Girona & Costa Brava Small Group Tour From Barcelona with Paella!
Description
Escape Barcelona for a full-day small-group tour to the medieval city of Girona and the stunning Costa Brava coastline. Begin in Pals, a charming hilltop village with cobbled streets and artisan shops. Continue to Calella de Palafrugell, a whitewashed fishing village where you can swim in a secluded cove, walk coastal trails, or upgrade to enjoy a traditional seafood paella lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, explore Girona at your own pace. Highlights include the Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and a walk along the original Roman walls. With expert local guides and a maximum group size of 20, this tour offers history, scenery, and culture in one unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:15am – Check-in at Explore Catalunya Office Meet your guide at our centrally located office, opposite the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. Arrive a little early to check in, use the facilities, or grab a coffee nearby.
8:30am – Depart Barcelona Leave the city behind and head north through the scenic Catalan countryside, passing through the modernist Eixample district and learning a little about Barcelona’s history from your guide en route.
10:00am – Arrive in Pals Discover the medieval village of Pals, perched on a hill with panoramic views. Join your guide for a short walk through its historic centre, including the old tower, stone archways, and village walls. Enjoy some free time to explore artisan shops and cafés.
11:45am – Arrive in Calella de Palafrugell Head down to the coast to explore one of the Costa Brava’s most beautiful seaside villages. Wander its whitewashed streets, walk the coastal footpaths, or take a swim in a quiet cove. If you’ve selected the lunch upgrade, sit down at a seafront restaurant to enjoy a traditional seafood paella overlooking the Mediterranean.
3:00pm – Arrive in Girona Travel inland to Girona, one of Catalonia’s most historic and culturally rich cities. Your guide will provide an introduction, then you'll have free time to visit the Gothic Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, the Arab Baths, or walk the Roman walls. Alternatively, enjoy shopping or relax in a café.
7.00 - We end the day in Plaça Catalunya. From here, you can easily take the metro or a taxi back to your hotel. Otherwise, your guide will be more than happy to make some recommendations of where to have dinner.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If you choose the Hotel Pickup Service, we are pleased to inform you that this is a personalised pick up service. We will contact you before the tour to confirm the pick up time. Normally, the pickup will be at 7.45am from your hotel reception. Unlike some agencies, we do not go from one hotel to the next during rush hour while you wait in the minivan as we collect our customers. Personal service guaranteed.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There will be time off the bus at your leisure, so please bring suitable clothing, footwear, and sun protection.
- You will also have an opportunity to go swimming at Calella de Palafrugell, so if you want, bring your swimming costume and a beach towel.
- This tour is in English only.
Reviews(1,108)
Well, had tour guide by the name of William. This was not a good tour. He barely explained stuff and left us by ourselves to explore. Saw other tour guides had booklets and really was explaining. Gave us a map to follow and end up getting lost. Terrible tour.
Rod was absolutely fantastic. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. We had the best day on this tour! If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you will love this tour even more.
Had a lovely day exploring Costa Brava with our guide Rod. We particularly enjoyed Girona and Pals. Rod was very knowledgeable about the history of each place.
Girona was beautiful with incredible history and architecture, and Costa Brava had amazing views that felt straight out of a postcard. The group size made the experience feel more personal, and the guide was knowledgeable, organized, and kept the day moving smoothly without feeling rushed. The paella was a great addition and made the experience feel authentically local. I’d definitely recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see more outside of Barcelona in a single day.
Really nice trip, the locations and sights are great. We had great guide and learnt a lot of the history and the stories about the locations. Very recommended
we didn't actually experience this tour as it was cancelled, we were called by the company and asked to switch. we did Costa Brava and the medieval castle in its place This was a great tour! Stephen our guide was amazing We did get to experience the beautiful coast, botanical gardens and a great lunch!
We had a wonderful day! My family and I loved it. Our guide was very knowledgeable about everything, gave us history lessons and answered all questions we had. Costa brava is a gem and can’t wait to return.
Rod was a great tour guide. He was knowledgeable and engaging for all members of our family. He shared history lessons and insights into the modern Catalan/Spanish culture as well. Rod was flexible with timing (since it was just our family) and had great recommendations for restaurants and sights to see. I would recommend a tour with this company.
Rod is amazing and is like a walking history / fun facts encyclopaedia. Was just my friend and I but the tour still went on and we learnt a lot from him. The pace was good and will recommend this to family and friends.
Rod is an amazing tour guide. He really goes in depth on the history of Cataluna, Girona, Costa Brava and Pals. I would highly recommend him. He’s one of the best ever.
