Besalú Holidays: Monasteries, Castles and Girona Flights
Província de Girona · Catalonia · Spain · 2,213 residents
Sant Pere de Besalú
Sant Sepulcre de Palera
Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures de Besalú.jpg/500px-El_Castellot_(Beuda).jpg)
Castell de Beuda
Sant Llorenç del MontBesalú is a small inland town of around 2,213 people in the Província de Girona, sitting at 159 metres in the Catalan countryside rather than on the coast. Its appeal is concentrated and easy to reach. The monastery of Sant Pere de Besalú and the Castell de Besalú both stand about 100 metres from the centre, and a ring of castles and monasteries lies within a few miles. Girona airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly half an hour's drive away. Summers run hot, reaching 31 to 32°C in July and August, while winters are cool and fairly dry, which makes Besalú as suited to a short cultural break as to a slower week exploring this corner of Catalonia.
Why go
- Sant Pere de Besalú monastery and the Castell de Besalú sit about 100 metres from the centre.
- Girona airport, with direct UK flights, is only around 29 minutes' drive away.
- Castles at Beuda, Roca and Dosquers all lie within roughly three miles of town.
Top sights in Besalú
Monasteries, Castles and Miniatures
The most notable sights start right in the centre. The monastery of Sant Pere de Besalú, a listed cultural property, is about 100 metres away, and the Castell de Besalú stands at a similar distance. A short walk of around 0.4 miles brings you to the Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures de Besalú, the one stop here with an obvious family angle.
Just outside town, the monastery of Sant Sepulcre de Palera in neighbouring Beuda is about 1.7 miles away, and Sant Llorenç del Mont lies roughly 3.9 miles out. Castle hunters can string together the Castell de Roca and the Castell de Dosquers (both about 2.6 miles), the Castell Nou de Beuda del Pla (about 2.7 miles) and the Castell de Beuda (about 3.2 miles).
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find booking cards for activities around Besalú.
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Castell de Dosquers
castle · 3 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Besalú
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Besalú can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Besalú
Choosing a Base in Besalú
With a population of a little over 2,000, Besalú is a quiet place to stay, and its main sights cluster within a few hundred metres of the centre, so staying in town means you can walk to the monastery, the castle and the miniatures museum. It is inland, so there is no seafront to weigh up.
If you prefer a livelier evening scene, the larger towns nearby offer an alternative: Olot is about 11 miles away and the city of Girona about 16 miles, both well placed for day trips back to Besalú. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Besalú and the villages around it is a hire car from Girona (GRO), about 29 min away.
Best time to visit Besalú
When to Visit Besalú
- 13°CJan27 mm
- 15°CFeb74 mm
- 18°CMar59 mm
- 21°CApr69 mm
- 22°CMay121 mm
- 27°CJun81 mm
- 31°CJul58 mm
- 32°CAug41 mm
- 26°CSept74 mm
- 23°COct60 mm
- 18°CNov31 mm
- 14°CDec25 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The climate data do not single out ideal months, but the pattern is clear. April brings highs around 21°C, and September and October sit at 26°C and 23°C, comfortable for walking between castles and monasteries. July and August are the hottest months, with highs of 31 to 32°C, though August is also one of the drier months with around five rain days.
May is the wettest month, with about 121 mm of rain over roughly 14 days, and June is also fairly damp. Winter is cool, with highs of 13 to 15°C from December to February and nights dropping to around 2°C, but December and January are the driest months of the year. Besalú is inland, so there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 2°C | 27 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 15°C | 3°C | 74 mm | 8 h |
| Mar | 18°C | 6°C | 59 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 8°C | 69 mm | 11 h |
| May | 22°C | 11°C | 121 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 16°C | 81 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 31°C | 19°C | 58 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 19°C | 41 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 26°C | 15°C | 74 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 23°C | 13°C | 60 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 8°C | 31 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 14°C | 2°C | 25 mm | 7 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Getting to Besalú from the UK
Girona airport is the closest, about 21 miles away and roughly 29 minutes by car, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona airport, also with direct UK flights, is about 70 miles away, around an hour and 40 minutes' drive. Reus airport, again with direct flights from the UK, is roughly 107 miles away, about two and a half hours by car. Car hire from any of them makes sense, as the castles and monasteries around town are spread out.
Driving from Calais takes around 14 hours. The nearest ferry port is Barcelona, about 63 miles away, with sailings to the Balearics (Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza), Italy and Morocco, handy if you want to extend your trip.
By air
- Girona (GRO)21 miles, about 29 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)70 miles, about 1 h 39 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)107 miles, about 2 h 32 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 5 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (63 miles).
Besalú is good for
Around Besalú
Day Trips Around Besalú
The surrounding towns are all close. Banyoles is about 7 miles away and Santa Pau around 7.5 miles, while the small village of Castellfollit de la Roca is roughly 8 miles off. Olot, a town of over 33,000 people, is about 11 miles away.
Further afield, Figueres lies around 14 miles away and the city of Girona, the provincial capital with a population of about 100,000, is roughly 16 miles away. Camprodon, about 19 miles, and Verges, about 20 miles, round out an easy circuit of day trips.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Besalú is a small town of around 2,213 residents, so expect a quiet pace; for more choice in the evenings, Girona and Olot are both within about 16 miles. The outlying castles and monasteries sit between roughly 1.7 and 3.9 miles from town, so a hire car is the simplest way to see them.
Pack for the season. Inland at 159 metres, winter nights fall to around 2°C, while July and August highs reach 31 to 32°C. If you are coming in May, bring a waterproof, as it is the wettest month.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Besalú?
Girona airport is the nearest, about 21 miles away and roughly 29 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona airport, about 70 miles away, and Reus, about 107 miles away, also have direct UK flights.
Is Besalú on the coast?
No, Besalú is an inland town at 159 metres above sea level in the Província de Girona. Its draw is cultural rather than beach-based, with the monastery of Sant Pere de Besalú and the Castell de Besalú both around 100 metres from the centre.
When is the best time to visit Besalú?
Spring and early autumn are comfortable, with highs around 21°C in April and 23 to 26°C in September and October. July and August are hottest at 31 to 32°C. May is the wettest month, with about 121 mm of rain over roughly 14 days.
Can you visit Besalú as a day trip from Girona?
Yes. Girona city is about 16 miles from Besalú, making it an easy day out. Once there, the main monastery, castle and the Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures de Besalú are all within about 0.4 miles of the centre.
Is Besalú good for families?
The Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures de Besalú, about 0.4 miles from the centre, is the most family-friendly sight. The town is small and quiet, and nearby castles such as Castell de Roca and Castell de Dosquers, both about 2.6 miles away, make for short outings.
How long does it take to drive to Besalú from Calais?
The drive from Calais to Besalú takes around 14 hours. Many British travellers prefer to fly into Girona, which has direct UK flights and is roughly 29 minutes from Besalú by car.