Costa Brava
Costa Brava blends dramatic cliffs, Blue Flag beaches, medieval villages, and the surreal world of Salvador Dalí into one of Spain's most rewarding family destinations.
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🇪🇸Girona
Girona is a compact medieval city in Catalonia with ancient walls, a stunning cathedral, colourful riverside houses, and brilliant food. Perfect for a family day trip or short stay.
Your family guide
Girona with kids: cathedral, walls and riverside houses
“Walk across the old town in an afternoon and you've seen Roman walls, Gothic cathedrals, and pastel houses mirrored in the Onyar—all without leaving your kids behind.”
— San & Jo
Girona is one of those rare cities that does not need to try hard to impress. Its ancient walls, winding stone streets, and colourful riverside houses create an atmosphere that draws you in the moment you arrive. For families, it is a brilliant mix of history you can actually touch, food worth getting excited about, and a compact old town that is genuinely easy to explore on foot.
The city sits along the Onyar River in Catalonia, and its old town blends more than 2,000 years of Roman, medieval, Gothic, and Baroque history into a space you can walk across in an afternoon. That makes it wonderfully manageable with kids in tow. You are never too far from a shady square, a terrace café, or a spot to sit and watch the world go by.
Whether your family is into history, food, architecture, or just wandering somewhere beautiful, Girona delivers. And if anyone in your group has ever watched Game of Thrones, the cathedral steps alone will cause a moment of genuine excitement.
Catalonia, SpainNortheast Spain
Best in spring and autumnApril, May, September, October
Compact old townWalkable in half a day
Best things to do
Best things to do in Girona
Climb the steps of Girona Cathedral
Those 90 grand steps leading up to the cathedral's Baroque façade are dramatic enough on their own, but once you are inside, you find the widest Gothic nave in the world. Kids who have watched Game of Thrones will recognise the steps immediately as the Great Sept of Baelor. Inside, the 11th-century Tapestry of Creation and the Romanesque cloister are genuinely fascinating, even for younger visitors.
Go early to beat the crowds and get the best photos on the steps
1 hour
Walk the ancient city walls
The Passeig de la Muralla lets you walk along Roman and medieval fortifications that wrap around the old town. The views across the cathedral, rooftops, and the Catalan countryside beyond are some of the best in the city. It is free, open air, and gives older kids a real sense of the city's scale and history.
Start from the Jardins dels Alemanys for the best panoramic views
45 minutes
Spot the Eiffel Bridge and the painted houses
The Pont de les Peixateries Velles, designed by Gustave Eiffel's engineering company in 1876, is Girona's most photographed bridge. Its bright red iron latticework stands out beautifully against the pastel-coloured houses stacked along the Onyar River in shades of yellow, pink, and ochre. Walk along the riverbank and let the kids pick their favourite colour house.
The best view of the painted houses is from the Pont de Pedra bridge
30 minutes
Explore El Call, the Jewish Quarter
El Call is one of the best-preserved medieval Jewish quarters in Spain, a maze of narrow lanes, archways, and hidden courtyards tucked into the heart of the old town. It is the kind of place where kids naturally want to explore every corner. The winding alleys and atmospheric stone buildings make it feel like a living history lesson.
Look out for the Hebrew inscriptions still visible on some doorways
1 hour
Visit the Arab Baths
The Banys Àrabs are among Girona's most atmospheric historic sites, featuring a beautiful octagonal pool surrounded by slender columns. They are compact and quick to visit, but genuinely impressive. Kids tend to love the unusual architecture, and the space is small enough to hold everyone's attention without dragging on.
Combine with a walk through El Call for an easy historic morning
30 minutes
Browse Mercat de Lleó
Girona's authentic covered food market is where locals actually shop, not a tourist attraction dressed up as one. You will find stalls piled with local cheeses, cured meats, fresh fish, shellfish, wild mushrooms, and seasonal produce. It is a great place to introduce kids to Catalan food culture and pick up snacks for a picnic by the river.
