9 Reasons Why You Should Visit Girona, Spain

Discover the very best things to do in Girona, Spain, from Game of Thrones filming sites to medieval walls and historic bridges. One day is all you need and Girona makes a great day trip from Barcelona.

Girona, located in Catalonia, Spain, sits between Barcelona and Costa Brava. It’s a gorgeous place to visit, with medieval walls, narrow winding city streets, and one of the best-preserved Jewish Quarters in Europe.

All you need is one day to see the best of Girona, making it a great destination on even the quickest itineraries through Spain.

We visited Girona on a day trip from Barcelona. A high-speed train connects these two cities, making it quick and easy to get to Girona. Once in Girona, this relatively flat, compact city is easy to navigate on foot, so there’s no need to hire taxis or figure out how to use public transportation.

Tim and I are big Game of Thrones fans, and there are many filming locations to see in Girona. We especially enjoyed finding places we recognized from the show.

Even if you aren’t a Game of Thrones fan, this city is super fun to explore. With its cobblestoned streets, narrow lanes, and medieval walls, a visit to Girona is more about wandering through a picturesque city than checking off a bunch of museums and historical sites.

But even so, we came up with 9 things to do in Girona…9 reasons why you should visit Girona, Spain.

November 2025 Update: Added practical information to each attraction listed in this guide. All links and pricing verified.

Table of Contents

Best Things to Do in Girona

#1 Get Lost in the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter in Girona is one of the best preserved in the world. From 982 to 1492, Jews lived in Girona. The area where they lived, called El Call, is a maze of narrow, winding, cobblestoned lanes, still intact and very much like they were over 500 years ago. These narrow streets are a joy to explore. For those who want to learn more, visit the Jewish Museum in town.

Exploring this maze of streets was our favorite experience in Girona. This labyrinth of narrow passageways, hidden doorways, stone and brick archways, and small, secluded squares just beckons to be explored. It’s a place to set down the map and simply get lost.

The best time of day to stroll these streets is in the morning, before the day trippers arrive. But if you are one of those day trippers (we were too), you can avoid the crowds by venturing deeper into the Jewish Quarter. Many people stick to the main streets, but if you don’t mind exploring the alleyways, you can leave the crowds behind.

Getting Here: The Jewish Quarter is located in the heart of Girona, off of Carrer de la Força.

Guided Tour of the Jewish Quarter: On this 3-hour tour, visit the Jewish Quarter with a knowledgeable guide and get a guided tour of the Museum of Jewish History, which is also in Girona.

#2 For the Best Views, Walk on the Medieval Walls

Girona’s medieval walls, also called the Passeig de la Muralla, are one of the city’s most memorable experiences, offering panoramic views over the Old Town, the cathedral, the pastel-colored riverfront houses, and, on clear days, even the distant Pyrenees.

The medieval walls

What to Expect on the Walk

The medieval walls stretch along the eastern side of the Old Town, and you can explore the entire length or dip in and out through a series of access points. Expect stone staircases, narrow parapets, lookout towers, and wide panoramic terraces, all connected by a surprisingly easy walkway. Most of the route is flat once you’re on top of the walls, though the stair climbs can be steep.

The full route takes 30–45 minutes, but allow at least an hour if you plan to stop for photos, enjoy the viewpoints, or explore the gardens and towers linked to the walkway.

Best Viewpoints

Some of the most scenic spots include:

Torre Gironella: One of the highest vantage points, with views across the city rooftops.
The Cathedral Lookout: A fantastic place to see the cathedral’s massive single nave rise above the Old Town.
Jardins dels Alemanys (German Gardens): A peaceful area built around old military structures, perfect for photos or a short break.

When to Go

The walls are free and open during daylight hours. For the best experience, go early in the morning before the day-trippers arrive or late in the afternoon when the low light warms the rooftops and cathedral façade. Midday can get crowded, especially in summer.

We did this first thing so the walls were relatively empty.

View from the medieval walls

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Walking the walls is free and suitable for most visitors, but those with mobility issues may find the narrow staircases challenging. Families can easily do this walk, but keep an eye on younger kids near the open edges.

