How to get to Girona from Barcelona

If you're keen to see an ancient medieval coastal city and one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe, Girona is a destination you should make the effort to explore.

Located in the northwest of the province of Catalonia, Girona is a compact, beautiful city full of interesting places to explore, and as it's only 85km from Barcelona, it's one of the best things to do if you're staying in the Catalan capital for a few days. But what transport options are there to get from Barcelona to Girona? Many more than you might think! Here I tell you in detail all the existing alternatives.

If you intend to explore Barcelona and its surroundings, the best thing to do is to book an organised excursion; as this is a favourite getaway for tourists visiting the Catalan capital and for locals looking to get away from the busy city for a weekend, a number of local companies offer this experience.

Excursions to Montserrat are another popular trip from the capital if you have the time and budget.

What they offer in this type of excursion

There are two main formats for this type of excursion: group excursion and private excursion. The main difference is that the group tour takes place in a shared vehicle for a small group of tourists and the meeting point is somewhere in the centre of Barcelona. The private tour, on the other hand, provides exclusive transport just for you and pick-up directly from your hotel.

Guided tours to Girona depart from Barcelona early in the morning, usually before 9:00 am, to make the most of the day. The operating companies offer, as you would expect, round-trip transport from Barcelona to Girona and an expert guide who accompanies the group of travellers and provides important guidance; the costs of certain attractions may or may not be covered in the price so I recommend reading the full description carefully before paying.

During the tour of Girona you will be able to enjoy several points of interest such as: The Great Cathedral of Girona and the other medieval buildings in the centre, the fishing village of Calella, the fortresses of Pals, the beautiful landscapes of Begur and its castle; and other attractions depending on the itinerary of the company.

You'll also find options with themed tours around the locations where the famous TV series Game of Thrones was set in Girona.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €90 for group tours and approximately €180 for private tours.
• Duration of the trip: May vary slightly depending on the company you hire; generally speaking you should allow 10-11 hours for the excursion.
• Recommended if... You intend to have a relaxing holiday in the region of Catalonia and don't want to spend time organising details; if your budget is tight you can opt for a group excursion, so your only concern will be to be at the meeting point at the agreed time.

If you are looking for a quick and inexpensive way to connect these two important cities, consider using the train as a means of transport. This is one of the best excursions from Barcelona and a favourite choice for locals who travel to the Girona and Costa Brava area for a weekend break or family adventure.

Route

If you use the local train as your transfer option, you'll need to go to Barcelona's Sants station; a direct journey will take you to Girona station for your adventure. It's a short journey of 40-50 minutes on average. Early in the morning trains may leave the station even less frequently.

My recommendation is to take the train at 8am, this way you'll arrive in Girona early and have a better chance to explore the town; Girona train station is only a 10-minute walk from the historic centre of Girona.

Trains that offer this service

The Girona-Barcelona connection is one of the most popular for journeys from the Catalan capital to the northwest of the country. Consequently, there are several types of train that operate on this route and at various times. The best known are: Ave, Avant or Euromed.

The main difference between them is the comfort of the trains they operate; some offer a direct connection between the two cities while others make stops in various towns along the route.

Trains operated by Renfe subsidiaries offer mostly first and second class tickets, the latter being very economical and ideal for budget travellers. Additionally when purchasing train tickets you will have the option to save money by purchasing a return ticket in the same purchase.

Useful information

• Price: It will depend on the train and the type of ticket you buy. You can find discounted second class tickets for as little as €10, while some first class tickets can cost as much as €50. This is the price for each route.
• Journey time: The direct train journey will take approximately 40 minutes, with additional waiting time at the station.
• Recommended if... You'll be in Barcelona for a few days and you want a safe, economical and fast means of transport to get to Girona for a day; with this option you have multiple connection options, especially during rush hour.

For travellers who are looking to save as much as possible and have time for adventure, the bus from Barcelona to Girona is an excellent alternative that may well suit your needs.

Route

If you want to travel to Girona by bus you'll need to get off at the Estación del Nord in the heart of Barcelona; in Girona you'll get off at the station that bears the city's name.

