From Girona airport to Barcelona and back. Girona Airport (Aeroport de Girona - Costa Brava), Barcelona, Spain Costa Brava which airport
Girona Airport (Aeroport de Girona - Costa Brava) (IATA GRO, ICAO: LEGE) - international Airport in northeastern Catalonia (Spain) 12 km from the city of Girona. At the time of this writing, visiting this airport was only in the plans. Now we have been to Girone twice already. The first time in August 2009, on a flight from Bremen, the second time in April and May 2012, on flights from Tallinn. If I'm not mistaken, this is our eighth Ryanair airport and the tenth in Europe in general.
Girona Airport is known by many different names which can lead to confusion, especially when booking flights. It is spelled Girona in Spanish, but Gerona in Catalan, so these names are used interchangeably. There are also other options, for example, Ryanair calls the airport - Barcelona-Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport). While other airlines call it Gerona-Costa Brava or Girona-Costa Brava.
The airport was built in 1965 and featured a 2,200 x 45 meter runway and parking for nine medium-sized aircraft. Later, a power plant, a control tower and a weather station were built, as well as a one-story passenger terminal with an area of 2,600 sq. m. A taxiway appeared on the airfield itself, parallel to the runway.
It was classified at first as administrative, that is, as local. In 1969, the aircraft parking area was further expanded and the taxiway lengthened. In the same year, due to the increase in traffic, the construction of a new terminal began. In 1975, work began to expand and adapt the runway to accommodate large jet aircraft. In the early seventies, the number of charter flights first increased dramatically, but since 1978 most of them have been transferred to Barcelona Airport. This led to a decrease in air travel, especially after 1983.
Everything changed dramatically in the early 2000s, when Ryanair decided to make Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) one of its hubs. This led to a sharp increase in passenger traffic. Over the next six years after the arrival of Ryanair, the number of passengers carried has increased more than 10 times. Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) is used by Ryanair for flights to Barcelona, as it is 92 km away north of the city. Barcelona can be reached directly by bus or taxi, or by train from railway station city of Girona.
Departure from Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)
Check-in for domestic and international flights is carried out at the lower level of the passenger terminal building, where 18 check-in desks are located. The airport terminal is not very large in size and it is not difficult to navigate it. Ryanair is the airport's flagship carrier, so its check-in counters are visible from far away. The only caveat is that the boarding gate number is not indicated on the electronic scoreboard, only the check-in counters.
Our flight (May 11, 2012) from Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) to Tallinn was early (departure at 6.55) so the check-in hall was relatively empty. To check luggage and hand luggage for weight check-in desks 1-4 are used, on the left side of the terminal. There is no registration at these racks, but only electronic scales.
The visa-check procedure, which is mandatory for Russians, is carried out in a separate window, on the right side of the terminal, next to the check-in counter number 18.
After the visa-check and baggage check-in, you need to go up the escalator to the next level of the terminal, where the checkpoints ("touch") are located before entering the departure area. Here you need to remember that the line to the inspection zone begins literally immediately after the escalator. If you have free time before departure, it is more convenient to spend it at the lower level of the terminal.
On the upper level, from the escalator to the screening area, there is only a line of people flying away, and behind the screening area you can sit, but there are not many places. Dyutik was seen only one and the small one. The number of the desired (and I will remind you 10 or 12) gate for landing appears on the scoreboard only 15-20 minutes before departure. If you pass the inspection too early, then there is nothing to do at the top and you constantly need to monitor the electronic scoreboard. We did not have such a problem, since the flight was early, we barely had time to go through all the procedures, as we announced the landing. They didn't even go to the dutik.
At Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) there was no check of hand luggage for weight, but each (!!!) bag or suitcase was checked for size through the counter, before being allowed to board. Let me remind you that if the size of hand luggage exceeds 55x35x25, i.e. a suitcase or a bag will not fit into the rack, then you will have to pay for luggage at a very (!) overpriced fare, and even drag it to the plane yourself.
Arrival in Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)
Arriving at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) is simple and straightforward. The terminal is not big and everything happens very quickly.
