How to spend a weekend in Girona 

Head downstairs for drinks in Palau Fugit’s cosy cocktail bar, Gipsy, which also serves the central courtyard area. Try an ‘Eclipse’, the hotel’s blend of whisky and St Germain with ginger, raw honey and carrot juice — or opt for one of many refreshing interpretations of the classics. All are offered up alongside locally sourced tapas and small plates, should you want a bite too.

For a more substantial dinner, the small-but-mighty Divinum is just a five-minute stroll around the corner. Despite being one of Girona’s many Michelin-star restaurants, Divinum manages to go a little more under the radar. Each delicate dish feels perfectly suited to the restaurant’s intimate curved-ceiling cellar, where a select few diners are seated. Known for its unique flavour combinations celebrating Catalan ingredients, the restaurant is also famed for its impressive wine cellar — don’t leave without checking it out and sampling a glass or two.

After filling up in the hotel’s chic breakfast room, Casa Heras, take an early stroll to Girona’s preserved city walls — the morning light is the perfect filter for those terracotta rooftops and surrounding mountain vistas. Happily, the leafy Jardins dels Alemanys is a short walk from your lodgings, where you begin your ascent. But just before you do, the majestic Cathedral of Girona will stop you in your tracks — Game Of Thrones fans will recognise it as the Great Sept of Baelor from the cinematic show.

 

Along the winding (but walkable) walls, this is where you’ll really get to know Girona. That early wake-up call allows you to take in the city’s unmistakable medieval architecture away from the crowds, with pristine Pyrenees panoramas as your backdrop. If you fancy an extra climb off the beaten track, take the short detour to Torre Gironella, the highest point of the Roman wall, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views.

Your meander along the Passeig de la Muralla concludes a little further along the Onyar River, Girona’s wide waterway studded by charming tangerine buildings and the bold Eiffel Bridge. As you descend back to city life, a coffee and a xuixo — Girona’s famed local pastry, an airy croissant-like doughnut filled with crema catalana — calls. Head straight to Oriell 1887, one of the city’s oldest bakeries, to collect some sustenance for your walk back along the river.

 

Take the lesser-trodden Carrer de Santa Clara back towards the old town, where you’ll find a scattering of boutique shops stocking local designers. Make a beeline for Scarlatta, where the city’s in-the-know women shop for colourful partywear and statement accessories, and stop by the Beatriz Furest store, too — a Barcelona-based brand combining premium fabrics with local craftsmanship. Later, grab a light lunch at the Plaça de la Independència, a buzzy square surrounded by restaurants serving local dishes.

El Celler de Can Roca is the restaurant that gave Girona its gastronomic reputation — and for good reason. One of a handful of three-Michelin-star restaurants in the world, it’s well worth the 10-minute drive out of town, though the one-year waiting list is less friendly (bookings are best made well in advance, but it’s always worth checking for cancellations). Those lucky enough to get a table await a genius spectacle of dishes courtesy of head chef Joan Roca and his brothers, sommelier Jordi and pastry chef Josep — who are arguably considered the holy trinity of Girona’s culinary scene. From the much-lauded olive tree amuse-bouche studded with sweet and salty snacks to the most flavoursome beef consommé you’ve ever sipped on, it’s a truly interactive experience.