Holiday apartment in Girona: discover history, nature and culinary delights

Girona between history, culture and nature

Girona’s historic city reveals more than 2,000 years of history through its two fortified areas, Força Vella and Eixample Medieval.

Museums offering different perspectives

Girona has seven museums that convey the history and art of the period from antiquity to the present day and offer activities for all target groups throughout the year. The Museum of Jewish History explains the history of the medieval Jewish communities in Catalonia, with particular emphasis on Girona. It also includes a unique collection of medieval Hebrew tombstones from the Jewish cemetery of Montjuïc.

The Museum of Cinema presents the Tomàs Mallol collection on the prehistory of cinema. Its chronological scope extends from the first moving images of shadow theatre to cinema today. The Archaeology Museum was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest museums in Catalonia. It preserves archaeological finds from excavations in the Girona region, especially from Empúries and Girona itself, dating from prehistory to the Middle Ages.

Historic buildings as part of the city experience

Individual buildings also give Girona its distinctive cultural character. Els Banys Àrabs is a unique Romanesque building from the 12th century, inspired by Roman baths. Inside is a central pool covered by a dome supported by slender columns with elaborately ornamented capitals. Sant Pere de Galligants is a Benedictine monastery dating from the 12th century. The Basilica of Sant Feliu was Girona’s first cathedral until the 10th century.

Casa Masó has special visiting conditions: the building can only be visited as part of a guided tour, in groups of no more than eight people and at agreed times. Advance booking by telephone or email is required. This specific arrangement is more important for planning your day than the possibility of a spontaneous visit.

Guided tours, walks and the Sant Daniel Valley

If you would like to explore Girona with more than just a self-guided visit, various guided tours are a key option. These include tours of Girona’s heritage, history and legends, as well as tours of the Jewish quarter, the medieval Jewish influence in the city and the filming locations of Game of Thrones. There are also nature tours, gastronomic routes and tours adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Guided walks are offered in and around Girona. Hiking is possible in the Sant Daniel Valley. The valley is also part of an urban environment where rivers flow into the city fabric and Mediterranean and riparian forests meet mountain ranges such as the Gavarres, fields, gardens and agricultural land. La Devesa complements this landscape as a large park in Girona covering more than 40 hectares.

Flowers, market and regional cuisine

A special highlight of the year is Girona Temps de Flors. For nine days in May, the event transforms the city with artistic, musical, recreational, gastronomic and tourist activities.

The Mercat del Lleó is Girona’s municipal market for fresh food and has 60 stalls. The city’s culinary profile also combines traditional and avant-garde cuisine with its own roots and local products from the region. For your planning, this means that you can combine cultural visits, walks and culinary discoveries into a varied stay without reducing Girona to just one type of travel experience.

Choosing the right holiday apartment in Girona based on your interests

Which accommodation in Girona suits your trip can primarily be determined by the focus you would like to set. Those who place history and museums at the centre of their stay will find numerous points of interest among the cultural themes. Those looking for exercise and landscapes can consider guided walks, the Sant Daniel Valley, nature tours and the various landscape areas. For food-focused days, the Mercat del Lleó, gastronomic routes and the combination of regional products, tradition and avant-garde cuisine take centre stage.

Mobility also deserves attention: L7 Plaza de Sant Domènec is the nearest public transport stop to Girona Cathedral, 180 m away; it is not accessible. In addition, tours adapted for people with reduced mobility can offer a different perspective on the city. In this way, choosing your holiday apartment helps you balance your stay according to culture, nature, culinary experiences and your trip’s personal requirements.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Catalonia.