At a fare of €41.98 in October, how could I not resist a short trip to Girona in Catalonia? I was accompanied by two friends. We decided that, as the trip was Saturday to Tuesday, we would manage with just a small backpack.
We travelled on a Saturday morning flight leaving 6°C weather behind us. It was great to arrive and feel the wave of heat as the aircraft door opened two hours later. With no bags to collect, we exited arrivals and could see the bus terminal, just a two minute walk away. You could buy tickets at the terminal at a cost of only €2.75 each way. We stayed in apartments right in Girona's Old Town, just minutes from the cathedral, the city walls, and restaurants. After we checked in, we went straight for the cathedral, which was in a scene in Game of Thrones. This is a magnificent building, with numerous steps up to the top. Inside, an audio tour can be done at your own pace. This was priced at €7 for an adult. We then got outside to enjoy the 26-degree sunshine and decided to walk the city walls. There are many steps and heights along the city walls, but the views were outstanding. The walls were a marvel and a great place for photos.
After that we went to one of Girona’s most instagrammable bars, La Terra, for a glass of sangria. It has great views along the River Onyar. There are a couple of bridges crossing the river but none more striking than Eiffel Bridge, which was constructed by the famous Gustave Eiffel just before the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Crossing the bridge brings you onto a commercial street with numerous shops and a big square. Day one concluded with some tapas and local red wine.
We had done some research and selected some places near Girona that would be good for a day trip. First up was Besalú a picturesque medieval town in the Girona province of Catalonia. In appearance the town remains almost completely medieval, boasting some impressive monuments. It really is worth a trip. We enjoyed a menu del dia in the square at €14.50 which consisted of a three-course meal and a glass of wine, beer, or soft drink.
After strolling around Besalú and taking lots of photos, we rang a cab to collect us to bring us to Castellfollit de la Roca. The journey was about 20 minutes (14km ), with one photo stop, at a cost of €25. A bus service is also available, for a much smaller price. Castellfollit de la Roca is a village built up on a 50-metre basalt cliff. It is spectacular. You can roam around below the cliff, taking a rocky path that follows a river with a few foot bridges. It is idyllic, but we did not have much time there as we were rushing to get the bus back to Girona (€7.50 ).
There is a lot more in Girona and its surrounds that we didn’t get to explore, such as the Jewish Quarter and Baths, hiking, cycling, Game of Thrones walking tours, and wine tours. We were happy what we took from it and vowed to return. Flights are twice weekly from Ireland West Airport with Ryanair.
For 2020 flights are in July and August only. Book online at www.ryanair.com
