Day Trips from Girona

One of the main mistakes made by travellers visiting Girona for the first time is to enjoy the city alone and forget about the stunning destinations to be found in the rest of the region.

While there is plenty to see and do in Girona city, it's important to remember that this region of Spain has stunning scenery, ancient medieval villages and a coastline that should not be missed under any circumstances.

My advice? If you go to the city extend your stay by 1 or 2 days and spend the time exploring a little further afield. The best way is on an organised tour where you don't have to worry about any planning details. Here are some of the most interesting alternatives.

The stretch of coastline in southern Spain that starts in Blanes and runs all the way to the French border is known as the Costa Brava. The coastline is approximately 214 kilometres long and has a warm to temperate climate all year round.

You'll find organised excursions in the city that take travellers to see some ancient medieval villages. Although certain details of the experience may change depending on the tour you take, many of these activities in Girona include in their itinerary the municipality of Calella, the small coastal town of Llafranc and of course the village of Begur

Visiting these destinations is often interspersed with visits to the ancient Romanesque villages of Pals and Peratallada, to experience excellently preserved medieval villages.

Useful information

• Price: the price to pay for the experience is approximately 145€ per traveller.
• Duration of the excursion: the excursion from Girona along the Costa Brava lasts approximately 8 hours.
• Recommended if... part of your reason for visiting Girona is to explore its outstanding Old Town, some of the towns and villages you will visit, such as Begur Castle, are truly impressive historical sites.

One of the most influential figures and one of the most renowned artists of modernity is a native of the province of Girona. Salvador Dalí lived in the region for many years, a fact that had a notable influence on the artist's life and work.

Tours of the region are organised from the city of Girona to show travellers what Dalí's Girona was like. The tours include a guide who is an expert in the artist's life, his work and art history, who will take you through memorial museums, stately homes and ancient castles.

During your search for activities you may come across small-group versions of tours that are actually more enjoyable. Among the places you are sure to see are Figueres, Dalí's hometown, the Dalí Theatre-Museum, to admire his work, and finally, towns like Cadaqués, Portlligat and other corners of the northern Costa Brava.

Useful information

• Price: the price to pay for the whole excursion is around 148€ per traveller. This price includes transport and the accompaniment of an expert guide. Lunch and entrance fees to the museums are usually paid separately.
• Duration of the excursion: it is an extensive activity that covers many corners of the province of Girona, I recommend you reserve 9 or 10 hours for the experience.
• Recommended if... You are a fan of art and history. Learning about the historical and cultural context that gave life to the author's impressive surrealist works is really interesting for any audience.

Another excellent way to get to know Girona and at the same time enjoy its delicious food is a tour of the vineyards of the Empordà region. This area is famous in Spain and around the world for its cultural traditions, dating back to Roman times but also for its impressive wine cellars

The Empordá wine route is rated by tourists and locals alike as one of the best wine tourism breaks in Spain and Girona organises many excursions to this destination which include wine tasting and a delicious meal in a beautiful vineyard.

Excursions are organised in small groups; with the intention of taking travellers on a sensory and visual experience of Girona's indigenous products and the customs of its people.

Useful information

• Price: the price to pay for the experience is around 130€ per traveller. This price includes wine tasting and lunch, entrance to the attractions, transport and the guide in charge.
• Duration of tour: From Girona the Empordá region is very close, the tour usually takes around 6 hours or less.
• Recommended if... gastronomic tourism is your thing, combining the experience of discovering new places with delicious food and excellent quality wine. The landscapes of this region of Spain will give you a memory to cherish forever.

Another highly popular alternative excursion in Girona is one that involves a tour of the most important sites of Jewish history in the area. Although some details of the experience may change depending on the activity you do, many of these excursions offer participants a combined tour.

The itinerary mixes different elements to learn about Jewish life in the province, including a walking tour to discover the Jewish quarter of Girona, one of the best preserved in Europe, and also the Jewish quarter of Girona, one of the best preserved in Europe. Both experiences constitute one of the best tours of Girona.

The tour is complemented with an excursion to the Miqvé of Besalú, where one of the most impressive monumental sites in Girona is located and where an important Jewish community was housed for centuries.

Useful information

• Price: this tour is offered in different formats, tours for small groups have an approximate price of 150€ per participant, private tours about 450€ on average.
• Duration of the tour: Depending on the activity, it can take between 8-9 hours to complete the itinerary.
• Recommended if... you are interested in learning more about the history of the Jewish people in this part of Spain. As well as the cultural and social contributions that made up the important identity traits of the area.