#3 Walk Across Eiffel Bridge

The bright red Eiffel Bridge is one of Girona’s most iconic landmarks and the best place to photograph the city’s colorful riverfront. Officially named Pont de les Peixateries Velles, this iron footbridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel’s engineering company in 1876, just a few years before he built the Eiffel Tower.

It’s one of several iron bridges Eiffel designed across Europe, but this one stands out for its striking color and its position over the Onyar River.

What Makes this Bridge Special?

The bold red latticework spans the narrowest part of the river, framing Girona’s famous Onyar houses, the pastel yellow, pink, and ochre buildings that line the water. When you stand on the bridge and look north, the Girona Cathedral towers above the rooftops. Look south, and you get the postcard-perfect view of these colorful homes stacked tightly along the riverbanks.

The bridge also connects two very different sides of the city:

Old Town (Barri Vell) – Medieval streets, the cathedral, and the Jewish Quarter
Modern Girona – Shops, restaurants, and wide avenues

Like the medieval walls and the Jewish Quarter, the bridge is free to visit and open all day.

Eiffel Bridge

#4 Onyar River View

The Onyar River runs through the heart of Girona. See it from Pont Pedra, Eiffel Bridge, or one of several other bridges that span the river.

The photo below was taken from Eiffel Bridge. To capture a photo of the Onyar River and the Eiffel Bridge, you can do so from Pont Pedra, a pedestrian bridge that spans the Onyar River.

Onyar River

#5 Walk up the Steps of the Girona Cathedral

One of the highlights of our visit to Girona is a visit to the Girona Cathedral. The Girona Cathedral dominates the skyline of Girona. Perched on top of a hill, the only way into the cathedral is to climb the long staircase to the entrance. It’s a scenic spot and a popular gathering point for visitors to the city.

The grand staircase leading up to the cathedral is one of the most recognizable sights in Girona. With 90 broad Baroque steps, flanked by stone balustrades and framed by centuries-old façades, it’s a dramatic entrance even before you step inside the cathedral.

These steps are impressive on their own—but for Game of Thrones fans, they’re downright legendary.

Are you a Game of Thrones fan? This cathedral was used in the filming of Season 6. Do you recognize it? If you do not, shame…shame…shame…

Girona Cathedral

A Game of Thrones Filming Location

In Game of Thrones Season 6, these very steps appear prominently as the entrance to the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing. Although Dubrovnik was the primary filming location for King’s Landing, Girona provided several key scenes that required a more monumental, visually imposing staircase.

Some of the most memorable Girona-based scenes include:

Jaime Lannister’s confrontation with the High Sparrow (the “stand-off” scene takes place right on these steps)
Crowd scenes of the Faith Militant and townspeople
Arya’s moments in Braavos, filmed in alleys nearby, making the cathedral steps part of a broader GOT walking route through Girona

FOR GAME OF THRONES FANS: If you want a mini self-guided Game of Thrones route, start at the cathedral steps, then wander down the small streets behind the cathedral. These alleys appeared in Braavos fight scenes. From there, follow the medieval streets toward Carrer de la Força and finish at the steps of Sant Domenec, another filming spot.

#6 Girona is a Hot Spot for Game of Thrones Fans

OK, so this came as a total surprise to Tim and I. Prior to our visit, I had read that the Girona Cathedral was used in Season 6 of Game of Thrones. As we were sitting in front of the cathedral, I did a little more research, learning that Girona was a major filming location for Game of Thrones.

Girona is Braavos in Season 6. With the narrow, twisting lanes in the Jewish Quarter and the Girona Cathedral, this city makes the perfect backdrop for Game of Thrones.

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, Girona is worth a visit. Many of the filming sites here were used with very little computer generated imagery, so these places appear almost like they do in the show.

Do you recognize the photo below?

When Arya is running away from the waif, she tumbles down this staircase.

If you don’t know where to go, it can be challenging to locate the Game of Thrones filming sites on your own. This Game of Thrones walking tour gets rave reviews and includes the filming locations for season 6. I wish I knew about this tour when we visited Girona.

