Жирона

Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is hot and humid. Winter is mild but can be damp, and autumn brings the heaviest rain.

The biggest event is the Temps de Flors flower festival in May. Flower displays fill the historic courtyards, churches and streets.

• Catedral de Girona is a cathedral at the top of a wide Baroque staircase. Inside is a very wide Gothic nave, and the treasury holds the Tapestry of Creation.
• Basilica de Sant Feliu is a Gothic church with a tall tower, built over early Christian tombs.
• Església de Sant Pere de Galligants is a Romanesque monastery with a cloister. It now holds an archaeology museum.
• Museu d'Història dels Jueus is in the Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, and explains the history of Jewish life in Girona.
• The city walls offer a walk around the old town with views over the roofs. Start near the cathedral.
• The colorful houses along the Onyar are the best-known view. Cross the Eiffel bridge (Pont de les Peixateries Velles) for a good photo spot.

• Walk the old city wall at the end of the day. The path is open to walkers, and the light is best before sunset.
• Climb the cathedral stairs and then walk down through the Call. Allow time to stop in small shops and courtyards.

• Banyoles (about 20 km, 25 minutes by car): a town beside a large lake with walking and cycling paths.
• Besalú (about 35 km, 45 minutes by car or bus): a medieval town with a stone bridge.
• Figueres (about 35 km, 30 minutes by train): the town of the Dalí Theatre-Museum.
• Cadaqués (about 75 km, 1 hour 30 minutes by car): a white fishing village on the coast.

Other destinations in Catalonia:

• Nearby: Banyoles for the lake, and Cadaqués for the coast.
• Big city: Barcelona is about 40 minutes away by high-speed train.

• By air: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is about 12 km south of the city and has low-cost flights. A bus runs to the city center. Many visitors fly to Barcelona (BCN) instead.
• By train: High-speed trains from Barcelona take about 40 minutes. Slower regional trains take about 1.5 hours. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Buses connect Girona with Barcelona, the airport and Costa Brava towns.
• The train station is a short walk from the old town.

• On foot: The old town is compact, with some steep stairs and cobbled lanes.
• Cycling: Cycling is popular, and flat paths follow the river.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the old town. A car helps for the Costa Brava and small villages.
• Parking: Use a car park outside the old town and walk in.
• Restrictions: The old quarter is mostly pedestrian.

Girona is known for Catalan food, with rice and fish dishes from the coast and sausage from inland. Xuixo is a local sweet pastry filled with cream.

The restaurant El Celler de Can Roca has three Michelin stars and a long waiting list. For everyday meals, look in the arcaded streets around the Plaça de la Independència and on the Rambla de la Llibertat.

Girona is very safe. Keep your bag closed in crowded places, and watch your step on steep, cobbled streets.

Girona has Roman roots and a long medieval history. Its Jewish quarter was one of the most important in Catalonia, and its story is told at Museu d'Història dels Jueus.

Catedral de Girona was begun in the 11th century and rebuilt in the Gothic period, and the Baroque staircase was added in the 17th century. Església de Sant Pere de Galligants is a Romanesque monument from the Middle Ages.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: