Girona or Tarragona for a 2 night stay post Cruise

Loved them both. We spent 2 days in Girona and two days in Tarragona in May. Both are easy to navigate via public transport or on foot. Plenty of historic sites to see. Tarragona's market is fantastic, and there's a massive hypermarket one floor down. Both cities had great food and we found them somewhat less expensive than Barcelona. There was more seafood in Tarragona, which is what we were looking for. We heard a lot more English in Girona if that's important to you.

You'll find lots of advice about only arriving in Tarragona via regional train since it drops you basically at the foot of the city. It is more scenic. However, check the timing carefully. In May part of the rail line from Barcelona was replaced by a bus. That made the journey a little longer than we'd hoped. Scenic, but long. When we returned to Barcelona we took a cab to Camp de Tarragona and a super-fast train back to Barcelona Sants. We liked that much better.

Cheers,
dartmouthgirl

I can only speak about Girona. We stayed there three days in May and really enjoyed it. One day we took a day tour to Basalu and other places outside of town. That was very interesting, particularly because we basically had a private tour without paying for it. We were the only 2 scheduled and they took us anyway. We loved walking the wall and just exploring the old part of town, and the food was great, particularly brunch at La Fabrica. Girona is a big destination for bicyclists, and you will see both semi-pro/pro riders as well as your average bicycle tourists.

I spent three nights in Girona a couple of weeks ago. what a lovely city, easy to cover on foot, with wonderful restaurants.

We loved staying at CASA CACAO, which has an ideal location in the center.

Local here :)....

Look, it boils down to what kind of getaway you want, because the vibe of these two cities couldn't be more different.

Go to GIRONA if you're after a heavy medieval atmosphere, dark stone alleys, river views, and a ridiculously good food scene that punches way above its weight -it feels polished, romantic, and very "Old World Europe," though keep in mind you're inland, so there's no coast in sight. Also, Besalú is a great add-in -merely under one hour by bus from Girona. Expect pure medieval time travel: a dramatic 12th-century fortified bridge spanning the river, cobblestone alleys wrapping around a rare historic Jewish mikveh, and an almost cinematic stone-town atmosphere that feels frozen in the Middle Ages.

On the flip side, head to TARRAGONA if you want raw Roman history carved right into the cliffs above the Mediterranean, unpretentious sunny plazas, vermouth in the sun, and fresh seafood down in the El Serrallo fishing district; just be aware that the modern areas surrounding its gorgeous historic core have a slightly grittier, industrial edge compared to picture-postcard Girona. My add-in here would be Tortosa, a much quieter, undiscovered gem straddling the majestic Ebre river, where a massive hilltop Templar castle looks down on a fascinating blend of Renaissance palaces, modernist facades, and deep-rooted riverland traditions far away from the usual tourist crowds.

For me, the short answer? Girona is ideal for a cosy, food-focused getaway in the cooler months, while Tarragona shines when you want golden light, sea breeze, and a more laid-back coastal rhythm.

Thanks everyone! I'm sold on Girona :)

You will love Girona! We spent 2 nights there about 15 years ago, and it was a highlight of our trip. We also visited Besalu and some other small villages in the mountains, such as Ripoll, Rupit, and Vic. Wish we had more time for this region.