Take advantage of your trip to Girona to take an adventure at sea, this includes exploring Cap Norfeu and its surroundings on a catamaran trip. Cap Norfeu is a stretch of land in the Alt Empordà region where you can enjoy some of the most beautiful spots in the Girona region.

Cap Norfeu is located within the boundaries of the Cap de Creu Natural Park and is the area with the highest degree of protection in the whole park. For this reason, most routes to Cap Norfeu include in the itinerary the beautiful coves of the park and other memorable attractions located nearby.

Among these attractions are the Tamariu cave, the bay of Cala Jóncols and the spectacular rock "El Gato"; keep in mind that this is an approximate itinerary that can be modified depending on the activity you do and the time of year you visit Girona.

Katherine's Traveller Tip

I recommend that you pay close attention to the description of each excursion and book as far in advance as possible, as places are limited for these experiences.

Useful information

• Price: the Catamaran trip is available for around 30€ per traveller, you will have to arrange the transfer to the embarkation point.
• Duration of the excursion: the tour lasts approximately 2 hours, I recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time to check in.
• Recommended if... you are interested in getting to know the north of the Girona region and want to experience a quiet adventure at sea. This trip can be a complement to other tours of Girona that take the traveller to discover the most outstanding villages of Alt Empordà and can be done by all the members of the family.

The small and charming town of Tossa de Mar is the perfect destination not to be missed on a summer excursion in the Girona region. As a result of the good weather here, a kayaking and snorkelling adventure is one of the best things to do in Girona on holiday.

Due to its popularity there are many activities organised for this type of experience, taking travellers on the most popular kayak-snorkelling route in the area. This route includes admiring the beauty of beautiful cliffs, exploring inaccessible caves by kayak and snorkelling in wildly beautiful underwater landscapes.

Tossa de Mar is only 45 minutes from Girona city and is a favourite getaway for tourists and locals looking for exciting adventures.

Useful information

• Price: The kayaking adventure in Tossa de Mar costs approximately 42€ per participant. This price includes all the necessary equipment for the adventure, but transport to the meeting point must be arranged by the traveller.
• Duration of the excursion: Depending on the company you hire it can take around 3 hours to complete the experience.
• Recommended if... you are travelling to the Girona region with friends and are looking for a fun adventure. It is ideal for travellers who are new to kayaking. Please note that swimming is required for safety reasons.

Enthusiastic travellers looking to experience the Girona region in an unconventional way should consider taking a cycling tour of the region. Designed to take place over a multi-day excursion, it is an immersive and demanding experience that I recommend for tourists with significant cycling experience.

It is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and is offered in Girona by local companies with proven experience in this tour format. These companies arrange accommodation in the different villages, hire of the necessary equipment, snacks and water for the tour and other facilities.

The itinerary may change slightly depending on the activity and even the time of year you decide to do the tour. However, among the places frequently included are Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Llafranc and Monells.

Useful information

• Price: from 1250€ per traveller. This price includes the accompaniment of an expert guide throughout the route, accommodation in each of the towns and some meals.
• Duration of the tour: varies depending on the activity and the itinerary designed; it can take from 5 to 8 days to complete the route.
• Recommended if... your trip to the Girona region is for a long stay and you want to spend part of that time getting to know the area in depth. Also consider that the demanding nature of the route means that you need to be in good physical condition to take part.

An adventure designed to discover the highlights of the Garrocha region, located just 1 hour' s drive from the city of Girona. A private transport with limited capacity takes the group of travellers on a day trip that includes very interesting stops.

Most of these excursions include in their itinerary a guided visit to the medieval town of Besalú, an excursion to discover the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, located in the natural park of the same name, and also a visit to the small ancient villages in this area. A visit to the lake of Banyoles, one of the most charming lakes in the region, is also included.

Travelling through this area of Girona is an extremely interesting journey as it combines ancient medieval villages with impressive volcanic landscapes.

Useful information

• Price: the approximate cost is around 135€ per participant.
• Duration of the excursion: it is a full-day adventure for which you will need to set aside approximately 8 to 10 hours.
• Recommended if... you are passionate about nature and impossible landscapes, the volcanic area of Garrotxa offers breathtaking views. It is especially interesting for those who have visited Girona in the past and are looking for a new side to the region.