Cheap city break Girona

When is the best time to go?

May, June and September are ideal: 22 to 28 degrees, pleasant for the old town and warm enough for the Costa Brava beaches, without the crowds and prices of July and August. Spring and autumn are pleasant too, with clear, mild days.

The best areas in Girona

• Barri Vell the medieval old town with cobbles, the cathedral steps and the city walls.
• El Call one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters, a maze of narrow lanes.
• Cases de l'Onyar the iconic colourful houses along the river, best seen from the Pont de Sant Agustí.
• Mercadal the 19th-century extension with shops, terraces and the Eiffel bridge (Pont de les Peixateries Velles).
• Costa Brava the coast 45 minutes away, with Tossa de Mar and Calella de Palafrugell as the prettiest beach towns.

Top 5 things to do in Girona

• Girona Cathedral the widest Gothic nave in the world and 90 Baroque steps, famous as the Great Sept from Game of Thrones. Cultural ticket €5 (cathedral only); combination ticket cathedral + Sant Feliu basilica €7.50, including audioguide.
• El Call (Jewish quarter) wander for free through Catalonia's best-preserved medieval Jewish quarter.
• City walls (Passeig de la Muralla) a free walk along the old ramparts with views over the rooftops.
• Banys Àrabs the 12th-century Romanesque-style bathhouse, entry around €3.
• Costa Brava beaches Tossa de Mar with its walled Vila Vella, 45 minutes away by bus.

Day trip to Figueres: the Dalí Museum

Figueres is just 13-19 minutes from Girona by train (Rodalies R11, €2-6.58 depending on ticket type) and makes a perfect half-day. The Teatro-Museo Dalí is Catalonia's most visited museum: Salvador Dalí designed it himself as a surrealist building.

Tickets cost €18.50 online and are required in advance (many dates sell out fast). Go in the morning and return to Girona in the afternoon for the city walls and a menu del día.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven to Girona (GRO) in 1 hour 55, about 4 times a week from around €40 one-way. From the airport the Sagalés bus reaches Girona bus station in 30 minutes (€2.90). A taxi costs around €30-32. Explore the old town on foot; for the Costa Brava beaches take the Moventis and Sarfa buses, and the high-speed train reaches Barcelona in 38 minutes.

What does a trip to Girona cost?

Girona is cheaper than Barcelona. Hostels from €20, mid-range hotels €60 to 110, apartments around €85 per night. Food is good value: a menu del día €14-18 (try La Fabrica or Divinum for a solid three-course lunch), tapas €3 to 5, a glass of Catalan wine €3. Insider: climb the city walls for free at sunset for the best view, and use Girona as a quiet base for the Costa Brava instead of busy Lloret.

If you can, visit in May for the Temps de Flors flower festival (9-17 May 2026): the old town fills with flower carpets and private courtyards open for free. It is the most beautiful and busiest week of the year, so book your hotel well in advance. Budget from €260 per person for 3 days including a direct flight.