Girona is one of the easiest Spanish cities to reach by train, especially if you are travelling from Barcelona, Madrid or Figueres. The main station, Girona railway station, is at Plaça d’Espanya, just west of the old town and within a manageable walk of the Barri Vell. It is not a grand terminal, which is good news when you have luggage and a limited attention span. High-speed trains use the standard-gauge line and connect Girona with Barcelona Sants, Figueres Vilafant, Zaragoza, Madrid and other major Spanish cities. Renfe’s AVE and Avlo services may operate on these routes, while other operators can also serve the corridor depending on the timetable. Check the operator and final destination carefully before booking. Figueres has two relevant stations, but high-speed services stop at Figueres Vilafant, outside the historic centre, not at the conventional Figueres station.
For a trip from Barcelona to Girona, high-speed rail is usually the quickest option, with the train journey taking roughly 40 minutes on the fastest services. Conventional regional trains take longer but can be cheaper and more useful if your schedule does not match the high-speed departures. From Girona to Madrid, high-speed trains make far more sense than a bus or rental car. The route is comfortable, avoids motorway traffic and drops you close to central Madrid. Services to Zaragoza, Tarragona and Lleida are also practical for longer journeys across northeastern Spain. Book high-speed tickets in advance when travelling on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, public holidays or during summer. The lowest promotional fares disappear first, and flexible tickets can cost considerably more. Compare the final fare, baggage rules and change conditions rather than choosing the cheapest number shown in large type. Spain has made train travel efficient; ticket conditions remain fond of small print.
At Girona station, allow time for security screening before a high-speed departure. Arriving 20 to 30 minutes early is sensible, particularly if you have a large bag or are travelling at a busy time. You may need to show your ticket and identification, so keep the booking confirmation accessible on your phone and carry the passport or identity document used for the reservation. The station has basic passenger facilities, but it is not a place to plan a leisurely breakfast. Buy food before arriving if you need a proper meal, although Girona’s cafés and bakeries are a short walk away. The station connects with local buses and the Girona bus station, making onward travel to surrounding towns possible. Taxis wait outside, and the old town is close enough to walk for many travellers. Girona Airport is separate from the railway network. If you fly into Girona-Costa Brava Airport, you normally need a bus or taxi to Girona city or directly to another destination before joining the rail system.
The best value depends on the journey, not on loyalty to one train type. High-speed rail in Spain is worth paying for when it saves several hours, especially on routes to Madrid or when you have a same-day connection. For short trips between Girona and Figueres, a regional train may be perfectly adequate and often gives you more departure options. Check whether your train arrives at a city-centre station or a peripheral high-speed station, as this can change the real travel time. Girona’s station is central enough for the old town, but Figueres Vilafant requires a further local connection or taxi to reach the Dalí Theatre-Museum area. Keep luggage compact because platforms, stairs and crowded boarding areas are less forgiving than the promotional photos suggest. Seat reservations are normally included with long-distance and high-speed tickets, while regional services work more like ordinary commuter trains. For scenic views, sit by the window on the route through Catalonia, but do not expect uninterrupted drama. There are tunnels, industrial edges and the occasional service yard. The practical benefit is more reliable than the scenery, which is exactly why trains are useful.
Girona does not have a metro, tram, or conventional urban rail system. That is the first thing to know before you start searching for a ticket machine that does not exist. The city is compact enough that most visitors can walk between the railway station, the old town, the River Onyar, and the main shopping streets. Local public transport is based on TMG city buses, while trains handle longer journeys to Barcelona, Figueres, the coast, and other Catalan towns. For a short stay, this arrangement is usually fine. You avoid traffic on regional trains, and in central Girona walking is often quicker than waiting for a bus. The exception is hot weather, heavy luggage, or a hotel outside the centre. Girona is manageable, but cobbled streets remain committed to making suitcases suffer.
Girona railway station sits at Plaça d’Espanya, just north of the historic centre. It is the city’s main transport hub and serves high-speed trains as well as conventional regional and medium-distance services. High-speed trains are the practical choice for Barcelona when you value time, although fares vary and advance booking can matter. Regional services are often more flexible but take longer and may be busier at commuter times. From the station, you can walk towards the old town via Carrer de Joan Maragall and the central streets in roughly 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your destination and luggage. City buses stop around the station and the nearby bus station, making it useful for districts beyond the centre. Check the destination display carefully because some services leave from nearby stops rather than the exact point where you arrived. On weekends, public transport can run less frequently, so do not plan a tight connection around the last possible departure.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is not connected directly to the railway network. It is around 12 kilometres from Girona, near Vilobí d’Onyar, so you need a road transfer after landing. Airport buses operated by regional carriers provide connections towards Girona and other destinations, but routes and departure times can change with the flight schedule and season. Check the current service before travelling rather than assuming a bus will be waiting after a late arrival. The airport bus is normally the sensible budget option when it runs at a useful time. A taxi is faster and more reliable for a group, an early flight, or a hotel outside the centre, but the cost is harder to justify alone. There is no reason to travel into Girona first if your actual destination is Barcelona or the Costa Brava, provided a direct airport coach serves it that day. Airport queues are usually less entertaining than the Roman walls, so allow time for tickets and boarding.
