| Girona | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Catalonia | |
| Territory | Province of Girona | |
| Surface | 39.1 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 100.266 (2018) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 17000–17099 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Girona is a city of Catalonia.
To know
The city has an attractive Jewish quarter and is often overlooked by tourist flyers from those arriving at Girona- "Barcelona" airport. Indeed, Girona requires a leisurely stop as part of a tour of Catalonia or for those fleeing the noise and speed of Barcelona.
Geographical notes
Girona is an ancient city that is thousands of years old in the region of Catalonia. The city has about 100,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the province of Girona which includes the counties (or comarques) of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Garrotxa, Gironès, Pla de l'Estany and Ripollès.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 16 | 13 |
| Minimum (° C) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 65 | 44 | 53 | 67 | 80 | 66 | 30 | 48 | 68 | 83 | 70 | 63 |
Girona has a mild climate. In winter, temperatures can drop below -5 ° C. In summer, temperatures often rise to 30-40 ° C. Rain is common in winter, and thunderstorms often occur in spring.
If you want to see the nearby Costa Brava plan your trip in the months between May and October. In August, however, the city becomes very quiet on Saturdays and Sundays, while most of the citizens flee to the sea.
Background
Girona is said to consistently win a national poll of citizens on their favorite city to live in. Geographically located at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, it has been a focal point of this region since it is part of theRoman Empire.
Girona also has an ancient and proud Jewish heritage, although due in part to the anti-Jewish policies of the Spanish Inquisition and secular authorities, few Jews currently live in Girona to this day.
How to orient yourself
Girona: full screen map.The old town is located on the east bank of the river, with pedestrian streets surrounded by the old city walls. There 1 Rambla, which runs parallel to the river, contains many outdoor cafes and tourist restaurants. Tourist information can be found at the south end of the Rambla, near the river. The new city center on the west bank has wider streets and contains more shops and hotels, as well as slightly cheaper restaurants.
How to get
Girona is north of Barcelona and can be reached from there by bus, train or car. There is an airport near the city with a wide range of connections with Ryanair. It is also 98 km from Barcelona.
By plane
- 2 Girona airport (IATA: GRO). Ryanair mentions "Barcelona" in the description of Girona airport to suggest that it is closer to that city than it is. The airport is actually 1 hour by bus from the center of Barcelona. There is also an hourly bus to Girona from the airport, which is 25 minutes away and connects the airport with Girona train station. Buses depart every half hour from the airport and every hour from the bus terminal.
- Oddly, as the new standard gauge high-speed rail line runs less than a kilometer from the terminal, there is no stop serving the airport.
By car
Girona is connected by several roads. From Barcelona you can take the motorway 
which connects with France. Or the National road 
Madrid-Barcelona-France.
Finally the C-25 (eje transversal) Girona-Vic-Lerida.
On the train
- 3 Girona station. There are commuter trains to Girona which leave Barcelona every 30 minutes during rush hour, otherwise every hour. All trains leave from the station Barcelona Sants with other stops a Passeig de Gràcia is Clot Aragó. Trains operate Mon-Fri 06: 00-22: 00, Sat 07: 00-22: 00, Sun 08: 00-22: 00. The journey takes between 1 hour and 20 minutes and 1 hour and 35 minutes from Barcelona Sants and the ticket costs between € 8.50 and € 12: the MD trains are faster, more comfortable but rather expensive; R trains stop at almost all stations and their seats are not designed for long journeys, but tickets are 30% cheaper. There are no round-trip discounts, but tickets are available for 10 journeys at € 60 only for R trains, € 70 for R and MD trains, valid for 90 days after purchase and allowing multiple passengers on the same journey , so it's convenient for small groups of 4 and up or for repeat trips. On weekdays there are also some direct trains from the Maresme coastal area to Girona (Mataró, Arenys, Calella, Santa Susanna ...), on weekends it is necessary to change trains at Maçanet and, due to poor timing coordination, you may find yourself waiting 50 minutes in a station far from everywhere. Timetables (line R11 from Barcelona, RG1 from the Maresme region). Almost all trains continue up to Figueres, there is also a train every 30 minutes during rush hour. From Portbou and from the French border, however, trains only run once every two hours.
- Also, you can use the high-speed trains coming from Madrid is Barcelona (AVE) or Paris, Perpignan and several other cities in southern France (TGV). The schedule is quite erratic and changes frequently, check with Renfe and SNCF respectively. Both AVE and TGV trains have all compulsory reservations. Barcelona AVE trains stop only at Sants station and take 38 minutes to reach Girona. Fares are € 16 per single trip. A round trip is slightly more expensive on AVE than on MD, but the journey time is significantly shorter, however there are no affordable passes that can be used for small groups. From more distant places in Barcelona and from France tickets are cheaper if purchased well in advance. If you board an AVE train in Spain you will have to go through security and all your luggage will be X-rayed: take this into consideration to reach the station in sufficient time.
