Keen on Catalonia? Discover the allure of Girona. It makes for a smaller, cheaper, more Medieval alternative to Barcelona.
Girona, Catalonia.
Some may only know Girona as a cheap way to get to Barcelona because of the city’s airport. Ryanair is the main carrier and it’s often cheaper to fly to Girona and to take a bus there than to fly directly to Barcelona, some 90 km away. But there is more to this gorgeous medieval city. We delve into why you might love living there.
It’s a pity that travellers don’t stop and discover this small medieval city. It is a great place to visit but also has a diverse, international population. Around 21% of the population comes from abroad and Girona offers many cultural activities, including theatre in English once a year. The cinemas show VO (original version) films with most of the latest British and American films with Spanish subtitles.
It is also a proudly Catalan city with a strong culture and history, a concert hall to rival the best, a central park, a market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, art exhibitions, museums and an abundance of good restaurants and bars.
Girona is the capital of the province of Girona, home to the Costa Brava and its beaches. It’s about a 45-minute drive from the city to the sea and 25 minutes to the lake of Banyoles. Figueres, just 40 minutes away, is where Dalí’s theatre museum is located. For ease, the airport is 13 km from the city. Barcelona is just 30 minutes on the fast AVE train from Girona station.
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Temps de Flors (Flower Season Festival)
Temps de Flors.
Springtime is the season for flower festivals (we recently wrote about Córdoba’s Patio Festival) and Girona has its own spectacular festival in early May.
For the entire week 11th to 19th May 2024, the city becomes a living garden with wonderful displays, especially in front of the Cathedral. Private courtyards and interiors are open to the public and the streets are decorated with flowers. It is a popular festival with thousands visiting, so it’s best to avoid the weekends. You can get a map featuring all the displays and at the same time, enjoy wandering through the ancient streets of this pleasant city. The old town (Barri Vell) is quite hilly and the streets can be pretty steep the further up you go. For those that would prefer it, there is a small bus that can take you to the top. Whatever way you go up, the views are truly fabulous. Once there, you can walk on the old city walls and meander through the university complex.
Back in the lower part of the town some of the displays are made by gardeners and florists from other European countries, some by children and yet others by local businesses.
Calling Girona home
Girona has two official languages, Castilian and Catalan. It is a good idea to try to learn some Catalan because it can open doors to meeting the locals as it is widely spoken here. But if you only speak Spanish you will still be comfortable living in the city.
Schools
There is a good selection of schools, with an international Spanish school and St. George’s Private School, where English is the main language. Many local people send their children to St George’s so that they gain a good command of English from a young age.
Healthcare
Generally, the healthcare in Girona is excellent and the city has both private and state facilities. The public hospital, Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta is a centre of excellence for cancer treatment and a brand-new private hospital opened last year.
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Transport
There is a good bus service throughout the city and trains run regularly to Barcelona and close to the Costa Brava. Trains also go to Paris from Girona in about 6 hours. The city is bike friendly and is mostly walkable. Traffic is restricted in the centre and free parking isn’t always easy to find but there are many paying underground car parks dotted around.
Sport
Just a short distance away is the PGA golf course at Camiral Golf and Wellness, one of Spain’s best golf courses. The city has several sports pavilions and football pitches and its football club Girona FC, plays in La Liga. Tennis, judo, rugby, athletics and skating are just a few of the available sports.
Green spaces
Devesa park, Girona city.
Girona has quite a few parks and nature areas, the largest being Parc de la Devesa where the twice weekly market is held. Parc Migdia is a modern park with a lake and Jardins dels Alemanys offers lovely views.
Property
Click on the link to see properties for sale in Girona.
Inevitably, property in the city centre is the most expensive. Although cheaper than Barcelona, Girona can still be quite pricy. For a more affordable apartment, look to the city’s outskirts. Most foreigners living in Girona choose one of two districts, Barri Vell and Les Pedreres. If you prefer a house, investigate Montilivi, Montjuic and Palau.
Expect to pay from just under €400,000 up to €750,000 for a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre and up to €2,000,000 for a villa with six-bedrooms. For more budget friendly options, €135,000 upwards will buy a four-bedroom apartment in the St. Narcis district, where a four- bedroomed terrace house will cost €390,000.
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