A private day tour to Girona from Barcelona gives you one of Catalonia’s best-preserved old towns without a train timetable. Girona is 101 km north of the city, set on the Onyar river with a medieval centre that is easy to cover on foot. This page explains the trip, the choice between a transfer and a day with the car, and what each costs.
Private day tour to Girona from Barcelona: two ways to book
There are two sensible ways to book this trip, and they cost different amounts.
A transfer. I take you from Barcelona to Girona and come back at the time you choose, or you stay and return another way. The Barcelona to Girona price is €210 in the E-Class or V-Class, €610 in the Sprinter, and €750 in the minibus or coach. It is a fixed price per vehicle, VAT included.
A day with the driver at your disposal. The car and driver stay with you in Girona, wait while you sightsee, and drive you back. This is the usual choice for a day tour. The estimate is the drive, 1 h 15 min each way, plus about 4 hours on site, rounded up to the half hour: 6.5 hours of hire.
| Vehicle | Passengers | 6.5 hours at your disposal |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes E-Class | up to 3 | €510 |
| Mercedes V-Class | up to 7 | €510 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | up to 16 | €655 |
| Minibus | up to 33 | €735 |
| Coach | up to 60 | €735 |
Do not read the two as the same service: the transfer is a fixed-price ride, and the day is hourly hire. The S-Class is hourly only (€805 for 6.5 hours). Everything here includes VAT, and the full list is on the prices page.
The drive from Barcelona to Girona
From Plaça de Catalunya to the centre of Girona it is 101 km, about 1 h 15 min without traffic (route on Google Maps). That is a free-flow figure. If you leave at the morning peak or return on a Friday evening, the drive is longer, so I propose the pick-up with some margin.
What to see in Girona in a day
Girona rewards a slow walk. The old quarter climbs from the river up to the cathedral, with narrow stepped streets, the former Jewish quarter and the medieval walls. The colourful houses over the Onyar are the postcard view, and the footbridges across the river put you in the middle of it.
A day usually splits into three parts:
- Morning: the cathedral and the old quarter, while the lanes are quiet.
- Midday: lunch in the old town or near the river.
- Afternoon: the walls, a stroll on the other bank, and shops, before the drive back.
Opening hours and ticket arrangements change, so check the Catalonia tourism site and the official pages of each monument before you go. I do not quote entry fees on this page.
Girona with the Costa Brava or Figueres
Girona sits between Barcelona and the Costa Brava, so it combines well with the coast. A common plan is Girona in the morning and a coastal village in the afternoon. My Costa Brava tour and Tossa de Mar pages describe the options. Art lovers often add the Dalí Museum in Figueres.
Each extra stop lengthens the day, and the additional hours are charged at the hourly rate (€80 an hour in the E-Class or V-Class, €90 in the Sprinter, €110 in the minibus or coach). A day that stretches to 8 hours is €630 in the E-Class or V-Class and €785 in the Sprinter. I confirm the total when you send the route, and a combination I have not priced is quoted on request.
Private driver, train or small group tour?
The train from Barcelona to Girona exists, and for one or two travellers who want a plain return it can be the cheapest option. Check Renfe for services. Small-group coach tours are another option, and they have set stops and times.
A private day suits different travellers:
- families with children, who do better with a car and a flexible lunch;
- groups of up to 7 who want a V-Class, or up to 16 for a Sprinter;
- anyone with limited mobility, who benefits from door-to-door pick-up;
- guests who want to mix Girona with a coastal stop in the same day.
It is a choice of control, not a claim that one option beats the rest.
Choosing the vehicle
The E-Class takes up to 3 passengers and is the polished choice for couples and executives. The V-Class takes up to 7 and suits families. A Sprinter takes up to 16. For more than 16 passengers, the minibus seats 33 and the coach 60. The fleet page shows them side by side.
How to book
- Choose your date, the number of passengers and whether you want a transfer or a day with the driver.
- Send the pick-up address in Barcelona, the time you would like to leave in the morning and the time you want to be back.
- Mention any extra stop, such as the Costa Brava or Figueres.
- Use the form below. I reply by e-mail or WhatsApp with the vehicle and price, and I adjust the plan if your day changes.
You can see every other excursion on the day trips from Barcelona hub.
Practical tips for the day
- Start early. The old quarter is calmer in the morning, and the light on the river is at its best. A departure from Barcelona in the early morning gives you a relaxed first hour.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The old town has stepped lanes and cobbles, and the walls involve some climbing.
- Book anything you must see. Tickets and timed entries are handled by the venues, so reserve them yourself and send me the times.
- Keep lunch flexible. Restaurants fill up around midday in high season, so tell me if you want a reservation to shape the schedule.
- Tell me about mobility needs. I can drop you close to the old town entrances and plan the walk around gradients.
If your plans change on the day, say so and I adjust. A late start or a longer lunch simply moves the return time, and any extra hours are charged at the hourly rate shown above.
Last updated 1 November 2026.
