We will be coming into Barcelona as we disembark a cruise. Having been to Spain in the past, we are looking for a different experience. We plan to take the train to Girona.
Can anyone recommend a hotel in Girona? Reasonably priced but clean and safe neighborhood. Would like within walking distance to restaurants and such as we will not have a car.
Can anyone recommend a guide/driver or tours that go out of the city to other highlights of the Costa Brava? Again, we will not have a car.
Any and all help appreciated.
Posted by
new york
1425 posts
I've been looking myself at Girona hotels for an upcoming trip. I liked what I've read about CASA CACAO.
Your hotel would be a good place to ask for driver recommendations.
The Dali Museum in Figueres is not far away and there is a train from Girona to Figueres. The coast is not far from Girona, but you ight be best hiring a driver to take you there; I don't know about that because I will rent a car to go from Girona.
Posted by
Washington DC
30470 posts
Traveling beyond Figueres by bus, you can reach the picturesque former fishing village of Cadaques. There's another Dali-related site nearby. I know some folks combine those two on a single day trip. It's not something I've done, but the trip to Cadaques is very scenic. For the Girona-Figueres travel leg there are both fast trains (book in advance to save money) and slower trains with lower, fixed fares.
There are interesting destinations west of Girona, including the medieval village of Besalu with its fortified bridge. Direct buses (not terribly frequent) take less than an hour.
I don't know whether there are bus tours originating in Girona, but there may be. I suspect you'll find more tours going to Girona from Barcelona.
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
2261 posts
In Girona, we enjoyed our stay at Hotel Historic, located in the old Jewish Quarter, and next to the Gothic Cathedral. Very convenient location. We walked everywhere for sightseeing and for restaurants.
Posted by
new york
1425 posts
Oh, yes HOTEL HISTORIC is another one that sounds very good..thank you for that reminder!
Cadaques and it's lovely and if you want to see the Dali house, etc, that's a great idea. But II will say that the drive out to the town (we had a car) brings you on a long and winding road; we overnighted in Cadaques so did not do a round trip in one day.. I'm just advising to keep in mind the road trip to get there and back--in one day, But if someone else is driving I'm sure it will be fine..it's a pretty town,
For me, but maybe others don't agree, I think I'd go to one of the closer coastal towns like Begur if you are keen to have a peek at the actual coast.
Did you mention the month that this trip will take place? in high summer=traffic and crowds.
Also look at the inland towns like Olot and Rupit.
And there are the volcanoes in the GARROXTA VOLCANIC ZONE NATIONAL PARK
https://www.spain.info/en/nature/garrotxa-volcanic-area-natural-park/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/04/travel/things-to-do-costa-brava.html
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
2261 posts
Cadaques is beautiful! We stayed for one night, so like ekscrunchy, we didn't do that roundtrip in one day, which would be tiring because of the serpentine road over the mountains, unless you have a private driver. We visited Dali's house in Port Lligat, right next door to Cadaques. It's such a quirky, interesting house. You need to make reservations in advance.
And there are some really beautiful and interesting towns heading towards the Pyrenees and in the Pyrenees. Such as Besalu, Rupit, Olot, Vic, and Ripoll.