10 Things to Do in Girona

In the heart of Catalonia, just an hour's drive from the regional capital, lies a magnificent city that is well worth exploring for its rich history, delicious food and fantastic ancient architecture.

Many travellers decide to visit Girona from Barcelona on a short exploratory trip, as it is a fairly small city and it is possible to cover the entire itinerary in just a few days of exploration.

Here are some of the most noteworthy activities so you can create the perfect travel plan and discover a gem of Spain that not everyone dares to visit.

Have fun exploring Girona!

Dominating the skyline of the city of Girona is one of the most important visits you will make on your tour of the city: the Cathedral of Santa María de Girona. This architectural gem was built in 1038 in a combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles.

Take the time to explore this jewel of medieval architecture. On your tour, I recommend paying attention to a few highlights.

The interior architecture...

Inside, you will find a structure of impressive dimensions. At 23 metres wide, Girona Cathedral has the widest Gothic nave in the world. Here you can also admire the Romanesque cloister and the beautiful capitals sculpted with an impressive level of detail.

The church houses a museum and a treasure trove of important historical artefacts, as well as various tombs dating from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The cathedral's treasure includes objects such as the Tapestry of Creation, the Beatus of Girona and the Figure of Charlemagne.

The access staircase...

Like its interiors, the staircase leading up to Girona Cathedral is impressive, a place that is a must-see for taking a souvenir photo.

The cathedral's steps are also a common meeting place, so you will always find people sitting there chatting.

Make your way to the Banys Àrabs, a structure built in 1194 that once housed Girona's ancient Arab baths. It is surprising how well preserved the spaces are, allowing visitors to fully understand how they functioned in centuries past.

The ancient baths are located a short distance from the Cathedral; you will soon see that many of Girona's major attractions are close to each other, making it easy to explore the city in a short time.

Some highlights of the visit include the following.

The Apodyterium

For many travellers, the favourite part of the tour is the apodyterium, the name given to the space used as a communal changing room.

Here you will find a small hexagonal pool surrounded by eight beautifully carved columns. A dome was placed on top of the column structure, filtering natural light into the interior and illuminating the entire room.

The mixture of styles...

Aesthetically, the design of the Arab baths in Girona may be different from any other similar space you have seen. The space is characterised by a mixture of styles, including ancient Roman baths, Turkish baths and Jewish mikveh, taking aspects from each of them.

The iconic walls of Girona were built at the same time as the city was founded, around 79 BC, when the Roman Empire established itself in these lands. Here they built an enormous fortress: the Força Vella, surrounded by huge walls that remained almost intact until 1000 AD.

However, the construction of the wall that we can walk along today dates back to the Carolingian period in the 9th century AD. Its walls were built following the guidelines of the original Roman walls.

Visiting the ancient medieval walls is one of the reasons why many visitors are encouraged to explore the city and is undoubtedly one of the best activities to do in Girona.

As you walk around the city, you will see how the impressive construction of the original walls was gradually integrated into the urban fabric and how remarkable remains can still be seen, offering fabulous views of the entire old town of Girona.

Girona is a city crossed by different rivers and connected by different bridges, one of the most famous being the Eiffel Bridge in Girona, located over the River Oñar, which crosses part of the city from south to north.

Locally, it is known as "Pont de les Peixateries Velles", which means "Bridge of the Old Fish Markets". You will find a beautiful red structure, designed and built in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel, the renowned engineer who created the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was erected in the City of Light years later in 1889.

If you have been fortunate enough to visit Paris and see the Eiffel Tower up close, you will notice the mark of its creator in the similar design of the latticework and the use of materials.

In addition to its historical and cultural significance, the Eiffel Bridge is worth a visit for its fabulous views of the Girona skyline and its interaction with the River Oñar. From this vantage point, you can see the beautiful buildings lining the river, the houses in the old town and the towers of the cathedral.

Other bridges in Girona

Although the Gustave Eiffel Bridge is the most famous, the city of Girona has 11 bridges that serve as connecting points throughout the urban network. If you have time, dedicate part of your itinerary to visiting the most notable ones. Use this short list as inspiration.

• Pont de Pedra: One of the bridges that provides access to Girona's old town. Pedestrians are not allowed on this bridge as it was built for the exclusive use of bicycles.

• Pont de Sant Agustí: One of the busiest and most important bridges in Girona, connecting the Barri Vell (medieval quarter of Girona) with the Plaza de la Independencia (neoclassical quarter of Girona).

• Pont d'en Gómez: Also called the Princess Bridge, it is one of the most beautiful bridges in Girona. The design is Rococo in style and the wrought iron railing is covered with padlocks left by lovers.

The first museum dedicated to cinema in Spain was inaugurated in the city of Girona in 1998. It is a visit that film buffs or cinema lovers in general simply should not miss.

As you will see on your tour, much of the exhibition focuses on the Tomás Mallol Collection, acquired by the Girona City Council in 1994. The objects on display date back to the early days of the 7th art, covering a period of more than 400 years and including its evolution from shadow theatre to new technologies.

Fascinating!

Other museums in Girona

Although I recommend the Cinema Museum because of its historical importance and popularity, there are other museums in Girona that are worth visiting and are of great interest for understanding the history and evolution of Girona.

If you have time to stay in the city, consider adding a visit to your itinerary:

• The Museum of Jewish History in Girona
• The Art Museum
• The Archaeology Museum of Girona
• Casa Masó
• And, of course, the Girona History Museum.

Fans of the popular series Game of Thrones will find Girona a fascinating setting, where several episodes of the series were filmed between seasons 6 and 7. The experience is rated by fans as one of the best tours in Girona.

The Game of Thrones filming locations in Girona were selected for their ancient and medieval appearance, which matches the setting of the television series. For this particular experience, I recommend booking an excursion with an expert guide, as it is the most enjoyable way to do it! All the participants are fans of the series.

If you want to do the tour on your own, pay attention to the following locations: the steps of Girona Cathedral, Plaça dels Jurats, Pujada de Sant Domènec, Galligants Bridge and Carrer Obispo Josep Cartañà.

In some places, green screens were used to add landscapes that do not match reality 100%, for example, the scene at Girona Cathedral where the surrounding buildings were replaced with a stunning seascape.

No tour of Girona is complete without a visit to the iconic Plaça de la Independència, one of the city's most popular and dynamic public meeting places.

Plaza Independencia was built in the 19th century in a beautiful neoclassical style; the buildings surrounding it also have a much more modern appearance than the rest of Girona's historic architecture.

It is very popular with visitors and travellers due to the number of restaurants located around the perimeter of the large square. Consequently, it is one of the best places to try traditional food of excellent quality.

The place offers a wonderful contrast between the old medieval-looking stone streets and the wide open spaces more characteristic of the architecture of recent centuries. I recommend walking from Barri Vell de Girona (the old town) in a south-easterly direction to better appreciate the differences.

In the heart of Girona, next to Carrer de la Força, is the Jewish Quarter of Girona. The neighbourhood itself is an immersive museum piece, as, according to historical records, it is the oldest and best-preserved Jewish quarter in Europe.

Made up entirely of cobbled streets, walking through Girona's Jewish Quarter is a pleasure for the senses; the winding, narrow alleys and buildings remain practically unchanged from how they were more than 500 years ago.

Guided tours are organised in the city, where, accompanied by an expert on the subject, you can learn more about the history and evolution of the Jewish people of Girona, who were forced to pay more taxes than other citizens and were eventually brutally expelled in 1492.

If you go on your own, you can learn about the history by visiting the Jewish Museum in Girona. Finally, the streets you should not miss on your tour are: Carrer Manuel Cundaro, Carrer de Sant Llorenç and Carrer del Doctor Oliva i Prat.

Near the iconic city walls is an area of gardens that you should not miss: the German Gardens of Girona. The nickname comes from the German barracks that were set up here in the 19th century when the War of Independence was fought against the German army.

Upon arrival, you will find a green space full of trees and plants, nestled among ancient ruins. The ruins in the gardens include the remains of the medieval wall built by the Romans and parts of the ancient Roman city that gave rise to the enclave.

The way nature and the old stone buildings interact is truly beautiful. Don't miss it!

From the city, it is possible to take a day trip to explore areas such as the Costa Brava or the traditional medieval villages in this part of Catalonia.

One of the best things about visiting Girona is how well connected the city is to other important and interesting tourist spots in the region. I highly recommend it to my fellow travellers who have time to explore beyond Girona.

The region of Catalonia is full of medieval villages of stunning beauty, many of which are close to each other and are really small, so you can visit them in a short time.

Organised excursions from Girona

There are many excursions from Girona that you can take to different points of interest in the region. Guided excursions are an excellent alternative if you do not want to travel alone or on your own terms.

Although the details of the experience may vary slightly depending on the activity you choose, in most cases you will find yourself on a one-day trip that departs from the city early in the morning to explore areas such as the Costa Brava, Calella, Begur Castle and the coastline.