If you’ve heard of Girona, Spain, you’re probably picturing the colorful facades along the Onyar River, or the cathedral that had its Game of Thrones moment. Most visitors come for the day: walk the medieval walls, snap photos of the vibrant houses, and then head back to Barcelona before dinner. But if you really want a feel for this charming Catalan city, stay a night. A weekend is even better.
I’ve done plenty of Girona day trips in my eight years living in Barcelona, and the overnight version wins every time. The city only really clicks once the tour groups thin out around 6pm and you’ve got the Barri Vell to yourself (and the locals, of course).
So, what are the best hotels in Girona? Before you book, a little context helps. The old town is largely pedestrianized, the train station side of the river has a completely different feel, and a handful of standout properties have opened in the last few years, quietly turning Girona into one of Catalonia’s best small cities for a hotel stay.
With that said, here’s my roundup of the best hotels in Girona, Spain.
Key Takeaways
- Best overall splurge: Hotel Palau Fugit, a restored 18th-century palace in the heart of Girona’s old town with an indoor pool, spa, and rooftop views of the ramparts (this has to be my favorite).
- Best boutique stay: Palau dels Alemanys Suites, an intimate adults-only hideaway steps from Girona Cathedral.
- Best mid-range with a pool: Hotel Nord 1901, family-run with a garden and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool you’ll be very glad exists in July.
- Best budget pick: Peninsular Hotel Girona, simple and central near Avenida San Francesc.
- Best outside the city: Hotel Camiral at PGA Catalunya, or Hotel Esperit Roca if you’re here to eat seriously well.
How I Picked These Hotels in Girona, Spain
I wanted to keep it simple and straight forward for my hotel recommendations. Every hotel on this list earns its spot through some combination of location (walkable to the old town or right by the Girona train station), character, and value, because Girona accommodation runs the full spectrum, from no-frills rooms under €80 to five-star palaces. After a few visits and lots of research, these are my top Girona hotel recommendations.
My Favorite Girona Hotels, From Splurge to Steal
1. Hotel Palau Fugit: The Showstopper in the Barri Vell
If you book one luxury hotel in Girona, make it this one. Hotel Palau Fugit is a sensitively restored 18th-century baroque palace tucked into the Barri Vell, filled with vaulted ceilings, contemporary Catalan art, and a Romanesque courtyard with a small outdoor pool. There’s also an indoor pool carved into a cave-like spa space, which is an absolute dream. Rooftop drinks come with views over the city ramparts, and the on-site restaurant, Casa Heras, holds its own in a city spoiled for food. With only 25 rooms, it books up fast in summer. Plan ahead.
2. Palau dels Alemanys 1.4.8: Boutique Bliss by the Cathedral
This adults-only boutique hotel sits practically in the shadow of Girona Cathedral, inside a 16th-century historic building with just a handful of suites. Think exposed stone, soaking tubs, and the kind of hush you don’t expect in a city center. It’s the most romantic stay in town, full stop. There’s no pool and no restaurant, but honestly? You’re a two-minute stroll from some of the best dining in the old town, so I’d call that a non-issue.
3. Hotel Històric: Sleep Inside the City Walls
Hotel Històric does exactly what the name promises. This tiny family-run spot occupies a ninth-century building near the cathedral, with remnants of Roman walls and even an ancient aqueduct woven into the structure. Rooms are simple but charming, and the apartments are a smart pick for longer stays. It’s the kind of place where the building itself is half the experience, and the location, deep in Girona’s old town, is unbeatable for early-morning photos before the crowds roll in.
4. Hotel Nord 1901: The Mid-Range Sweet Spot
Here’s my go-to recommendation when friends ask where to stay. Hotel Nord 1901 is family-run, sits just off Plaça Independència (a two-minute walk from the river and the old town), and hides a garden with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool behind its unassuming facade. A pool in central Girona is rare. Spacious rooms, fair prices, and an incredible location, it’s the full package without the five-star bill.
5. Hotel Ciutat de Girona: Stylish and Central
A solid four-star in the city center, Hotel Ciutat de Girona delivers stylish rooms, a small indoor pool and wellness area, and a location that splits the difference between the train station and the Barri Vell. It leans modern rather than historic, which makes it a nice counterpoint to the stone-and-beams crowd. The downstairs restaurant does a good menú del día, too. If you want modern amenities and zero fuss, this is your spot.
6. Hotel Carlemany Girona: Easy Train Station Access
Hotel Carlemany sits on the west side of the river, about five minutes on foot from the Girona train station and not far from the Ramon Folch bus stop where airport buses come through. It’s a big, polished four-star that’s popular with business travelers and cyclists alike (Girona is a road-cycling mecca, in case you didn’t know). Rooms are large and quiet, the breakfast spread is generous, and the old town is a flat ten-minute walk away.
