Words by Hannah Reynolds on Twitter and Instagram
Girona has all the vibes you need for a fantastic weekend away. A compact city filled with stunning Gothic architecture, its narrow twisting streets overflowing with bars and restaurants all oozing laid back Catalan charm.
The river splits the medieval old town from the glossy, shining new commercial district with its shops and hotels. Spanning the river, old cobbled bridges offer picturesque views of the often ramshackle riverside mansions and their coloured reflections. With a diverse nightlife and a passion for food and wine this, a lively and fun city to visit and its compact nature, means it is all accessible on foot or by bike.
So far, a city break, but what is in it for the cyclist? Girona has a vibrant and thriving ex-pat cycling community. It was popularized by the many English speaking professional riders from America, Australia and the UK who have made it their home, and in many ways, it is a cyclist’s paradise.
Never too cold in winter, or hot in summer, it has a year-round cycling climate with minimal rainfall and a network of quiet, smooth training roads. The combination of fantastic roads and great climbing all within pedalling distance of an interesting cultural city makes it a great weekend destination, the only problem is you will feel so at home, you won’t want to leave.
How to get there
Girona airport is 12.5km from the city centre and there are regular buses that take around 20 minutes. RyanAir and TUI Airways fly to Girona from most UK airports including London, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow and Newcastle. Prices can be as low as £30 in spring, rising in the summer months.
