Girona Holidays: Cathedral, Old Town and Easy Flights
Província de Girona · Catalonia · Spain · 100,266 residents
Girona Cathedral
Basilica of St. Felix (Girona)-entrada_(3).JPG/500px-Museu_d'Hist%C3%B2ria_dels_Jueus_(Girona)-entrada_(3).JPG)
Museo de Historia de los Judíos
Sant Pere de Galligants
Girona Museum of ArtGirona is a city of around 100,000 people in Catalonia, set inland at 81 metres above sea level and best known for its old quarter, the Barri Vell. Almost everything worth seeing sits within a short walk of it: Girona Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Felix are both about a third of a mile from the centre, and the former synagogue that now houses the Museo de Historia de los Judíos is closer still. Add a cluster of museums, several monasteries and the Castell de Montjuïc on the edge of town, and you have a compact, culture-led city break. Getting here is unusually simple, too, as Girona airport lies only 6 miles away and has direct flights from the United Kingdom.
Why go
- Girona Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Felix sit within a third of a mile of each other.
- Girona airport is about 9 minutes' drive away, with direct flights from the United Kingdom.
- Five museums, from Jewish history to cinema, lie within half a mile of the centre.
Top sights in Girona
Cathedral, Monasteries and Museums
Start with Girona Cathedral, the city's best-known landmark, about 0.3 miles from the centre, and pair it with the Basilica of St. Felix, a minor basilica at the same distance. The Museo de Historia de los Judíos, a former synagogue turned museum, is just 0.2 miles away, and the Romanesque-era monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants lies around 0.4 miles out.
Museum lovers are well served: the Girona Museum of Art and the Museo de Historia de Girona are each about a quarter of a mile away, the Cinema Museum barely a tenth of a mile, and the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia around 0.4 miles. Many of these suit families as well as adults. For quieter corners, the Monastery of Sant Daniel is about 0.6 miles away, Sant Josep Convent and the Convent de la Mercè are right in the centre, and Torre Gironella, an archaeological site, sits about 0.3 miles off. Castell de Montjuïc, roughly 0.8 miles out, is the furthest of the lot.
The whole of the Barri Vell, the protected old quarter, can be explored on foot. Tours and tickets for Girona can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Girona Cathedral
- 2Basilica of St. Felix (Girona)
- 3Museo de Historia de los Judíos
- 4Sant Pere de Galligants
- 5Girona Museum of Art
- 6Cinema Museum in Girona
- 7Monastery of Sant Daniel
- 8Archaeology Museum of Catalonia (Girona)
- 9Museo de Historia de Girona
- 10Castell de Montjuïc
- 11Sant Josep Convent
- 12Convent de la Mercè, Girona
1cathedral- 2basilica
- 3museum
Museo de Historia de los Judíos
In the centre · Photo
former synagogue and now museum in Girona, Spain
- 4monastery
- 5museum
6museum
7monastery
8museumArchaeology Museum of Catalonia (Girona)
In the centre · Photo
Archaeology Museum of Catalonia in Girona
9museum
10castle.JPG/500px-165_Antic_convent_de_Sant_Josep_(Girona).JPG)
11monastery.jpg/500px-024_Centre_cultural_la_Merc%C3%A8%2C_antic_convent%2C_pujada_de_la_Merc%C3%A8_12_(Girona).jpg)
12monastery
Tours & tickets in Girona
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Girona can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Girona
Old Quarter or Wider City
Girona is an inland city, so the choice is not between beach and town but between staying in or near the Barri Vell and staying further out. The old quarter puts the cathedral, the basilica and most museums within a few minutes' walk, which makes it the natural base for a short break without a car.
With a population of around 100,000, the wider city offers more everyday life and may suit those planning to drive out to the surrounding towns. Live hotel prices for Girona are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Girona and the villages around it is a hire car from Girona (GRO), about 9 min away.
Best time to visit Girona
When to Visit Girona
- 14°CJan32 mm
- 16°CFeb60 mm
- 19°CMar42 mm
- 21°CApr76 mm
- 23°CMay101 mm
- 27°CJun82 mm
- 32°CJul37 mm
- 32°CAug56 mm
- 27°CSept77 mm
- 24°COct44 mm
- 18°CNov31 mm
- 15°CDec31 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the hottest months, with average highs of 32°C and lows of around 20°C, and they are also relatively dry, with six or seven rain days each. May is the wettest month, at about 101 mm spread over 14 rain days, and June sees as many rain days despite warmer weather, with highs of 27°C.