- In addition to Madrid, Zaragoza, Lleida is Tarragona, there are no direct trains from other Spanish cities.
By bus
Girona is a local hub for bus travel. The buses stop in an underground structure connected to the railway station, in place of the former above ground system that still exists. One of the bus companies is Sagalés.
How to get around
By public transport
There are local buses, but their routes can be quite confusing for non-locals. In addition, all tourist areas are close to each other. The single ticket costs € 1.30.
By car
A car is not only unnecessary in Girona, it is also quite bulky. Rental is available for those wishing to take day trips to the villages and castles in the area.
Girona has the same problems that plague other large European cities, but to a lesser extent; traffic jams and narrow roads in some areas, along with a very complicated road system.
Having a road map is essential as the few bridges over the river make it difficult to move from one river to another.
Driving with an average tourist map is often misleading: many roads are one-way; and unpredictable routes due to the forbidden senses.
On foot
Both the Old Town and the New Town across the river are highly pedestrianized.
Most of the streets in the old town have large cobblestones and steep stairs going up the hill on which Girona is built. Walking in high heels or trolleys is quite difficult in some places, so plan accordingly.
What see
The architecture of the city is varied and striking thanks to the myriad of occupations and invasions with many narrow streets, a castle and an impressive walled section.
- 1 Girona Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria), Plaça de la Catedral (There are stairs to the main door of the cathedral on the street of the Força). Begun in the 11th century in Romanesque style; continued in the thirteenth century in the Gothic style. It includes the widest Gothic nave in the world.
- 2 Arab baths (Banys Arabs), Carrer del Rei Ferran el Catòlic.
€1.5. 
Apr-Sep: Mon-Fri 10: 00-19: 00, Sun and holidays 10: 00-14: 00; Oct-Mar: Mon-Sun 10 am-2pm. These baths were built in 1194 and feature a beautiful light well with columns.
€1.5. 
Apr-Sep: Mon-Fri 10: 00-19: 00, Sun and holidays 10: 00-14: 00; Oct-Mar: Mon-Sun 10 am-2pm. These baths were built in 1194 and feature a beautiful light well with columns.._1877._Eiffel_Company_builder._(17938966853).jpg/220px-Girona_Old_fisheries_pedestrian_bridge_(“Pont_de_les_peixateries_velles”)._1877._Eiffel_Company_builder._(17938966853).jpg)
- 3 Església de Sant Feliu (Church of San Felice). Second church in town. Closed for renovation since September 2007.
- 4 El riu Onar (Onar River) (from a metal pedestrian bridge over the historic center). Even if it dries up in the summer (and gets a little smelly!), The houses along the river are very nice. The bridge instead is by Gustave Eiffel.
- 5 Ancient hospital of Santa Catalina (Antiguo Hospital de Santa Catalina).
- 6 Chapel of San Nicola (Capilla de San Nicolás de Gerona).
- 7 Masó house.
- 8 Castillo de Montjuic.
- 9 Cloister of San Pietro di Galligans (Claustro de San Pedro de Galligans), Carrer de Santa Llúcia, 8.
- 10 Convent of San Domenico (Convent of Santo Domingo).
- 11 Building de la Pia Almoina.
- 12 Ultonia building.
- 13 Monastery of St. Peter of Galligans (Monasterio de San Pedro de Galligans).
- 14 Walls of Girona. Free. 00:00-24:00. The walls of Girona constitute a series of ramparts and walkways still intact and passable that close the eastern part of the city. From here you can enjoy the fantastic views over the city thanks to the possibility of accessing the towers.
- 15 Telecommunication tower of Girona.
Museums
- 16 Archeology Museum of Catalonia (Museo de Arqueología de Cataluña).
- 17 Girona Art Museum (Museo de Arte de Gerona).
- 18 Museum of the history of Girona (Museo de Historia de Girona).
- 19 Jewish Museum (Museo de Historia de los Judíos).
- 20 Cinema's Museum (Museo del Cine - Colección Tomàs Mallol).
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Estadi Montilivi. Stadium of the Girona FC football team that plays in the Spanish league.
- 2 Pabellón Municipal Gerona-Fontajau. Basketball stadium
Shopping
The old town mainly contains tourist shops. There is also a good selection of modern shops selling the latest clothes.
Every Saturday there is a cheap market along the riverside in the park northwest of the city center. There are also handicraft stalls in the old town.
