For a Girona and Costa Brava day trip from Barcelona, three options are listed on WizardTrip. They have 8,406, 7,330 and 5,140 reviews. Ratings are 4.9 out of 5 for the first two and 5.0 out of 5 for the third (as of 18 October 2026).
These three days are nothing alike. One explores Girona on foot with eight people at most. The second adds Montserrat Abbey to a day by coach. The third is spent kayaking and snorkeling. This article compares them and tells you which to choose.
Girona and the Costa Brava from Barcelona: what to know
All three listings start from Barcelona, for durations of 8 to 11.5 hours. The guide speaks English and Spanish in all three cases: no listing mentions French. All allow a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the departure time.
Two trips visit Girona. The third is an active day on the coast, for people who swim well.
Girona and Pals day trip from Barcelona, in a small group
The small-group tour lasts 10 hours and takes 8 participants at most. An air-conditioned minibus picks you up at your Barcelona hotel or apartment, between 8 am and 9 am. The day before, a message sent by the booking system confirms the exact time, the guide’s name and phone number. The listing excludes pickup at the airport and the cruise terminal.
The walking tour of Girona lasts 3 hours. It follows the colorful houses along the Onyar River, the Jewish quarter of El Call and the city walls. It then passes the cathedral, the archaeology museum and the Arab baths. The listing allows 10 minutes for each of these three sites, admission not included.
According to the listing, the cathedral has the widest Gothic nave in the world, at 23 meters. It serves as the setting for the “Great Sept of Baelor” in the series “Game of Thrones.”
The group then spends 30 minutes in Pals, a medieval village, then 1 hour in Calella de Palafrugell, a fishing village. Lunch is not included: you buy it on site, in Calella. The reviews do not all mention the same coastal stops, among Calella, Tossa de Mar and Peratallada. Check the listing’s program before booking.
Montserrat, Girona and Tossa de Mar: the coach day
The Montserrat excursion lasts 11.5 hours, the longest of the three. There is no hotel pickup: you go to a departure point in Barcelona. The listing mentions a return to the Casa de les Punxes. The coach is air-conditioned and, on site, each guide takes 25 people at most.
The drive to Montserrat takes 1 hour. The group spends 2 hours there, abbey admission included. The guided tour covers the basilica and its statue of the “Black Madonna,” the atrium, the cloister and the main square.
After a 1.5-hour drive, Girona takes 2 hours: the old town and its Jewish quarter. The listing then allows 1 hour for the cathedral, the colorful Onyar houses and the city walls. It also mentions the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, a bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. This time slot is also for lunch on your own. Cathedral admission is not included. “Game of Thrones” fans will see filming locations from season six.
That leaves a 45-minute drive to the Costa Brava. The group spends 45 minutes in Tossa de Mar, then 30 minutes at the castle, a historic fortified enclosure. The return to Barcelona takes about 1.5 hours.
Lunch is not included, but an upgrade adds a meal at a traditional restaurant. The listing advises against the excursion for anyone with spinal problems or poor cardiovascular health.
Costa Brava by kayak: snorkeling and cliff jumping
The kayak day lasts 8 hours. The listing announces 12 people at most, and 8 in the small-group option, in a 9-seat van. The other option, the budget one, travels by coach. Air-conditioned round-trip transport from Barcelona is included.
The meeting point is in Barcelona, in front of La Bohème café, 10 minutes before the start time. The listing asks you to use the link provided, because other cafés share the same name. It points to the Ciutadella Vila Olímpica and Marina metro stations, and advises against taxis at rush hour.
The listing places the beach at S’Agaro. The kayaks leave from San Pol beach and follow the Camí de Ronda, a coastal path. The program includes 2.5 to 3 hours of kayaking and snorkeling, with an optional cliff jump. A sandwich is served afterward: turkey, chorizo, tuna or cheese, drinks not included.
Equipment is included: life jackets, optional wetsuits during the cooler months, a safety boat, insurance and secure storage. The guide photographs the group with a GoPro. Towel, snorkeling fins and water shoes are not provided.
Strong swimming ability is required: non-swimmers do not get on the kayaks and are not refunded. The minimum age is 7 and the weight limit is 115 kg per person. A traveler wrote in September 2026: “kayaking is not really meant for beginners. You are going to get a workout.”
