Current Time in Girona, Spain

Girona is a historic city in northeastern Spain, the capital of the Province of Girona in Catalonia, situated at the confluence of four rivers — the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell — about 100 kilometers northeast of Barcelona. A compact and beautifully preserved city with a rich multicultural heritage, Girona is known for its colorful riverside houses, its medieval Jewish Quarter, its impressive cathedral, and its position as a base for exploring the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees.

With a population of approximately 103,000, Girona is a mid-sized Catalan city that combines a strong local identity with increasing international visibility, partly due to the success of local restaurants — including El Celler de Can Roca, repeatedly named the world's best restaurant — and the city's role as a cycling base for professional teams. The University of Girona contributes a significant student population and an academic cultural life to the city.

Girona's history is layered and cosmopolitan. The city was established by the Romans as Gerunda, occupied by the Visigoths, and briefly held by the Moors before its reconquest by Charlemagne in 785. During the medieval period it developed a substantial Jewish community, and the Call, Girona's Jewish Quarter, is one of the best-preserved medieval Jewish neighborhoods in Europe. The Jewish Museum of Girona occupies several historic buildings in the Call and is one of the most important museums of Jewish history in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Cathedral of Girona, dominating the old city from the top of an imposing flight of 90 steps, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture whose nave, completed in the 15th century, is the widest Gothic vault in the world. The cathedral treasury contains the extraordinary Tapestry of Creation, an 11th-12th century Romanesque embroidery considered one of the most important medieval textiles in existence. The Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs), actually built in the late 12th century in Romanesque style influenced by Moorish bath culture, are another remarkable monument in the old city.

The Onyar riverfront, with its brightly painted medieval houses reflected in the river and linked by the Eiffel Bridge (designed by Gustave Eiffel's engineering company), is the most iconic image of Girona. The city walls and towers, partially walkable, offer excellent views over the old city and surrounding countryside. The annual Temps de Flors festival in May transforms the city's courtyards, churches, and stairways into elaborate floral installations, drawing visitors from across Catalonia and beyond.

Girona has its own international airport (GRO), popular with low-cost carriers from across Europe, making it a convenient entry point to Catalonia as well as Barcelona. High-speed AVE trains connect Girona to Barcelona in about 40 minutes and to Paris in under six hours via the French high-speed network. The city is an excellent base for the Costa Brava coast and for wine tourism in the Empordà wine region.

Girona is a city that rewards exploration on foot, offering one of the most complete and atmospheric historic centers in Spain in a setting of great natural beauty.