Girona: The Day Trip That Feels Like a Different Country
Girona sits close enough to Barcelona that it's an easy half-day train ride, and different enough once you arrive that it doesn't feel like a suburb of anything. Colorful houses lean over the Onyar River, a Gothic cathedral looks down over a monumental staircase, and the old Jewish quarter's stone alleys twist tightly enough that a phone map barely helps. It's a compact old town — walkable in an afternoon — but dense enough with real history that most visitors wish they'd budgeted more time.
Why Game of Thrones Fans Know This City
Girona's old town doubled as Braavos and parts of King's Landing in Game of Thrones Season 6, and the production barely had to dress the set. The medieval Passeig de la Muralla (the old city walls), the narrow stone streets of the Jewish Quarter, and the cathedral's monumental staircase all appear largely as they look today. If you've seen the show, walking these streets in person has a genuine feeling of recognition — this wasn't a green-screen city, it's a real one that happened to already look the part.
The Cathedral and Its Staircase
Girona Cathedral is worth visiting for its architecture alone — it has the widest Gothic nave in the world, a single vast unbroken space rather than the divided naves typical of Gothic cathedrals elsewhere. Getting there means climbing the cathedral's famous 90-step Baroque staircase, one of the city's most photographed spots and one of its Game of Thrones filming locations. The climb rewards you with a view back down over the old town's rooftops.
The Jewish Quarter (El Call)
Girona's Call Jueu is one of the best-preserved medieval Jewish quarters in Europe — a genuine warren of narrow stone passages, covered stairways, and hidden courtyards that housed one of Catalonia's most significant Jewish communities until the expulsion of 1492. The Museu d'Història dels Jueus (Museum of Jewish History), built into the old quarter itself, covers that history in real depth. Even without the museum, simply wandering the Call's streets — Carrer de la Força in particular — is the single best way to feel Girona's medieval layers stacked on top of each other.
The Colorful Houses on the Onyar
The most photographed view in Girona is the row of brightly painted houses along the Onyar River, best seen from the Pont de Sant Feliu or Pont de les Peixateries Velles (the red iron bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel's studio). It's a five-minute stop, but it's the image most people picture when they think of Girona.
A City Cyclists Take Seriously
Girona has become a genuine hub for professional road cyclists, drawn by quiet mountain roads, reliable weather, and proximity to the Pyrenees and the coast. It's a detail worth knowing even if you're not cycling yourself — it's part of why the city has a disproportionate number of good cafés and a relaxed, outdoorsy energy that doesn't quite match its medieval postcard image.
Practical Information
Getting There: The high-speed AVE train from Barcelona-Sants takes about 38 minutes. The regional Rodalies train is slower (roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 1.5 hours) but considerably cheaper — a reasonable trade if you're not in a hurry.
How Much Time to Set Aside: A full day lets you see the cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, the Onyar houses, and the city walls without rushing. A rushed half-day is possible if you're combining Girona with another stop, but you'll be moving quickly.
Best Time to Visit: Spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable walking weather for the old town's steep, narrow streets. The Temps de Flors flower festival in May adds an extra layer of color to an already photogenic city, though it also brings the biggest crowds of the year.
FAQ
How far is Girona from Barcelona?
About 38 minutes by high-speed AVE train from Barcelona-Sants, or roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 1.5 hours on the slower, cheaper regional Rodalies train.
Why is Girona famous for Game of Thrones?
Its old town — the city walls, the Jewish Quarter's narrow streets, and the cathedral's staircase — doubled as Braavos and parts of King's Landing in Season 6, largely without needing to be redressed for the cameras.
What's special about Girona Cathedral?
It has the widest Gothic nave in the world — one continuous vast space rather than the divided naves typical of most Gothic cathedrals — and you reach it via a famous 90-step Baroque staircase.
Is Girona's Jewish Quarter worth visiting?
Yes — the Call Jueu is one of the best-preserved medieval Jewish quarters in Europe, with narrow stone alleys, covered passageways, and the Museu d'Història dels Jueus covering the community's history up to the 1492 expulsion.
Is Girona worth a day trip from Barcelona?
Yes — it's close enough for an easy day trip (under 40 minutes by high-speed train) but distinct enough in character, architecture, and history that it doesn't feel like an extension of Barcelona.
Girona rewards slow walking more than any checklist. Climb the cathedral steps, get intentionally lost in the Call's alleys, and let the colorful houses on the Onyar be the postcard rather than the whole trip.