are 3 pitch & putts around town. The nearest full courses are at Sant Feliu de Guíxols on the coast, as Golf Girona has closed down. Long distance bicycle routes crossing the city are the Pirinexus, Ruta del Carrilet d'Olot and Via Augusta. Catalan Way of St. James is one of several pilgrimage routes converging on Santiago de Compostela.
Plaça Independencia and Rambla de la Lliberitat by the cathedral are touristy, with bland overpriced food. König, C Calderers 16 (by Basilica de Sant Feliu), ☏ +34 972 225782. Daily 09:00-23:00. König is a fast-food chain, serving burger sandwiches and the like. This branch is the most central, with air-conditioned indoor tables on two floors and a courtyard. Other branches are at C Migdia 7 two blocks east of the railway station, Camí de la Font de l'Abat 23 in the north suburbs, and Plaça de la Independència west of the river. (updated Jan 2024) 1 Casal Independentista El Forn, Plaça de Sant Pere 5, ☏ +34 972 981607. W-F 18:00-02:00, Sa 12:00-00:00, Su 12:00-18:00.
1 La Garrina, 11 Carrer Bonaventura Carreras I Peralta, ☏ +34 648 199443. Bar specialising in natural / low intervention wine in a charming street. Indoor and outdoor seating. (updated Mar 2024) Cu-Cut! (Lapsus Cafe), Plaça Independència 10, ☏ +34 972 228525. Su-Th 19:00-02:00, F Sa 19:00-03:00. Good choice for late drinks on main plaza. (updated Jan 2024) River Cafè, C de la Barca 2 (by Sant Feliu), ☏ +34 972 228245. W Th 19:00-23:30, F Sa 12:00-02:00, Su 12:00-23:30. Cafe bar with decent food by the Basilica, sometimes has live music. (updated Jan 2024) Mckiernan's, Rambla de la Llibertat 32, ☏ +34 972 220141. Su, Tu-Th 17:00-00:00, F 17:00-02:00, Sa 13:00-02:00.
Take usual caution over traffic, care of valuables, and avoiding rowdy drunks.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Girona typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 12 rainy days.
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