How to Get to Girona from Barcelona

If you are excited to see an ancient medieval coastal city and one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe, Girona is a destination you should make the effort to explore.

Located in the northwest of the province of Catalonia, Girona is a compact, beautiful city full of interesting places to explore, and since it is only 85 km from Barcelona, it is one of the best things to do if you are going to be in the Catalan capital for several days. But what transportation options are there to get from Barcelona to Girona? Many more than you could imagine! Here I tell you in detail all the existing alternatives.

If your intention is to explore Barcelona and its surroundings it is best to hire an organized tour; as this is one of the favorite getaways for tourists visiting the Catalan capital and for locals looking to get away from the busy city on a weekend, several local companies offer this experience.

Excursions to Montserrat are another popular visit you can make from the capital if you have the time and budget.

What they offer in this type of excursion

You can find this type of excursion in two main formats: group excursion and private excursion. The main difference is that the group tour is done in a shared vehicle for a small group of tourists and the meeting point is somewhere in the center of Barcelona. On the other hand, the private excursion provides exclusive transportation just for you and pick-up directly at your hotel.

Guided tours to Girona depart from Barcelona early in the morning, usually before 9:00 am, to make the most of the day. The operating companies offer, as expected, round-trip transportation from Barcelona to Girona and an expert guide who accompanies the group of travelers and provides important guidance; the costs of certain attractions may or may not be covered in the price so I recommend reading the full description carefully before paying.

During your tour of Girona you will be able to enjoy several points of interest such as: The Great Cathedral of Girona and the other medieval buildings in the center, the fishing village of Calella, the fortresses of Pals, the beautiful landscapes of Begur and its castle; and other attractions depending on the itinerary of the company.

You will also find options with themed tours around the locations where the famous TV series Game of Thrones was set in Girona.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €90 for group tours and approximately €180 for private tours.
• Duration of the trip: It may vary slightly depending on the company you hire; in general terms you should reserve 10 to 11 hours for the excursion.
• Recommended if... Your intention is to have a relaxing vacation in the region of Catalonia and you don't want to waste time organizing details; if your budget is reduced you can opt for a group excursion, so your only concern will be to be at the meeting point at the agreed time.

If you are looking for a fast and economical way to establish a connection between these two important cities, consider using the train as a means of transportation. This is one of the best excursions from Barcelona and one of the favorite options for locals who travel to the Girona and Costa Brava area for a weekend break or a family adventure.

Route

If you use the commuter train as a transfer option you must go to Barcelona Sants station; a direct trip will take you to Girona station to start your adventure. It is a short trip of about 40 to 50 minutes on average. Early in the morning trains may leave the station even less frequently.

My recommendation is to take the train at 08:00 am, this way you will arrive in Girona early and have more opportunity to explore the town; Girona train station is only a 10 minute walk from the historic center of Girona.

Trains that offer this service

The Girona-Barcelona connection is one of the most popular for journeys departing from the Catalan capital to the northwest of the country. Consequently, there are several types of trains operating on this route and in various timetables. The best known are: Ave, Avant or Euromed.

The main difference that exists is the comfort of the trains with which they operate; likewise some offer direct connection between the two cities while others make stops in various towns along the route.

Trains operated by Renfe subsidiaries offer mostly first and second class tickets, the latter being very economical and ideal for travelers on a budget. Additionally, when purchasing train tickets you will have the option to save money if you purchase the round-trip ticket in the same purchase.

Useful information

• Price: It will depend on the train and the type of ticket you purchase. You can find discounted second class tickets at prices as low as 10 €, while some first class tickets you will have to pay up to 50 €. This is the price for each route.
• Travel time: The journey on the direct train will take about 40 minutes, you should consider as additional waiting time at the station.
• Recommended if... You will be in Barcelona for a few days and you want a safe, economical and fast means of transport to Girona for a day; with this option you have multiple connection options especially during rush hour.

Travelers looking to save as much as possible and have time for adventure, the bus route from Barcelona to Girona is an excellent alternative that may well fit your needs.

Route

If you want to travel to Girona by bus you will have to take the bus from the Nord Station located in the heart of Barcelona; in Girona you will get off at the station that bears the name of the city.

