Our most recommended things to do in Barri Vell, Girona

From Barcelona: Girona and Costa Brava Full-Day Tour

1. From Barcelona: Girona and Costa Brava Full-Day Tour

Explore the stunning landscapes of the Costa Brava on a full-day tour to Girona from Barcelona. Depart the Catalan capital for the city of Girona, where the remains of its Roman and medieval past make an interesting contrast to the present-day city. Get lost in a maze of narrow streets, and venture into the best-preserved Jewish Ghetto in Europe. Admire the cathedral, home to the widest Gothic nave in the world. Marvel at the brightly colored houses on the banks of the Onyar River. Then, transfer to the breathtaking landscapes and villages of the Costa Brava, stopping at the medieval village of Pals en route. Stroll down cobblestone streets, and enjoy some of the best panoramas of the Mediterranean Sea whipped up by the fierce Tramontana wind. Marvel at the fields and plains of Empordà extending to the horizon. Discover dramatic views of the Catalan coast, surrounded by green mountains, sheer cliffs, and small villages of whitewashed houses. Stop in the traditional fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, and feel as if you have been transported back to yesteryear. Explore the pristine landscape of Calella, and discover the ancient pathways of the Caminos de Ronda. Once used by fishermen, watchmen and smugglers, these paths allow you to explore the virgin coast at your leisure, where you will discover popular beaches and inaccessible coves and cliffs. Take a dip in crystal clear water, surrounded by unspoiled nature.

From Barcelona: Girona, Figueres, and Cadaqués Day Trip

2. From Barcelona: Girona, Figueres, and Cadaqués Day Trip

Explore the cities of Girona, Figueres and Cadaqués on this day trip from Barcelona. Admire the Jewish Quarter in Girona and see the Castle of San Fernando in Figueres. Head to the coast for a visit to the fishing village of Cadaqués. Meet your guide in Barcelona and hop aboard a spacious and air-conditioned bus. Settle in for the scenic ride to the city of Girona. Arrive in Girona and visit one of the most impressive historic centers in Catalonia. Soak up the vibe in the colorful Jewish Quarter. Continue to Figueres, an important communications hub that connects Spain with France. There, enjoy an optional visit on your own to the famous Dalí Theater-Museum, built on the grounds of the city's former theater, which has the largest collection of Salvador Dalí's works. Have some free time to try delicious Catalan cuisine. Get recommendations from your guide on where to shop, eat, and drink. Finally, reach Cadaqués, a dreamy fishing village in the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. Uncover the charm of its narrow streets, the impressive church of Santa María, the artistic treasures of medieval times, and the quaint fishermen's houses that are in its historic center. Once the visit to Cadaqués is over, return to Barcelona by bus. 

Girona: Jewish Heritage Guided City Tour and Museum Visit

3. Girona: Jewish Heritage Guided City Tour and Museum Visit

Embark on a guided tour through the Jewish neighborhood of Girona, one of the best-preserved in Europe. This district is located in the heart of the city and is full of ancient remains from its Roman and Medieval past. Known locally as “the Call”, this area was home to 1,000 inhabitants during the Middle Ages, making it one of the most important Jewish communities in Spain's history. As you explore the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter — hometown of Nahmanides, the Medieval Kabbalistic philosopher, physician and Sephardic rabbi — you'll visit the spots where the city's 3 synagogues were located. During the guided tour you will find out all about the customs and traditions of the Jewish people who lived here, as well as the tools that they used, and the design of their houses. You'll also visit the Museum of Jewish History to learn about their way of life. Your guide will then lead you around the labyrinthine streets while explaining the history of the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, an act that ended 600 years of coexistence. After 3 hours exploring the Call, your tour will come to an end, and you'll have newfound knowledge of the profound influence that the Jewish community left in Girona.

From Barcelona: Breakfast in Spain lunch in France

4. From Barcelona: Breakfast in Spain lunch in France

Have breakfast in Spain and lunch in France on this guided day trip from Barcelona. Explore the old town of Girona in Catalunya and the village of Collioure in France. Meet your guide in Barcelona, then set off in an air-conditioned minivan to Girona. Learn about the city's links to the Games of Thrones and the cyclist Lance Armstrong from your guide. While in Girona, take a leisurely stroll through the heart of the old town. Savor a light breakfast of coffee with a local specialty, a xuixo pastry. After breakfast, hop back in the minivan toward France. Cross the border without hassle before arriving in in Collioure, a village on the southern French coast with a population of about 2000 people. Explore the village briefly with your guide, then enjoy free time to have lunch and relax in front of the Mediterranean Sea. Later on, reconvene with your guide and return to Barcelona. This tour has a winter version from November to May. We will visit the medieval village of Perpignan instead of Collioure. Once the continental capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca, Perpignan old town is also peppered with grand architectural throwbacks to its former glories as a Spanish city. Once the continental capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca, Perpignan old town is also peppered with grand architectural throwbacks to its former glories as a Spanish city.

