Girona is the largest city in the north of Catalonia and the capital of the richest province in Spain. Girona was founded in the 1st century AD. NS. Romans, who erected the fortress and gave it the name Gerunda. It is thanks to this fortress that Girona gained fame. At first glance, Girona may seem dull and sleepy, but the real beauty and mood are hidden in the colorful houses of the city. For those who want to combine a trip to Girona with a trip to Barcelona, we will tell you how to get from Girona to Barcelona.
Possible options for getting to Barcelona
Barcelona is a legendary city in Spain. Its main symbol is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a grandiose creation by Antoni Gaudi. Among his other projects, it is worth noting Park Guell with gingerbread houses, Casa Mila with a wave-like facade and an unusual interior, as well as the original Casa Batlló with a dragon roof.
Gaudí's creations are just one of the facets of Barcelona. It houses the Grand Royal Palace, the Gothic Quarter, the Picasso Museum and the largest oceanarium in Europe. The city has a crazy energy, attracting tourists from all over the world.
The distance between Barcelona and Girona is about 105 km. You will have to spend about 1.5 hours on the road.
You can get from Girona to Barcelona by buying a bus or train ticket, renting a car, ordering a taxi transfer or finding a travel companion.
| Way to travel | Elapsed time | Trip cost, euro | Notes (edit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | from 40 minutes to 1 hour 16 minutes | from 9.40; by high-speed train - 16.20 | See the train schedule and tickets on the official RENFE website |
| Bus | 1 hour 30 minutes | from 14.50 | For tickets and timetables, visit ALSA or Sagales.com |
| Car (own or rented) | 1 hour 17 minutes (when choosing the shortest route and no stops) | rent - from 8.26 | In addition to rental costs, the tourist will incur fuel costs (€ 9.07) and toll road costs (€ 9.85). |
| Transfer -taxi | 1 hour 20 minutes | economy class - 184 | You can order a transfer on the website |
| Hitchhiking | 2 hours | from 6 | Find fellow travelers on the Blablacar website |
Travel by train
Railways in Spain run through all regions of the country. The railway operator in Spain is Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Espanoles - RENFE. The total length of the railway is 18,711 kilometers.
When traveling in Spain, you have the opportunity to use both high-speed AVE trains and traditional trains that operate at night and on regional routes.
The train station in Girona is at Placa Espanya. More than 35 direct trains leave from Girona every day. In this direction are the compositions AVANT, AVE, MD, AVE-TGV and REGIONAL.
The first train leaves at 6.46, and the last one at 21.21. The interval between train movements is from 2 minutes to 2 hours. By train, the travel time will be up to 1 hour 34 minutes.
Trains arrive at different stations in Barcelona:
- Barcelona Sants (at Carrer del Rector Triado, 75);
- Clot-Arago (at Carrer d'Arago);
- Sant Andreu Comtal (at Carrer de Ferran Junoy);
- Passeig de Gràcia (at Passeig De Gracia).
When choosing a ticket, pay attention to which station the train arrives.
The ticket prices are the highest the day before the trip. Therefore, monitor the availability and cost of tickets periodically on the official website. Tickets can be purchased not only at ticket offices and terminals at stations, but also on the official RENFE website.
Travel to Barcelona by bus
Bus service in Spain is very well developed, therefore it is a good alternative to the railway on many routes.
Buses in Spain run strictly on schedule. Bus stations are located in all major cities and all resorts.
The large carrier ALSA operates from Girona to Barcelona with just one flight per day. The bus leaves from Girona Station at 9.45 and arrives at Barcelona Estacion Nord at 11.15. The cost of the trip is EUR 14.50.
The second carrier, Sagales, operates 6 flights a day. Flight 9.45 - 11.05 is direct. On all other flights, Girona is a stopover. But it's good that all buses arrive at Barcelona Estacion Nord.
If you arrive at Girona Airport, you can take a passing bus that departs from the terminal at 09.10 and 12.55 to Barcelona. The fare is 14.50 euros.
Bus tickets can be purchased at the bus station ticket offices or online.
Travel by car
All major cities in Spain have international car rental agencies - Goldcar, Sixt, EuropCar, Avis and Hertz. They can be found on all tourist routes, including those from Girona to Barcelona.
The highest rental prices are at the airport, and the cheapest way is to make a reservation on the website online. The rental price depends on several factors: car category, booking date and season.
To rent a car in Spain, you need to have an international driver's license and a bank card with a minimum amount of 500 euros on your account. The driver must be at least 21 years old, and the minimum driving experience is 1 year (some agencies set a limit of 2 years).
The best way to book a car is on the RentalCars website. It contains the proposals of all well-known and proven agencies for 2021. Cars of different categories are available for booking. In addition, it is possible to pick up and return the car at different locations.
By car, you can get to Barcelona in 1-1.5 hours, depending on which route you choose. The total travel expenses should include the use of toll roads (€ 9.85) and fuel (€ 9.05). When choosing the cheapest car, the total costs will be 27.16 euros.
The map below shows the route from Girona to Barcelona. In order to see in detail how to get there on your own, use a scaled map.
Taxi ride
Spain, like other European countries, has well-developed air, rail and bus connections, so there is no need to use a taxi. Taxi in Spain is the best option to get quickly and comfortably to the desired place, but this service is not cheap.
When ordering a taxi, you need to leave your personal data. You can order a taxi transfer on the Gettransfer website.
Hitchhiking
You can get cheap to Girona using the services of drivers on the Blablacar website. The minimum cost of the trip is 6 euros. But it should be borne in mind that drivers rarely drive in this direction, so you need to look through offers and book a place in the car in advance.
Conclusion
Girona and Barcelona are located at a short distance from each other, but a trip to each city will leave a vivid impression.
The cheapest way to get to Barcelona is by train or passing cars. Those with unlimited budget can use the transfer-taxi service.
