The quickest way to get to Girona from Barcelona on your own is the high-speed train from Barcelona Sants, with slower regional trains on the same corridor as a cheaper backup. The alternative is a private day trip: a vehicle and guide reserved for your group of up to 6, with pick-up and drop-off at your Barcelona hotel.
Key takeaways
- Girona sits on the main rail line north of Barcelona. High-speed trains leave from Barcelona Sants and are the fastest public option; regional trains run on the same corridor and take noticeably longer.
- Girona station is a walk of roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the old town, across the Onyar River. Many visitors walk it; others take a taxi or a local bus.
- Fares and timetables change through the year, so check the current ones with the rail operator before you travel. They are not quoted here.
- A train gets you to Girona and back. Adding Figueres, Pals or Calella de Palafrugell on the same day by public transport takes extra connections and careful timing.
- Three private day trips include Girona: Medieval Girona and Dali Museum in Figueres (€825 per group), Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava Private Tour (€845 per group) and Medieval Girona and Costa Brava (€850 per group). Each price covers the whole group of up to 6.
- Shared Catalonia day trips with hotel pick-up cost €135 to €200 per person, in a small group of up to 8.
- Every tour can be cancelled or moved to another date free of charge up to 96 hours before it starts.
How do you get to Girona from Barcelona by train?
Girona is the main city of northern Catalonia and sits on the rail line that runs from Barcelona towards the French border. That makes the train the obvious choice for most independent visitors, and for a simple day in the old town it works well.
The high-speed train from Barcelona Sants
High-speed trains to Girona leave from Barcelona Sants, the city's main long-distance station in the Sants-Montjuic district. Several services run on this line, including trains that continue to Figueres and on into France. They are the fastest way to cover the distance, and on the timetable they look like an easy hop.
A few practical points help:
- Reserve a seat. High-speed trains carry assigned seats, and the popular morning departures can fill up on weekends and in the busy months.
- Allow time at Sants. Long-distance platforms at Sants have a security check for luggage before boarding, so arrive with a margin rather than at the last minute.
- Check which ticket you hold. Different fare types run on the same line, and some limit luggage or flexibility. Read the conditions when you buy.
The regional train
Regional and commuter trains also run between Barcelona and Girona, stopping at many towns along the way. They take noticeably longer than the high-speed service, and the exact journey time depends on the train. They are the budget choice and they do not usually need a seat reservation, but they make the day longer at both ends.
If you choose the regional line, look at the return timetable before you set off. Planning backwards from the last convenient train home is the easiest way to avoid a long wait on the platform in the evening.
From Girona station to the old town
Girona station is on the newer side of the city, west of the Onyar River. The old town, the cathedral and the Jewish Quarter are on the east bank. The walk takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes on flat streets until you cross the river, after which the lanes climb towards the cathedral.
The final stretch is the steep part. The cathedral stands at the top of a long flight of stone steps, and the lanes of the old town rise and fall with uneven paving. For most visitors that is part of the charm. For anyone who walks slowly, it is worth knowing in advance.
Can you take the bus or drive?
Long-distance buses also link Barcelona with Girona, and some visitors use them when the train times do not suit. Driving is possible too, on the motorway north out of Barcelona. A car gives you control over timing, but you deal with city traffic leaving Barcelona, parking in Girona and the drive back at the end of a long day.
How long does it take to get to Girona from Barcelona?
There is no single answer, because it depends on how you travel and where you start.
- By high-speed train: the train itself is quick, but door to door you also need to reach Barcelona Sants, pass the boarding check, and walk from Girona station into the old town. Plan on more time than the timetable shows.
- By regional train: the train ride is longer, so the door-to-door total grows with it.
- By car or private vehicle: the drive runs straight up the motorway, with traffic leaving and re-entering Barcelona as the main variable.
On a private day trip the question changes. The three Girona day trips run 10 or 11 hours from pick-up to drop-off, and the travel time is built into that day rather than added on top of it.
What the do-it-yourself day leaves to you
Going to Girona by train is a good day out, and plenty of travellers do it without any trouble. It helps to know what you are taking on.
Getting to Sants
There is no pick-up. You need to reach Barcelona Sants by metro, taxi or on foot. From some hotels that is quick; from others it is a slow start, especially with children or luggage for the day.
