How to get to Girona: A Cyclists Guide

If you have decided to visit the cycling mecca of Girona, you may be comparing travel options. You may also be weighing up the option of bringing your own bike against renting a bike locally.

In this blog we will provide some tips on the travel options you have and which is a better choice for you.

Should I bring my own bike to Girona or rent a bike?

Most cyclists that travel to Girona rent a bike. Sometimes that´s to avoid the hassle and cost of traveling with the bike, other times it´s to ride a nicer bike (or a bike from a different brand) on holiday, or to try a different discipline like gravel.

Eat Sleep Cycle has over 250 rental bikes renovated every year from top brands including Colnago, Wilier, Ridley, Basso and Cannondale. There’s something for every price point whether you want a road bike, gravel bike, electric bike or mountain bike.

Now that the sales pitch is out the way let’s get to the details of your travel options…

Train from European destinations

Did you know that you can get a train to Girona from most of Europe, even the UK?

The TGV train from Paris to Girona takes 6 hours and drops you right in the center of Girona City. Links to Paris can be found from all European countries/ cities. From the UK, the London Pancras to Paris North train can provide the link, you will need to take the RER metro to Paris Lyon station.

Train travel from other parts of Spain including Madrid and South Spain is efficient and comfortable, although be aware it may not be possible to travel with a bike, so you are better off renting a bike if you are traveling by train.

Flights into Girona Costa Brava Airport (GRO)

Girona Costa Brava is your closest airport (only 15 Km from Girona Center) and we always advise checking flights into this airport first, since the transfer from the airport to the center of Girona is so much shorter and more convenient than from Barcelona. In addition it has a nice relaxed atmosphere and there are rarely queues. There’s no better way to start and end your cycling holiday!

Unfortunately flights do not run all year round from all UK destinations however it does also change regularly so we advise checking all your accessible departure airports at the time of booking.

Transfer from Girona Costa Brava Airport to Girona Center

You have 2 options to travel from the Girona Costa Brava airport to the Girona center, there is no train line.

Private taxi transfer: Girona Costa Brava Airport to Girona

Request a quote for a taxi transfer from Girona Costa Brava Airport to Girona Center

The easiest and most efficient way to travel from the Girona Costa Brava Airport to the center of Girona is by booking a taxi transfer service with Eat Sleep Cycle. You will have easy communication with our English speaking reservations team. The driver will be waiting for you in arrivals and take you directly to your hotel or apartment. In addition, if you wish, you can travel with your bike(s), you just need to let us know.

Bus: Girona Costa Brava Airport to Girona

You can take the bus from Girona Costa Brava Airport to the bus station in the center of Girona. The company is Sagales and you can check the schedule here. It is the cheapest (around €2,50) way to travel from the Girona Costa Brava airport to the center of Girona and you can travel with your bike case. Please check the distance from the Girona bus station to your final destination as you will need to walk with your luggage. Be careful to check bus times before traveling as services are limited, especially on Spanish holidays.

Flights into Barcelona Airport (BCN)

The closest international airport to Girona is Barcelona El Prat Airport (118 Km from the center of Girona). There are far more flight options available from international destinations and flights may be more affordable. We do however still recommend flying into Girona Costa Brava Airport even if the flight costs more and we will explain why.

You have 3 options to travel from Barcelona Airport to Girona Center

Private taxi transfer: Barcelona El Prat Airport to Girona

Request a quote for a taxi transfer from Barcelona El Prat Airport to Girona Center

The easiest and most efficient way to travel from Barcelona El Prat Airport to the center of Girona is by booking a taxi transfer service with Eat Sleep Cycle. This is the only viable option if you are traveling with your bike. It is important to note that a taxi transfer, if divided between a group, can be a similar cost to the train or bus and save you valuable bike time! Believe us when the sun is shining on arrival you’ll want to get straight out on your bike!

Train: Barcelona El Prat Airport to Girona

Your next best option is the train but please beware this is not a good option for traveling with your bike. The cost varies from €12 to €25 depending on the time of day and if you use the fast or slow line. You will need to take 2 trains, the first leaving from Airport Terminal 2 that takes around 20 minutes (if you are in Terminal 1 there is a free bus). You can buy a ticket from one of the machines asking for help or queue at the desk and buy the ticket through to Girona, they will advise on the connection train at Barcelona Sants station, the main Barcelona station. Be sure to tell them if you have a bike because for the second leg from Barcelona Sants to Girona, you can only take your bike box on the slow “Rodalies” and not the high speed AVE trainline. We agree, it is a crazy stupid rule that we’d do anything to change!

Once at Barcelona Sants you will need to come off the train up to the platform and change trainline, look at the screens and ask for help, the staff are used to speaking English to tourists. The second leg is 40 minutes on the fast train and 90 minutes on the slow train.

Bus: Barcelona El Prat Airport to Girona

You can take the bus from Barcelona El Prat Airport to the bus station in the center of Girona at a cost of around €20. The company is Sagales and you can check the schedule here. You can take your bike box on the bus no problem and no changes are necessary. So in a way it is second in convenience to the taxi, but it takes longer since the bus stops 2-3 times, including almost in the center of Barcelona, on the way back.

Why not ride it?!

Just a thought, a crazy one maybe, but my wife and I did it for our honeymoon and it is the best way of getting to Girona, without a doubt!

Written by Lee Comerford

I am co-founder of Eat Sleep Cycle. For 8 years we have created custom cycling experiences in Europe and beyond. We help our guests experience the very best cycling in Europe including Girona, the Pyrenees, Tuscany and the Dolomites, the French Alps, Andalucia and beyond. We specialize in customizing cycling experiences for groups, agencies and our corporate partners.

We believe in empowering and motivating the local community to cycle so we also run vibrant Cycling Hubs in Girona and Málaga. Our Hubs are a place you can find all your cycling needs from bike hire to cyclist friendly food and great coffee.

Through 10 years working as an engineer, operations manager and sales manager, the bike was always my escape – venturing to new places, meeting new people, seeing amazing things, suffering a bit. Now my focus is helping others to enjoy that same escape, whatever the level, age or nationality.

I believe that cycling brings people together and Eat Sleep Cycle was born through this desire. Our vision is to bring down barriers through exploring the world on 2 wheels.