Itineraries for Your Trip to Girona
3 Days in Girona for First Timers
With three days to spend in Girona, you have more than enough time to explore the medieval streets and the greater region, including Dalí’s stomping grounds and the beautiful Costa Brava. Read on for some suggestions for how to spend three days in Girona.
Walking through northern Catalonia’s largest city is like stepping back into a medieval town. Start your day with a guided walking tour of its historic cobbled streets. Most tours take you through the atmospheric Medieval and Jewish quarters to learn more about the city’s 2,000-year history, with stops at notable points of interest, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Museum of Jewish History, and Arab Baths. Choose a private tour to further optimize your time, or take a Game of Thrones -themed tour that focuses on filming locations from the hit HBO series. After lunch, continue exploring on your own. Walk the medieval city walls for panoramic views over the old town and Catalonian countryside or learn about Catalan art with a visit to the Girona Art Museum. End your first day at a medieval dinner show at Valltordera Castle.
Now that you’ve seen the city, it’s time to explore the surrounding Catalan region. Start with a day trip to the three sites that make up the Dalí Triangle: the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Salvador Dalí House Museum in Portlligat, and Gala-Dalí Castle in Púbol. Learn about the life and times of Spain’s famous surrealist as you see his works and tour his former homes. Most Dalí-centric tours include some free time in the whitewashed seaside village of Cadaqués, a picturesque spot on the coast of Catalonia. Upon return to Girona, head to Placa de la Independencia for a laid-back dinner of tapas and local wine.
Get an early start for a day trip to one of Spain’s most beautiful regions, the Costa Brava. Many of the medieval villages along the coast are difficult to reach by public transportation, so opt for a guided tour, which typically includes sightseeing at the historic lighthouse of Llafranc, strolling along the coastal trail in Calella de Palafrugell, and exploring the cobbled streets of villages such as Pals and Peratallada, located further inland. Wine lovers might prefer a tasting day trip to Empordà, one of Catalonia’s best wine regions, while outdoors enthusiasts can choose a tour of La Garrotxa Nature Park, an area in the Pyrenees foothills with more than 40 volcanoes. After a long day of travel, plan for a quiet dinner at one of the many excellent Catalan restaurants back in Girona.
