Girona is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Catalonia, and the Costa Brava is the rocky, pine-edged coast that runs north of Barcelona to the French border. This day trip combines both, with a small group, a local guide and hotel or apartment pickup in Barcelona. The booking page describes a day of about ten hours and a maximum of eight travellers in an air-conditioned vehicle. The itinerary begins with around three hours in Girona, a guided walk through the old town including the Roman walls, the cathedral and the historic Jewish Quarter. It then moves to Pals, a medieval hilltop village, for about half an hour, and to Calella de Palafrugell, a former fishing village on the coast, for a short guided walk and about an hour of free time. Lunch is at your own expense, and you can walk to the nearby coves for a swim if the weather allows. The booking page notes several sites in Girona, including the cathedral, are not covered by the tour price. It carries 4.9 from around 8,300 reviews, which is as strong a record as any day trip from the city.
Practical details
Pickup is from your hotel or apartment in Barcelona between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning, with the exact time sent by the guide the day before. Pickup is not offered at the cruise terminal or airport. The tour returns to Barcelona in the afternoon with hotel drop-off. It is not wheelchair accessible but is stroller accessible, and infant seats are available.
Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours before the start. The booking page is slightly inconsistent on food, saying that food and drinks are included but also that lunch is at your own expense, so confirm what is covered before you book and plan to pay for lunch yourself.
What reviewers say
Most praise the guides and the scenery, and some mention a lot of time in the vehicle, limited time in Girona, a pickup that did not happen at the hotel and an erratic driving style. That mix is typical of a long small-group day, and it suggests you should expect a well-run but busy itinerary.
If your priority is Girona itself, consider a train and a private day there, which gives more time with the cathedral, the old city walls and the colourful houses over the river. If you want the coast, the small-group format is a comfortable way to see two very different Costa Brava stops without the need to drive.
Who it suits
Curious travellers who have already seen Barcelona's headline sights and want to know what else Catalonia offers, particularly those without a car. Bring a swimsuit and a towel if you hope to swim at Calella, plus comfortable shoes for the Girona cobbles and the hill at Pals. Girona's cathedral and its Jewish Quarter reward a slow look, so decide beforehand whether you want to pay for entry to sites the tour does not include.
For a different day trip that also includes the Dalí Museum at Figueres, look at the separate listing, which concentrates on that one destination rather than combining the coast.
What to expect
The experience
A guided small-group day of about ten hours with hotel pickup: about three hours in Girona, half an hour in Pals and a coastal stop at Calella de Palafrugell with an hour of free time.
Best time
Late spring to early autumn if you want to swim at the coves; the old town is pleasant year-round.
How long
About ten hours, leaving between 8:00 and 9:00 and returning in the afternoon.
Tips
Pay for lunch yourself, bring swimwear and a towel, and decide in advance on Girona sites not covered by the price. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers without a car who want medieval Girona and a Costa Brava cove in one day.
- Families
- Possible with stroller access and infant seats, but it is a long day in the van.
- Couples
- A scenic day that ends with a swim and a seaside lunch.
- Pair with
- The Dalí Theatre-Museum on a separate day, or Montserrat for mountains.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
What places does the tour visit?+
Girona's old town, the medieval hilltop village of Pals and Calella de Palafrugell on the coast. The booking page does not mention Tossa de Mar.
Is lunch included?+
The booking page is inconsistent, but the itinerary says lunch is at your own expense. Confirm before booking and plan to pay.
How big is the group?+
A maximum of eight travellers in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Where is pickup?+
At your hotel or apartment in Barcelona between 8:00 and 9:00. Pickup is not offered at the cruise terminal or airport.
Can I cancel?+
Yes, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience.
