Girona Travelers Recommend

Walking through old Girona is a walk back in time, complete with a hilltop castle, towering cathedral, cobbled lanes, and old city walls. It’s one of the most important historical areas in Spain. Here are some tips on what to see and do in Girona if you only have a day.

Morning: Girona Walking Tour

Girona’s historic core is best explored on foot, so kick off your day with a walking tour of the city’s old town. Learn more about Girona’s 2,000-year history as you visit notable points of interest, including the Medieval Quarter, Jewish Quarter, Arab Baths, Museum of Jewish History, Cathedral of Santa Maria, and Eiffel Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel before his famous Paris tower. Fans of the George R.R. Martin novels or HBO hit series Game of Thrones can opt for a themed tour to filming sites around town.

Afternoon: Dali Museum

Make the short trip north by train to the nearby town of Figueres, birthplace of surrealist Salvador Dalí, for an afternoon visit to the Dalí Theatre-Museum. Spend your time exploring the quirky collection, arranged by the artist himself, and pay your respects at his crypt. While it’s possible to visit independently, a guided tour offers in-depth info about the artist, his works, and his hometown. If you’d rather stay in Girona, take a walk along the medieval city walls, or sign up for a hands-on cooking class for a crash course in Catalan cuisine.

Night: Dinner and a Show

Finish off your day in Girona with a special dinner show inside Valltordera Castle, a Spanish castle that hosts a medieval show, complete with knights, horses, and pageantry, as well as a flamenco performance with live dancing and Spanish guitar. For something a bit more relaxed, make your way to Placa de la Independencia for an evening of Catalan tapas hopping, or book a table at one of Girona’s numerous fine dining restaurants.

The medieval Spanish city Girona, situated just north of Barcelona, is home to an atmospheric collection of ancient churches and Roman-era fortresses. Here’s where to find unique Girona sights that were used to film key scenes in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Medieval Quarter as the Streets of Braavos

The stone buildings of Girona’s Medieval Quarter played host to a series of epic battles between Arya Stark and the Waif, a loyalist to the mysterious Faceless Men of Braavos during the sixth season of the show.

Girona Cathedral as the Great Sept of King’s Landing

In a city chock-full of ancient buildings, Girona’s 900-year-old cathedral has clearly stood the test of time. It’s so sturdy, in fact, that it survived the explosive season six finale.

Arab Baths as a Fighting Site for Arya and the Waif

The Romanesque architecture of Girona’s Arab Baths provided the location for one of the more intense struggles between Arya Stark and her arch-nemesis, the Waif, as they fought for survival in Braavos.

German Gardens as a Battle Location

Girona’s German Gardens once served as barracks for German soldiers during Spain’s 19th-century Peninsular War. The site’s conflict-themed history made it a perfect fit for a number of battle scenes filmed by the Game of Thrones crew.

Want to explore all of the Thrones' seven kingdoms? Other spectacular filming locations can be found in Iceland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, and Malta.

With three days to spend in Girona, you have more than enough time to explore the medieval streets and the greater region, including Dalí’s stomping grounds and the beautiful Costa Brava. Read on for some suggestions for how to spend three days in Girona.

Day 1: Medieval Girona

Walking through northern Catalonia’s largest city is like stepping back into a medieval town. Start your day with a guided walking tour of its historic cobbled streets. Most tours take you through the atmospheric Medieval and Jewish quarters to learn more about the city’s 2,000-year history, with stops at notable points of interest, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Museum of Jewish History, and Arab Baths. Choose a private tour to further optimize your time, or take a Game of Thrones -themed tour that focuses on filming locations from the hit HBO series. After lunch, continue exploring on your own. Walk the medieval city walls for panoramic views over the old town and Catalonian countryside or learn about Catalan art with a visit to the Girona Art Museum. End your first day at a medieval dinner show at Valltordera Castle.

Day 2: Dalí Triangle

Now that you’ve seen the city, it’s time to explore the surrounding Catalan region. Start with a day trip to the three sites that make up the Dalí Triangle: the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Salvador Dalí House Museum in Portlligat, and Gala-Dalí Castle in Púbol. Learn about the life and times of Spain’s famous surrealist as you see his works and tour his former homes. Most Dalí-centric tours include some free time in the whitewashed seaside village of Cadaqués, a picturesque spot on the coast of Catalonia. Upon return to Girona, head to Placa de la Independencia for a laid-back dinner of tapas and local wine.

Day 3: Costa Brava

Get an early start for a day trip to one of Spain’s most beautiful regions, the Costa Brava. Many of the medieval villages along the coast are difficult to reach by public transportation, so opt for a guided tour, which typically includes sightseeing at the historic lighthouse of Llafranc, strolling along the coastal trail in Calella de Palafrugell, and exploring the cobbled streets of villages such as Pals and Peratallada, located further inland. Wine lovers might prefer a tasting day trip to Empordà, one of Catalonia’s best wine regions, while outdoors enthusiasts can choose a tour of La Garrotxa Nature Park, an area in the Pyrenees foothills with more than 40 volcanoes. After a long day of travel, plan for a quiet dinner at one of the many excellent Catalan restaurants back in Girona.

Two days in Girona gives you time to soak up the town’s medieval atmosphere, sample its cuisine, and spend a day exploring further afield along Spain’s scenic Costa Brava. Here are some tips for how to plan the ultimate 48 hours in Girona.

Day 1: Around Town

**Morning:**Get oriented on your first day with a guided walking tour of Girona’s monument-filled old town. Stroll through the Medieval and Jewish quarters while visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Arab Baths, and Museum of Jewish History.Game of Thrones-themed tours take visitors to filming locations from the HBO series.

**Afternoon:**Take some time this afternoon to explore Girona through the lens of your own interests. Try a cooking class for an introduction into Catalan cuisine, stroll the medieval city walls, or duck into one of Girona’s excellent museums, such as the Cinema Museum, Archaeology Museum, Girona Art Museum, or Girona City History Museum.

**Night:**You haven’t seen Girona until you’ve experienced its magic after dark. Hit the streets on an evening walking tour of history and spooky stories, followed by an outdoor beer tasting under the stars.

Day 2: Costa Brava

**Morning:**Kick off your day in the Costa Brava region with a morning visit to the town of Figueres, just north of Girona. Spend the morning touring one of Spain’s quirkiest museums, the Dali Theatre-Museum, to see the collection from one of the world’s most famous surrealist artists. 

**Afternoon:**Day trips to the Costa Brava often continue to picturesque seaside Port Lligat, Dalí’s home later in life, for a short visit. On your way back to Girona, stop at Creus Cape Natural Park to soak up the Catalan landscape and try some local wine and olive oil.

**Night:**Girona is a top city in Spain for Catalan cuisine, and tonight is your opportunity to get a taste. Go tapas hopping around Placa de la Independencia, or book a table at one of the city’s many restaurants, several of which have earned a prestigious Michelin star.