Spain - Girona and Figueres?
Jun 1st, 2016, 03:52 AM
#1
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Spain - Girona and Figueres?
Using Barcelona as a base, is it possible to do a day trip and visit both Figueres (to see Dali Museum) and Girona in 1 full day? We will not have a car and will need to rely on trains.
It appears from previous posts that this might be possible. I'm trying to gauge how difficult this will be in reality - getting to 3 train stations (Barca, Figueres, Girona, back to Barca), sorting out train schedules (do I need to reserve tix in advance?), Dali museum (is it far from the train station, and can I only purchase tix in advance for specific times), etc., etc.
We are considering a private driver, but the cost is over $500 for my family just for the transportation alone.
It appears from previous posts that this might be possible. I'm trying to gauge how difficult this will be in reality - getting to 3 train stations (Barca, Figueres, Girona, back to Barca), sorting out train schedules (do I need to reserve tix in advance?), Dali museum (is it far from the train station, and can I only purchase tix in advance for specific times), etc., etc.
We are considering a private driver, but the cost is over $500 for my family just for the transportation alone.
Jun 1st, 2016, 06:03 AM
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To do both Figueres and Girona in one day will take most of the day and careful planning. Doable but a very long day.
And you need to schedule your trains carefully.
You can reach Figueres by high-speed rail from Barcelona’s Sants station. You will arrive at the new Figueres-Vilafant AVE/AVANT/TGV station 2 km. outside of town. The ride, Barcelona-Figueres Vilafant takes 55 minutes.
There is a bus that connects the Figueres-Vilafant station to the town.
(There are also slower MD trains that go to the original Figueres rail station in town, close to the Teatre Museu Dalí but the ride takes about 1 hour, 45 minutes).
See the schedule at www.renfe.es
There is a promo fare for the AVE that leaves Barcelona at 8:25 am and arrives Figueres-Vilafant at 9:20 am that costs €10.75.
The fares on the AVANTs (same train as AVE but doesn’t go further than Figueres-Vilafant)= €21.
After your visit to Figueres you can take the bus back to the Figueres-Vilafant high-speed rail station and board an AVE or AVANT for Girona.
These high-speed trains depart every hour, except from 12:39 to 2:55 when there is no train (according to www.renfe.es).
There are AVANT departures Figueres Vilafant- Girona at 12:39 and 2:55 and the fare is €6.90.
The ride Figueres to Girona on the AVANTs takes 15 minutes.
Girona does merit a whole afternoon, at the minimum. It's a wonderful city to explore.
From Girona you can return to Barcelona Sants on the high-speed AVANT in the late afternoon/early evening. There's a departure at 7:56 pm. The ride takes 38 minutes and ticket costs €16.20 (no promo fares).
You do need to purchase AVE tickets in advance to avail yourselves of any promo fares. The AVANTs and the slower MD trains don’t offer discounted fares.
Alternatively and far more easily (but $$),
you could take a small group tour (max of 8 people) with Spanish Trails.
They have a Dalí & Medieval Girona, 9-hour day trip from Barcelona. But the cost is €115/person.
We've had excellent service with Spanish-Trails, their guides are great, and the price does include transportation, guide services, tickets to the Teatre Museu Dalí and a traditional lunch with wine.
http://spanish-trails.com/?vh_accomm...irona-day-trip
Hope this helps you to decide.
And you need to schedule your trains carefully.
You can reach Figueres by high-speed rail from Barcelona’s Sants station. You will arrive at the new Figueres-Vilafant AVE/AVANT/TGV station 2 km. outside of town. The ride, Barcelona-Figueres Vilafant takes 55 minutes.
There is a bus that connects the Figueres-Vilafant station to the town.
(There are also slower MD trains that go to the original Figueres rail station in town, close to the Teatre Museu Dalí but the ride takes about 1 hour, 45 minutes).
See the schedule at www.renfe.es
There is a promo fare for the AVE that leaves Barcelona at 8:25 am and arrives Figueres-Vilafant at 9:20 am that costs €10.75.
The fares on the AVANTs (same train as AVE but doesn’t go further than Figueres-Vilafant)= €21.
After your visit to Figueres you can take the bus back to the Figueres-Vilafant high-speed rail station and board an AVE or AVANT for Girona.
These high-speed trains depart every hour, except from 12:39 to 2:55 when there is no train (according to www.renfe.es).
There are AVANT departures Figueres Vilafant- Girona at 12:39 and 2:55 and the fare is €6.90.
The ride Figueres to Girona on the AVANTs takes 15 minutes.
Girona does merit a whole afternoon, at the minimum. It's a wonderful city to explore.
From Girona you can return to Barcelona Sants on the high-speed AVANT in the late afternoon/early evening. There's a departure at 7:56 pm. The ride takes 38 minutes and ticket costs €16.20 (no promo fares).
You do need to purchase AVE tickets in advance to avail yourselves of any promo fares. The AVANTs and the slower MD trains don’t offer discounted fares.
Alternatively and far more easily (but $$),
you could take a small group tour (max of 8 people) with Spanish Trails.
They have a Dalí & Medieval Girona, 9-hour day trip from Barcelona. But the cost is €115/person.
We've had excellent service with Spanish-Trails, their guides are great, and the price does include transportation, guide services, tickets to the Teatre Museu Dalí and a traditional lunch with wine.
http://spanish-trails.com/?vh_accomm...irona-day-trip
Hope this helps you to decide.
Jun 1st, 2016, 06:03 AM
#3
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We did exactly that several years ago, taking a tour from Barcelona. It was setup more like a transportation option and not as a tour guide led activity, so it wasn't that expensive. I really liked the fact that we had plenty of time to explore Girona on our own in the first half of the day and spend a nice afternoon in Figueres (mostly in the Dali museum). It was definitely a long day, but really with no hassle.