The listing advises against this day for pregnant women and travelers in poor cardiovascular health. It also advises against it for people with serious shoulder or back problems.
The three excursions compared
| Small group in Girona | Montserrat, Girona, Tossa | Kayaking and cliff jumping | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 10 hours | 11.5 hours | 8 hours |
| Departure | Hotel or apartment, between 8 am and 9 am | Departure point to reach, return to the Casa de les Punxes | In front of La Bohème café |
| Stops | Girona, Pals, Calella de Palafrugell | Montserrat, Girona, Tossa de Mar | S’Agaro and San Pol beaches |
| Maximum group size | 8 people | 30 people, 25 per guide | 12 people, 8 in the small group |
| Meals | Not included, lunch to buy in Calella | Not included, upgrade with lunch | Sandwich after the activity, drinks extra |
| Admissions | Not included (cathedral, Arab baths) | Montserrat Abbey included, cathedral not included | Kayak and snorkeling equipment included |
| Guide language | English, Spanish | English, Spanish | English, Spanish |
| Conditions | Children accompanied by an adult | Not recommended with spinal problems | Strong swimming ability required, minimum age 7 |
| Cancellation | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Price from | €99 | €80 | €85 |
Can you take children on these excursions?
The listing for the small-group tour welcomes infants and young children. Strollers and prams are accepted, and infant car seats are available on request. You must give the children’s ages to get one. They stay with an adult throughout the tour.
The kayak day requires a minimum age of 7, good swimming skills and a weight of 115 kg at most per person. The listing for the Montserrat excursion gives no age limit or equipment for children.
What happens if it rains?
Only the kayak listing covers the case: the excursion is canceled if the weather is bad. The other two listings give no cancellation rules. GinaMia took the small-group tour on a rainy day. She wrote in October 2026: “the visits at each place were a little shorter to ensure the group’s comfort.”
For swimming on the Costa Brava, two sightseeing listings advise bringing a swimsuit. One specifies that swimming depends on the weather.
Which one to choose?
- You want a small group and hotel pickup: the Girona, Pals and Calella tour, limited to 8 people.
- You want Montserrat, Girona and the sea in one day, at the lowest starting price: the 11.5-hour excursion.
- You prefer water to monuments and swim well: the kayaking, snorkeling and cliff-jumping day.
- You are traveling with young children: the small-group tour, which accepts strollers and offers car seats on request.
- You want to go inside Girona Cathedral: plan for its ticket separately, as neither of the two sightseeing tours includes it.
For the rest of your stay, the city’s tours, shows and excursions are gathered on the Things to do in Barcelona page. More travel ideas in Spain are on the country page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Girona and Costa Brava excursion from Barcelona?
It depends on the option. The kayak day lasts 8 hours and the small-group Girona tour 10 hours. The excursion that adds Montserrat lasts 11.5 hours. All three leave from Barcelona.
Can you visit Girona and Montserrat in the same day?
Yes. An 11.5-hour coach excursion combines the two sites. It allows 2 hours at Montserrat, abbey admission included, then 2 hours in Girona and 1 hour around the cathedral. It adds Tossa de Mar.
Is lunch included on the Girona excursion?
No, not on the small-group tour, where lunch is bought in Calella de Palafrugell. The Montserrat excursion offers an upgrade with lunch. The kayak day includes a sandwich, without a drink.
Do you need to swim for the Costa Brava kayak excursion?
Yes, strong swimming ability is required. Non-swimmers do not get on the kayaks and are not refunded. The minimum age is 7, and the weight limit is 115 kg per person.
Does the guide speak French on the Girona excursion?
The three listings compared indicate an English- and Spanish-speaking guide. None mentions French. Check the language of the option you choose on the listing before booking.
Can you cancel a Girona excursion from Barcelona for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time: all three listings then offer a full refund. They do not detail the conditions after that deadline.
Activities mentioned in this guide
Girona & Costa Brava Small-Group Tour with Pickup from Barcelona4.9(8,393 reviews)From €99.47From€99.47View activity
Montserrat, Girona & Costa Brava Guided Day Trip from Barcelona4.9(7,330 reviews)From €94.99From€94.99View activity
Costa Brava Tour: Kayak, Snorkel & Cliff Jump from Barcelona5.0(5,137 reviews)From €85From€85View activity
All activities in Barcelona, with their prices and reviews: Things to do in Barcelona