Depending on the company you hire, the route may include a stop in Lloret de Mar. The downside is that the stops can be short (30-40 minutes) or long (several hours). The positive point is that if you have time, you can plan to visit the beautiful beaches of Lloret and make a one-day stop in this beautiful Catalan town.

Companies offering this service

In the city of Barcelona you will find several companies offering direct connections between the two cities at different times and in different price ranges; it is best to check the timetable in advance and arrive at the bus station early to find a seat. Below is a list of the most popular bus companies.

• Barcelona Bus, S.L. three buses a day on the Barcelona - Girona route. They offer direct connections between the two destinations.
• Sagales This company departs from Barcelona twice a day, the route includes a stop in Lloret de Mar.
• FlixBus This company departs from Barcelona once a day with a direct, non-stop connection between the two destinations.
• ALSA This company's bus departs once a day, the route includes stops in Lloret de Mar.

Useful information

• Price: It may vary depending on the company you choose, for budget reasons I recommend you set a price between €10 and €20 per person per journey.
• Duration of the trip: From 1 to 2 hours depending on the company you hire; if the company offers direct travel the journey is faster but if stops are contemplated the trip will be a little longer.
• Recommended if... You are looking for a travel alternative that allows you to save as much as possible and you can't get a low cost ticket on the local train. Generally both options have a very similar price range but the train allows you to get there faster; if you plan to make several stops the bus is also a great alternative.

Due to the short distance between the two cities, less than 100 km by road, transferring by private car is an excellent alternative and a popular choice for many travellers. You can hire a car directly in Barcelona to explore other beautiful towns in the region.

If you have time to plan your route and time for a 4-day stay in Barcelona or more, I highly recommend it!

Route

To get to Girona from Barcelona the quickest route is to take the C-58 to the AP-7 exit in the direction of Girona/France; from here you should follow the signs on the route until you reach your destination. Travelling by car offers the possibility of making a detour to other cities before arriving at your final destination in Girona; one of the most popular options is in Lloret de Mar.

Companies that offer this service

In the city of Barcelona car hire companies abound, I recommend you do a thorough research to determine which company offers the best value for money. Before hiring remember to check their online reputation. When looking for information you can start with the following list.

• Sixt A branch located at 74 Rambla de Catalunya.
• Europcar Barcelona One of their branches is located at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 680.
• Centauro Rent a Car main branch is located at Carrer de Béjar, 63-73, in Local 08.
• Budget You can find them at Carrer del Rector Triadó, 104.

Useful information

• Price: Renting a car in the city of Barcelona will cost you around €20 per day for the cheapest alternatives; consider as an additional expense the price of fuel and the cost of tolls between the two cities, which is around €10.
• Journey time: This is a fairly quick travel option, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to travel between the two destinations.
• Recommended if... You want to travel on your own terms and at your own time. Also a fantastic option if you intend to travel to Girona with family or a large group of friends to stay in the city for a few days.

A less popular transport option among travellers but entirely possible is to travel by private taxi from Barcelona to the town of Girona. You can consider this alternative if you want to stay in Girona for several days and are travelling with lots of luggage or a large family.

Companies that offer this service

If you want to go to Girona by taxi from Barcelona you will find many reliable companies offering this service, you can quote the trip with several of them in order to get the fairest deal possible. Most companies offer a quote option on their websites or you can also quote your journey by calling their offices directly.

• Taxi Class contact number +34 933 07 07 07
• Taxi Barcelona 24 Horas contact number +34 935 16 00 27
• Radio Taxi Barcelona contact number +34 933 77 77 77 77
• Radio Taxi 033 contact number +34 933 03 30 33
• IMET contact number +34 932 23 51 51

Useful information

• Price: The price to pay for a return journey from Barcelona is around 300€ for the smallest and simplest vehicles; if the journey is one way to Girona you will pay approximately half the fare.
• Journey time: Similar to a private car transfer, travelling by taxi will take you 1 hour, 20 minutes on average.
• Recommended if... This is the least convenient alternative on the list due to the cost involved; a private tour will undoubtedly be more economical and convenient with direct transport and a guide to keep you company during the excursion.