Girona is one of Catalonia’s main cities and makes a fantastic place to visit from Barcelona. Thanks to great travel links, travelling from Barcelona to Girona couldn’t be easier.
Visiting Girona from Barcelona takes only 40 minutes by high-speed AVE train from Barcelona, this makes Girona a great place to visit for a day. The city features many historic sights and was one of the filming locations for the Games of Thrones TV series. Many notable sights from the Game of Thrones television series can be found as you walk around Girona.
Girona has a well-preserved old town with the Catalan Gothic style Cathedral of Girona, which was used in scenes from Game of Thrones and dates from 1015 until its completion in the 18th century. The cathedral features the largest Gothic nave in the world.
The city has some well-preserved Roman fortifications built in the 1st century BC, which helped protect the city during many sieges and invasions. The Sant Pere de Galligants monastery dates from 950 AD. The monastery is now home to the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia.
What To See And Do In Girona
Girona is a very historic city that features some remarkable historic and well-preserved sights, such as –
- SANT PERE DE GALLIGANTS – A historically important monastery that dates back to 992 AD, with the Romanesque church built in 1130. The monastery is now one of five venues of the Archeology Museum of Catalonia.
- CATHEDRAL OF GIRONA – A unique example of Catalan Gothic architecture, the cathedral of Girona, was used in the Games of Thrones series.
- THE CITY WALLS – The original fortifications of Girona were built by the Romans around the 1st century B. C The walls were rebuilt in the 14th century, and even today visitors can access the walls and towers that remain.
- THE OLD QUARTER – As common place in Spain, Girona has a well-preserved old town. Small medieval streets that lead on to large squares with vibrant cafés and restaurants. There are some great photo opportunities as you explore these historic and charming streets.
- SANT FELIU CHURCH – A rare church with a sphere and bell tower makes this architecturally important building very different from other such churches. Sant Feliu dates back to the 14th century, with its facade constructed in the 18th century.
- MONTJUÏC CASTLE – Not to be confused with Montjuïc Castle in Barcelona. The Montjuïc Castle was built by Philip IV of Spain in 1653. Today, only the ruins of the castle remain.
There are also some nice coastal towns to visit along the Mediterranean coastline. Places such as Tossa de Mar, Calella de Parafrugell and Platja d’Aro are well worth a visit. Most of the coastal towns are around 50–60 km from Girona, around 30–40 minutes drive. A great way of visiting Girona by car from Barcelona is to take the motorway there and go back to the coast road. This will give you a chance to pass by and visit some of Catalonia picturesque coastal towns.The border to France is about 50 km and 25 minutes drive on the AP-7 motorway.
How To Get To Girona From Barcelona
Visiting Girona from Barcelona is best by the high-speed AVE train. You can catch the AVE high-speed train to Girona from Barcelona Sants train station. There are many trains each day, and travel time is around 40 minutes. If you decide to take the bus, there are several coach lines with direct services from Barcelona to Girona. Alternatively, if you travel by car, you can take the A7 motorway direct to Girona. Travel time from Barcelona to Girona, by bus or car, is just over one hour.
