Half-day trip from Barcelona to Girona with kids
- dimple verma
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
When I planned my trip to Barcelona with kids, I kept hearing about this famous little medieval city from Game of Thrones - Girona! With just 40 minutes away, Girona is one of the best half-day trips from Barcelona for families with kids: compact, walkable, and fascinating for little ones who love cobblestone alleys and running along endless medieval walls.
If you're planning a half-day trip from Barcelona to Girona with kids, let me save you the research: this medieval city is absolutely worth it.
Girona is basically slower, older, quieter, and filled with the echoes of centuries past as compared to much modern Barcelona. For us, that contrast made it the perfect for a half-day trip with kids from Barcelona.
Why a half-day trip to Girona works best for kids
When traveling with kids, you quickly realize that day trips are never about seeing everything. They’re about picking a few highlights and enjoying them at a pace the whole family can handle. That’s exactly how we approached our visit to Girona from Barcelona- keeping it a half-day trip to keep the little legs happy and less moody :P
Girona vs Barcelona- Through our kids' eyes
Coming from Barcelona, Girona felt like a deep breath of fresh air. Barcelona dazzles with Gaudí’s modernist masterpieces like Sagrada Família and Park Güell, but it can feel busy and overwhelming. Girona, by contrast, is compact, walkable, and steeped in medieval charm.
Girona gave them space to run, climb, and play in settings that felt like medieval-era adventure.
Getting to Girona from Barcelona with kids
ℹ️Quick Facts for half-day trip from Barcelona to Girona:
Train time 40 mins
AVE cost €25 each way
kids under 4 free
total budget approx €50–60 per adult
Accessibility- stroller friendly (most) and carrier friendly
If your child is under 2, a carrier is the easier choice for the walls section specificallyAVE: (Recommended) We took the AVE train from Barcelona Sants Station, which was quick and easy.
Time: It took only 40 minutes.
Price: €25 each way (kids under 4 travel free)
Last return to Barcelona: 9:30 pm. Ensure you reach the station in time
Time: 1.5 hours
Price: €15 each way
Schedule: Regional trains depart from Barcelona Sants and Passeig de Gràcia, which offer more flexible departure times than AVE
Rent a car: You can easily rent a car and drive anywhere in Spain. Reputable car rental companies, such as Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, or Avis. They’re usually more reliable, especially in smaller towns.
For more details on car rental in Spain, read my post - Driving across Spain with kids
Sample Half-Day Itinerary: Girona with Kids
9:00 AM - AVE from Barcelona Sants
9:40 AM - Arrive in Girona, taxi to the Cathedral
10:00–11:00 AM - Girona Cathedral & GoT steps
11:00 AM–12:30 PM -City Walls walk
12:30–1:30 PM -Lunch at Verd Coffee & Brunch
1:30–2:00 PM - Gelato at Rocambolesc + souvenir shopping
2:00–3:00 PM - Wander old town streets
3:30 PM -Train back to Barcelona
Things to do in Girona with kids in half-day trip with kids
Stop 1: Girona Cathedral & Famous Game of Thrones Steps with kids
We grabbed a taxi from the Girona station to the Girona Cathedral, the star of the old town. Climbing up to the Girona Cathedral is an experience in itself. The staircase of massive 90 steep stone leading up to an enormous Gothic façade. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll recognize it instantly, it was the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing
Even if you’re not a fan of the show, standing at the bottom of those stairs feels surreal. My kids challenged themselves to run up & down the steps while we soaked it all in. Inside, the cathedral is breathtaking, with soaring ceilings and peaceful cloisters.
Price: €7.50 per adult (with kids under 7 free), including visiting the cloisters and museum
Time spent: It will easily take an hour between exploring inside and snapping endless photos on those famous steps.
Stop 2: Walking along Girona's City Walls with kids
From the cathedral, we wandered along the Passeig de la Muralla, the city’s medieval walls. They’re among the longest surviving city walls in Europe, stretching around the old town with towers, hidden staircases, and viewpoints that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another century.
These walls have been featured on Game of Thrones. Walking there feels like stepping into another time; the views of terracotta rooftops and rolling hills stretch out endlessly.
Coolest part: For kids, the coolest part was finding secret spiral staircases before starting another section of wall walk.
Price: Free, the only commitment is your legs and knees :) The kids had a lot of fun experiencing spiral staircases to tiny alleyed walls to spiralled exits
Time spent: 1-2 hours easy!
Tip: There are exit points along the way, so you can hop off when little ones get tired.
Accessibility
Apart from the cobbled stone streets, the steepness of the area to reach the walls is undeniable. Walking with a stroller was possible, but not easy. Thank God our stroller folded in a compact half-size size which made the hassle worth it.
If your child is under 2, a carrier is honestly the easier choice for the walls section specifically.Stroller recommendation- Highly suggest either use Summer Infant 3D Lite or Contours itsy. Ror more strollers recommendations read my Top 3 travel gear postStop 3: Lunch & Gelato
We stopped at a cafe in the old town, Verd Coffee and Brunch,
The staff was genuinely warm, and the food was fresh and flavorful. The menu has plenty of healthy choices, lots of vegetarian options, and excellent smoothies. The Shakshuka and pancakes were just amazing! Oh, and the best cheesecake we had so far!
Expect around €10–15 per person
Of course, we couldn’t leave Girona without trying gelato at Rocambolesc Gelateria. The kids loved the colorful toppings, and I loved that it bought us a quiet 15 minutes before the walk back to the station.
Price: ~€4–5 per cone.
Time spent: 20 minutes (worth every second)
Stop 4: Souvenir shopping
Unlike Barcelona, where prices can feel a bit inflated in tourist-heavy areas, Girona was refreshingly affordable.
We picked up plenty of local cheese and some really amazing local liquers from Girona. The shops themselves were charming: tucked into stone alleyways, with friendly owners eager to explain their products.
Stop 5: Wandering Girona streets
One of the favorite things to do was simply wandering through the cobblestone streets. The old town is full of narrow alleys, shaded archways, and quiet corners that feel untouched by time.
As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful old casas tucked into these streets. Many of them have been converted into boutique guesthouses and apartments, and they look like the perfect places to stay if you decide to extend your trip beyond a day.
Wishful to see Girona again
Girona has such a relaxed pace compared to Barcelona that I found myself wishing we had booked a night. Staying in one of these casas would let you experience the city after day-trippers leave, when the streets are quiet, the cathedral is softly lit, and locals are out for a calm evening stroll.
Whether you're doing a half-day trip or a day trip from Barcelona to Girona with toddlers or older kids, this city doesn't require an overpacked itinerary. This medieval city is absolutely worth it.
If you are planning to visit Girona soon, I hope this post gives you enough to not worry about the details with kids. Girona is more explored slowly anyway.
HAPPY TRAVELING!!
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