Eiffel bridge in Girona, near Barcelona (Spain)
View of a bridge in Girona city

How to get from Barcelona to Girona

PRACTICAL GUIDE ON GETTING TO GIRONA

Girona is a beautiful town famous for its medieval Jewish quarter and impressive Cathedral, its Michelin star restaurants and the fact that some chapters of Game of Thrones were shot there. It’s a great destination that can be explored in one day from Barcelona, but it’s also worth staying in Girona for a few days and using it as a base to explore the rest of the area. It is located just over 100km / around 60 miles away from Barcelona, 70km / 45mi from the French Border and 40km / 25mi from the closest beach.

Girona is well communicated with Barcelona, but figuring out the right choice for you may be complicated. In today’s post we are examining all the possible options with its pros and cons. We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to waste time figuring it all out: trains, buses, driving, airport options… I hope it helps!

Taking the train from Barcelona to Girona

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High speed train: AVE, Avant and more

AVE train to Girona from Barcelona

The high speed train is definitely the fastest way to get to Girona, taking only 37 to 39 minutes between Barcelona Sants Station and Girona. Sants Station is the main train station in Barcelona, with suburban, regional and international trains departing from there. Despite there being 14 platforms, the high speed trains are easy to find, as they are the only ones where you need to go through security to access the platforms (#1 to #6) and it's well indicated with signs and on the screens. Sants Station has also a subway station (L3 and L5 lines) and a suburban bus station.

Instead, the high speed train station in Girona is physically separated from the suburban and regional train station, even if both are really close one from the other – just one minute walk. There’s also a bus station there, a taxi stop, and it’s only 20 minutes walk from the Old Town of Girona.

During the week days, there’s 9 trains connecting Barcelona and Girona, and three types of trains: AVE, Avant and Avlo. The earliest is an Avant that departs Barcelona towards Girona around 8AM and the last ones are the Avlo and Avant leaving at 11.30PM. You might be lucky to score cheap tickets under €10, but that’ll come at the expense of inconvenient departure times or less comfortable trains. The average ride is around €15, but it can be more depending on the chosen schedule, type of train and type of ticket. They all can be purchased online and I wouldn’t recommend to wait to buy them at the train station: while they rarely sell out, the price is likely to increase for last minute purchases.

AVE TRAINS

They are the premium high speed trains, often used for longer distances: the Girona AVEs often continue on to Figueres and Paris. They are supposed to be the fastest trains, but the difference isn’t really noticeable for the ride to Girona. AVE train tickets come with a variety of options: the basic ticket, and “Elige” upgrade that allows you to reschedule once or to cancel and get a 70% refund, “Elige Confort” that comes with the same travel protection and an extralarge seat, and “Premium” with unlimited rescheduling, 100% refund up to 7 days in advance, extra large seat and Club access.

AVANT TRAINS

While similar to AVE, Avant trains aren’t considered as premium but rather the standard high speed in Spain. They are the earliest to depart in the morning, and the last to come back. They don’t offer premium seating or cancellation protection, but you can get interesting deals if you purchase round trip tickets – which don’t exist for AVE trains. Most Avant trains towards Girona continue on to Figueres-Vilafant. And sometimes you’ll purchase an Avant ticket but you’ll be traveling on an AVE train, just on different carriages from those who paid the AVE fee. Book your ticket here.

AVLO

Avlo is the new low cost brand for RENFE high speed. There’s currently only one train from Barcelona to Girona, departing at 11.30PM, and shared with Avant. Compared to AVE and Avant that allow you up to 3 pieces of luggage, Avlo is limited to one carry-on and one piece of hand luggage. There’s the option to pay extra for seat selection and cancellation protection.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER HIGH SPEED COMPANIES CONNECTING BARCELONA AND GIRONA?

There are two more high speed train companies operating in Spain and departing Barcelona-Sants: Iryo and Ouigo. However, they don’t service the Girona line: they head South towards Tarragona, Zaragoza and Madrid. Alvio trains (another high speed brand by RENFE) aren’t used between Barcelona and Girona either.

