Best Things To Do in Gerona

In the heart of Catalonia, just 1 hour's drive from the region's capital, lies a magnificent city worth exploring for its rich history, delicious food and fantastic ancient architecture.

Many travellers choose to visit Girona from Barcelona on an exploratory trip of just a few days; as it's a rather small city it's possible to exhaust the entire itinerary in just a few days of exploration.

Here are the highlights so you can create the perfect travel plan and discover a Spanish gem that not everyone gets to see.

Have fun exploring Girona!

Dominating the skyline of the city of Girona is one of the most important sights you'll see on your tour of the city: Santa Maria de Girona Cathedral. This architectural gem was built in 1038 in a combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles.

Take the time to explore this jewel of medieval architecture, on your tour I recommend paying attention to a few highlights.

The interior architecture...

Inside you will find a structure of impressive dimensions. At 23 metres wide, Girona Cathedral has the widest Gothic nave in the world. Here you will also be able to appreciate the Romanesque-style cloister and the beautiful capitals sculpted with an impressive level of detail.

The church houses a museum and treasury with many important and historical artefacts, as well as several tombs dating from the 14th to the 17th century. The cathedral's treasure consists of objects such as the Tapestry of the Creation, the Beatus of Girona or the Figure of Saint Charlemagne.

The entrance staircase...

Like its interiors, the staircase leading up to Girona Cathedral is impressive, a place that is an obligatory stop for a souvenir photo.

The steps of the Cathedral are also a common meeting point, so you'll always find people sitting down to hang out.

Make your way to the Banys Àrabs, a structure built in 1194, which was once the site of one of Girona's old Arab baths. It is surprising how well preserved the spaces are, allowing visitors to fully understand how they functioned in centuries past.

The ancient baths are within walking distance of the Cathedral; you will soon find that many of Girona's major attractions are close to each other, making it easy to explore the city in a short time.

Some highlights of the visit include the following.

The Apodyterium

For many travellers the favourite part of the tour is the apodyterium, the name given to the common dressing room.

Here you will find a small hexagon-shaped pool above which stand 8 beautifully carved columns. A dome was placed over the columned structure which filters natural light into the interior and illuminates the entire room.

The mix of styles...

Aesthetically, the design of the Arab baths in Girona may be unlike any other similar space you've ever seen. The space is characterised by a mixture of styles that includes ancient Roman baths, Turkish baths and Jewish mikvehs, taking aspects from each of them.

The iconic Walls of Girona were built at the same time as the foundation of the city, around 79 BC. When the Roman Empire was established in these lands. Here they built a huge fortress: the Força Vella, surrounded by enormous walls that remained almost intact until 1000 AD.

However, the construction of the wall that we can walk along today dates back to the Carolingian period in the 9th century AD. Its walls were built along the lines of the original Roman walls.

Visiting the ancient Medieval Walls is one of the reasons why many visitors come to explore the city and is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Girona.

As you walk around the city you can see how the impressive construction of the original walls was gradually integrated into the urban fabric and how remarkable remnants remain from where you can get fabulous views of the whole of Girona.

Girona is a city crossed by different rivers and connected by different bridges, one of the most famous is the Eiffel Bridge of Girona, located over the Oñar River that crosses part of the city in a south-north direction.

Locally it is known as "Pont de les Peixateries Velles", which means " Bridge of the old fishmongers". You'll come across a beautiful red structure, designed and built in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel, the renowned engineer who created the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris; erected in the City of Light years later in 1889.

If you have been fortunate enough to visit Paris and take a closer look at the Eiffel Tower, you will notice its author's imprint in the similar design of the latticework and use of materials.

In addition to the historical and cultural aspect, it is worth a visit to the Eiffel Bridge for fabulous views of the Girona skyline and its interaction with the River Oñar. From this point it is possible to see the beautiful buildings along the river, the houses of the old town and the towers of the Cathedral.

Other bridges in Girona

Although the Gustave Eiffel Bridge is the most famous, the city of Girona has 11 bridges that serve as a connection point for the entire urban fabric. If you have time, dedicate part of your itinerary to discovering the most outstanding bridges, use this small list as inspiration.

• Pont de Pedra: One of the bridges that provides access to the Old Quarter of Girona. Pedestrians are not allowed to cross this bridge as it has been fitted out for the exclusive use of bicycles.

• Pont de Sant Agustí: One of the busiest and most important bridges in Girona, connecting the Barri Vell (medieval area of Girona) with the Plaça de la Independència (neoclassical area of Girona).

