Girona, Figueres, and Dali Museum Day Trip

Summer, I did exactly this trip in April 2016, but by myself, without kids. It was a long day. I took an early AVE train (about 8:30 from Barcelona Sant station, there was a promo fare of about 10 euros) which passed through Girona to Figueres, about an hour in total. A local bus was waiting at the AVE station, took me into town and I walked about 10 minutes to the Dali Museum. After about 2 hours in the museum, I walked to the other close-by train station, and caught a short non-AVE back to Girona. There I walked back and forth to the medieval Old City of Girona, very beautiful and interesting: Cathedral, Roman walls, tight stone streets, shops, Jewish Museum, and on and on. In the early evening, I caught a train back to Barcelona. In retrospect, I would not have walked both ways, or even one way, in Girona. A long and tiring round-trip walk. No doubt there are buses, certainly taxis.
For you, the difference is your three young children. How young? I think all this would be a long and difficult day with young children, as I did it. Easier by car if you will have one. There are tours, whether they would interest your children, I don’t know. A regular tour would probably not focus on or cater to the needs of young children. Maybe a private tour, where the guide would focus on the kids, but that might be pricey.
Another thought would be to spend a night or two in Girona, and then take a day trip to Figueres.

https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/

"To fully enjoy the visit of the three Dalí Museums, you need at least two days. The distance between the three Dalí Museums is 40 km from Figueres to Portlligat (Cadaqués) and another 40 km from Figueres to Púbol (near la Bisbal d'Empordà, heading in the Girona direction"

Someone has posted on this forum about managing to get to the Dali sites in both Figueres and Portlligat in a single day by public transportation. I commend him, because it's not something I would attempt. He didn't go to the third site, and he didn't mention children.

I think attempting to go beyond the Theatre and Museum in Figueres would be a mistake with young children. (Not that I have any of my own.)

The Dali theatre-museum is in Figueres. It opens at 9.30. If you get there when they open (take a taxi from the train station), you'll have time for lunch in Figueres or Girona and an afternoon in Girona. It's easy to take the train on your own. I don't think a guide would add much at the museum but that might be a better way to see Girona. I guess it depends on how old your kids are, how well you move together as a family and how much the tour costs. With young kids, I wouldn't choose a large group tour, and small group tours are usually pricey.

Thank you all for your responses. I think I will definitely do the Figueres and Dali museum and then try for Girona in the afternoon. My kids 13, 10 and 8. I fear I have waited to long on booking a tour, most are sold out. I might be able to push them a little hard that day. I appreciate you input

... huh?, did I hear three kids?... then if you go to Girona you must visit the sites where G.O.T. (6th season) was staged or else if they find out they won't speak to you for the rest of the trip, LOL! Also, a treat in Rocambolesc is another must in Girona.

Enjoy.

Don't fret. You can do it own your own. Take a taxi from the Girona train station.