7. Hotel Gran Ultonia: Rooftop Views on a Mid-Range Budget
The Gran Ultonia and its sibling Hotel Ultonia sit side by side on Gran Via de Jaume I, a short walk from both the old town and Avenida San Francesc. The Gran Ultonia is the one to book: it has a rooftop terrace with a plunge pool and views across the city’s church towers. Rooms are contemporary and well-kept, and there’s a shared lounge vibe to the common spaces that makes solo travel here easy.
8. DoubleTree by Hilton Girona: The Former Hotel Costabella
Locals still call it Hotel Costabella, but this property on Avenida Francia is now the Hilton Girona hotel, a comfortable four-star on the northern edge of the city with something most central hotels can’t offer: easy parking and an outdoor pool with actual lounging space. The trade-off is location; you’re a 20–25 minute walk (or a quick taxi) from the old town. For families with a car, or anyone road-tripping the Costa Brava, this Hilton hotel in Girona makes a practical, well-priced base.
9. Peninsular Hotel Girona: Best Budget Bed in Town
No pool, no spa, no pretense. The Peninsular Hotel Girona is a straightforward two-star near the Pont de Pedra, right where Avenida San Francesc meets the river, and it’s been quietly doing its thing for decades. Rooms are compact but clean, some with river views, and you can be standing in the old town in three minutes. For travelers who treat a hotel as a place to shower and sleep, it’s the best value in the city center.
10. Hotel Condal: Cheap, Cheerful, Close to the Trains
Hotel Condal is the other budget stalwart, parked a few minutes from the Girona train station. It’s basic, think simple rooms and thin frills, but it’s clean, friendly, and ideal for one-nighters catching an early AVE or a flight. If you’re choosing between the two budget options, pick Peninsular for atmosphere and Condal for train convenience.
11. Hotel Camiral: Resort Luxury 15 Minutes Out
Technically in Caldes de Malavella rather than Girona proper, but I’d be doing you a disservice by leaving it off. Hotel Camiral anchors the PGA Catalunya resort and belongs to the Leading Hotels of the World, a sleek five-star with an enormous outdoor swimming pool, top-tier golf, and forested grounds that feel a world away from the medieval lanes. It’s about 15 minutes by car from the city and ten from Girona Costa Brava Airport. Come here to decompress; day-trip into Girona for culture.
12. Hotel Esperit Roca: For the Food Pilgrims
You’ve probably heard of El Celler de Can Roca, the Roca brothers’ three-Michelin-star institution. Hotel Esperit Roca is their hotel: a restored fortress in Sant Julià de Ramis, just north of the city, with sweeping views, serious design, and (naturally) destination dining on-site. It’s a splurge and a bit removed from town, but for anyone building a trip around Girona’s food scene, and plenty of people do, there’s nothing else like it.
FAQ: Hotels in Girona
Should I stay in the old town or near the train station?
Old town (Barri Vell) for atmosphere; train station side for convenience and easier luggage logistics, since much of the historic core is pedestrian-only. Hotels like Nord 1901 split the difference nicely, central, but reachable without dragging a suitcase over cobblestones for ten minutes.
How do I get to Girona from the airport?
From Girona Costa Brava Airport, the Sagalés bus reaches the city’s bus/train station in about 25 minutes. Flying into Barcelona El Prat Airport instead? Take the high-speed train from Barcelona Sants, you’ll be able to travel from Barcelona to Girona in under 40 minutes.
Do hotels in Girona have pools?
Fewer than you’d hope, given the summer heat. Your best in-city bets are Hotel Nord 1901 (seasonal outdoor pool), Hotel Palau Fugit (indoor and courtyard pools), the Gran Ultonia’s rooftop plunge pool, and the DoubleTree by Hilton on Avenida Francia.
How many nights do I need in Girona?
Two is the sweet spot. One to do all the standard things to do in Girona, like a full day for the walls, the cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and a Girona museum or two (the Art Museum and the Museum of Jewish History are both worth your time), plus an evening when the city is at its quietest.
Is Girona expensive?
By Catalan standards, no. Boutique stays run noticeably cheaper than their Barcelona equivalents, and budget hotels near the center start around €70–90 in shoulder season. July, August, and the May flower festival (Temps de Flors) push prices up, book early for those weekends.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hotels in Girona
Girona rewards the overnighters. Whether you’re splashing out at Hotel Palau Fugit, settling into the garden at Nord 1901, or keeping it simple at the Peninsular, the city feels entirely different once the day-trippers head home, softer, slower, and somehow more yours. Pick a base, stay two nights, and don’t skip the evening walk along the walls.
Heading further afield? The Costa Brava’s coves are under an hour away, which makes Girona a sneaky-good base for the whole region. But that’s a post for another day.
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