Jun 1st, 2016, 07:01 AM
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Thank you so much. These responses are VERY helpful!
Latonk - if you remember, could you tell me who your "transportation only" company was? The one I found was 100 EU per person, which makes Spanish Trails a much better deal.
Thank you, Robert for all of the detailed info! Right now I am leaning towards Spanish Trails, so I appreciate the link. Yes, more $, but we are tight on time, and the logistics of mapping this out and the pressure of staying on schedule might be too much stress for me, especially since this is supposed to be my vacation! But a transportation-only package might work, depending on the cost.
thanks again!!!
Latonk - if you remember, could you tell me who your "transportation only" company was? The one I found was 100 EU per person, which makes Spanish Trails a much better deal.
Thank you, Robert for all of the detailed info! Right now I am leaning towards Spanish Trails, so I appreciate the link. Yes, more $, but we are tight on time, and the logistics of mapping this out and the pressure of staying on schedule might be too much stress for me, especially since this is supposed to be my vacation! But a transportation-only package might work, depending on the cost.
thanks again!!!
Jun 1st, 2016, 07:10 AM
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You're welcome.
Spanish Trails just makes it very, very easy and relaxing, especially for a family.
They have also branched out now to Madrid and have small group excursions to Toledo and the windmills of Consuegra (Don Quijote country), El Escorial/Valley of the Fallen, Segovia/Pedraza, Cuena and the Ciudad Encantada, gourmet trips and vineyard trips.
http://spanish-trails.com/mad/day-trips-tours/
Spanish Trails just makes it very, very easy and relaxing, especially for a family.
They have also branched out now to Madrid and have small group excursions to Toledo and the windmills of Consuegra (Don Quijote country), El Escorial/Valley of the Fallen, Segovia/Pedraza, Cuena and the Ciudad Encantada, gourmet trips and vineyard trips.
http://spanish-trails.com/mad/day-trips-tours/
Jun 1st, 2016, 07:48 AM
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Unfortunately I don't remember, as we bought it right in Barcelona and it wasn't something we had planned in advance before we went to Spain.
At the same time, I just checked online a couple other options like http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...s--girona.html at about €78pp or http://www.viator.com/tours/Barcelon...62-2140JTEBA09 at $83pp which would give you some additional options. I haven't used those tour operators, so can't comment on quality, but do check their reviews!
At the same time, I just checked online a couple other options like http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...s--girona.html at about €78pp or http://www.viator.com/tours/Barcelon...62-2140JTEBA09 at $83pp which would give you some additional options. I haven't used those tour operators, so can't comment on quality, but do check their reviews!
Jun 1st, 2016, 08:22 AM
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kidfriendly,
The Barcelona Tourist board option is run by the Catalunya Bus Turístic.
It's a large group bus tour option that is less expensive (forgot to mention it). Viator is a wholesaler. I believe they contract the Catalunya Bus Turístic for the tour they advertise. It's actually run by the Catalunya Bus Turístic. So you would pay €5/person more to Viator than booking the Catalunya Bus Turístic Girona-Figueres tour directly through the BCN shop.
The departure time is 8:30 am and the return, 7:30 pm.
Schedule:
From 7/11 to 14/3: Tuesday and Saturday.
From 15/3 to 6/11: daily departures, except Monday.
From 7/11 to 14/3 2017: Tuesday and Saturday.
The Barcelona Tourist board option is run by the Catalunya Bus Turístic.
It's a large group bus tour option that is less expensive (forgot to mention it). Viator is a wholesaler. I believe they contract the Catalunya Bus Turístic for the tour they advertise. It's actually run by the Catalunya Bus Turístic. So you would pay €5/person more to Viator than booking the Catalunya Bus Turístic Girona-Figueres tour directly through the BCN shop.
The departure time is 8:30 am and the return, 7:30 pm.
Schedule:
From 7/11 to 14/3: Tuesday and Saturday.
From 15/3 to 6/11: daily departures, except Monday.
From 7/11 to 14/3 2017: Tuesday and Saturday.
Jun 1st, 2016, 08:55 AM
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Robert - great point about the group size. It definitely makes it less expensive, but the trade off is always that you have to be dependent on a larger group. When we travel to Europe, we always trying to avoid it, but everyone is different so it's great to have options 
Jun 1st, 2016, 05:47 PM
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Thank you for finding and outlining another option for us! Both arrangements sound great, and far better than figuring this out on my own and staring at my watch all day so we stay on time. Although Spanish Trails costs more, it includes lunch and entry to the museum and one other site. Entry to the Dali Museum alone is 14 euro/person, so in the end, maybe it is not that much more. I will investigate further. This is a big help, thank you so much!
Jun 10th, 2016, 07:42 PM
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I must admit that I would have found it frustrating to visit both Figueres and Girona in just one day -- I wanted so much more time in Girona than a single day trip, combined with Figueres, would have allowed! But that's JMO, and you've gotten some great info about options that might suit your interests. If you haven't fully committed, you might consider an easy day trip (by bus or train) to each city on separate days... just an idea....
Jun 10th, 2016, 08:13 PM
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Girona was a highlight of our trip to Spain and I don't think you'd want to give it short shrift by spending only 2 hours there. The only reason to go to Figueres is the Dali Museum, which is worth the effort. It's wonderful and don't miss an exhibition of his jewelry, which was never put into production, but it is truly breathtaking. In short, I don't think you will want to plan both stops in just one day. We spent a long weekend in Girona and from there went to Figueres. There is also a trip from Figueres you can take to the summer home of Dali - there is a bus you can take (on winding roads to the coast).
