Girona is often lovely and hot in summer, but if you’re visiting in winter, then the odd rainy day is not that uncommon. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of dry places where you can stay entertained. Here’s our pick of what to do on a rainy day in Girona.
The Girona Cathedral is a magnificent sight to behold and is one of the most celebrated places in the city. It’s the perfect building to hide inside when it’s raining, marvelling at its vast and cavernous spaces. Built during the 11th and 18th centuries, it comprises a baroque façade, a Romanesque cloister and the widest Gothic nave in the world.
Plaça de la Catedral, Girona, Spain +34 972 42 71 89
It may be too wet to explore the Call – Girona’s historic Jewish Quarter – but you can still learn all about it at the Jewish Museum. The museum looks at how the Jewish communities lived here during the 9th to 15th centuries and displays many archaeological finds. Of particular interest is the largest collection of Jewish tombstones in Spain.
Carrer de la Força, 8, Girona, Spain +34 972 21 67 61
Museo de Historia de los Judíos, Girona | ©Kippelboy / Wikimedia Commons
Visiting baths may not seem like the ideal way to keep dry on a rainy afternoon in the city, but actually these ancient baths no longer contain water, and have been turned into a type of museum. It is not known exactly when the Banys Arabs (as they are known in Catalan) were built, but the earliest reference to them was in 1194. The baths are actually Roman in style, but have strong Arabic influences in their motifs and designs.
Carrer Ferran el Catòlic, Girona, Spain +34 972 19 09 69
Arabic Baths Girona, Spain | ©Emvallmitjana / Wikimedia Commons | ©Emvallmitjana / Wikimedia Commons
What could be more cosy than spending a wet afternoon watching a film? Well, we’re not actually suggesting that you go to the cinema, but instead to the Cinema Museum. Created from the collection of Tomàs Mallol, it features a wide array of artefacts, which follow the history of cinema and the moving image.
Carrer de la Sèquia, 1, Girona, Spain +34 972 41 27 77
Cinema Museum Girona | ©J.M. Oliveras / Wikimedia Commons
Of course you can’t beat a rainy day learning all about the place you’re visiting, and the best place to do that is the Girona History Museum. Hidden among the alleyways of the Old Town, the museum follows the evolution of the city, from when very first human remains date back to, all the way until after the Franco era. Housed in an old monastery, it features rooms on various aspects of history and culture – such as sardana dancing or the Spanish Civil War.
Carrer de la Força, 27, Girona, Spain +34 972 22 22 29
Marvelling at works in an art gallery is a great way to spend a dry afternoon indoors and escape the rain. The Girona Art Museum contains one of the most important collections of religious art in the province and works date from the Romanesque period to the beginning of the 20th century.
Pujada de la Catedral, 12, Girona, Spain +34 972 20 38 34
Girona Art Museum | © Arnaugir / WikiCommons | ©Arnaugir / Wikimedia Commons
Girona is packed with quaint cafes and small bakeries, so you’ll have no problem finding somewhere to stay dry with a cup of tea or coffee. One of the best places is Context Llibreria Cafe, which is not only a cafe, but a bookshop and restaurant too. There will be plenty to keep you entertained here, from browsing books to tasting tapas and looking at temporary art exhibits.
Carrer del Pou Rodó, 21, Girona, Spain +34 972 48 63 90
Courtesy of Context Llibreria Cafe, Girona
Casa Marieta sits on the atmospheric Plaça de la Independència and is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, having opened in 1892. With bare stone walls and beautifully carved wooden booths, it’s a great spot to hide away from the rain and sample some Catalan classics. Try the baked snails or the duck with pears. The restaurant also has its own wine cellar, so it’s a good choice for an evening meal too.
Plaça de la Independència, 5-6, Girona, Spain +34 972 20 10 16
duck with pears recipe | MaxPixel