How to have fun
Where to eat
In the old town, many tourist cafes offer menu del dia for € 10-13, even on Sundays. Areas with a dense coverage of faceless tourist cafes are: Plaça Independencia; Rambla de la Lliberitat (near cathedrals). However, try to avoid the restaurants on Rambla de la Llibertat, they are very touristy, the waiters do not speak English and even if you find menus in English, they are usually poorly translated and the dish you get can vary substantially from its description in the menu. Especially avoid the tapas in these restaurants, aside from the fact that it is not an authentic Catalan dish, you will only get a mixed bag of misery in a small dish.
Like any other Catalan city, cafes are closed from 16:00 until dinner time (around 20: 00-20: 30). The exceptions are only tourist cafes on the Rambla de la Lliberitat.
Moderate prices
- 1 Le Bistrot, Pujada de Sant Domenec, 4 (halfway from the Cathedral on both sides of the Pujada de Sant Domenec), ☎ 34972 21-8803, @[email protected]. Menu del dia: € 17-20, also available on Sundays; no traditional menu.. Probably the most spectacular outdoor tables in the city. Alternatively, consider indoor seats near the courtyard windows. Frequented by students from the local university.
- 2 Gran Muralla, Carrer D'en Francesc Eiximenis, 15, ☎ 34 972 21 87 13. The best selection of Japanese and Chinese dishes, with sushi, Peking duck, Thai salad.
- 3 El Pou del Call, C / Força, 14, ☎ 34 972 22 37 74. Excellent and good value local Catalan dishes
- König. Sandwiches and burgers.
- 4 Frankfurter König Girona Nord, Camí de la Font de l'Abat, 23, ☎ 34 972 297 504. Inexpensive food like pizzas, steaks, fries; and also a place to have a drink.
- 5 Frankfurter König 2, Pl. Independència, 2, ☎ 34 972 202 099.
- 6 Koenig Sandwiches, c / Calderers 16 (just below the Esglesia de Sant Feliu), ☎ 34 972 225 782. Combined dishes (salad main course side dish): € 5.8-6.5; salads € 5-7; focaccia sandwiches € 3.8-4.5; hamburger € 2.5-3.5; toast sandwiches: € 3.6-4. Interior with a modern and minimalist design; two floors; well air conditioned; some WiFi coverage for outdoor tables.
- 7 [link not working]The sweet life, Plaça de la Independència, 9. Italian food for all at reasonable prices.
- 8 Cafetería 1900, C / Obra, 2 (in a small square, between Pont de Pedra and Pont de Ferro). Drinks € 1-4. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Simple selection of sweets and waffles. Reasonably priced and delicious with the bonus of free wi-fi. Nice place with beautiful and clean bathrooms.
- 9 [link not working]DO Catalan tavern, Plaça Independencia, 16, ☎ 34 972 222 740. Toast and typical "tapas", salads and cold cuts
- Basque restaurants
- 10 Txalaka, Carrer Bonastruc de Porta 4. Excellent Basque restaurant serving pintxos (similar to tapas). It can get crowded with locals in the evenings after 10pm (which is a good sign for a restaurant!)
- 11 Zanpanzar, Carrer Cort-Reial, 10, ☎ 34 972 21 28 43. Fantastic atmosphere, good for a quick tapas and beer
- 12 Lizarran, Plaça de la Independència, 14. One of Lizarran's 200 restaurants in 8 different countries
- Desserts
- 13 Rocambolesc, Carrer Santa Clara, 50. € 2-3. Ice cream shop owned by one of the brothers of "El Celler de Can Roca (3 Michelin stars)".
- 14 Llagurt, Carrer Argenteria, 3. Wide variety of organic and artisanal yogurts.
- 15 Xocolateria l'Antiga, Placa del vi 8. Charming and classic place in the historic center where you can enjoy a typical cup of "xocolata calenta" (hot chocolate)
- 16 Crepdequè, C / Ballesteries 49. Grab a crepe at this classic little place in Girona
Where stay
Safety
As is typical of this region of Catalonia, there is often a risk that it will get very hot in summer. Take care and drink plenty of water throughout the day. There are a number of public fountains that anyone can use and they are clearly marked on city maps which are obtained from the tourism office.
As far as crime is concerned, Girona is generally a very safe city with a vigilant local population. Experience the crime typical of any city of its size, but visitors have little to worry about from the city itself beyond the possibility of a pickpocket in the crowd. However, it is not uncommon to see local drunks and other vagrants at the entrance to the Onyar River walkways, especially on the Old Town side. While they are generally kept secret and often ask for money.
While not the destination Barcelona is for Northern European stag parties, Girona sees its fair share, as many of them fly from the airport to Barcelona.
It should be obvious, as it would seem obvious, not to attempt to jump into the Onyar River from any of the bridges that cross it. In addition to being difficult to get out of, the water is simply not deep enough for the height, and you could be seriously injured on landing.
