Girona walking tour & city guide

The river and the old town

The cases de l'Onyar, houses painted in ochre, red and yellow, hang over the river and are best seen from the bridges, including the red iron Pont de les Peixateries Velles built by Gustave Eiffel's company. The Rambla de la Llibertat, on the old town side, is the main promenade, lined with arcades and cafés.

The Call, Girona's Jewish quarter, is a warren of narrow alleys and stairways that housed a thriving community until 1492. The Museum of Jewish History tells its story.

The cathedral and the walls

Ninety baroque steps lead up to Girona Cathedral, whose Gothic nave is the widest in the world. Nearby, the Arab Baths, actually built in a Romanesque style in the 12th century, and the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants show the city's medieval past. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise many of these streets and steps from the series.

The Passeig de la Muralla follows the old city walls along the top of the town, with towers and viewpoints over the rooftops, the cathedral and the Pyrenees in the distance.

Visiting tips

High-speed trains reach Girona from Barcelona in under 40 minutes, making it an easy day trip, and the city is also a base for the Costa Brava and the volcanic Garrotxa. In May, the Temps de Flors festival fills courtyards, steps and monuments with flower displays.