Hiking in Girona
Use Wikiloc and AllTrails to find routes.
100 Cims[edit]
100 Cims is a list of 150 mountains in Catalonia (and nearby in France and Andorra) that are good for hiking. It's called 100 Cims because the challenge is to climb 100 of them. See https://www.feec.cat/activitats/100-cims/.
The nearest cims to Girona are:[1]
| Cim | Distance from Girona |
|---|---|
| Castell de Sant Miquel | 4 km |
| Els Àngels (Puig Alt) | 9 km |
| Rocacorba (Puigsou) | 18 km |
| Sant Patllari | 20 km |
| Puig d'Arques | 25 km |
| Puig Cargol | 28 km |
| Montclar | 30 km |
| Puig de les Cols (Montgrí) | 40 km |
| Puig de Bassegoda | 60 km |
| Comanegra | 70 km |
There are three mountains on the 100 Cims list within walking distance of Girona: Sant Miquel, Els Angels, and Montigilar.
Hiking routes starting from Girona[edit]
Castell de Sant Miquel[edit]
This is an easy, highly recommended hike that starts in Girona itself and takes you to one of the mountains on Catalonia's 100 Cims list. The route starts by passing through fields in the Sant Daniel neighborhood. You then walk through forests, climbing up to the ruined Castell de Sant Miquel. The castle is free to enter and offers great views from the top. After that, the route follows the same path back downhill to Girona.
- Distance: 10 km
- Link: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/puig-de-sant-miquel-66919990
Els Àngels[edit]
Santuari de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels, or more commonly known as Santuari dels Àngels or just Els Àngels, is a church on top of a hill near Girona. It's a popular place to hike to, and it's even on the 100 Cims list. It's one of the best viewpoints and you can see Girona, the Pyrenees, and even the sea. There's also a restaurant.
It's a 9 km walk from Girona. The walk is nice but some parts are a little dangerous as you have to walk on a highway, which has occasional cars and cyclists.
Fun fact: Salvador Dalí got married there in 1958.[2]
Route: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/els-angels-des-de-la-vall-de-sant-daniel-38845347
La Devesa to Sant Gregori[edit]
This hike start at La Devesa in Girona. It then follows the River Ter to the charming village of Sant Gregori, enjoying a flat, scenic walk with views of the countryside.
- Distance: Around 8–10 km (round trip).
- Difficulty: Easy
- Route: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/girona-sant-gregori-girona-66679891
- Moving time: 3 hours
Montigilar[edit]
El Carrilet Greenway[edit]
El Carrilet Greenway (or La Ruta del Carrilet) is a popular long-distance greenway (vía verde) in Catalonia. It is a flat, traffic-free trail for cycling and walking that follows the route of old railway lines (the old carrilet trains).
There are two parts:
- Carrilet I — Olot to Girona. Runs roughly 57 km from Olot (in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa) down to Girona. The trail follows river valleys and rural landscapes. See https://www.viesverdes.cat/es/rutes_vies_verdes/ruta-del-carrilet-i-es/
- Carrilet II — Girona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Continues from Girona to the Mediterranean coast at Sant Feliu de Guíxols, about 40 km. The route has gentle slopes through the countryside toward the sea. See https://www.viesverdes.cat/es/rutes_vies_verdes/ruta-del-carrilet-ii-es/
You don't have to do the entire Greenway. You can do shorter segments.
It is pretty boring, as the scenery is repetitive. It’s more for running or cycling than hiking.
Montjuïc Trails[edit]
Start near the Montjuïc neighborhood. Trails wind through quiet wooded areas, offering views of Girona’s cityscape and surroundings.
- Distance: 5–7 km loops.
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
- Moving time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Route: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/girona-castell-de-montjuic-girona-51800392
O Mountain[edit]
Muntanya de la O or O Mountain is a hill overlooking Girona. It's just a 20-minute walk from Girona Cathedral. Nearby is a church called Ermita del Calvari, also called la Capella de la Nostra Senyora de la O, from which the hill gets its name.
Hiking routes outside of Girona[edit]
La Cami de la Ronda[edit]
A long, picturesque walk along the Catalan coastline.
It's too long to do in one day, so people usually just do part of it. For example, S'Agaró to Sa Conca is beautiful walk along the sea.
See https://viajandonuestravida.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/camino-de-ronda-costa-brava-mapa.jpg.webp for a map
La Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa[edit]
La Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa is a huge natural park 1-hour drive from Girona. It is famous for its extinct volcanoes. Medieval towns include Santa Pau (built around a castle) and Besalú (with a Romanesque bridge).
Ruta del Ferro[edit]
A family-friendly trail following a former railway line, offering gentle paths through scenic countryside, ideal for leisurely walks.
Estany de Banyoles[edit]
Banyoles is a town about a 30-minute drive from Girona. A popular and easy walk is to walk around the lake. It's around 4 km, but there's a "mirador" that you can climb up to make the hike longer. Can Morgat i Puig Clara
You can get to Banyoles from Girona by bus.
There's pasarelles fetes de festa per caminar per sobre l'aigua.
Others[edit]
- Salt del Timbarro
- Blanes
- Snow hiking near Tossa Pelada (with snow rackets)
- Cim de Sant Roc and Ermita de Santa Lena. The hike is not difficult but requires moderate fitness. No risk of falling, despite a dramatic-looking rock formation in photos.
- Via Verda (flat, between Creueta & Quart).
- Sant Gregori (nature area).
- Albanyà Natural Pools.
- Portbou to Llançà
- Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage route in Spain
- Puig de Bassegoda is one of the 100 cims, and 1.5 hour drive from Girona
Hiking groups in/around Girona[edit]
Hiking shops[edit]
- Esport Nabes, a sports shop in Barri Vell that sells hiking gear
- Decathlon sells sports gear, including for hiking.
References[edit]
- ↑ According to ChatGPT
- ↑ https://www.daliparis.com/en/salvador-dali-en/gala-dali-en/
