Roman Crossroads Beneath Girona: A Self-Guided Old Town Walk
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Paint dries different colors depending who's asking, but Girona's riverside houses were dyed to match a plan. On this walking tour, you'll trace the city's layered past, from Roman road to medieval Jewish quarter. You'll also hear the legends locals still swear are true.
The tour starts at the Girona Tourist Office on Carrer de Berenguer Carnisser. You'll cross the Sant Feliu Bridge into the Old Town, pass the Basilica of Sant Feliu, and climb toward the Romanesque Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants. Along the way, you'll hear how a city built for Roman soldiers became a medieval market town, then a modern service hub of 100,000 people.
You'll wander through El Call, Girona's Jewish quarter, one of Europe's best-preserved, and pass the spot where Nahmanides, the medieval Catalan rabbi, is believed to have lived. You'll cross the Eiffel Bridge, built by the same company behind the Paris landmark a decade earlier, and pass shops belonging to the Roca brothers, whose restaurant El Celler de Can Roca was twice named the world's best. The tour ends at Plaça de la Independència, a lively square built over a former monastery and bus station.
On this two-hour tour, you'll have a chance to:
- Kiss (or just admire) El Cul de la Lleona, a lioness statue tied to a legend about proving you're a true local
- Learn how a plague of flies supposedly saved Girona from a French crusade in the 13th century
- Compare Gothic and Romanesque architecture side by side near the Chapel of Sant Nicolau
- Visit the Arab Baths, built by Catalan Christians who copied Muslim bathing customs
- Recognize filming locations from Game of Thrones, including the steps of Girona Cathedral
- Sample a xuixo, a Catalan pastry, at the Casa Moner bakery
- Hear why Girona's cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, once called the Jewish quarter home
If you're curious how a small Catalan city bred world-class chefs, hid a Jewish history for centuries, and doubled its population in forty years, this tour lays it all out on foot.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Miquel Roger
My name is Miquel Roger i Badosa, and I was born and raised in Girona, a city I have always loved.
After spending ten years away from home, including six years living in Africa, I decided to return to Girona.
In the midst of the global economic crisis, I made the decision to leave my job and pursue what I love most: sharing the beauty of my city and introducing visitors to the best insider experiences and hidden gems in the Girona area.
For more than 15 years, I have been guiding visitors with Girona Trips, creating memorable experiences and sharing the history, culture, and traditions of my homeland with guests from all over the world. I especially enjoy leading tours in Girona, the Garrotxa Volcanic Region, and the Dalí Triangle, where I can combine my passion for history, art, nature, and local culture.
I am fluent in Catalan, Spanish, English, and Italian, and I hold a university degree in History, Art History, and Geography. I specialized in Catalan Jewish history, and my thesis focused on the 1391 pogrom in Girona and the rest of Catalonia.
I am a licensed Tourist Guide of Catalonia, officially authorized by the Generalitat de Catalunya to work as a professional guide throughout the region.
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Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 2
Girona Introduction
Get a good spot overlooking the river.
I always say that if you live in Girona, the city is flat — but if you visit Girona as a tourist, it’s the opposite. ...
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Basílica de Sant Feliu
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La Lleona
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Arab Baths
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Girona Cathedral
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El Call
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Pujada de Sant Domènec
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Rambla de la Llibertat
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Plaça del Vi
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Pont de les Peixateries Velles
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Plaça Independència
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationCarrer de Berenguer Carnicer, 3, 17001 Girona, Spain
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Total distance2km
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Final locationPl. de la Independència, 17001 Girona, Spain
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Distance back to start location244.54m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour starts at the Girona Tourist Office (Punt de Benvinguda), located at Carrer Berenguer Carnicer, 3, 17001 Girona. There is a large parking area nearby, although parking can often be difficult to find. If no spaces are available, you can use the underground parking garage.
At the Tourist Office, you can pick up a free map of Girona and get useful information about the city, including recommendations for places to visit and local services.
Next to the Tourist Office, you will find a small café where you can enjoy a coffee or a snack before starting the tour.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Interesting museums to visit in Girona.
Girona Cathedral, the Basilica of Sant Feliu, and the Girona Art Museum, be sure to ask for the combined ticket.
The Girona art museum.
The Girona History museum.
If you would like to buy a special souvenir, I recommend Hel·lènica Ceramics, a lovely little shop located opposite the Girona Jewish Museum. All of the ceramics are handmade by the owners, making each piece unique. It's a wonderful place to find an authentic souvenir or a beautiful gift to take home.
On the same street, you'll also find Recorda-te'n, a charming gift shop offering a wide selection of local souvenirs, gifts, and handcrafted items.
Resturants in Girona:
Le bistrot
Taverna del foment
B-12 (vegan restaurant).
Blanc
7 de 8
Brots de vi
La farinera
Vintage
Txots (family restaurant).
Best time of day
Girona is not an overly crowded tourist destination. However, most tour buses arrive around 10:30 a.m., although they usually stay for only a short time.
If you plan to explore the city on your own, I recommend starting your walk before 10:00 a.m. or after 1:00 p.m., when the busiest period has passed.
One of my favorite times to stroll through the Old Town is after dark. The illuminated streets and historic buildings create a very special atmosphere.
During the summer, the afternoons can be quite hot. I recommend avoiding the hottest hours of the day and not taking the tour between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Precautions
Girona is a small city, which means it has fewer of the problems often found in larger cities. Overall, it is a very safe place to visit. However, as in any tourist destination, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy areas, and avoid leaving valuables unattended.
To visit the Old Town, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, as many of the streets are cobbled and there are quite a few steps. Be sure to bring a bottle of water, and during the summer, don't forget a hat and sunscreen.
I also recommend using the restroom before the tour begins, as it can be difficult to find public toilets in the Old Town.
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