#7 Wander the City Streets

There’s more to Girona than medieval walls, narrow streets, and filming sites…the city itself outside of the main tourist quarter is a joy to stroll through. Browse small shops, have coffee in a cafe, or just wander the city.

#8 Plaça Independencia

Located just across the Onyar River from the Old Town, Plaça Independència is one of Girona’s most vibrant and welcoming public squares. Surrounded by neoclassical buildings with wide archways and lined with cafés, tapas bars, and terraces, it’s the perfect place to take a break between sightseeing stops.

Plaça Independencia

What to Do Here

Have a drink or meal outdoors: The plaza is lined with restaurants offering Catalan dishes, tapas, and refreshing drinks. It’s tourist-friendly but still popular with locals.
Let kids unwind: If you’re traveling as a family, this is a great spot for children to run around safely while adults enjoy a break.
Pause during your walking loop: Plaça Independència sits at the crossroads between the Onyar River bridges, the modern commercial district, and the Old Town, making it the perfect point to sit and take a break.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you’re visiting Girona as a day trip from Barcelona, consider ending your day here. Grab a glass of cava, watch the plaza glow as the lights turn on, then stroll back across the river toward the station. It’s a peaceful, atmospheric way to close out your time in Girona.

#9 Girona is the Perfect Day Trip from Barcelona

Girona is 100 km from Barcelona. It may sound far but the two cities are connected by a high speed train. If you are staying in Barcelona, in just 38 minutes you can be standing in Girona.

Take the train in the morning, spend the day in Girona, arriving back in Barcelona in time for dinner at 8 pm. Yes, dinner between 7 and 10 pm is the norm in Barcelona…it took us a little bit to get used to this schedule. The trick is to take that midday siesta…which may be a little difficult while in Girona…but that’s what the coffee break in Plaça Independencia is for!

Taking the Train: Barcelona and Girona are connected with the new high speed AVE trains and the TGV trains that continue on to Paris. In Barcelona, you can purchase your tickets at the Estacio Sants Train and Bus Station. Trains leave approximately every 45 minutes. We bought our tickets the morning of our trip to Girona, and there were still open seats.

Day Trips from Barcelona

If you don’t want to arrange your transportation on your own, there are many day trip options from Barcelona. You can spend the day in Girona or also add on other destinations in the area.

This private half-day hour from Barcelona includes the Game of Thrones filming sites, Eiffel Bridge, and the Jewish Quarter. The tour includes pick-up and drop-off from your hotel.

This full day tour from Barcelona includes Girona, Figueres, and the Dalí Museum. This tour includes fast-track admission into the Dalí Museum and a guided walking tour of Girona.

Finally, this full day tour includes Girona and Figueres. It gets excellent reviews and includes pick-up and drop-off at your hotel. You also have the option to add on the Dalí Museum.

Girona Tours

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Girona safe for solo travelers?

Yes, Girona is generally very safe for solo travelers (including solo female travelers). The city has a low incidence of violent crime, a friendly tourist infrastructure, and a compact layout that makes it easy to navigate. That said, like any travel destination, staying aware of your surroundings and taking basic precautions will help ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience.

What is Girona best known for?

Girona is best known for its beautifully preserved medieval Old Town, including the cathedral, Jewish Quarter, and medieval walls, as well as its colorful houses along the Onyar River and the red Eiffel Bridge. It’s also famous as a Game of Thrones filming location and a popular day trip from Barcelona.

What are some hidden gems in Girona, Spain?

Some hidden gems in Girona include the Jardins dels Alemanys (quiet gardens near the city walls), the Arab Baths tucked behind the cathedral, the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, the Call’s tiny side alleys that most visitors skip, and the Sant Domenec steps, another atmospheric filming location from Game of Thrones.

What’s the best way to get around Girona?

You can easily get around Girona on foot. The Old Town, cathedral, bridges, and riverfront are all within walking distance. For longer trips, there are local buses, and taxis are readily available. Bikes are also popular if you want to explore a bit beyond the city center.

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Girona, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Spain

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