ARE THERE ANY MULTI-RIDE PASSES AVAILABLE FOR HIGH SPEED TRAINS?

If you are planning to use AVE trains or other Long Distance rides within Spain in the next months, there’s two options. Spain residents are entitled to purchase the BonoAVE – a personal nominative pass for 10 rides in 4 months. People not living in Spain can purchase instead the Renfe Spain Pass, valid from one month and the number of rides chosen upon purchasing the ticket.

For Avant trains there’s the Tarjeta Plus, offering you 10, 30 or 45 rides at a 50% discount price. There’s no multi-ride passes for AVLO trains.

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MD - Media Distancia trains

MD stands for “Media Distancia” – Mid Distance. These are trains that cover distances longer than suburban rides, but shorter than long distance and international trains. In the case of the rides from Barcelona to Girona, that’s mostly trains heading to Figueres (mind you: not Figueres-Vilafant, which is exclusively for high speed trains) and Portbou or Cerbere. Media Distancia trains cannot be booked online: they must be booked at the train station from the ticket machines or the booths. There’s some 25 trains per day (at least one every hour, which is only slightly more than all the high speed trains combined).

MD trains stop stop at three Barcelona stations: Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia and El Clot (high speed trains depart only from Barcelona Sants). And while the high speed trains discussed above are direct trains, Media Distancia trains stop at 7 other stations before arriving to Girona. Therefore, the ride is longer, somewhere between 1 hour and 1o to 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on the time of the day. It’s not a huge difference with high speed trains, so MD trains remain an acceptable option for people staying close to Passeig de Gracia and El Clot stations and wanting to spare themselves the taxi ride to Sants. Plus these two stations are easier to navigate, because they have less platforms than Sants.

Other details that might help you chose MD over high speed (or not) is that MD trains use a different itinerary with less tunnels than high speed trains, therefore offering better views during the ride. HINT! The best views are on the left hand side of the train. And even if not premium, the carriages are nice enough. There’s no WIFI on board, though.

ARE THERE MULTI-RIDE PASSES AVAILABLE FOR MD TRAINS?

If you are a resident in Spain, great news! You may qualify for a free frequent traveler multi-pass card sponsored by the Spanish Government. There’s currently no multi-pass options for non-residents, and while it’s possible to get round trip tickets their price is the same as purchasing two separate one-way tickets (no discount).

3

Regional trains

Regional trains are trains serving towns along the way of the train lines crossing Catalonia. The R11 line to Portbou is the one taking you to Girona from Barcelona. The line starts in Barcelona Sants, and stops in Passeig de Gracia, El Clot and Sant Andreu (this last one not cover by MD trains) before exiting the city. Then the trains stop at 10 more stations before reaching Girona. They take about 1.5 hours to get to Girona.

Regional trains use the same tracks as MD trains (same views from the carriage), but the trains are way more basic and a tad outdated. Their punctuality isn’t super reliable either. The tickets cannot be purchased online: they must be bought at the stations. And also, because of the free frequent traveler multi-pass cards for residents, there’s no multi-pass options for non-residents and round-trip tickets don’t come with a discount either.

4

Options from the Barcelona - El Prat airport

There are no direct trains from the Barcelona – Josep Tarradelles – El Prat airport to Girona. Your options are:

FROM TERMINAL 1

  • L9 Subway line to Collblanc, then switch to L5 to Sants Estació, then switch to AVE, Avant, Avlo, MD or Regional.
  • L9 Subway line to Aeroport T2, then switch to R2 Rodalies (suburban) trains – then see options below.
  • Shuttle bus to T2, then switch to R2 Rodalies train and see options below.

FROM TERMINAL 2

  • R2 Rodalies (suburban) train to Barcelona Sants, then switch to AVE, Avant or Avlo.
  • R2 Rodalies train to Passeig de Gracia, then switch to MD or Regional.
  • The L9 Subway line also stops at the T2, but it’s not worth the hassle: R2 trains are direct and faster.

Is there a bus to Girona from Barcelona?