Depending on the company you hire, the route may include a stop in Lloret de Mar. The negative point is that the stops can be of short duration (30-40 minutes) or long duration (several hours). The positive point is that if you have time you can plan to visit the beautiful beaches of Lloret and make a one day stop in this beautiful Catalan town.

Companies that offer this service

In the city of Barcelona you will find several companies that offer direct connection between both cities in different schedules and in different price ranges; it is best to check the schedule in advance and arrive at the bus station early to find space. Below is a list of the most popular bus companies.

• Barcelona Bus, S.L. three buses a day on the Barcelona - Girona route. They offer direct connection between both destinations.
• Sagales This company departs from Barcelona twice a day, the route includes a stop in Lloret de Mar.
• FlixBus This company departs from Barcelona once a day with direct connection and no stop between both destinations.
• ALSA The bus of this company departs once a day, the route includes stops.

Useful information

• Price: It may vary depending on the company you choose, for budget reasons I recommend setting an amount between 10 € and 20 € per person per way.
• Duration of the trip: From 1 to 2 hours depending on the company you hire; if the company offers direct travel the trip is faster but if stops are contemplated the trip will be a little longer.
• Recommended if... You are looking for a travel alternative that allows you to save as much as possible and you can't get a low cost ticket on the local train. Generally both options have a very similar price range but the train allows you to get there faster; if you plan to make several stops the bus is also a great alternative.

Due to the short distance that separates both cities, less than 100 km of road, the transfer by private car is an excellent alternative that many travelers resort to. You can rent a car directly in Barcelona to explore other beautiful towns in the region.

If you have time to plan the route and time for a 4-day stay in Barcelona or more, I highly recommend it!

Route

To get to Girona from Barcelona the fastest route is to take the C-58 to the AP-7 exit in the direction of Girona/France; from here you will have to follow the indications on the route until you reach your destination. Traveling by car offers the possibility of making a detour to other cities before arriving at your final destination in Girona; one of the most popular options in Lloret de Mar.

Companies that offer this service

In the city of Barcelona there are plenty of car rental companies, I recommend you to do a thorough research to determine which company offers the best value for money. Before hiring remember to check their online reputation. When looking for information you can start with the following list.

• Sixt A branch located at 74 Rambla de Catalunya street.
• Europcar Barcelona One of its branches is located at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 680.
• Centauro Rent a Car The main branch is located at Carrer de Béjar, 63-73, in Local 08.
• Budget You can find them at Carrer del Rector Triadó, 104.

Useful information

• Price: Renting a car in the city of Barcelona will cost you about 20€ per day in the most economical alternatives; consider as an additional expense the price of fuel and the cost of tolls between both cities which is about 10€.
• Travel time: It is a fairly fast travel option, approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to travel between both destinations.
• Recommended if... You want to travel on your own terms and at your own time. Also a fantastic option if you intend to travel to Girona with family or a large group of friends to stay in the city for a few days.

A less popular transportation option among travelers but entirely possible is to travel by private cab from Barcelona to the town of Girona. You can consider this alternative if you want to stay in Girona for several days and you are traveling with a lot of luggage or a large family.

Companies that offer this service

If you want to go to Girona by cab from Barcelona you will find many reliable companies that offer this service, you can quote the trip with several of them in order to get the fairest deal possible. Most companies offer a quote option on their websites or you can also quote your trip by calling their offices directly.

• Cab Class contact number +34 933 07 07 07
• Cab Barcelona 24 Hours contact number +34 935 16 00 27
• Radio Taxi Barcelona contact number +34 933 77 77 77 77
• Radio Taxi 033 contact number +34 933 03 30 33
• IMET contact number +34 932 23 51 51

Useful information

• Price: The price to pay for a round trip from Barcelona is around 300€ for the smallest and simplest vehicles; if the trip is one way to Girona you will have to pay approximately half the fare.
• Travel time: Similar to the private car transfer, traveling by cab will take you 1h, 20 minutes on average.
• Recommended if... This is the least convenient alternative of the list due to the cost involved; a private tour will undoubtedly be more economical and convenient with direct transportation and also a guide who serves as a companion during the excursion.