Girona: Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour with Food Tasting

5. Girona: Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour with Food Tasting

Discover the ancient Roman and Medieval history of Girona on a guided tour of the city's highlights. Visit the Jewish Quarter, pass by the cathedral, and meander the streets of the old town. Learn about the Cathedral from your local guide and cross some of the most emblematic bridges. Enjoy views of the colorful houses of the Onyar River and discover unique spots, corners, squares, and streets while hearing legends and stories. Right in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, try two of Girona's most famous delicacies: the xuixo, a pastry made of baked dough filled with custard, and ratafia, the most famous liquor made of 40 different herbs and green nuts. Discover all of this, and a lot more, on this fantastic trip to the past, present, and future of the city.

Girona: Private History Tour

6. Girona: Private History Tour

The ancient walled city of Girona stands on a fortress-like hill, high above the confluence of the Onyar and Ter rivers. With the help of a local guide, discover the most important monuments of Girona, its history, its Jewish heritage and also its legends. This private tour can be tailored to your specific needs and interests. Founded by Iberians, the Romans later named the city Gerunda and established it as an important stopping point on the Via Augusta, linking Iberia with Rome. The most important time for the city, however, was the middle ages. Due to its location near the French border, the city was under siege several times and much of its buildings were built during this time.  Explore the city's 15th-century cathedral, boasting the widest unsupported gothic arch in the world which dominates the skyline. In the lower part of the city, enjoy the steep alleyways and the brightly painted façades of the houses overlooking the Onyar river which provide the most emblematic image of the city. Among the bridges that span the river are the lightweight Gómez bridge and the Ferreries Velles bridge which was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. For those interested in The Game of Thrones series, the guide can show the locations where the 6th season was filmed.

Girona: History and Gastronomy Small Group with Tastings

7. Girona: History and Gastronomy Small Group with Tastings

This experience is a combination of a walking tour through the historic area of the city of Girona, the monumental neighborhood, the Jewish quarter, the Rambla, the bridges over the Onyar river, etc., plus a visit to an specialized tavern to taste the best products that the gastronomy of this area offers. In total we will be together for more than 3 hours. Girona has a high quality gastronomic products. One way to enjoy all the products that the area offers us is in small portions such as tapas or pintxos. We will accompany you to the more specialized taverns to enjoy these small art pieces of Girona and Catalan Gastronomy in general. You will taste local cheeses and sausages, anchovies from La Escala, Iberian ham, the typical sweet from Girona, the Xuixo, and other spectacular products that will surely surprise you. All these products combined by any of the fantastic wines that this country offers. We have more than 50 wineries in the province that nowadays, have nothing to envy to other wine regions of Spain or France. Our D.O (origin denomination) Empordà has become the pride of Girona in recent years. They produce white, rosé and especially red wines of excellent quality. If you do not like wine or cannot drink it, you can taste some beer, or other non-alcoholic drink.

Girona: Guided Walking Tour with Attraction Entry Tickets

8. Girona: Guided Walking Tour with Attraction Entry Tickets

This tour is undoubtedly the most extensive and exhaustive in the city of Girona. You will learn not only about its history and legends, but also you will be able to enjoy a guided visit to the main monuments of the city: The Cathedral of Santa María, the Arab Baths and the Basilica of Sant Feliu. Also we will accompany you on a journey through time since the founding of the city. We will cross the Via Augusta, the Roman, Carolingian and Medieval Walls. We will see the splenor of the medieval period of the city reflected in its monuments: Gothic Palaces, exquisite Romanesque monasteries, the Arab Baths and especially the Cathedral In the historic center of the city, very close to the Cathedral, we will find the important Jewish footprint that still remains in Girona. The Aljama (Jewish community) of Girona was one of the most important in Spain and the center of Kabbalah. The Jewish quarter known as "El Call" stretches through a labyrinth of cobbled alleys that are still preserved intact since 1492, the year of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. The Jewish presence in the city dates back to the 9th century and they made this community so important, they became 10% of the population of Girona, thanks to merchants, doctors, notaries and such notorious figures as Nahmanides, teacher of the Kabbalah. Leaving the Jewish quarter we will see the Novecentista style house where the architect Rafael Masó was born, one of the most important in the city and we will arrive at the Rambla to see the most famous bridges over the Onyar river. The bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel is undoubtedly the most popular. And we will end the visit in Plaza Independencia, without a doubt a meeting place for everyone who visits Girona, with its restaurants and terraces.