The walk on arrival
The station-to-old-town walk is easy for most people, but it adds up when combined with the climb to the cathedral and a few hours on stone lanes. For older travellers or anyone with limited mobility, the total walking on a self-guided Girona day is higher than it first appears.
No guide unless you book one
Girona's history is layered: the Roman founding, the medieval walls, the Jewish Quarter known as the Call, the cathedral and the river houses. On your own, you rely on maps and information panels. Some visitors enjoy that. Others find the city reads very differently with a guide explaining how the pieces fit together.
One city per day
By train, Girona is easy. Girona plus another place is not. Figueres has its own stations further up the line, so a combined Girona and Figueres day by train is possible but means two separate train legs and a tight schedule. The Costa Brava villages east of Girona, such as Pals and Calella de Palafrugell, have no train station at all. Reaching them means regional buses, and those connections rarely line up neatly with a day that started in Barcelona.
What a private Girona day trip changes
On a private day trip, the vehicle and the guide are reserved for your group of up to 6 for the whole day. Your group is collected from a hotel or apartment in Barcelona; the address is confirmed at booking and the pick-up time is agreed before the day. At the end, the same vehicle brings you back to your door.
Because the vehicle and guide are yours, the pace and time at each stop can flex. If your group wants longer in the Jewish Quarter or a slower walk along the river, the guide can adjust. The core route stays close to the one listed for the tour, and any requests can be sent before booking.
The private day trips that include Girona
Each price below is for the whole group of up to 6, with hotel pick-up and drop-off in Barcelona.
| Private day trip | Price (whole group of up to 6) | Duration | What the day covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medieval Girona and Dali Museum in Figueres | €825 per group | 10 hours | Girona old town walk and the Dali Theatre-Museum entrance, which is included |
| Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava Private Tour | €845 per group | 11 hours | Montserrat Monastery and Basilica, Girona old town walk, Costa Brava coastline |
| Medieval Girona and Costa Brava | €850 per group | 10 hours | Girona old town and Jewish Quarter, Pals village, Calella de Palafrugell |
Girona with Figueres and the Dali Theatre-Museum
Medieval Girona and Dali Museum in Figueres costs €825 for the whole group of up to 6 and runs 10 hours. The morning is a guided walk through Girona's old town, the Jewish Quarter and the area around the cathedral and the Onyar River. The afternoon moves north to Figueres, Salvador Dali's home town, where the entrance ticket to the Dali Theatre-Museum is included in the price.
This is the closest private equivalent to the "Girona plus Figueres" train day, without the two separate train legs.
Girona with Pals and Calella de Palafrugell
Medieval Girona and Costa Brava costs €850 for the whole group of up to 6 and runs 10 hours. After the Girona old town and Jewish Quarter, the route heads east to the hilltop medieval village of Pals, then finishes by the sea in Calella de Palafrugell, a former fishing village of white houses and small coves.
Neither Pals nor Calella de Palafrugell has a train station. This is the day that public transport finds hardest to copy, which is why it suits a private vehicle.
Montserrat, Girona and the Costa Brava
Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava Private Tour is the longest: 11 hours, €845 for the whole group of up to 6. It starts at Montserrat Monastery and Basilica, continues to a walk in Girona's old town, and ends along the Costa Brava coastline. It is a full day, best for groups who want three very different sides of Catalonia without changing hotels.
If you have already decided on a private day and are choosing between the Figueres and coast versions, the guide to a private Girona tour from Barcelona with the Dali Museum or the Costa Brava compares the routes in more detail. This article stays with the earlier question: whether to go on your own at all.
What is included on the private Girona day trips, and what is not
The inclusions differ from tour to tour, so it is worth reading them per route rather than assuming they match.
- Every private day trip: a private vehicle and guide for your group of up to 6, with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or apartment in Barcelona.
- Medieval Girona and Dali Museum in Figueres: the Dali Theatre-Museum entrance ticket is included.
- Montserrat, Girona and Costa Brava Private Tour: a visit to Montserrat Monastery and Basilica is part of the route.
- Medieval Girona and Costa Brava: a guided walk of Girona's old town and Jewish Quarter, with stops in Pals and Calella de Palafrugell.
