Best outdoor day trips from Girona [with local tips]

Discover Girona (my city) and its surroundings with my favorite outdoor day trips.

It is no secret that I am in love with Girona. I was born and raised there, and for the most part of my life, its streets have been my playground. Girona is a cute city (100k inhabitants) one hour north of Barcelona. It is the best possible location to set a base to discover both the Pyrenees and la Costa Brava. We people from Girona (a.k.a. Gironins or Gironines) always banter saying that we live one hour away from the beach and the mountains, and it is true!

There are plenty of things to do from Girona, and most of them involve being in contact with nature. This is my personal selection of outdoor day trips to do from Girona, plus a couple of slightly longer excursions that I can’t recommend enough!

Banyoles: the perfect lake

Let’s start with my favorite one. This is one of those places where I go whenever I can. This tiny city with a village vibe has one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. Maybe it is because of the fisherman’s huts, or for the sunset views by the lake, but if you have a car make sure to pay a visit to Banyoles. It is at a 30′ minute drive from Girona, and it feels like a different world. Even without a car, there are plenty of buses and other possible options to get to Banyoles.

Among all the possible activities that can be done, the circular hike around the lake and renting a boat are my favorite ones. However, there are plenty of other things to do, see and photograph. Make sure to visit my Banyoles guide for more information.

Cap de Creus: nature & ocean

All mountain ranges die somewhere, and Cap de Creus is where the Pyrenees merge with the sea. Cap de Creus is one of the best-preserved nature areas of la Costa Brava. While places like Palamós, Platja d’Aro, and Lloret de Mar are crowded and busy, Cap de Creus. This Natural Park offers one of the best sunrises of la Costa Brava (although not the only one).

For the past years, during summer months one can’t reach the lighthouse (its most emblematic viewpoint) with a private vehicle. However, there are shuttles that cover the distance from the parking to the heart of the park.

Don’t miss the Tudela area (in Cap de Creus, not the Spanish city with the same name). It was one of Dalí’s (the famous painter) favorite spots, and he gave names to some very unique rock formations.

Near el Cap de Creus there are villages like Portbou, Cadaqués, or Portlligat, with its very characteristic white houses. All in all, it makes an excursion to el Cap de Creus a perfect one-day trip from Girona. Oh, and you could also pay a visit to the next spot!

St Pere de Rodes: Costa Brava’s viewpoint

Not all outdoor plans involve spending the day surrounded by nature. Some of them mix historical, cultural heritage, and outstanding views. If this does sound well, you need to visit Sant Pere de Rodes. Sant Pere de Rodes is a beautiful monastery dating back to the 9th century located at a top of a mountain just by the Mediterranean Sea. Besides its historical and cultural importance, what makes the monastery unique are the views that offer of the Costa Brava. Moreover, in the area, there is also an old castle, an abandoned village, and even a prehistorical menhir.

Sunrises from there are unique, without many tourists and with perfect temperature (at least during the Summer months). Find all about Sant Pere de Rodes, how to get there, and how to take the best photos from this unique viewpoint over la Costa Brava.

Besalú: the medieval bridge

Girona is not only perfect for one-day outdoor trips to la Costa Brava but also to visit more mountainous areas. One of the places that can be easily reached from Girona is Besalú. Besalú is a small medieval town well-known for its impressive medieval bridge and historical heritage. In its narrow old-town streets there is one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe.

Besides that, Besalú is the ideal place to get lost, especially during the off-season months or early in the morning. For photography lovers, it is a must-visit spot, not only for the already mentioned bridge but for all the historical complex. There are photography spots everywhere! Oh, and did I mention that HBO used the cities old town as a location for its TV series Westworld?

If the photos and description convinced you, I wrote a guide with plenty of other information about Besalú, with more detailed tourist attractions and plenty of useful tips and tricks.

Sant Pere de Casserres: a monastery surrounded by water

This can look like a list of places taken from a medieval movie, and this is another one. The Monastery of Sant Pere de Casserres is located near the Sau dam, one of the largest of Catalonia. At the end of a bend of the Ter river, there is an imponent Monastery standing in front of the water, Sant Pere de Casserres.

It is possible to visit it, and it is very interesting to learn about the role of this monastery some centuries ago. However, what makes it special is the location. No matter what route you take, the road towards the monastery is amazing, especially during autumn. Don’t miss the viewpoint from the other side of the river. It will require a bit of driving, but the view is worth it!