Barcelona: Girona Game of Thrones Private Tour with Pickup

9. Barcelona: Girona Game of Thrones Private Tour with Pickup

Discover the locations where the HBO hit series "Game of Thrones" was filmed in Girona. Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel or apartment in Barcelona to start your adventure and transfer you to the Old Town of Girona. Your expert guide will show you the magical corners of the city that brought "Game of Thrones" to life. Visit Girona Cathedral, which was used to represent the Great Sept of Baelor. You will also recognize the monumental baroque stairway of the cathedral as the exterior of the Great Sept Baelor in King’s Landing. Walk through the Jewish Quarter, which served as the city of Braavos in the series, where blind Ayra Stark was begging and got attacked by the waif. You'll also learn a little about Girona's fascinating history on this tour. With its perfect location on a hill along the eastern shore of the Onyar River near the French border, Girona flourished during the Middle Ages. Enjoy amazing views from the Medieval city walls and get lost in the maze of winding streets. You'll also see the Arabic Baths, the synagogue, and the Gustave Eiffel Bridge.

Girona: Small Group Jewish History Tour of Girona and Besalú

10. Girona: Small Group Jewish History Tour of Girona and Besalú

Home to a historic Jewish quarter, Girona has steep steps and old world charm. Despite the expulsion of Jews in 1492 from the area, today the “call dels jueus” remains in the same location it has been since the Middle Ages. Enjoy a guided visit to the Museum of Jewish History located where the third and lasts Synagogue of Girona were located before the expulsion. Break for lunch and explore before continuing on to the small country village of Besalú. This town has housed a traditional mikveh and synagogue since the 13th-century. It remains one of the most important Jewish areas in Catalonia and in 1966 was declared a national historic and artistic site. Traces of ancient Jewish history continue to be discovered in Besalú and the town remains similar to how it was back when it was home to a rich Jewish population. Wander the irregular medieval streets and snap photos of the ancient steps, arches, stone houses and shops that still sell local handicrafts and goods. Don’t forget to pass over the striking Romanesque bridge that provides access to the town over the Fluvià river, one of the most memorable sights in town.

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Things to do in
Barri Vell, Girona

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What people are saying about Barri Vell, Girona

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 478 reviews

This was an amazing day trip on the final day of our vacation. Our guide Manu picked us up at our apartment in Barcelona at 8:20am. Manu was an excellent guide and very personable. The first stop was in Girona. We toured the Jewish quarter and many sites where Game of Thrones scenes were filmed. Then we stopped at a small coffee shop to grab some coffee and pastries. We headed back to the van to go to our next destination. The small village of Peratallada. We walked around the carved stone streets and stopped at small shop to sample Vermouth and Wine. Then we headed to the coast to Costa Brava. We took some amazing photos from a scenic viewpoint overlooking the town and then ate lunch at a restaurant with delicious seafood. Manu made sure we were well taken care of the entire time and got us back safely to our apartment by 6pm. I highly recommend this trip to anyone that enjoys Medieval and beautiful coastal towns.

A wonderful choice for those who haven't got enough time and want to have a good "taste" of Catalonian villages. Paolina is one of the best guides, very friendly and easy going, she made this trip very interesting with her huge knowledge on history, without being tiring. A very good value for money, I totally recommend it.

This tour was arranged in small group and our guide Hengameh she is super knowledgeable person. Explained the ancient history about the city. And also the Costa Bravo trip was simply awesome.

Manu, our guide, was so full of knowledge, stories, and energy. We were never bored. Girona was the highlight for me with the cathedral and best preserved Jewish quarter in Europe.

Relaxed with beautiful views, a bit of history and local culture. Meal on the beach was beyond. Thanks to Matt for a wonderful day!