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How to get to Girona from Barcelona by bus

Buses are slower and more expensive than the high speed trains. The only reason to use the bus to get to Girona is if you need to get to the Girona Airport, not to Girona city. See for yourself:

ALSA BUSES

Only one bus at 7.40AM. It departs from Estacio del Nord, near the Arch of Triumph. The bus station in Girona is next to the train station. These are direct buses, modern and they have WIFI. The price is similar to that of an Avant train. 

SAGALES BUSES

  • Bus 602, stopping at Estacio del Nord and Fabra i Puig, the continuing straight to the Girona Airport before proceeding Girona city (several stops, including the train station and Av. Ramon Folch / Correus, which is closer to the Old Town), then continuing on to Figueres with more local stops. It takes almost 2 hours, and it costs more than an Avant train.
  • Bus 604, departing from Estacio del Nord and going direct to the Girona Airport in a bit over 1 hour. The price is higher than an Avant train. In order to get into the city, then from there you need to take a taxi or the 607 shuttle to Girona city. You might be occasionally able to take the 602 line instead, but they are scarce.

WHAT ABOUT FLIXBUS?

No way: why would you ride to Perpignan (France), then back to Girona (Spain), spending more than 7 hours for the ride and paying more than you’d pay for a 40 minute ride on the AVE train?

6

Options from the Barcelona - El Prat airport

The easiest way to get to Girona from the Barcelona Josep Tarradelles – El Prat airport is the Sagales 602 bus. It departs from T1 and stops also in T2, then continues through Barcelona before heading direct to the Girona Airport. After a short stop there, it continues to Girona where it makes several stops. It’s about 2 hours, and it costs like an AVE train from Barcelona Sants, but it avoids you the hassle of carrying your luggage up and down train stations and figuring your way around.

Driving from Barcelona to Girona

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Your own car / rental car

Either you have your own car or are renting one, the favorite way to get to Girona from Barcelona driving is via the C-33 then AP7 highway, specially now that there are no tolls anymore. It'll take you about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there. And if you need to stop along the way for gaz or food, there's several service plazas ("Area de Servei" or "Estacion de Servicio"): Montcada i Reixac, Montseny, La Selva and Girones.
There’s 4 highway exits for Girona:

  • Exit 8: Riudellots – Casa de la Selva. It’s the exit you need if you are heading to the Aeroport de Girona – Costa Brava.
  • Exit 7. Girona S. You’ll be entering Girona from its Southern districts, a more modern part of the city. It’s the most direct way to the train station, and the right choice if you want to start exploring the Old Town of Girona from its Rambla and the Mercat del Lleó food market.
  • Exit 6B. Girona O – Sant Gregory. The Western entrance to Girona accesses the city from a quaint suburb, and has become my favorite way to enter the city to visit its Old Town. You’ll find plenty of parking options near Pont de Sant Feliu, and the bridge itself is a great way to start exploring the Old Town Girona.
  • Exit 6. Girona N – Banyoles – Olot. After the 6B exit was open there’s no need to go all the way to Exit 6 to enter Girona when you are coming to Barcelona (unless you are heading to the city hospital). You’ll be crossing boring industrial areas and ending up at the same place where you’d have headed if you had taken the 6B exit.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE C-33 – AP7 ITINERARY

  • C32 – C60 – AP7. Sometimes the intense traffic on the C33 might make this detour faster. It’s also more scenic, as the first part of the ride has views of the Mediterranean sea in the distance, then you cross a some countryside before joining the highway.
  • C32 – C61 – AP7. For a longer ride with sea views and even more greenery, you can take take the C61 detour via Vallgorguina. You’ll see more greenery, it’s only some 15 minutes longer, but the road is quite winding. Other off the beaten path alternatives are the NII via Vidreres, the C63 and the Gi681. They aren’t time-efficient, but it’ll give you the feel of being on a short road trip.

8

Taxi, Uber and Bla Bla Car

TAXI

Barcelona taxis are easy to identify, being black and yellow vehicles. You can flag them on the street or catch them at a stop. There's some apps such as Picmi Taxi (within the AMB app), Free Now and Yellow Taxi that you can use to call them. You cannot agree on a price for the ride with the taxi driver: they go strictly by the meter, except if you book a taxi via some apps that allow you to book a taxi for a set fee rather than by meter.

