Day Trip To Besalu & Girona From Barcelona
PRIVATE TOUR FROM BARCELONA TO BESALU AND GIRONA
See the only two medieval mikveh in Catalonia
Are you looking for a Jewish Heritage day trip near Barcelona? Or would you rather spend a day in the countryside away from the tourist crowds? Are you fascinated by the Middle Ages? Game of Thrones anyone?
The city of Girona (Spain) has kept its magical medieval atmosphere in a beautiful way (enough to be chosen to be Braavos in season 6 of Game of Thrones), and it’s famous for its Jewish Quarter. And Besalú is pretty close, with its charming layout along a river, its imposing bridge and one of the few medieval mikvah kept in Spain.
Sure, you can reach Girona by train. But getting to Besalu from Barcelona on your own is trickier: there’s no train, only public bus. So let us take you there in style! Leave all the logistics in our hands and come exploring Girona and Besalú in a Mercedes car or van with dedicated driver and a private tour guide.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY TRIP FROM BARCELONA TO BESALU & GIRONA:
GIRONA + BESALU + TRADITIONAL LUNCH
WHY THIS IS THE BEST BARCELONA TO BESALU & GIRONA DAY TRIP
✓ Feel like a VIP riding from Barcelona to Besalu and Girona on a luxurious Mercedes vehicle with private driver.
✓ Adapt this day trip to your interests: it can also be approached from a Christian and Catalan history point of view, or make it kid-friendly.
✓ Go out of town for a day and forget about the city rhythm.
✓ Feel like in Italy, but without the crowds.
✓ Explore Girona with your guide, focusing on your favorite topics: Jewish heritage, medieval history, Game of Thrones, scenic points…
✓ Walk around beautiful Girona alleys off the beaten path most tourists will never find on their own.
✓ Get to visit the only 2 medieval mikhva (Jewish Baths) that have been discovered and confirmed in Catalonia so far – ON REQUEST.
✓ Connect with nature with a walk along the riverbank in Besalú.
✓ Once in Girona, feel like in Italy, but without the crowds.
✓ Have lunch at a local restaurant were you’ll probably be the only foreigner.
✓ And much more, in a private Barcelona to Besalu and Girona tour just for you and your party!
DAY TRIP FAQ
- THIS TOUR RUNS: Every day.
SOME SITES CLOSED:
Monday: the Museum of History of the Jewish of Girona is closed.
Sunday: the interior of the Cathedral of Girona is not available for visits as there is mass going on (you can visit the Cloister and the Treasure Museum, though.
MIKHVA: The Mikvah of Besalú is only available on request.
UNIQUE: In May, Girona celebrates the “Time of Flowers” festival. A great time to visit it and see the usual sites covered in flower decorations.
- TOUR LENGHT: 8 hours.
- RECOMMENDED STARTING TIME: 9AM. This tour starting time is not flexible.
- WHERE DO WE MEET? WHERE DO WE END? Anywhere you want, within the Barcelona city limits.
- IS THERE A LUNCH STOP? Yes.
- HOW DO WE MOVE AROUND? Rides in Mercedes car or minivan for up to 6 of you + guide & dedicated driver. Walking around Besalú and Girona.
- HOW DOES THE NON-GUIDED OPTION WORK? If you book the non-guided option, you’ll have an English-speaking driver for the rides, able to provide light conversation but not detailed explanations of the sites. You’ll walk around Girona and Besalu on your own. You’ll be responsible of being back to the car at the time designated by us, or you might incur in extra hours.
- CAN WE DO BESALÚ ONLY? Sure! We recommend that a day trip to Besalu from Barcelona (without Girona) lasts 6 hours instead of 8, because Besalú is not that big. But if you prefer and entire 8-hr day tour we can also arrange that on request (same price as for a Girona Besalu 8-hr trip).
TRAVELERS THAT TOOK THIS DAY TRIP FROM BARCELONA TO BESALU AND GIRONA SAY:
“We had a wonderful day with Pepus, our tour guide from ForeverBarcelona. We were met at the port as we exited our ship in Barcelona and were taken by a very nice and comfortable van to our tour in Girona and Besalú. Pepus was an excellent guide who proved to be very knowledgeable on the matter of Jewish History and the entire area of Catalonia. He took us to very interesting places and provided together with our van driver, excellent service and a great experience. A beautiful day we will never forget.”
TAILOR THIS DAY TRIP TO YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS
This tour works best for people able to walk, with a strong interest in the local Jewish Heritage, or that just want to spend a lovely day out of town away from the tourist crowds and see the countryside.
If you don’t have a Jewish background, this tour is still a great combination of history, nature and spectacular sights. The speech can be adapted to focus in other aspects of both sites, besides their Jewish heritage.
If you are traveling with kids, this tour is child-friendly, since we can focus the tour on the exploration of the sites, instead of the academic part. Plus most of the visited areas are pedestrian-only, allowing your kids to run freely.
If you have walking issues or use a wheelchair, please note that the visit of Girona involves sections of stairs and uphill cobblestone streets. There are cobblestone streets in Besalú as well. It might be best to book a 6-hour Girona tour instead, and ask your guide to take you on the little tourist train instead of walking you around.
If you are also interested in the Jewish Section of Barcelona, add one extra hour to your tour to be able to visit it, or check out our Barcelona Jewish Tour.
PRICING
This is a 100% private day trip, exclusive for you and your party. There is a base rate total per tour (no matter how many people you are), plus a per person rate to cover the entrance fees.
BASE RATE (paid once per tour):
SHORTER
6-HR TOUR-
Barcelona to Besalú and back
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Licensed Tour Guide
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Car or van with driver
NON-GUIDED
8-HR TOUR-
Full itinerary
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On your own at the sites
-
Car or van with driver
THIS TOUR IS
8-HR TOUR-
Full itinerary
-
Licensed Tour Guide
-
Car or van with driver
PAY €75, CHANGE YOUR TOUR DATE UNLIMITED TIMES *
*Within 2 years from your original tour date, notifying us at least 30 days in advance. Click to learn more >>
ADDITIONAL FEES PER PERSON:
IN GIRONA (Optional):
- Medieval Baths: €2/person
- Cathedral: €7/person
- Museum of the Jewish: €4/person
BESALÚ MIKHVE (on request only): €2.50/person
LUNCH (not included)
Expect to pay €30-40/person, depending on your order. Learn more about lunch on tour.
* Costs are given as an orientation only, as they can change without notice. Discounts might apply for students and/or seniors.
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