Europe > 🇪🇸  Spain > Girona (GRO)

TL;DR: Car strongly recommended
car v no car
car v no car
The Car or no Car advice for  Girona can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Girona ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do you need to rent a car in Girona ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t strictly need to rent a car.

🇪🇸 Mode

Score

🚆 Trains - includes all types of inter-city rail based transport: Regional and high-speed rail links to Barcelona and France. trains score 6
🚌 Bus & Metro - includes bus rapid transit, trams, suburban rail and metro / subway: Local buses serve the city. buses score 6
👀 Guided Tours - includes bus or car based private tours and guided walking tours: Historic and cultural tours are popular. walking score 7
🚶‍♂️ Walking - includes both urban walking and rural hiking: Old town is compact and walkable. walking score 8
🚴 Cycling - includes urban cycling and bike share + rural cycling. Considers safety and hire availability: Cycling infrastructure is good and improving. cycling score 6
⛴️ Ferries & Cruises - includes river crossings, dinner cruises, lake steamers etc (not long duration cruise packages): No ferries or water transport. ferries score 0
  • For all transport modes, a score of 0 = very poor or none available; 10 = outstandingly good.

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Girona?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇪🇸 Factor

Score

🚗 Car Availability & Cost - is there a wide choice of self-drive rental cars at decent prices? Good availability, prices reasonable. car rental availability score 6
⛽ Fuel & Toll Costs - Fuel moderate, tolls avoidable. Typical: $7/gal | 1.85 €/l fuel and tolls score 6
🛣️ Road Quality - Good Catalan road quality. road quality score 7
⚠️ Road Safety - Strong Spanish safety standards. road safety score 8
🅿️ Parking Availability & Cost - Parking generally available. parking score 7
  • For all factors, a score of 0 = very poor; 10 = outstandingly good


Girona Car Rental Costs

J F M A M J J A S O N D
2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 4 3 3 3
Price bands:
  • From 1 ($0-10 per day) to 10 ($90-100 per day);
  • For typical cheapest available economy hire car;
  • Jan - Mar 2027 / Apr - Dec 2026.
  • Prices correct as of Feb 2026 - estimates only, not a guarantee.
🚗Do we need a car in Girona? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Visitors often arrive in Catalonia asking a familiar question: should you rent a car in Girona? It is a sensible thing to consider, because Girona sits in a fascinating position between Barcelona, the Pyrenees, and the Costa Brava. However, the answer depends very much on whether you plan to stay within the city or use Girona as a wider regional base.

Girona without a car 🚶‍♂️🚆

Girona is one of the most walkable historic cities in Spain. The old town (Barri Vell) is compact, atmospheric, and best explored on foot. The cathedral, Jewish Quarter, medieval walls, and riverside houses are all within easy walking distance. Cars add no value here and are often a hindrance.

The city is also exceptionally well connected by rail. High-speed AVE services link Girona directly with Barcelona in around 40 minutes, making it an easy day trip or alternative base. Trains also run north into France, which is relatively unusual for a city of this size. Girona therefore works extremely well as a no-car destination for short breaks.

Game of Thrones and cultural appeal 🎬

Girona gained international recognition as a filming location for Game of Thrones. Many of the most recognisable scenes are right in the historic centre and can be visited easily on foot. This reinforces the idea that, for most visitors, a car is unnecessary during the city stay itself.

Day trips by train 🚄

Several worthwhile trips can be done by public transport. Barcelona is the obvious one, while Figueres, home to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, is also easy by train. Coastal towns such as Blanes can be reached by rail, although journey times increase once you leave the main corridors.

When a rental car becomes useful 🚗

A rental car starts to make sense if you want to explore the Costa Brava properly. Many of the most beautiful coves, beaches, and hilltop villages are difficult or slow to reach by bus. The same applies to inland routes towards the Pyrenees, where flexibility matters.

Car rental prices in Girona are usually reasonable, especially compared with Barcelona. Picking up a car for just one or two days can unlock far more of the region.

Conclusion – should you rent a car in Girona? ✅

Not for the city itself. Girona is ideal on foot and by train. However, if your plans include the Costa Brava or rural Catalonia, a short car rental can be extremely worthwhile 🚗🌄.


Search for Car Rental in Girona with Economy Bookings .com

🚗Do we need a car in Girona? Is it worth it? Should we? | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings together how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, and an overall recommendation.

🇪🇸 Factor

Score

Road Trips - Is Girona a good place to start a road trip? Excellent Catalan countryside road trips road trip score 8
Road Trip Length - How long might a typical road trip last? | In a loop / out and back / one way? 2–3 days - Hill town and coastal loops

Structures - Are there loads of impressive bridges and tunnels around Girona? Highways and rural roads structures score 5
🚦 Overall Need for a Car - Is it necessary to hire a car in Girona? (high score = yes). need score 5
💶 Is It Worth It? - High score = good value worth score 7
Partial car rental doodle Partial Rental: Is it worth renting a car in Girona for some of the time, rather than all or nothing (e.g. for a 7 day trip)?

6/7

Do most people visiting Girona rent a car? (From 0 to 10). worth score 7
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Girona?
overall should you rent a car score 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Visited? – Have we visited Girona in person (year)? N/A
  • How do we define "road trips" and suggest their duration?
Updates – When was this page last updated:
  • Automatic*: Feb-26
  • Manual*: Oct-25
  • Automatic = update of table data; Manual = update of page text | How do we update pages ?
What are the general advantages and disadvantages of renting a car in any location?
  • Pros include – time freedom, wider access, often best value for groups of 4–7.
  • Cons include – hassle of driving on unfamiliar roads and parking, often expensive for solo travellers and couples, less environmentally friendly than public transport.
I'm still not sure whether or not to rent a car in Girona – can you offer more advice?
  • We always welcome comments using the form below.
  • Unfortunately we can’t take phone calls or answer individual emails.
Can you advise us on how to get the best car rental deal in Girona?
  • Our most useful advice is not to rent a car you don’t need!
  • After that, our advice is similar to what you would expect anywhere else – book well ahead, use your own CDW insurance, watch out for fuel contracts, avoid fines and shop around.

👍🏾 / 👎🏻 Will You Rent a Car in Girona?

Will you rent a car?Would you rent a car in Girona, or would you rely on tours or public transport instead? Everyone travels differently, and the right choice often depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what kind of trip you’re planning.

Hopefully this page has given you a quick, practical overview of the pros and cons of renting a car in Girona, and whether it’s really necessary or not. Maybe it’s helped you make up your mind — or maybe you’ve already visited and have insights to share.

We always welcome comments, questions, and comparisons with other cities.

All feedback is read, and any questions or clarifications are usually replied to within 24 hours.  

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