Girona
Girona is a vibrant city where history and modern life blend seamlessly. Its beautifully preserved old town is a delight to explore, with cobbled streets, medieval walls, and hidden courtyards that invite you to wander and discover. Highlights include the impressive Girona Cathedral, the colorful houses along the Onyar River, and the charming Jewish Quarter, El Call.
Girona is also a fantastic destination for shopping. The city center is full of boutiques, artisan shops, and well-known fashion brands. From handmade Catalan ceramics to contemporary clothing and gourmet local products, there’s something for every taste and budget.
If you’re staying along the Costa Brava and looking for a day trip filled with culture, food, and retail therapy, Girona is a great choice. The city is car-friendly with ample parking facilities spread across the center and outskirts, making it easy to explore at your own pace.
Barri Vell
Girona’s old town is located on a hill on the right bank of the Riú Onyar. In this part of Girona you will find numerous beautiful old mansions and monumental buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. A nice walk leads over the old city walls of the city, where you get a good view of the various monuments in the old core.
Girona Cathedral can be seen from afar and a 90-step staircase will eventually take you to the main portal. Worth seeing is the Romanesque cloister with beautiful capitals and reliefs. In the museum that is located near the cathedral, the showpiece is a carpet that dates from the 12th century and shows the creation story.
In addition to the cathedral, the ‘Banys Àrabs’ are also worth a visit. Here you can see remains of Arab baths from the 12th century.
El Call Jueu
Central to the ‘Barri Vell’ is the Jewish quarter, ‘El Call Jueu’, which originated between the 12th and 15th centuries. At the Museu d’Historia dels Jueus you will learn more about the history of the Jewish community in Girona. At the museum there is a synagogue and ritual baths. In the summer months, concerts take place in the courtyard of the museum.
Eat, drink, shop, and enjoy Girona’s vibrant life
A day out in Girona isn’t complete without exploring its lively mix of shops, cafés, and entertainment. Begin your shopping adventure around the charming streets that frame both sides of the Onyar River — here you’ll find a great variety of stylish boutiques, trendy shoe shops, and local artisan stores.
Girona is also a culinary hotspot. From casual tapas bars to fine dining, the city offers something for every taste. For a truly exceptional experience, book a table at El Celler de Can Roca — one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants, known for its creative interpretation of Catalan cuisine.
When evening falls, head to Plaça de la Independència, a popular square filled with terraces, bars, and lively ambiance. Just a short walk across the Pont de Sant Agustí, it’s the perfect place to unwind, have a drink, and soak up the local vibe.
Barcelona
Getting there
You can go by car to Barcelona, het drive via the AP-7 or you can take to coastal highway the C32 which starts close to Tordera. A more relaxed option is to take the train from Sils which brings you in 50 minutes to Passeig Gracia, right in the center of Barcelona.
Sagrada Familia
Park Güell
El Born
Figueres
In Figueres you have to go to the famous Dalí Theatre and Museum, it’s a spectacle! https://goo.gl/maps/6bPy3zpYSNN2 about an hour drive from Can Negrell. For tickets to avoid long lines https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/services/tickets/
Cadaqués
https://goo.gl/maps/jPy5cRkvPEN2 is close to Figueres it’s an old fisher town hidden by the mountains, it’s bit difficult to get there, but when you arrive there it’s a small paradise.
Next to Cadaqués you can find Port Lligat a small town with maybe 10 houses. Salvador Dali bought about 5 of the houses and made from them his summerhouse, where he worked and also had extravagant parties. Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí https://goo.gl/maps/2ujEaso5Se42
Banyoles
The lake of Banyoles is spectacular with all his summerhouses on the shoreline. You can walk around it in a little less than 2 hours. The walk is cool because the lake is close to the mountains and the fresh breeze from the lake. A good tip it’s the restaurant La Carpa de l’Estany https://goo.gl/maps/Gb9VP5V6nio
Besalú
Besalú https://goo.gl/maps/Fos5HMWocUB2 was designated as
a historical national property (“conjunt històric-artístic”)
in 1966. The town’s most significant feature is its 12th-century
Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià river, which features
a gateway at its midpoint. The church of Sant Pere was
consecrated in 1003. The town features arcaded streets and squares and also a restored mikveh, a ritual Jewish bath dating from the eleventh or twelfth century, as well as the remains of a medieval synagogue, located in the lower town near the river.
Pals
Pals is a medieval town in Catalonia, northern Spain a few kilometers from the sea in the heart of the Bay of Emporda on the Costa Brava. Pals has a historic centre on a hill surrounded by plains with a medieval Romanesque tower built between the 11th and 13th centuries, known as the Torre de les Hores (Tower of the Hours)
Walking around Begur
Next to Pals you can find Begur, around Begur there are some really beautiful beaches. There is a great walking track on the waterfront. See https://nl.wikiloc.com/routes-wandelen/begur-castell-sa-tuna-cami-de-ronda-sa-riera-platja-del-raco-23140827 On the photo you can see a good overview of the area you could walk.