For getting around Girona itself, use TMG buses for areas such as Montilivi, Devesa, Domeny, or the university zone, and walk within the central districts when practical. The main tourist sights, including the Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, the Arab Baths, and the colourful Onyar riverfront, are close together but involve slopes and uneven paving. A contactless payment option may be available on some services, but do not rely on it without checking the current rules. Keep a little cash or buy the correct ticket before boarding if the operator requires it. Trains and buses use separate ticket systems, and a regional rail ticket will not automatically cover a city bus. In the station, confirm platform information on the departure boards and allow extra time for high-speed services, where ticket checks and boarding procedures are stricter than on a local bus. For current fares, disruptions, and airport departures, use the official operator information on the day. That small check is less glamorous than improvising, but considerably more effective.
Girona does not have a tram or trolleybus network. That is not a problem. Buses are the main form of public transport in Girona, and they cover the city, nearby suburbs, the airport and many towns across the province. The urban network is operated by TMG, Transports Municipals del Gironès, with services linking the old centre to areas such as Eixample, Santa Eugènia, Montilivi, Palau and the university. Girona is compact, so you can walk between the train station, the Barri Vell and much of the central shopping area. The bus becomes more useful when you are staying outside the centre, carrying luggage, or travelling in summer heat, when climbing Girona’s old streets stops being charming rather quickly.
For most visitors, the key transport point is Girona bus station, beside Girona railway station at Plaça d’Espanya. This is where you will find urban buses and regional services, with the train platforms just a short walk away. The arrangement is practical for connections to Barcelona, Figueres, Banyoles, the Costa Brava and towns in the wider Girona area. Regional operators can vary by route, including companies such as Sagalés and TEISA, so check the operator shown on your ticket rather than assuming every bus leaves from the same bay. Arrive early if you are travelling on a Friday afternoon, Sunday evening or before a local holiday. Queues can form, and a bus that looks empty on the website may have limited seats in real life. The station is more functional than attractive, which is exactly what you need from a bus station.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is outside the city, near Vilobí d’Onyar, and there is no airport rail link. Airport buses connect with Girona and with Barcelona, but services are tied to flight patterns and can change with the season. Check the current timetable with the airport or the named bus operator before relying on a late connection. From Girona airport, the bus is usually the sensible low-cost option if your destination matches the route. A taxi is quicker for several travellers with large bags, but the saving disappears if you are travelling alone and split the fare badly. At Girona station, follow signs for the bus station rather than walking into the old centre with luggage. If your accommodation is around Plaça de la Independència or the Rambla, walking from the station is possible, though cobbles and bags are a poor combination.
Tickets for city buses are normally bought from the driver, ticket machines or local transport sales points, depending on the service. Have small change or a card ready, but do not assume every regional bus accepts the same payment method. Integrated ATM Area Girona fares may cover more than one transport operator, yet the exact zones and ticket rules matter. Ask before boarding if you plan to change buses or cross municipal boundaries. Use the official TMG and regional operator websites for current routes, departures, service changes and accessibility information. In central Girona, buses are useful for practical journeys, not sightseeing. They will get you to neighbourhoods and nearby towns that trains do not serve, while the old quarter itself is best explored on foot. There are no trolleybuses to wait for and no tram tracks to decipher, which makes Girona’s system pleasantly simple. The difficult part is usually the timetable, not the transport.
Girona is often included in Costa Brava travel plans, but the city itself has no ferry terminal or regular passenger boat service. It sits inland on the Onyar, Ter, Güell and Galligants rivers, and those waterways are not used for public transport. Do not arrive expecting a Girona vaporetto. You will find bridges, riverside walks and the occasional recreational boat, but not a ferry from the old town to the coast. The nearest useful water transport is along the Costa Brava, mainly from ports such as Blanes, Tossa de Mar, Palamós, L’Estartit and Roses. Services are usually seasonal and aimed at sightseeing, beach access, diving or short coastal journeys rather than commuting. That distinction matters. A boat trip can be a good way to see cliffs and coves, but it is not a dependable replacement for a regional bus.
