Barcelona to Girona: Trains, Taxis, and the Airport
Quick answer: Girona sits about 100 km northeast of Barcelona. For a day trip into Girona city, the high-speed train is the clear winner — about 40 minutes from Barcelona Sants, versus 1 hour 10 minutes by taxi and 1–1.5 hours by bus. If you are flying into Girona Airport instead of Barcelona (common with budget carriers), that is a separate ~1 hour transfer into Barcelona: bus from around €19–22, or taxi/private transfer from around €130–160.
Visiting Girona City as a Day Trip
Girona’s old town — medieval streets, the cathedral, the colorful houses along the Onyar river — is compact and entirely walkable from the train station, about 10 minutes away. It is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona precisely because the train makes it so fast.
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed train | ~40 min from Barcelona Sants | Fastest and most common choice for a day trip |
| Regional train | ~1.5 hours | Cheaper, more stops |
| Bus | 1h15–1h30 | Similar price to the train, slower |
| Taxi / private transfer | ~1h10 | €150–200 one way — workable for a group splitting the cost, expensive solo |
Flying Into Girona Airport Instead of Barcelona
Some budget airlines sell tickets marketed as “Barcelona” that actually land at Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO), about 100 km from the city — see our guide on how many airports Barcelona actually has if you are not sure which one your ticket uses. If that is you, the transfer into Barcelona is a different journey from the city day-trip above, even though the distance is similar.
Getting from Girona Airport to Barcelona
| Method | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bus (Sagalés / Barcelona Bus) | ~1h15–1h20 | €19–€22 per person, drops at Barcelona North Bus Station |
| Taxi from the official rank | ~60–80 min | From around €130–145 |
| Private transfer | ~60–80 min | Fixed price, door to door — economical for a group splitting the fare |
Unlike El Prat, Girona Airport does not sit inside Barcelona’s regulated taxi tariff zone, which is why the pricing here works differently — there is no fixed IMET tariff for this route the way there is for El Prat to the city center. Confirm the price before you get in, or book a transfer with the price agreed in advance.
The reasoning is the same one that applies to most Barcelona-area transfers: a fixed price agreed before you travel removes the guesswork a metered or unofficial fare leaves you with, which matters more over 100 km than it does across town. For a group splitting the cost, or anyone landing with luggage and no interest in a bus transfer with a station change at the other end, that predictability is usually worth more than the savings.
FAQ
About 100 km (62 miles) — roughly 40 minutes by high-speed train, or 1 to 1.5 hours by taxi, bus, or car.
Yes — the old town is compact and walkable from the train station, and the high-speed train makes the round trip easy to fit into a single day.
No. Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is a separate airport about 100 km from Barcelona, used by some budget airlines under tickets marketed as “Barcelona.” El Prat (BCN) is the airport actually in Barcelona.
Around €130–145 from the official rank, though private transfer pricing can vary — confirm the price before the ride, since this route falls outside Barcelona's regulated city tariff zone.
Yes, significantly — around €19–22 per person versus €130+ for a taxi, though the bus takes slightly longer and drops you at Barcelona North Bus Station rather than door to door.
