Girona: an easy day trip from Barcelona
Girona is the prettiest easy day trip from Barcelona: a walled medieval city of stacked stone houses above the river Onyar, one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish Quarters, and a cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in the world (and a Game of Thrones cameo). The high-speed train gets you there in about 40 minutes, so doing it yourself is genuinely easy.
Our pick
Do it yourself by train. Girona is compact, walkable and well signposted, and the high-speed AVE makes it a 40-minute hop, so a tour adds cost without removing much hassle. Take a tour only if you want to combine Girona with Figueres (the Dali Theatre-Museum) or the Costa Brava in a single day, which is fiddly by public transport.
Getting there
The fast AVE/Avant trains leave from Barcelona Sants and reach Girona in about 38 to 45 minutes; book ahead for the best fares and to guarantee a seat. The cheaper regional R11 takes around 1h20 and needs no reservation. From Girona station it is a 10-minute walk to the old town. Avoid driving; the city is made for walking.
Tour vs do-it-yourself
Prices checked 24 May 2026. Prototype data; live prices arrive when the booking API connects. We earn a commission on Viator and GetYourGuide bookings; the price you pay is the same.DIY prices are indicative return rail fares per person and vary with train type and how far ahead you book; tours vary with what is included.
What to see
Girona highlights
- The Onyar houses
- The painted riverfront houses and the Eiffel-built footbridge; the classic photo.
- Cathedral
- Climb the 90 steps to the widest Gothic nave in the world; a Game of Thrones location.
- The Call
- One of Europe's best-preserved medieval Jewish Quarters, plus the History of the Jews museum.
- City walls
- Walk the Passeig de la Muralla for views over the rooftops and hills.
- Game of Thrones
- Several Season 6 scenes filmed around the cathedral steps and old town.
- Time needed
- A relaxed day; the old town is small enough to see comfortably in a few hours.
Girona, Figueres & Costa Brava tours
The tours worth the money pair Girona with the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres or a Costa Brava stop, the combinations that are awkward by train. For Girona on its own, the AVE is faster and cheaper.
We earn a commission on tour bookings; the price you pay is the same, and the train alone is cheaper for Girona.
How we checked this
Travel times, sights and the tour combinations reflect current rail operation and what tours typically include; fares and schedules change, so confirm and book the fast train ahead. We date this and re-check.
Verified 24 May 2026 · the barcelonageek editorial team
Common questions
Is Girona worth a day trip from Barcelona?
Yes. It is the prettiest easy day trip: a walled medieval old town, the painted Onyar houses, a remarkable cathedral and a famous Jewish Quarter, all about 40 minutes away by fast train.
How do you get from Barcelona to Girona?
Take the high-speed AVE/Avant from Barcelona Sants (about 40 minutes) or the cheaper, slower regional R11 (about 1h20). From the station it is a short walk to the old town.
Is it better to visit Girona by train or tour?
The train, for Girona alone: it is fast, cheap and the city is easy to navigate. Take a tour only to combine Girona with Figueres or the Costa Brava in one day.
Can you do Girona and Figueres in one day?
Yes, and it is the main reason to take a guided tour, since linking the two by public transport is fiddly. Figueres adds the Dali Theatre-Museum to the day.
Keep planning
More day trips
Montserrat, Sitges and the Costa Brava.
Day tripMontserrat
The mountain monastery, by train or tour.
ArrivalGetting around
Reaching Sants and the day-trip trains.
Researched by the barcelonageek editorial team. Last updated 24 May 2026. Some links earn us a commission; the price you pay is the same, and we flag the cheaper option. How we research · Aviso legal