The City of Bridges : Girona, Spain

Make the most of your visit at any time of the year, and if you can,visit more than once, because the city is very much alive and there may be a new thing that springs a surprise for you on each visit.

Girona is a city of bridges, so walk, walk and walk some more to discover this charming city.

Photos: Ernie Teh
Nestled near the eastern coast of Spain, Girona is place with all the charms of a large city but without the crowds. It is a very “human-sized” city that will leave you walking around awestruck with all it has to offer – its streets, festivals, cultural activities, cafes & restaurants, facilities and events.Make the most of your visit at any time of the year, and if you can,visit more than once, because the city is very much alive and there may be a new thing that springs a surprise for you on each visit.

Gustave Eiffel designed this lovely bridge over the River Onyar.

Church of Sant Feliu and Cathedral is one of the most remarkable monuments of
Girona, built in 13th and 17th century with a mix of different architectural styles – romanesque, gothic and baroque.

Girona makes an excellent stop-off as part of a tour of Catalonia or escape from the noise and speed of Barcelona or as a long weekend getaway.

Eiffel Bridge is a lovely complement to the colourful houses that line the River on either side.

Palau Aguillana – Together with the steps and the facade of Sant Marti Church , this
house of the Agullana family is one of the city’s finest example of baroque architecture.

Things to do 1 – The bridges over Onyar river are great for walks and gives you great
photos opportunities of the colourful houses. There are 11 bridges in Girona.

Things to do 2 – Walk along the ancient walls (yes, you can get on there) for excellent views of the city.

Things to do 3 – Walk through the ancient narrow streets of the old Jewish section.

Things to do 4 – Enjoy the numerous cafes that are especially atmospheric.

How to go:
Girona is located 98km northeast of Barcelona and can be reached by bus, train, or self-drive car. There is an airport close to the town with a wide range of connections on Ryanair. Bus to Girona stops at the centre of Barcelona, in Estació d’Autobusos Barcelona Nord (Barcelona’s main bus terminal).
Trains from Barcelona to Girona leaves approximately every hour from Barcelona Estació de Sants (with other stops at Passeig de Gràcia/ Aragó and Clot). The journey takes 1h20m from Girona to Barcelona Sants.

Special Note:
Both the Old Town and the New Town across the river are highly pedestrianized. A car is not only unnecessary in Girona, but also quite cumbersome. It should be noted that most of the streets in the Old Town have large cobblestones and steep stairs going up the hill upon which Girona was built. Walking in high heels or with rolling luggage is quite difficult at some points, so plan accordingly.