Flights with Ryanair from Bournemouth to Girona cost from £46* return, including taxes, for the weekend of 17-19 October. The company also flies from Bristol, Stansted, Luton and Manchester.
* Fares correct on 30 September, according to skyscanner.net
What to do
A highlight of Girona is its modernist and noucentist architecture. Architect Rafael Masó was responsible for much of it and it’s well worth dropping by his home, Casa Masó, on the banks of the Onyar river, for an insight into the mind of the designer. And in the 12th-century Jewish Quarter you can get a feel for Girona’s medieval heritage. Across the river, the Museum of Cinema has an impressive collection of pre-cinema moving images, magic lanterns and posters, and if you’re in town in July you can enjoy contemporary films at the Girona Film Festival.
Where to eat
Spanish restaurants have done well in recent years – with seven in Restaurant magazine’s prestigious list of the world’s 50 best. Girona is home to the jewel in the fine-dining crown, in the form of El Celler de Can Roca. The restaurant, run by brothers Joan, Jordi and Josep Roca, was the magazine’s best restaurant in the world last year, holds three Michelin stars, and remains the definitive place to sample the finest in modern Spanish cooking. The brothers also have a spin-off in the form of a futuristic gelateria, Rocambolesc. For reasonably priced contemporary Catalan cuisine, try Cal Ros or Occi in the old town, which both serve a set lunch for around €20. And if you’re after a snack, Crêperie Bretonne is a fun option. You can opt to sit inside a converted retro camper van, and dishes are between €5 and €10.
Where to drink
Most of the city’s bars, which fill up around midnight, are around Plaça de Sant Feliu and Plaza de la Independencia. The Sunset Jazz club – open every day from 9pm – is an atmospheric venue known as much for cocktails and liqueurs selection as music. For a livelier night, One is a cocktail bar with regular events and the relaxed Lola cafe goes up a notch after dark, with live music and plenty of caipirinhas.
Where to stay
As budget accommodation goes, the boutique Bellmirall – set in a three-storey 14th-century house in Girona’s old city – is a fantastic offering. The cosy rooms are all tastefully decorated and each features a wall of exposed brickwork. Those with a little more to spend might want to check in to the Hotel Historic (doubles from €113), also in the old city. The hotel fills the ancient building with clean modern furnishings; it also offers apartments.
For a really slick stay, however, rent one of the beautiful apartments at Alemanys 5, (two-bedroom flat from €200 a night). The minimalist pads close to the cathedral would make an incredibly tranquil base for a family.
