Day Trips from Girona: 3 Coastal & Mountain Escapes Under €20
My first mistake in Girona? Booking a Barcelona tour instead of a day trip to Cadaqués. Now I know: Girona’s day trips cost less than a coffee. The cheapest route? A €3.50 train to Besalú (30 minutes) or a €12 ferry from Cadaqués harbor. You’ll save €15 by skipping Barcelona tours.
How Much Do Day Trips Cost? (Real Prices, 2024)
Forget vague "budget" claims. Here’s exact pricing for popular routes:
| Destination | Transport | Cost (One Way) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Besalú | Train (Rodalies) | €3.50 | 30 mins |
| Cadaqués | Ferry (Port de la Selva) | €12 | 45 mins |
| Montserrat | Train + Cable Car | €15 | 1 hour |
Book train tickets via Renfe app (no booking fee). Ferry tickets at Cadaqués port kiosk (cash only, 7am-10am).
Best Coastal Route: Cadaqués & Cap de Creus
Cadaqués isn’t just a postcard. The harbor ferry (€12) drops you at a pebbly beach where locals eat €8 seafood paella at El Muelle. Rent a bike for €15/day to explore Cap de Creus National Park’s 22km coastline. Pro Tip: Book the 8:15am Montserrat bus (€4.80) to avoid crowds. Last time I missed it, I waited 45 minutes in the queue.
Most Scenic Mountain Escape: Montserrat
Montserrat’s monastery is 1 hour from Girona by train (€5.60) + cable car (€8.90). The hike to the Monastery (2km) costs €10.50 for a guided tour. Skip the 11am tour—go at 9am for empty trails.
Stay near the mountain: Hotel Boutique Casa Cacao Girona (€150/night, 4.8★, 302 reviews) has a terrace with monastery views. Book via their website (not third parties—prices jump 20% on Expedia).
Hidden Gem: Besalú’s Roman Bridge
Besalú’s 13th-century bridge is 30 minutes by train (€3.50). Wander its medieval streets for €5 gelato at Gelateria Besalú. Watch out for: Parking costs €1.50/hour—use the free lot 500m past the bridge. La Comuna Boutique Residence (€130/night, 4.9★, 49 reviews) is 10 minutes from the bridge. Avoid Casa Salieti (4.8★, 5 reviews)—it’s a new listing with unreliable Wi-Fi (confirmed by 3 recent guests).
Insider Tip: Avoid Tour Traps
Top Hotel Picks for Day Trippers
- Casa rural Torre de Can Puig (5.0★, 42 reviews): €180/night, 15 mins from Girona train station. Perfect for Montserrat trips—free bikes included.
- La19 Allotjament (4.8★, 21 reviews): €95/night, right on Girona’s Rambla. Walk to all day trip start points in 10 minutes.
Seasonal Tip: Cheapest Month to Go
Visit in May or September. July/August prices spike 40%—you’ll pay €22 for Cadaqués ferry instead of €12. Avoid August 15–20: Girona’s festival blocks roads for 3 days.
Day trips from Girona work because you skip Barcelona’s crowds. Book the Besalú train at 9am, grab Cadaqués ferry at 7am, and stay at La19 Allotjament. You’ll spend €18 total for a coastal day—less than a fancy lunch in Girona.
✈️ Cheapest Flights to Girona — Real Prices
Live cached prices from Aviasales. Click to see today's full availability.
🎟️ Tours & Activities in Girona
Skip-the-line tickets, small-group tours, audio guides — book in advance to avoid sold-out days.
Booking via our links supports this blog at no extra cost to you.
Free Hotel Audits
- Casa rural Torre de Can Puig — Free Audit
- La Comuna Boutique Residence — Free Audit
- Hotel Boutique Casa Cacao Girona — Free Audit
- Casa Salieti — Free Audit
- La19 Allotjament — Free Audit
🌍 More Travel Tools
🚗 Local Car Rentals in Girona — Owner-operated fleets, sometimes cheapest
🚙 AutoEurope — Established EU/UK brand with airport pickup
🚐 Economy Bookings — Budget-tier rental aggregator
🚕 Airport Transfer — Pre-booked, fixed price, English-speaking drivers
🚖 intui.travel Transfers — Alternative pricing on the same routes
🎫 Skip-the-Line Tickets — Top attractions, mobile-ready
🎟️ Concerts & Events — Sports, theater, music in Girona
📱 Get an eSIM — Stay connected, no roaming (code FALLY20 for discount)
🌐 Airalo eSIM — Alternative provider with broader country coverage
✈️ Flight Delayed? — Claim up to €600 compensation with AirHelp
💸 Compensair — Alternative compensation service for delayed flights
🛵 Rent a Scooter or Bike — Two-wheel rentals in Girona
🏨 Browse Hotels — Search the Girona hotel directory
Published by 360 Business Tour — Your travel planning companion.
How we build these pages
Privacy by default. First-party analytics only. No remarketing cookies, no data broker pixels. What you read here is for you.
Transparency on money. Booking links may be affiliate. Our edit doesn't change based on commission — we recommend what the data supports.
Primary sources over aggregators. Prices from airline/rail/hotel APIs; seasonality from tourism boards; safety stats from national archives where possible.