For comfortable sightseeing on foot, September brings highs of 27°C, while October still reaches about 24°C, though it has around ten rain days. March, with highs of 19°C and only six rain days, is a pleasant spring option. Winter is mild rather than warm, with January highs of 14°C and lows near 4°C. As Girona is inland, there are no sea temperatures to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 4°C | 32 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 5°C | 60 mm | 8 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 8°C | 42 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 9°C | 76 mm | 11 h |
| May | 23°C | 12°C | 101 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 17°C | 82 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 32°C | 20°C | 37 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 21°C | 56 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 16°C | 77 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 14°C | 44 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 18°C | 9°C | 31 mm | 7 h |
| Dec | 15°C | 4°C | 31 mm | 7 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Drives and Ferries
Girona airport (GRO) is the obvious choice: it has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 6 miles from the city, roughly a 9-minute drive. Barcelona (BCN) also has direct flights from the UK and is about 61 miles away, around an hour and a half by car. Reus (REU), likewise served directly from the UK, is about 103 miles away, or roughly two and a half hours' drive.
Driving all the way from Calais takes about 14 and a half hours. Barcelona's ferry port, about 54 miles south, does not link to the UK but is useful for onward trips to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as Italy and Morocco.
By air
- Girona (GRO)6 miles, about 9 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)61 miles, about 1 h 27 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Reus (REU)103 miles, about 2 h 27 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 14 h 27 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (54 miles).
Girona is good for
Around Girona
Day Trips From Girona
Banyoles is the nearest larger town, about 10 miles away, and Verges, a village of barely 1,200 people, is around 12 miles. Besalú and Torroella de Montgrí are both about 16 miles out, as is Calonge.
A little further, at around 17 miles, you will find the small towns of Pals and Santa Pau, along with Sant Feliu de Guíxols, which with roughly 22,000 residents is the largest on this list. All are within easy reach for a day out with car hire.
_-_3.jpg/500px-Recinte_emmurallat_i_Castell_de_Tossa_(Tossa_de_Mar)_-_3.jpg)
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Girona is not on the coast, so if a seaside day matters to you, plan a drive out to somewhere like Calonge or Sant Feliu de Guíxols, both around 16 to 17 miles away.
In July and August highs reach 32°C, and most sights involve walking the old quarter, so start early and save museum visits for the hottest hours. If you travel in May or June, pack for showers, as each month averages 14 rain days.
Since the airport is only minutes away and the main sights lie within a mile of each other, a short stay without car hire is entirely realistic.
Questions people ask
Are there direct flights from the UK to Girona?
Yes. Girona airport (GRO) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is about 6 miles from the city, roughly a 9-minute drive. Barcelona and Reus airports also have direct UK flights, at around an hour and a half and two and a half hours' drive respectively.
Is Girona near the beach?
Girona itself is inland, at 81 metres above sea level, so it has no beach of its own. Coastal-area towns such as Calonge and Sant Feliu de Guíxols are about 16 and 17 miles away, making them practical day trips if you have car hire.
What is the best month to visit Girona?
September is a good balance, with highs of 27°C and eight rain days. March and October are milder alternatives. July and August are the hottest, at around 32°C, while May is the wettest month, with about 101 mm of rain over 14 days.
What are the main sights in Girona?
Girona Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Felix are the headline sights, both about a third of a mile from the centre. Close by are the Museo de Historia de los Judíos in a former synagogue, the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants and several museums.
Is Girona good for a family city break?
Several museums suit families, including the Museo de Historia de los Judíos, the Girona Museum of Art, the Cinema Museum, the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia and the Museo de Historia de Girona. All lie within about half a mile of the centre, so little ones need not walk far.
How long does it take to drive from Calais to Girona?
The drive from Calais to Girona takes around 14 and a half hours. Most travellers split it over two days. Alternatively, fly to Girona airport, just 6 miles from the city, and hire a car locally for day trips.