Girona Temps de Flors: a complete guide with local tips

Discover Girona Temps de Flors like a local with this guide! Explore a unique city during its world-famous flower exhibition!

100km north of Barcelona, there is the small city of Girona. With just over 100.000 inhabitants, it is a very tourist spot, not only because of its excellent location between la Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, but also because of its rich history, and culture.

Among its attractions are a wonderful old town, some of the most instagrammable places in Catalonia and Spain, and its cultural offer.

Almost every month, Girona has a major event. Its festivities, are in October and November. The numerous music festivals with national and international artists. However, its most well-known event might be Girona Temps de Flors.

Being born and raised in Girona, I have attended more editions of this festival than I can remember. Thus, the photos included in this article were taken in multiple editions. Similarly, the recommendations of places to visit in this Temps de Flors Guide are based on multiple years of experience and not just on one visit.

What is Temps de Flors?

Girona Temps de Flors is an event that takes place in the city of Girona once a year for a whole week. For almost 10 days, this beautiful city is decorated with multiple floral exhibitions. What makes it special is that the exhibitions are integrated (mostly) into the old town of Girona, its churches, cloysters and streets.

Different associations, groups, and creatives are in charge of decorating each space. There are over 100 spots where the flowers are exhibited. Nonetheless, the most popular and visited spaces are the ones in the Old Town.

Unlike other similar events, there is no competition between the different exhibitions. Instead, it is a way to discover an already touristic city with a unique ambient. But more about that later on in the Girona Temps de Flors travel guide, as well as tips and best places to visit.

When is Girona Temps de Flors 2023?

Official confirmation, Girona Temps de Flors 2023 will take place from the 13th of May 2023 until the 21st of May 2023. The festival usually takes time during the 2nd and 3rd week of May, when Spring is at its best. It is also the best time of the year for most flowers and plants.

Best places to visit in Girona Temps de Flors

When visiting Temps de Flors you might feel overwhelmed by the large number of expositions (over 100!). Despite being all of them beautiful and worth it, there are a few that you can’t miss. The good part of it is that Girona is an easy city to navigate, everything can be accessed on foot, and the old town is very prepared for Temps de Flors.

Nonetheless, these are the spots you can’t miss when visiting Girona Temps de Flors:

Cathedral staircase

The most iconic building in Girona is also one of the most impressive ones during Temps de Flors. The 96 steps staircase that leads to the majestic Cathedral, is full of flowers, each year arranged in a different way. Most of the time it can’t be walked, but in recent years, some floral creations allowed some interaction with the scene. No matter what, don’t skip it!

Arab Baths

This building is worth visiting by itself, imagine it is full of flowers! These old Arab baths date back to the 12th century and are the perfect space to be decorated during Temps de Flors. Beware the long lines to access the building, get there early or avoid peak hours.

Eiffel Bridge

Yes, Girona has a bridge built by the Eiffel Company. Iconically red, also known as Pont de les Peixeteries Velles, it is one of the most instagrammable spots during Temps de Flors. It really depends on the decorations, but it is usually a hotspot, and it is impossible to get a photo alone unless you wake up at 6 am. Yet, the view from the bridge to the beautiful Cathedral and colourful river houses (Cases de l’Onyar), can be seen and captured at any time of the day.

Cathedral Cloister

This is another spot that is worth visiting at any time, but even more during temps de Flors. There is no better place for a flower exhibition than an old cloister. Usually full of white and light-coloured flowers, it is a great spot for photography.

Seminary Stairs

This is more of a personal choice. These stairs are at one of the most magical and beautiful spots of the Old Town of Girona and are usually decorated with lots of flowers. Nonetheless, this means that if the weather is a bit harsh or you wait until the last day to visit them, they might not look as beautiful as on the first weekend of the exhibition.

Oh, and did you know that together with the Cathedral staircase and the Jewish Quarter streets were featured in Game of Thrones season 6?

Tips to visit Temps de Flors 2023

Based on many years of experience in visiting Temps de Flors, I can definitely say that there are some general tips that everyone can agree on. However, there are some not-so-commonly shared tips that are also included in this list.

Wake up early

This is key if you want a better experience in Temps de Flors. There are two main reasons why waking up early is so important.

The most obvious is that fewer people are on the streets, and you get most of the spaces by yourself. Nonetheless, it is true that some interior patios or spaces are closed very early in the morning.

However, the other reason why it is important to wake up early is because of the temperature. Girona gets warm during the summer months. Although May is not Summer, it can get quite warm and humid. Thus, early in the morning, you will have a perfect temperature to get lost in its steep old-town streets.

Visit it on the first weekend

Temps de Flors lasts for around 10 days, two weekends inclusive. However, in any Temps de Flors guide, you will find the tip to visit it during the first weekend. It is when the flowers are at their best, fresh and beautiful. By the end of the week, although still beautiful, you will notice that some exhibitions have lost part of their attractiveness.

If you are lucky enough not to work during weekdays, the Monday after the first weekend is also a great day to visit, as you will not find the hordes of weekend tourists (mostly from Barcelona).

Day & Night visits at Temps de Flors

Since a few years ago it has been possible to visit Temps de Flors at night on selected days. Exhibitions are created with this in mind, and the experience is completely different. This tip is very linked to the next one, but if possible, check which are the official night visit days and go for a night walk in Girona.

Take your time (or stay in Girona)

Most tourists take Girona as a one-day trip from Barcelona. Despite being a realistic possibility, it is not the best way to visit this beautiful city. Staying in Girona will allow you to enjoy the early morning, and night visits and to further explore the city and its surrounds.

Girona is a perfect city for outdoor day trips. Did you know that most Pro Cycling Teams choose it as their base camp for early season training?

Look beyond the flowers

Girona is not a city to visit only during Temps de Flors. It has been included in many lists of beautiful cities to visit in Spain. A mix of historical heritage, amazing sights, gastronomy and a really cool vibe make it a perfect weekend getaway city.

If you visit Girona during Temps de Flors, try to look beyond the flowers. Learn about the history of the places you are visiting. For example, the Cathedral cloister or the Arab Bath listed as one of the best places to visit in Temps de Flors in this guide, have lots of history. Most of the sites will be for free, so there’s no excuse not to visit them!

Beware the footwear

The final tip in this Girona Temps de Flors guide is an obvious one that most people forget about it. Do not wear fancy footwear. Girona’s old town streets are made of cobblestones. They are uneven, and not the right place to wear high heels or suit shoes. You will be walking quite a lot on steep streets and different terrains. Choose comfortable footwear, your feet will thank you for that 🙂

Are you visiting Girona Temps de Flors? Do you want to find out more about Girona and its surroundings? Check the articles below!

If you have any questions or want like travel photos, follow me on Instagram (@aniolvisuals)