For a perfect one-day outdoor trip from Girona mix it with a visit to the nearby city of Vic or the Morro de l’Abella viewpoint.

Montseny Natural Park: all-level hiking

The Montseny Natural Park is a popular one-day hike from Barcelona. However, it is not that far away from Girona, and the road there is 100% free. This Natural Park has countless possible activities to do. From hiking its tallest peaks (Matagalls and Turó de l’Home) to discovering the beautiful Dam of Santa Fe del Montseny. Apps like Wikiloc have many routes and hikes, find the one that matches your needs and physical condition!

Due to the increasing number of visitors, during the high season (summer or autumn), there can be capacity controls to protect the area. Waking up early and getting there before the crowds will increase your chances to access the Park. Among the one-day outdoor trips from Girona, this is one of my favorite ones, especially during the autumn months.

Tossa de Mar: the castle by the sea

Tossa de Mar is amongst the most visited cities of la Costa Brava. The fortified old town and its castle are what make it special. It is possible to walk around the old town walls, which have impressive views over the Mediterranean sea.

Being so close to the sea it is mandatory to try some of the fresh fish that fishermen capture daily. There are plenty of good restaurants both in Tossa and in nearby villages.

The best way to spend a day in Tossa de Mar involves visiting the old town, the city walls and the castle (which are in the same area), having a good lunch and relaxing by the beach in the afternoon, enjoying a beautiful sunset next to the sea. Sounds good, right?

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà: wildlife paradise

If beach and sun are not your cup of tea, this is a one-day outdoor trip from Girona you must consider including in your travel plan. Els Aiguamolls de l’Empordà is an area with multiple swamps. It is possible to see many animals and bird species, mostly at the first and last hours of the day, where fewer visitors are around.

The best way to discover the Aiguamolls is by walking. There are two parking areas, one official and one not official.

For first-time visitors, the best option is to park at the main entrance (here) and do the main walking route. This one goes from el Cortalet (the starting point) to el Mas del Matà. The official tracks and the description of the route are available here (in Catalan). After reaching Mas del Matà, it is possible to keep walking to the sea, following the route that goes next to a Camping.

La Fageda de’n Jordà: the heart of la Garrotxa

Some lists are written from most beautiful to least beautiful spots. This is not the case. one f the one-day outdoor trips from Girona that I love is la Fageda de’n Jordà.

In fact, together with el Montseny (see above), this is a MUST VISIT spot during autumn and spring. Fageda means beech forest in Catalan, and this one is located in a very special area. La Garrotxa is a volcanic area, and to date, it is still possible to see what once were active volcanoes. Two of the most famous ones are Santa Margarida and el Cruscat.

The most famous attraction of this area though is la Fageda de’n Jordà. An impressive beech forest with different routes to explore. After crossing Olot, the largest city in the area, there is the main parking lot (location here). A few years ago it was free to park there. Nowadays, due to its increase in popularity all cars have to pay a parking fee. There are different routes to do, from 5km to 15km that include the nearby volcanoes. By the parking lot, there is a tourist information site where you can get all the information you need.

In the Fageda forest, there is another interesting activity to do. In the heart of la Fageda, there is a cooperative that is well-known in the area for producing one of the best yogurts of Catalonia. It is possible to visit the farm, see the cows and the production process. This activity is perfect for families with children (their website is not available in English, link to book a visit here)

EXTRA: Vall de Núria

I know this is a guide about outdoor one-day trips from Girona, but I feel not including la Vall de Núria here would be terrible. Hidden in the Catalan part of the Pyrenees there is a small valley only accessible on foot or by rack railway with fantastic views, a beautiful resort, a hostel, and a camping area.

Although it can be visited on a really long day, spending a night up in the mountains is what almost everyone that has been there would recommend. Not only you can avoid the one-day tourists, but also enjoy the sunset and sunrise surrounded by nature. I have a dedicated post about what to do, see and photograph in la Vall de Núria, but here you have a sneak peek 🙂

These are my recommended day outdoor trips from Girona. Besides being a fantastic city, Girona is a perfect base to explore the nearby area. Feel free to reach out if you have any doubts either by leaving a comment or via Instagram (@aniolvisuals). For business and professional inquiries send a message at hello@aniolvisuals.com.