• Pont d'en Gómez: Also called the Princess Bridge, it is one of the most beautiful bridges in Girona. The design is rococo style and on the wrought iron railing you can find locked padlocks left by lovers.

The first museum dedicated to cinema in Spain was inaugurated in the city of Girona in 1998. It is a visit that film buffs or film lovers in general simply should not miss.

As you will see on your tour, much of the exhibition focuses on the Tomás Mallol Collection, acquired by Girona City Council in 1994. The exhibits date back to the earliest days of the 7th art spanning a period of over 400 years and including its evolution from shadow theatre to new technologies.

Fascinating!

Other museums in Girona

Although I recommend the Cinema Museum due to its historical importance and popularity, there are other museums in Girona that are worth visiting and are of great interest to understand the history and evolution of Girona.

If you have time to spend in the city consider adding a visit to your itinerary:

• The Museum of Jewish History in Girona
• The Art Museum
• The Girona Archaeology Museum
• The Masó House
• And of course, the Girona History Museum.

On the other hand, fans of the popular series Game of Thrones will find in Girona a fascinating setting where several episodes of the series were filmed between seasons 6 and 7. The experience is rated by fans as one of the best tours of Girona.

The Game of Thrones filming locations in Girona were selected for their ancient and medieval appearance that matches the setting of the TV series. For this particular experience, I recommend hiring a tour with an expert guide, it's the most fun way! As all participants are fans of the series.

If you want to do the tour alone, pay attention to the following places: the steps of Girona Cathedral, Plaça dels Jurats, the Pujada de Sant Domènec, the Galligants Bridge and Calle Obispo Josep Cartañà.

In some places green chromas were used to add landscapes that do not coincide 100% with reality, for example the scene at Girona Cathedral where the surrounding buildings were replaced with an impressive maritime landscape.

No tour of Girona is complete without a visit to the iconic Plaça de la Independència, one of the city's most popular and dynamic public meeting places.

Plaça Independència was built in the 19th century in a beautiful neoclassical style; the surrounding buildings also have a much more modern look than the rest of Girona's historic architecture.

It is very popular with visitors and travellers due to the number of restaurants located around the perimeter of the large square. Consequently, it is one of the best places to try traditional food of excellent quality.

The place offers a wonderful contrast between the old medieval-looking stone streets and the wide open spaces more characteristic of the architecture of the last centuries. I recommend walking from Girona's Barri Vell (the old quarter) in a south-easterly direction to better appreciate the differences.

In the very heart of Girona, next to Carrer de la Força, is the Jewish Quarter of Girona. The quarter itself is an immersive museum piece as, according to historical records, it is the oldest and best preserved Jewish quarter in Europe.

Made up entirely of cobbled streets, walking through the Jewish Quarter of Girona is a pleasure for the senses; the winding, narrow alleys and the buildings are virtually unchanged from how they were more than 500 years ago.

Guided tours are organised in the city, where you can learn more about the history and evolution of the Jewish people of Girona, who were forced to pay more taxes than other citizens and were brutally expelled in 1492.

If you go on your own, you can learn about the history by visiting the Jewish Museum in Girona. Finally, the streets not to be missed on the tour are: Carrer Manuel Cundaro, Carrer de Sant Llorenç and Carrer del Doctor Oliva i Prat.

Close to the iconic city walls is a garden area not to be missed: the German Gardens of Girona. The nickname comes from the German barracks that were set up here in the 19th century during the War of Independence against the German army.

On arrival you will find a green lung full of trees and plants, set amidst ancient ruins. The ruins of the gardens range from the remains of the medieval wall built by the Romans to parts of the ancient Roman city that started the enclave.

The way nature and the old stone constructions interact is truly beautiful - don't miss it!

From the city it is possible to take a day trip to explore areas such as Costa Brava or the traditional Medieval Villages of this part of Catalonia.

One of the best parts of visiting Girona is how well connected the city is to other important and interesting tourist attractions in the region. To my travelling friends who have time to explore beyond Girona, I highly recommend it.

The region of Catalonia is full of stunningly beautiful medieval villages, many are close to each other and are really small and can be visited in a short time.

Organised excursions from Girona

There are many excursions from Girona to different points of interest in the region, and guided tours are an excellent alternative if you don't wish to undertake the trip alone or on your own terms.

Although the details of the experience may vary slightly depending on the activity you undertake, in most cases you'll find a 1-day trip departing from the city in the early hours of the morning to explore areas such as the Costa Brava, Calella, Begur Castle and the coastline.