Girona

Girona has been fought over for 2,000 years — Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Carolingians, the French, the Spanish — and the city wears that history openly. The Barri Vell is not a reconstruction. Those walls, those lanes, that cathedral sitting at the top of 90 stone steps: all of it is the real thing. The Jewish Quarter, El Call, is one of the best-preserved in Europe. From 982 to 1492, a significant Jewish community lived here. The Museum of Jewish History on Carrer de la Força does the story justice.

The city has another, more recent identity: it's a world cycling capital. Pro teams train on the roads outside the city, and the Pyrenees are under two hours away. The food scene punches far above its weight — El Celler de Can Roca held the number one spot on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013, and seven Michelin-starred restaurants now operate in a city of roughly 100,000 people.

Game of Thrones fans will clock the Cathedral steps (used as the Great Sept of Baelor) and the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter (Braavos). It's not overdone — there are no walking tour banners every ten metres — which makes the moments of recognition feel genuinely good rather than manufactured.

Catalan identity is strong and should be respected. This is not generic Spain. The city's football club, Girona FC, plays in La Liga with the motto 'orgull gironí' — Girona pride. It's not a slogan; it's a genuine cultural posture.

Catalan is the language here, not Spanish. Locals are patient with Spanish, but starting with Bon dia or Gràcies makes a real difference. And never, ever call Catalan a dialect of Spanish — it's a separate language, closer to French and Occitan than to Castilian..

Lunch starts at 2pm. Dinner no earlier than 8pm, and most locals eat between 9–10pm. Show up at a restaurant at 7pm and you'll be eating alone surrounded by confused staff..

Smaller, more interesting shops close between 2pm and 5pm for siesta. Plan shopping accordingly — the big chains stay open, but the independent boutiques on Carrer de Santa Clara will be shuttered.. Avoid any bar with a large handwritten 'SANGRIA!!!

' sign out front. Tourist trap, guaranteed. Ask for Cava (Empordà DO), Vermut, or ratafía (a local herbal liqueur) instead..

Cycling culture is serious here. Girona is a global cycling capital — pro cyclists like Mark Cavendish have lived here. La Fàbrica café on Carrer de Santa Eugènia is a genuine institution, built in a former carpentry workshop by professional cyclist Christian Meier.

Cyclists get respect on the roads.. During Temps de Flors (May), book restaurants early. Prices rise and tables fill fast.

Some restaurants raise their menú del día prices specifically during festival week — walk one block off the tourist route and you'll find better value.. Castells (human towers) are taken seriously in Catalonia. If you see a performance in the squares, stay quiet during the climb — it's a matter of community pride, not a street performance..

Menus, signs, and public announcements appear in both Catalan and Spanish. Street signs are almost exclusively in Catalan. The address 'Carrer' means street.

Girona is genuinely one of the safer cities in Europe. Locals and visitors consistently rate it highly — around 95 out of 100 people report feeling completely safe during the day, and 73 out of 100 feel secure at night. Violent crime is rare. The walk from the train station to the old town at 11pm is fine; the streets are well-lit and people are still around.

The main thing to watch: pickpocketing in the old town and at public markets, especially during Temps de Flors when the crowds get dense and distracted. Keep bags zipped and in front of you during festivals. Don't leave a phone face-up on a café table in a busy square.

One weather-specific note: Girona sits in a corridor that can produce extreme wind events. In March 2026, gusts of up to 140km/h were recorded, prompting official 'extreme risk' warnings. If you're visiting in late winter or early spring and an alert is issued, avoid trees, scaffolding, and exposed hilltop areas until conditions pass.

Girona is compact enough that the old town is entirely walkable. Wear shoes you trust on cobblestones, because those medieval streets are uneven and get slippery after rain.

LOCAL BUSES: 13 routes run by TMG (Transports Municipals del Gironès), colour-coded and numbered L1–L12 plus L16. A single ride costs €1.40, paid directly to the driver (tap your bank card or use cash — bring cash as a backup, some drivers don't take cards). Buses run daily including holidays, roughly 7:00am–9:30pm, with main routes coming every 15 minutes. If you're staying outside the old town, Google Maps gives accurate real-time route planning.

TRAINS: The main station (Estació de Girona) sits on Plaça d'Espanya, west of the Old Town, about a 10-minute walk. High-speed AVE trains reach Barcelona in 38–40 minutes. The same line connects to Figueres, and there are international connections to Paris, Toulouse, and Marseille. Roughly three trains per hour to Barcelona.

TAXIS: No Uber. Use the Gitaxi app, or call Taxi Girona (+34 972 222 323) or Girotaxi (+34 627 440 440). Stands at the train station, bus station, Plaça Independència, and Carrer Joan Maragall. Fares are metered and regulated.

AIRPORT: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is 12km southwest of the centre. The Sagalés bus runs directly to the train/bus station in about 25–30 minutes. A taxi into town runs €25–30. Ryanair uses this airport heavily — worth checking even if you're flying into Barcelona.

BIKES: Girocleta is the public bike-share system, with a 1-day visitor option. Bike Rent Girona and Bikecat also offer rentals and guided rides. The cycling routes out of the city are excellent if you have the legs for it.