Riverside charm and rich culture make compact, beautiful Girona the perfect city base for exploring not only Girona province but all of northern Catalonia. One of the top things to do in Girona is walk the medieval city wall route, while foodies flock to the Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca. But Girona offers a wealth of museums, events, fiestas, festivals, and historic sites. It’s also a much better base than Barcelona for the Dalí Triangle, a triad of surrealist sights at Púbol, Figueres, and Port Lligat.
From fiestas to cultural events, Girona is a city with a packed social calendar: Check what’s going on before planning your trip, as accommodation prices fluctuate accordingly. Catalonia’s Costa Brava is a wildly popular summer vacation destination for Europeans, so aim to visit for shoulder periods (mid-May to mid-June or mid-September to mid-October) for the perfect pairing of warmer weather and shorter lines. The Temps de Flor festival in May sees Girona come alive with flowers and crowds alike.
One of the great joys of Girona is how compact and walkable it is, and most travelers arrive by train and explore on foot—although there’s also a great cycle lane network. The train station is about a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer) hike from the heart of the action, so you might want to catch the L3 bus to Plaça Marqués de Camps and start walking from there.
To experience a pricey meal at the famed El Celler de Can Roca, you'll need to jump online at midnight eleven months before you plan to visit. Or, try the alternative from Jordí Roca, one of the three brothers who own El Celler. He opened Rocambolesc in Girona’s left bank for ordinary mortals to get a taste of elite cuisine without taking out a second mortgage. On the menu? Chocolate, candies, and ice cream.