Food and drinks are not included on any private tour, and gratuities are optional. Lunch is usually taken in Girona or on the coast, depending on the route, and your guide can point you to places nearby.
Is there a shared option between the train and a private tour?
Yes. Shared Catalonia day trips with hotel pick-up cost €135 to €200 per person, run 5 to 12 hours, and travel in a small group of up to 8 people. Girona appears on several of them. You still get pick-up, a vehicle and a guide, but you share them with other travellers and follow a fixed schedule.
Train, shared tour or private tour: how the costs compare
These three options are priced on different bases, and it is easy to compare them the wrong way.
- The train is paid per person, at the operator's current fare, and you add the cost of getting to Sants and any local transport in Girona.
- Shared day trips are priced per person: €135 to €200 each.
- Private day trips are priced per group: €825, €845 or €850 for the whole group of up to 6, depending on the route.
A private day trip therefore costs the same whether two or six people travel, while the train and shared tours cost more as your group grows. Work it out for your own group size, then set it against what each option includes.
| Option | How it is priced | Pick-up | Guide | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed or regional train | Per person, at the operator's current fare | None | None unless booked separately | Your own |
| Shared Catalonia day trip | €135 to €200 per person | Hotel pick-up | Yes, shared | Up to 8 people |
| Private Girona day trip | €825 to €850 per group | Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off | Yes, for your group only | Your group of up to 6 |
Who should take the train, and who should book a tour?
The train suits you if
- You are travelling alone or as a pair, on a tight budget, and you are happy reading a timetable.
- Your hotel is close to Barcelona Sants.
- You only want Girona, not Figueres or the coast on the same day.
- Everyone in your group is comfortable walking from the station and climbing the old town lanes.
A shared day trip suits you if
- You want hotel pick-up and a guide, and per-person pricing works better for a small party.
- You are happy to travel with up to 8 people on a set schedule.
A private day trip suits you if
- You are a family, a group of friends or two couples, up to 6 people, and you prefer one price for the whole group.
- Someone in the group walks slowly, or you are travelling with children or older relatives and would rather avoid station transfers and long walks between stops.
- You want Girona combined with the Dali Theatre-Museum, with Pals and Calella de Palafrugell, or with Montserrat on the same day.
- You would rather have a guide explain the Jewish Quarter, the cathedral and the medieval walls than read the panels.
Practical planning advice for Girona
Start early
Girona's old town is compact, and it is at its calmest in the morning. If you go by train, an early departure from Sants gives you more time before the day-trip crowds arrive. On a private day trip, the pick-up time is agreed before the day, so mention it if your group would like an earlier start.
Wear proper shoes
The lanes of the old town are paved in stone, often uneven, and the cathedral sits at the top of a long staircase. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than the forecast. For a full list by route, see what to pack for a day trip from Barcelona.
Pick your second stop before you book
The main choice on a private day is what comes after Girona. Art lovers usually lean towards Figueres and the Dali Theatre-Museum. Travellers who want the sea and a medieval village lean towards Pals and Calella de Palafrugell. If you cannot decide between mountain and coast, the 11-hour route with Montserrat covers both, at the cost of a longer day.
Book ahead in busy seasons
A few days of notice is usually enough for a private tour. For spring and early autumn dates, book at least a week ahead. High-speed trains can also fill on popular days, so the same advice applies if you go by rail.
Know the cancellation terms
On every tour you can cancel free of charge or change the date for free up to 96 hours before the tour starts. Refunds go back to the original payment method within a few business days, and a no-show is not refunded. The full terms are on the cancellation policy page. If you travel by train, your ticket follows the rail operator's own rules.
Compare with the Montserrat question
Many visitors weigh Girona against Montserrat for a single free day. The same train-or-tour reasoning applies there, and the guide on how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona by train or tour walks through it for the mountain.
Conclusion
Getting to Girona from Barcelona by train is simple for confident travellers: a high-speed train from Barcelona Sants, a walk across the Onyar River, and a day in the old town. For a group that wants Girona plus Figueres, the coast or Montserrat in one day, a private day trip brings the vehicle and the guide to your hotel, from €825 for the whole group of up to 6.
To ask about a date or a route, send a message on WhatsApp to +34 632 93 79 41 or write to [email protected]. You can also use the contact page or the Book this tour form on any tour page.