---
title: Girona & Costa Brava Small Group Tour From Barcelona with Paella!
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/spain/barcelona/tours/girona-costa-brava-small-group-tour-from-barcelona-with-paella/
type: tour
city: Barcelona
country: Spain
price: 115
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.61
reviews: 1111
duration_minutes: 630
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 98 of 100 (Day Trips)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-02
data_updated: 2026-10-03
canonical: https://guidekin.com/spain/barcelona/tours/girona-costa-brava-small-group-tour-from-barcelona-with-paella/
---

# Girona & Costa Brava Small Group Tour From Barcelona with Paella!

**Guidekin's take:** Visit Pals and Calella de Palafrugell before exploring Girona at your own pace, with an opportunity to swim on the coast. Guiding and air-conditioned transport are included; seafood paella is an optional upgrade. 4.61 from 1111 reviews at €115 per person for 10h 30m.

In our comparison: #98 of 100 in Day Trips, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Escape Barcelona for a full-day small-group tour to the medieval city of Girona and the stunning Costa Brava coastline. Begin in Pals, a charming hilltop village with cobbled streets and artisan shops. Continue to Calella de Palafrugell, a whitewashed fishing village where you can swim in a secluded cove, walk coastal trails, or upgrade to enjoy a traditional seafood paella lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, explore Girona at your own pace. Highlights include the Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and a walk along the original Roman walls. With expert local guides and a maximum group size of 20, this tour offers history, scenery, and culture in one unforgettable day.

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: from 590 pickup points
- Starts 08:30: one departure a day
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Children from €115: ages 0 to 11

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup from 590 pickup points

## Key facts

- Price: from €115 per person for the Tour INCLUDING 7.45am pickup option; other options up to €130
- Duration: 10h 30m
- Rating: 4.61/5 from 1111 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Explore Catalunya
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Start times: 08:30
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-02

## Reviews

4.61 from 1111 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
91% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 1015 of 1111.

- 5 stars: 832 (75%)
- 4 stars: 183 (16%)
- 3 stars: 54 (5%)
- 2 stars: 26 (2%)
- 1 star: 16 (1%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides, historic towns and coastal stop, but some want more time to explore.

**Praised:**
- Knowledgeable guides explain Catalan history and local culture
- Small groups create a personal, sociable atmosphere
- Historic towns combined with opportunities to swim or relax by the coast
- Tasty paella lunches and helpful restaurant recommendations

**Complaints:**
- Some want more time in Girona or by the coast, while others find the stops well paced
- Some find the commentary sparse or unengaging, while others praise detailed explanations
- Pickup and drop-off locations sometimes mean inconvenient extra walking
- Cancellations have required some travellers to switch tours or rebook

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2024-02-20 to 2026-09-20); last checked 2026-10-03.

## Tour options

Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page.

| Option | Price | Guide languages | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour INCLUDING 7.45am pickup | €115 / person | English | Regular Tour INCLUDING pickup: Please note that the Pickup time is 7.45am. Actual tour starts at 8.30am. DID YOU REMEMBER TO CHOOSE YOUR HOTEL FOR PICKUP? Pickup included |
| Traditional Seafood Paella | €130 / person | English | Upgrade for Seafood Paella: Why not treat yourself to a traditional seafood paella right next to the sea with this exclusive upgrade? |

## What's included

- Local guide
- Optional Hotel Pick Up
- Small group tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle

## Not included

- Gratuities
- Food and drinks

## Itinerary

1. **Palace of Catalan Music** (15m) - 8:15am – Check-in at Explore Catalunya Office Meet your guide at our centrally located office, opposite the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. Arrive a little early to check in, use the facilities, or grab a coffee nearby.
2. **Eixample** (pass by, no stop) - 8:30am – Depart Barcelona Leave the city behind and head north through the scenic Catalan countryside, passing through the modernist Eixample district and learning a little about Barcelona’s history from your guide en route.
3. **Pals** (1h) - 10:00am – Arrive in Pals Discover the medieval village of Pals, perched on a hill with panoramic views. Join your guide for a short walk through its historic centre, including the old tower, stone archways, and village walls. Enjoy some free time to explore artisan shops and...
4. **Calella de Palafrugell** (2h 30m) - 11:45am – Arrive in Calella de Palafrugell Head down to the coast to explore one of the Costa Brava’s most beautiful seaside villages. Wander its whitewashed streets, walk the coastal footpaths, or take a swim in a quiet cove. If you’ve selected the lunch upgrade, sit down at...
5. **Girona** (2h) - 3:00pm – Arrive in Girona Travel inland to Girona, one of Catalonia’s most historic and culturally rich cities. Your guide will provide an introduction, then you'll have free time to visit the Gothic Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, the Arab Baths, or walk the Roman walls....
6. **Plaza de Catalunya** (pass by, no stop) - 7.00 - We end the day in Plaça Catalunya. From here, you can easily take the metro or a taxi back to your hotel. Otherwise, your guide will be more than happy to make some recommendations of where to have dinner.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 08:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-02
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

THE PICK UP WILL COLLECT YO8 AT 7.45AM. IF YOU ARE BUYING THE HOTEL PICK UP OPTION, PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHOOSE THE HOTEL. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YET, REMEMBER TO TELL US 72 HOURS BEFORE. 
All of our other tours meet at our office. We advise that you arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts.

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJEahpJ_GipBIR0fUmHK-r6gA

Pickup points listed by the operator: 590

Ends: Depending on the size of the group and the traffic restrictions on the day of the tour, your tour will finish back at the office, or at the Arc de Triomf, which is an easy 10 minute walk from our main office.


## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There will be time off the bus at your leisure, so please bring suitable clothing, footwear, and sun protection.
- You will also have an opportunity to go swimming at Calella de Palafrugell, so if you want, bring your swimming costume and a beach towel.
- This tour is in English only.

## Compared with other Day Trips

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #98 of 100** | €115 | 10h 30m | 4.61 (1111) | shared |
| [Costa Brava Tour: Kayak, Snorkel & Cliff Jump from Barcelona](/spain/barcelona/tours/costa-brava-tour-kayak-snorkel-cliff-jump-from-barcelona/?format=md) | €85 | 8h | 4.97 (5116) | shared |
| [Costa Brava Tour: Kayak, Snorkel, Cliff Jump & lunch Small Group](/spain/barcelona/tours/costa-brava-tour-kayak-snorkel-cliff-jump-lunch-small-group/?format=md) | €85 | 8h | 4.97 (1120) | shared |
| [Costa Brava Tour: Easy Hike, Snorkel & Cliff Jump from Barcelona](/spain/barcelona/tours/costa-brava-tour-easy-hike-snorkel-cliff-jump-from-barcelona/?format=md) | €85 | 9h | 4.99 (418) | shared |

Ranked #98 of 100 in Day Trips by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €38 to €545, median €109; typical length 9h. 29 of 100 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/spain/barcelona/day-trips-from-barcelona/?format=md

## More in Barcelona

- All Barcelona tours: https://guidekin.com/spain/barcelona/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/spain/barcelona/tours/girona-costa-brava-small-group-tour-from-barcelona-with-paella/

Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/spain/barcelona/?format=md