Considering the long distance, a taxi ride to Girona can be quite costly: from €150 to €200 one way. Mind you, that also includes the time driver’s return time. If the driver tries to make you pay more than what the meter says with the excuse of wasting time having to go back on his own… they are cheating. But don’t try to have them wait for you then take you back: there’s fees for waiting time, and since you’ll be riding the way back, the meter will continue adding up to your bill on the ride back.

UBER, CABIFY AND BOLT

These apps for taxi alternatives don’t work very well is Spain because the taxi lobby is powerful enough to keep them at bay. They have very few drivers in Barcelona, and it usually takes longer to use an app than to flag a taxi in the street. Still, if you are decided to drive instead of taking the train, it’s worth investigating the prices that the each app proposes for the ride (which may vary depending on the time of the day and the current demand).

BLA BLA CAR

Bla bla car is a shared ride service that allows travelers to share the costs of a ride. Kind of hitchhiking, the app way. It is cheap (but not much cheaper than trains for this particular itinerary), and it can be fun to meet people… or it can be a pain if your ride mates aren’t sociable or the car isn’t nice.

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Private transfers

If budget is not an issue, as specially if you have luggage, you may want to consider a private transfer. Using a professional uniformed driver booked in advance removes the stress of finding a cab and not being sure if the taxi driver is trying to cheat you. You’ll be traveling on a luxury car such as a Mercedes vehicle: new, clean, spacious, maybe with complimentary water bottles on board… Professional drivers are discreet, but can provide light conversation if you initiate it (most of them speak English). They won’t bother you with random radio programs or loud music either, the way it often happens with taxis.

The cost, while higher than that of a regular taxi, is usually customized depending on where you need to be picked up and where you need to be dropped-off. If you are interested in a private transfer to Girona, contact us to find out more.

10

Private day trips from Barcelona to Girona

If you only need to get to Girona for the day to explore its highlights but want to be back to Barcelona in the evening, you may want to consider a private day trip to Girona. We’ll pick you up at your accommodation in Barcelona city in a beautiful Mercedes vehicle, and during the ride your personal licensed tour guide will be introducing you to the local history and culture. Once in Girona your guide will walk you around showing you the top sites and adapting the itinerary to your interests and needs, until it’s time to get back.

The average day trip to Girona takes 6 hours, and there’s time for a quick bite  for lunch before heading back. But if you prefer, we can make it a longer day and extend the tour to Figueres to see the Dali Museum, to Besalu for some countryside and more Jewish Heritage, or to Tossa de Mar for a lovely lunch by the beach. Find more about the options here:

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Driving from the Barcelona - El Prat airport

If you are driving from the Barcelona El Prat airport to Girona, you can go through Barcelona, using the Ronda de Dalt or the Ronda Litoral to avoid the city center traffic, then follow the directions given above fore the C33 and AP7 to Girona. But often the traffic in the Rondas road ring won’t be worth it. You’ll be better off avoiding Barcelona city by taking the A2, then joining the AP7 at El Papiol.

Getting to Girona Airport

Located right outside of Girona city, the Girona - Costa Brava airport is a small airport mostly used by European low cost airlines. Passangers landing there are usually either staying in the Girona area, or heading to Barcelona, or planning to spend a vacation near the sea in the beautiful Costa Brava. See below the best ways to get there:

BY TRAIN

There’s no train station at the Girona Airport. You’ll have to get to Girona by train, then take the 607 bus shuttle to the airport.

BY BUS

The 602 and 604 Sagales buses are your best option (see above).

BY CAR

The Girona Airport is accessible from the Exit 8 of the AP7 highway (see above).

FLYING

There are several airlines that connect Girona with European cities. However, there are no flights from Barcelona to Girona.

Enjoy our tips about how to go to Girona from Barcelona!

Marta

Author Marta Laurent Veciana

AUTHOR BIO

Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.

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