Girona is an incredible city in the north of Spain, made up of Roman ruins, a network of hidden alleyways to get lost in, and one of the most magnificent cathedrals you will see. However, if you’re staying in Girona for more than a few days you will of course want to see a little bit of the surrounding area! Whether it’s spending a day out by the sea on the Costa Brava or heading into Barcelona for a few hours, there is something for everyone! So, without further ado, here are the best day trips from Girona!
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Cadaques
Cadaques is a hidden gem on the Costa Brava, a preserved fishing town with cobblestone streets and white houses lining the sea. Once the home of Salvador Dalí, you can’t miss a day trip from Girona to this beautiful town!
Spend the day wandering the streets, take a swim at Platja Gran and taste some of the local cuisines! Walk over the cliffs to the Salvador Dalí House Museum and discover the inspiration behind so much of his wonderful artwork. Don’t miss the hillside church, with its’ golden altar and the beautiful view over Platja Port d’Alguer.
Find out more about Cadaques and the Costa Brava here!
If you don’t have a car, public transport out to the Costa Brava can be quite difficult. Although you can easily rent a car through rentalcars.com, one of the easiest ways to explore this area is on a small group tour! This one has pickups in Girona and Barcelona and lasts a whole day.
Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is another town in Costa Brava, known for being one of the most beautiful places in Spain. Tossa de Mar is a little more touristy than Cadaques, but beautiful all the same and definitely worth a visit if you have the time! Only a 40 minutes drive, Tossa de Mar is a great day trip from Girona.
Tossa de Mar has a beautiful historical city-centre, La Vila Vella and Muralles de Tossa de Mar giving the town a medieval feeling, perched on the cliff looking over the sandy Platja Gran de Tossa. Strolling along the water feels just like something out of a postcard, with crystal blue waters to one side, rows of white stone houses to the other, and the majestic city walls ahead.
Don’t miss a walk around the walls, built in the 12th century they lead to the Tossa de Mar lighthouse! For some of the best food, stop at Portal Restaurant, a lovely tapas restaurant with a bit of a modern twist!
Cap Norfeu
Cap Norfeu is one of the most picturesque peninsulas on the Costa Brava, with views out of a Mamma Mia film. The hike here is a 4km loop which takes you to the edge of the peninsula, a cliffside viewpoint that looks out onto the Mediterranean.
The hike from Cap Norfeu is quite difficult, with steep climbs up a rocky path. Because of this, I recommend doing this hike on a day when there is little wind. The hike takes around 2 hours to complete!
The trip to Cap Norfeu takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Girona by car. The road is quite treacherous at the end as you follow the mountain path up to the start of the hike. If you are not a confident driver then I don’t recommend this trip! However, if you are, the views are definitely worth it.
This day trip is very well done combined with a trip to Roses, Cadaques or Ruïnes d’Empúries!
Kayaking in Sant Feliu de Guíxols
If you enjoy spending time in the water then this is one of the best day trips you can take on the Costa Brava! Sant Feliu de Guíxols is an old port town on the southern end of the Costa Brava. It is a 40-minute drive south of Girona and the trip takes just over 1 hour and a quarter on public transport. A trip here, combined with hiring kayaks to explore the coast, is one of the best day trips from Girona you can do!
There are several places within Sant Feliu de Guíxols where you can hire kayaks to explore the coastline. Here, they usually offer maps and will happily give you routes to take!
If you do not want to hire kayaks and do this by yourself, there is a great day trip with GetYourGuide which includes two hours of kayaking with a snorkel stop! You can book it here!
Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa
Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa is a Volcanic National Park, known to be one of the most significant in Europe due to its variety of plans and animals. Here, there is much volcanic activity, with over 100 seismic movements a year. Walking around the park, you will find 38 volcanic cones and over 20 lava outflows which decorate the landscape.
TParc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa makes for the perfect day trip from Girona, only one hours drive and makes for the perfect day trip from Girona. If you want something a little special, you can take a hot air balloon trip over the La Garrotxa volcanoes. This is truly an amazing experience and a really special way to remember your trip to the area!
You can find out more information about a hot air balloon trip over the La Garrotxa volcanoes here!
Alternatively, you can take a volcano trekking trip which takes you climbing up Santa Margarida Volcano, walking through the beautiful La Fageda d’en Jordà forest, a stop in the sleepy Santa Pau village, and lastly visiting one of the areas best waterfalls!
You can book this experience here!
Ruïnes d’Empúries
Ruïnes d’Empúries, or the ruins of Empúries, date back to the 6th century when the Greeks first colonised this area of the coastline. Later taken over by the Romans, this is an incredibly interesting archaeological site, with ruins from both eras. Excavations of the site began in the early 20th century and are still continuing today, with experts believing only 20% of the ancient city has been uncovered.
The ruins of Empúries are only a few kilometres away from the seaside town of L’Escala, and the Museu de la Ciutadella de Roses in Roses. This is another archaeological site with Roman and Greek ruins, as well as a great museum!
Together, Ruïnes Empúries and Museu de la Ciutadella de Roses make a great day trip! Alternatively, you can visit one in the morning and spend the afternoon elsewhere on the Costa Brava, exploring the towns of Cadaques or Calella de Palafrugell, hiking Cap Norfeu or enjoying the waterpark Parc Aquàtic Aquabrava in the resort town of Roses.
Barcelona
Only 40 minutes by train, and 1 hour and 20 minutes by car, a day trip from Girona to Barcelona is a must if you haven’t already got this beautiful city on your travel itinerary! There are direct trains between the two cities which depart several times a day.
While there is so much to see and do in Barcelona, with only a day trip make sure to spend some time exploring the Gothic Quarter, take a visit to La Sagrada Familia and head to Mercat de la Boqueria for lunch!
Make sure to read this blog post if you want more tips for things to see and do, or plan to spend several days in Barcelona!
Besalú
Besalú is known to be one of the most beautiful villages in the region of Catalonia. Once an important medieval centre, today the village shows much of its heritage in the beautiful stone architecture. Don’t miss a visit to the picturesque Pont de Besalú, the bridge crossing the river El Fluvià and spending some time wandering around the small streets taking in the medieval architecture.
You will probably find you don’t need a whole day to explore Besalú, so this day trip is easily combined with visits to some of the region’s other incredible medieval towns! Rupit, Vic, Santa Pau, Castellfollit de la Roca and Tavertet are just a few others to add to your trip!
Take a catamaran cruise from Roses
The last day trip idea from Girona is to head out to the coastal town of Roses. From here, you can take a full-day catamaran cruise which takes you along the coastline of the Costa Brava. This is a beautiful area and something definitely worth seeing during your time in the area! There are a few different options you can take depending on the type of boat you are comfortable with and what you want to do!
One of the best is this trip, a round trip from Roses to Cadaques. The boat leaves Roses in the morning and spends the day exploring the coastline of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, passing many known sights such as Cat’s Rock, Tamariu Cave, and the cliffs of Cape Norfeu, the Cave of Hell, and the lighthouse of Cap de Creus.
You can book this tour, or others like it here!
Natural Park Aiguamolls
Natural Park Aiguamolls is a big wildlife area and the second largest wetland in Catalonia. This is a great day trip for any nature lovers, the park is filled with hiking trails and bird-watching spots. The park is distinctly known for its dune systems, freshwater ponds, and rice fields where hundreds of species of birds and animals take refuge. Inside the natural park there are three distinct areas; Les Llaunes, Els Estanys and Illa de Caramany.
You can find a map of the park with walking trails marked here!
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