Girona is a great base to explore Catalonia from, it has ancient villages, the Dali Triangle and some gorgeous Costa Brava beaches all within easy reach. If you have already visited Barcelona and are looking for something different then Girona is an excellent alternative.
With a population of just over 100,000 Girona is a lot smaller than Barcelona and that makes it easier to navigate as well. Most of the city an be covered on foot but there is also a good public transport system in Girona.
If you are feeling really lazy Girona has a tourist choo-choo train that does a loop around town, and you can hop on or off as you like or stay on for the whole loop and enjoy the commentary, it departs every 30 minutes in summer.
GETTING TO GIRONA
A high speed train line connects Barcelona and Girona, with the trip from Barcelona Sants station only taking 38 minutes, with very frequent departures.
The station in Girona is in town, so it is an easy walk to or from your accommodation.
North of Girona, Figueres is the home of the Dali Theatre-Museum, a must do for anyone in the area and can be reached in just 15 minutes by fast train from Girona which stops a 20 minute walk form the Museum.
If you are connecting with a bus from Figueres to Cadaques or Roses then there is a slow train from Girona that takes 33 minutes and stops right next to the bus station for an easy connection
THINGS TO SEE IN GIRONA
If you are a Game of Thrones fan then check out this self guided tour of Gironas' medieval centre to visit some filming locations from Game of Thrones.
The Cathedral de Santa Maria, also known as Girona Cathedral was built between the 11th and 18th centuries and includes a mix of Romanesque and Baroque styles and the largest Gothic nave in the world. The Girona Cathedral also houses a museum where you can see a famous Creation Tapestry that dates back to the 12th century
The Arab Baths in Girona were built in 1194 and like much of the city it is in the Romanesque style. The construction of the Arab Baths were the initiative of King Alfons I as public baths, to improve hygiene the city expanded, and they served as public baths until the 14th century. The name is due to the architectural style but the baths were actually for Christians, and there are separate rooms for cold, warm and hot water. In the 17th Century a Monastery of Nuns took over use of the baths and used one of the pools for a laundry room.
The Jewish Quarter in Girona is one of the largest and best preserved in the world. Also known as the Call locally (the Catalan word for Jewish Quarter), this is an interesting area to explore. The Jewish population thrived in Girona from around the 12th century until 1492 when they had to choose between conversion and expulsion from the city. Many homes inside the quarter were left empty and as the city expanded over the centuries much of the Jewish Quarter was buried and forgotten, until quite recently.
The Benedictine Monastery in Girona was originally built in 992, with constriction on it continuing for around 200 years. The building is now home to the Museum of Archaeology and has some interesting exhibits from the city's past.
The Eiffel bridge was constructed by Gustave Eiffel in 1877, shortly before he worked on the Eiffel Tower. Girona has 11 bridges and this is the most famous of them. Also known as the Pont de Ferro, this pedestrian bridge crosses the Onyar river in Girona