Move over Barcelona! This beautiful medieval town nearby steals the spotlight

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Every year, tens of millions of tourists flock to Barcelona, ​​the capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Catalonia (much to the dismay of wary locals).

Whether it’s admiring the plethora of Gaudí-designed monuments, or catching a tan on the golden-sand beach of La Barceloneta, tourists can never get enough of Barcelona, ​​but lately their amazed gaze seems to be drawn elsewhere.

There is a smaller one, equally picturesque medieval city a short 40-minute train ride away from Barcelona’s busy Sants station, and it looks a noticeable increase in visitor numbers this year:

Meet Girona, Barcelona’s lesser-known little sister

A historic city on the banks of the winding River Onyar, Girona is distinguished by its well-preserved cityscape, topped with soaring church spiers and medieval fortifications, and a relaxed atmosphere compared to the vast Barca.

During the first six months of 2025, a total of 3,455,543 tourists reached the province of Girona, of which the city of Girona itself is the main destination. more than 10 million overnight stays registeredas reported by the Eurecat Tourism Observatory (TDS).

The French remain the leader in the number of arrivals, accounting for 1.8 million stays, followed by the Dutch (654,733) and the British (601,305). Although exact figures are not provided, the ‘provisional balance‘ also notes that there has been a 6% increase American visitors.

So what draws foreign tourists to Girona, and what exactly does it have to offer for American tourists flying all the way from across the pond?

Timeless streets and medieval charm

If there’s one thing that gets Americans excited about braving a 10-hour transatlantic flight, it’s the allure of the Old World and the beautiful architecture that awaits them at the end of their journey, and there’s no doubt that Girona offers just that.

The Jewish quarter (El Call) in particular is one of the largest and best maintained on the entire continent cobbled alleys lined with centuries-old stone houses and impressive archways.

Right in the historic center, atop a grand staircase, Girona Cathedral is a Catalan-Gothic masterpiece with the widest nave in the world for a church of that period: it is 23 meters wide and its solemn interior is nothing short of impressive.

If you think this all sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve probably seen Girona in your favorite fantasy show before. Game of Thrones.

You won’t encounter dragons and warring clans here anymore, at least not in 2025, but you can still walk the Roman-era city walls– later expanded in the Middle Ages – for breathtaking views over Girona.

A culturally charged city

Away from the medieval core you can’t miss the picturesque river promenade: lined with pastel-colored, narrow buildingswith the cathedral’s prominent portal and belfry rising above it, it is ideal both for photographs and for a leisurely stroll whilst enjoying a traditional fleca snack.

The river is spanned by the Red Iron Bridge (officially called Pont de les Peixateries Velles in Catalan), which is itself attributed to none other than Gustave Eiffel. Yes, the same man who designed the tower.

On the west bank of the Onyar River, opposite the Old Town, you will find Girona’s Eixample: like Barcelona’s, it includes the ‘modern’ extension of the historic citylargely built in the 19th and 20th centuries, and with wide boulevards, graceful buildings and lively shopping streets.

In the heart is Independence Square (Plaça de la Independència) is a public space bordered by arcaded buildings and open-air cafes.

Just a few steps away, Rambla de la Llibertat is Girona’s main pedestrian street, and if you want to do some shopping, look no further Carrer de Santa Clara.

Girona is cheaper than Barcelona

Aside from the unique blend of old and new – and let’s face it, ‘new’ still means relatively outdated by American standards – Girona’s current lead over Barcelona is partly due to higher affordability:

The same price drop between the Catalan capital and its lesser-known counterpart is seen with regard to accommodation:

If you’re looking for accommodation in Girona this season, check out the nightly rates at B&B Hotel Gerona 2from €53, or approximately USD$61.10.

This season to Girona

Now you might be wondering how exactly you can do that to get all the way from the United States to Girona, first of all.

Girona does have its own international airport, Girona-Costa Brava (GRO)but it mainly offers cheap flights from other European destinations. The nearest major airport to Girona serving transatlantic flights is still active Barcelona-El Prat (BCN).

Once in El Prat you can easily take the direct commuter train to Barcelona-Sants and from there transfer to a regional train to Girona. Total travel time is just 1 hour and 5 minutes and tickets start from around $17.80.

Vinicius Costa

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Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.