Destination Information: The Next Time You Are In Spain, Head To Girona, Costa Brava

If you’re like most people who visit Spain, you’ve been to Barcelona, but not to Girona which is just about an hour or so by train north of Barcelona in the Costa Brava Catalunya region of Spain. Here are some quick information about Girona:

• Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO): Ryanair (FR), Transavia (HV) and select charter airlines.
• Airport Web site: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) http://www.girona-airport.net/
• Airfare Tip: If looking for a low fare, book at the Web sites for the low cost carriers as you’ll more than likely get the best value there.
• Airport To The City:
  • GRO – Take a bus to the Girona bus/rail station which is about 20 minutes away. Follow the directions to the bus stand at the airport after you arrive.
  • BCN – Flying into Barcelona? Then take the train from the airport to the Barcelona Sants station, then a Renfe train (1:15 to 1:31 depending on the train (Renfe) you take) to Girona.  You may also take a bus from the airport directly to the Girona bus/train station.
  • MAD – If you fly into Madrid (MAD) you can also take a bus or train to the Girona bus/rail station. It takes a lot longer though (4-5 hours). But the Barcelona flights may all be full, so its worth looking into. I have a video about transportation options to/from the Girona airport below. Note that the prices shown are two years old, so use them only as a guide.
• Airport Hotels:
  • GRO – Salles Airport Hotel Girona (I’ve stayed at this one-you need a swim cap to use the pool, but you can purchase one there if you don’t have one). Check out hotels here.
• Neighboring Areas: Blanes, Figueres, Lloret de Mar, L’Estartit, Roses. All these areas are accessible by bus from the Girona Bus/Train station.
• Currency: Euros (EUR).
• Language: Catalonian Spanish although English is also widely spoken in most areas. Your knowledge of Spanish will certainly help.
• Visa Information: No visa is required for stays less than 90 days for U.S. citizens. Other citizens should check with the Spanish consulate/embassy in your region for specifics. Alternatively, you can use the IATA Web site for visa/health requirements.
• Social Media Information: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter, YouTube
• Costa Brava Tourism Board: http://en.costabrava.org/

Ground Transportation

You can get everywhere using the SARFA bus system. Tickets can be bought at the ticket offices in the cities from which you are leaving. This video below will help you get sorted out. So pick a city on the map of the region and go explore. The buses can be had from the airport in Barcelona as well.

Hotels in the Regions

As you explore the area you will be able to find several hotels wherever you go. You may also decide to rent a house which will sleep anywhere from 2 to 20 people depending on where you want to stay and what you to do. I recommend check out Naturaki, which is a local company that provides a search for this kinds of property. Here are a few at which I’ve stayed and you should consider as well.

• Equity Point Hostel in Girona
• Hotel Empúries, L’Escala
• Hotel Hedes in l’Estartit
• Hotel Rural Mas del Joncar
• Hotel Terraza in Roses
• Park Hotel in San Jorge

When you are ready to book, use this widget so you can do some comparison shopping. I also earn a small commission if you use the widget to make your bookings. Thanks for your support.

Side Trip

If you are into logging countries, this is one of the best ways to get to Andorra. There are buses running from the Girona bus/train station right into the Andorra city center. They are not daily so check with the bus station in Girona for updated schedules. It is a very scenic drive through the Pyrenees mountains and totally worth it. You can overnight in Andorra or just do a day trip.

Have you been to this region? If so please leave a comment below about your recommendations and experiences. If you’ve not, then leave a comment if you need additional information about taking the trip.