Free walking tours in Girona and what to see

Must-sees

The Barri Vell, the old town, is best explored on foot at a leisurely pace. You climb up to the cathedral by a great Baroque staircase, and inside it has a very wide Gothic nave. Close by are the basilica of Sant Feliu and the so-called Arab Baths, which are actually Romanesque. The Call, the old Jewish quarter, keeps its narrow alleys and the Museum of Jewish History.

The colourful houses over the Onyar river are Girona’s best-known image. They are best seen from the red iron Peixateries Velles bridge, built by Eiffel’s company. The city wall walk circles part of the old town and offers views over the rooftops. The Rambla de la Llibertat has arcades and terraces, and the Devesa park is a large plane-tree forest next to the centre.

Free tours and guided visits

Girona’s free tour covers the Barri Vell: the cathedral, the Call, Sant Feliu and the houses on the Onyar. Guides tell the city’s Jewish history, the sieges it suffered and the custom of kissing the lioness statue so that you come back one day. There are also routes through the locations of series and films shot in the city. At the end you tip what you like.

A guided visit to the cathedral and the Arab Baths is worth it. Girona is a good base for exploring the province. The most common trips go to Figueres and its Dalí Theatre-Museum, to Besalú, with its medieval bridge, and to the volcanic area of La Garrotxa. The Costa Brava, with towns such as Tossa de Mar, Calella de Palafrugell or Cadaqués, is close by.

How long to spend

One full day is enough for the old town: a free tour in the morning, the cathedral and the wall in the afternoon. With two days you can see the museums at a relaxed pace and add Besalú or Figueres. If you stay three or four, combine the city with the Costa Brava or La Garrotxa. Girona is also an easy day trip from Barcelona by train.

Where to stay

The Barri Vell is the best area to stay, although it has sloping streets and steps. You’re right by the cathedral, the Call and many restaurants. The Mercadal, across the Onyar, is flat, has shops and is a few minutes from the old town. If you arrive by train or have a car, the area around the station and the Eixample is practical and usually quieter.