From Girona, your practical starting point is Girona railway station and the adjacent bus station at Plaça d’Espanya. Regional buses connect the city with several coastal towns, although routes and frequencies vary by destination and time of year. You can also take a train towards Blanes, then continue by road to the Costa Brava resorts, but this is not always the fastest option. Blanes is the last coastal stop on the conventional railway from Barcelona, and beaches or boat departure points are not directly beside the station. A taxi or local bus may be needed. If you are carrying beach gear, allow extra time for the connection. Girona Airport is inland, around the Vilobí d’Onyar area, and has no marina connection. Airport buses take you towards Girona or Barcelona, where you can arrange onward rail or bus travel. The airport is useful for reaching the region, not for catching a ferry. Geography remains stubbornly uncooperative.
For Costa Brava boat trips, check the departure port and destination carefully before buying a ticket. Boats from Blanes or Tossa may offer scenic coastal cruises and, during the warmer months, links between resort towns. Around L’Estartit, vessels serve the Medes Islands area for sightseeing and marine excursions, while Roses and nearby ports may run seasonal trips along the Cap de Creus coast. Palamós is a working port with leisure boats and coastal excursions, but it is not a general-purpose ferry hub like Barcelona or Venice. Many services stop running, or reduce their timetable, outside the main summer period. Wind and rough sea can also change plans. Buy from the operator’s official ticket point or clearly marked office, check the return time, and keep your bus connection flexible. A cheap boat ticket is not much of a bargain if the last bus to Girona has already gone.
The main advantage of water transport here is the view. A boat lets you reach coves and rocky sections of the coast that are awkward by road, and a short cruise can be worth the money when roads are crowded. The main disadvantages are limited schedules, weather dependence and tourist pricing. These are excursion boats first, public transport second. In July and August, arrive early because queues form at popular piers, especially for trips with fixed departure times. Bring water, sun protection and a light layer, even on a hot afternoon. If you get seasick, sit outside near the centre of the boat rather than at the bow. For a normal point-to-point journey, compare the boat with the bus before committing. Buses are usually less scenic but more predictable. Use ferries and coastal boats when the route itself is the attraction, then return to Girona by the established rail and bus network.
Girona is compact enough that you can walk between the old town, the train station and many hotels, but taxis in Girona are useful when your bags are heavy, your train arrives late, or you need to reach Girona-Costa Brava Airport. Official taxis are generally white and carry a visible “TAXI” roof sign. At Girona railway station, you will usually find the taxi rank outside the main entrance, while Girona Airport has an official rank directly outside the terminal. Use the rank rather than accepting an offer from someone inside the arrivals area. That simple rule avoids most airport transport nonsense, which is an industry with impressive staying power. Girona’s taxis use regulated, metered fares, with possible supplements for airport journeys, luggage, night travel or public holidays. The exact charge depends on the current local tariff, so check the fare information displayed in the vehicle and ask for a receipt if anything seems unclear.
For Girona Airport transfers, a taxi is normally the simplest choice if you are travelling with family, arriving after the last bus, or staying outside the centre. The airport is outside Girona, so walking there is not an option and local buses may not match every flight. A taxi takes you directly to the Barri Vell, the station area, Devesa Park or hotels around Plaça de Catalunya without a change. You should allow extra time at busy arrival periods, especially after flights from major European cities, because the rank can empty and refill quickly. If you are staying in the old town, give the driver the hotel name and the nearest accessible street. Parts of the historic centre have restricted vehicle access, narrow lanes and steep cobbles. A driver may drop you at a nearby street rather than at the door. That is normal, not a sightseeing detour.
Pre-booked private transfers can make sense for an early flight, a group with several suitcases, or a trip to towns on the Costa Brava where public transport connections are awkward. Book through your hotel, a recognised local operator or the transfer company’s official booking channel, and confirm the pickup point, vehicle size and cancellation terms. Do not assume that an airport transfer includes child seats, waiting time or oversized luggage. Confirm those details before paying. A private car is rarely good value for one person travelling between Girona Airport and central Girona when a bus or ordinary taxi is available. It becomes more reasonable when split between several passengers or when you are going directly to a rural hotel, cycling base or coastal resort. Meet-and-greet services can also save time, but they cost more than joining the taxi queue and are not automatically better.
App-based transport needs a little caution in Girona. Uber and Free Now are much more established in larger Spanish cities, and availability in Girona can be limited or change with local licensing and driver supply. Open the app before you rely on it, enter the exact pickup point and check that a car is actually available. Do not cancel an official taxi at the airport because an app shows a tempting estimate that later disappears. The same applies to other ride-hailing services. At Girona train station, a taxi is often quicker than waiting for a car that cannot stop directly outside the entrance. For short trips inside the city, walking is usually cheaper and often faster, especially around the old town. For late-night connections, airport arrivals and luggage-heavy journeys, use the official taxi rank or a confirmed booking, check the registration details before getting in, and keep your destination written down. That is practical transport planning, not paranoia.