Visit on a Saturday morning when the market is at its busiest and most vibrant
45 minutes
Time your visit for Temps de Flors
If you can visit in May, the Temps de Flors flower festival transforms Girona's streets, courtyards, and monuments with elaborate floral displays. The entire old town becomes a living art installation, and it is completely free to wander through. It is one of the most memorable family experiences you can have in Catalonia.
The hidden courtyards that open specially during the festival are the real highlight
Half a day
Our verdict
How Girona scores for families
Kids
The compact old town, open squares, and hands-on history make Girona genuinely enjoyable for children. The Game of Thrones connection gives teens an extra reason to be excited.
Culture
Two thousand years of layered history, world-class architecture, and one of Spain's best-preserved Jewish quarters. Girona punches well above its size culturally.
Food
From xuixo pastries to the legendary El Celler de Can Roca, Girona's food scene is exceptional. The local market and terrace restaurants make eating here a real pleasure for families.
Nature
The city itself is not a nature destination, but the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park and the Pyrenees are close by for families who want to add outdoor adventures to their trip.
Budget
Most of Girona's best experiences, including the city walls, El Call, and the riverside, are free. Entry fees for the cathedral and Arab Baths are reasonable. Eating out is mid-range.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Girona?
4
4 hours
Quick visit
Hit the cathedral steps, walk the river, and grab a xuixo pastry
sweet spot
1
1 day
Sweet spot
Explore the old town properly, including El Call, the walls, and the market
2
2 days
Take it slow
Add a day trip to the Garrotxa park or the Costa Brava coast nearby
Fun facts
Things to know about Girona
Game of Thrones filmed here
The steps of Girona Cathedral appeared in Game of Thrones as the Great Sept of Baelor, including the famous scene of Cersei's walk of shame. The city was used as a filming location multiple times, and fans still make pilgrimages to the steps today.
The Eiffel Bridge came before the tower
The bright red iron bridge crossing the Onyar River was designed by Gustave Eiffel's engineering company in 1876, thirteen years before the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris. Girona got a piece of Eiffel's genius before the rest of the world knew his name.
Girona has a sweet sausage
Botifarra dolça is a medieval Catalan sausage that is actually sweet rather than savoury. It is made with pork, apple, cinnamon, and lemon, and has been eaten in this region for centuries. It is one of the most unusual and delicious things you can try at the local market.
Taste Girona
What to eat with your family in Girona
Xuixo pastry
Kids love itPastisseria Cyrano
Girona's signature treat is a deep-fried dough filled with cream and dusted with sugar, invented in the city in the 1920s. It is warm, sweet, and completely irresistible. Every bakery in the old town sells them, and they are the perfect mid-morning snack after a walk along the walls.
Pollastre amb escamarlans
Local favouriteCasa Marieta
This classic Girona dish pairs chicken with crayfish or shellfish in a rich Catalan sauce, reflecting the region's unique coastal-mountain culinary tradition. It sounds unusual but tastes extraordinary. A great dish to share at the table and get the kids curious about trying something new.
Botifarra dolça from the market
Must tryMercat de Lleó
Pick up a slice of Girona's famous sweet sausage at Mercat de Lleó and try it grilled. The combination of pork, apple, cinnamon, and lemon is genuinely surprising and delicious. It is the kind of local speciality you will not find anywhere else.
Terrace lunch at Plaça de la Independència
Safe choicePlaça de la Independència restaurants
The neo-classical porticoed square is the most relaxed spot in Girona for a long family lunch. The restaurants and cafés here serve straightforward Catalan food in a beautiful setting, and the covered arcades mean you are sheltered from the sun or light rain. A perfect spot to let the kids recharge.
Ratafia liqueur (for the adults)
Local favouriteBar Arcada
Ratafia is the traditional Catalan liqueur of the Girona region, made by blending brandy with fruits, herbs, roots, pine nuts, and spices. You will find it in almost every bar and restaurant in the old town. It is strictly one for the grown-ups, but asking the waiter about how it is made is a great conversation starter at the table.
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