Move Over Barcelona! This Beautiful Medieval City Nearby Is Stealing The Spotlight

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Every year, tens of millions of tourists flock to Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region (much to the dismay of the crowd-wary locals).

Be it to marvel at the plethora of Gaudí-designed monuments, or catch a tan at the golden-sanded La Barceloneta Beach, tourists could never get enough of Barcelona, but as of late, their wonderstruck gaze seems to be drawn elsewhere.

There is a smaller, equally picturesque medieval city a short 40-minute train ride away from Barcelona’s busy Sants Station, and it’s seeing a noticeable increase in visitor numbers this year:

Meet Girona, Barcelona’s Lesser-Known Small Sister

Girona is a historic city on the banks of the winding Onyar River, distinguished by its well-preserved townscape, topped with soaring church towers and medieval fortifications, and laid-back atmosphere compared to the sprawling Barça.

For the first six months of 2025, a total of 3,455,543 tourists made it to the province of Girona, of which the city of Girona itself is the main destination, with over 10 million overnights recorded, as reported by the Eurecat Tourism Observatory (TDS).

The French continue to lead in arrivals, accounting for 1.8 million stays, followed by the Dutch (654,733), and the British (601,305). Though exact numbers are not provided, the ‘provisional balance‘ also notes there’s been a 6% rise in American visitors.

So what is drawing foreign tourists to Girona, and what’s exactly in offer for U.S. tourists flying all the way from across the pond?

Timeless Streets & Medieval Charm

If there’s one thing that gets Americans excited about braving a 10-hour long Transatlantic flight, is all the Old World allure and beautiful architecture that awaits them at the end of their journey, and there’s no doubt Girona delivers just that.

In particular, its Jewish Quarter (El Call) is among the largest, and best-maintained in the entire continent, with cobble-surfaced alleys lined with centuries-old stone houses, and impressive arched walkways.

In the middle of the Historic Center, atop a grand staircase, Girona Cathedral is a Catalan-Gothic masterpiece boasting the widest nave for a church of its era in the world: it’s 23 meters wide, and the solemn interior is nothing short of impressive.

If you’re thinking this all looks familiar, it’s because you’ve probably seen Girona featured before on your favorite fantasy show, Game of Thrones.

You won’t come across dragons and warring clans here, at least not in 2025, but you can still walk the Roman-era city walls—later expanded in the Middle Ages—for sweeping views over Girona.

A Culture-Loaded City

Away from the medieval core, you can’t miss the scenic riverwalk: lined with pastel-hue, narrow buildings, with the cathedral’s prominent portal and belfry rising above them, it is both ideal for pictures, and a leisurely stroll as you savor a traditional fleca snack.

The river is spanned by the Red Iron Bridge (officially called Pont de les Peixateries Velles in Catalan), which is itself attributed to none other than Gustave Eiffel. Yep, the same guy who designed the tower.

On the west bank of the Onyar River, opposite the Old Town, you’ll find Girona’s Eixample: similarly to Barcelona’s, it comprises the ‘modern’ extension of the historic city, built largely in the 19th and 20th-centuries, and encompassing wide boulevards, ornate edifices, and lively shopping streets.

At its heart, Independence Square (Plaça de la Independència) is a public space bordered by arcaded buildings and alfresco cafés.

Only a few steps away, Rambla de la Llibertat is Girona’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, and if you’re hoping to do some shopping, look no further than Carrer de Santa Clara.

Girona Is Cheaper Than Barcelona

Other than the unique mix of old and new—and let’s face it, ‘new’ still means relatively aged by American standards—Girona’s current lead on Barcelona is partly due to its higher affordability:

The same decrease in prices between the Catalonian capital and its lesser-known counterpart is seen regarding accommodation:

If you’re looking for accommodation in Girona this season, check out nightly rates at B&B Hotel Girona 2, starting from as cheap as €53, or approximately USD$61,10.

Getting To Girona This Season

Now, you may be wondering how exactly you can get to Girona all the way from the United States, in the first place.

Girona does have its own international airport, Girona-Costa Brava (GRO), but it primarily hosts low-cost flights from other European destinations. The closest major airport to Girona hosting Transatlantic flights is still Barcelona-El Prat (BCN).

Once at El Prat, you can easily get the direct shuttle train to Barcelona-Sants, and from there, switch to a regional train going to Girona. The total travel time is only 1h 5m, and tickets start from roughly $17,80.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.