Regardless of the flight, passengers arrive at the 0th floor of the passenger terminal building, where there are two baggage claim halls. Hall-1 serves domestic flights, flights from the UK and Ireland, as well as from countries included in the Schengen agreement. Hall-2 is intended for passengers arriving from countries outside the Schengen Agreement. The baggage claim areas have direct access to the arrivals hall.
In addition to Barcelona, Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) has good connections with the resorts of the Costa Brava and the Costa del Maresme. Due to the proximity to the French border (only 40 minutes drive), you can use the airport when planning trips to the Pyrenees and ski resorts Andorra. More detailed information by options (cost, schedule, etc.) on the airport website in the Transport section. The page contains a lot of links to other pages of the site with options to leave-arrive.
Bus Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona.
In August 2009, after arriving at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona, we were primarily interested in Barcelona, so we will dwell in more detail on a budget transfer (and this is a bus) to Barcelona and back. The bus is the easiest and cheap way transportation between Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) and Barcelona city centre. The carrier company is not owned by Ryanair, however, the schedule is coordinated with the arrival and departure flights of Ryanair. Timetable Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona. and Timetable Barcelona - Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport) The timetable of 2009, for example, the actual one is better to look at the links on the website of the airport Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona.
The bus from the airport goes in Barcelona to the bus station Estacio Nord. Travel time is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. A five-minute walk from the stop is the metro station ARC DE Triomf (red line 1). The cost of a one-way ticket then was €12.0 ( May 2012 - €15.0), round-trip €21.0 ( May 2012 - €25.0). Tickets were not pre-sold. It was possible to buy a ticket only on the spot - you need to defend a small (or large, as you're lucky) queue to a special window in the booth next to the bus stop. Tickets were sold only for cash, no bank cards. In general, during our trip to Spain in 2009, which began at the airport of Girona, we repeatedly had the opportunity to make sure that the Spaniards are cool about bank cards, cash is somehow nicer to them.
By bus from Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona, you can also go to the city of Girona.
Car rental at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona.
Our second visit (April 27, 2012) to Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona was calculated taking into account the rental car. The car was ordered in advance from the website of the airline Ryanair (Ryanair), which in turn cooperates with HERTZ. The HERTZ office, like the offices of other renta-car companies, is located in the arrivals hall, you can see it literally as soon as you get into the terminal.
We had a booking voucher on hand and the entire registration procedure took literally a few minutes. To pick up a car, the HERTZ Agent needs to present a driving license (we had international driving license), a voucher and a bank card. Hands out a contract and keys to the car. At the time of booking, the cost of rent, the cost of a tank of gasoline and the amount assigned for returning the car to a place other than where it was issued are deducted from the account.
Here is the financial result of renting a car from HERTZ at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport) - Barcelona. Renting an Opel Astra class car from HERTZ via Ryanair for two weeks cost €259.0. The amount withdrawn for fuel is calculated as a full tank at a very inhumane price. In fact, instead of Astra, we got a diesel Opel Meriva and 54 liters were written off for fuel at €2.55. The amount for the return is not there - €17.70.
Even before the trip, having received a rental voucher from HERTZ and having carefully read it, we were surprised to find that the declared cost of renting a car does not include CDW and TP insurance (an analogue of our CASCO). We decided that we would talk about it on the spot, upon receipt of the car at the airport of Girona (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona. The result of the negotiations on the spot surprised us even more - it turned out that on the spot, for some unknown reason, it was impossible to pay for insurance, it was also impossible to cancel the reserve and place a new order ... Well, it turned out to be quite surprising that the car was given to us without insurance. And no franchise locks.
As a result, after the return of the money written off for a tank of fuel, renting an Opel Meriva car for 14 days at the Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona cost us only those very €259.0 i.e. less than twenty euros per day. And taking into account the fact that another person was traveling with us and he compensated 1/3 of the expenses for both car rental and gasoline, everything turned out very humanely. By the way, the refund of debited funds occurred quickly, no later than a week after the return of the car. What else can be said here? Only one thing - fly Ryanair (Ryanair) and use the services of HERTZ.
Cars of renta-car companies are waiting for their owners in a separate parking lot, to get there you need to go through a regular parking lot located closer to passenger terminal Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona. However, where you need to go, the HERTZ agent who draws up the car will kindly tell you.
Now a few words about the return of the car. First, there are NO REFILLS on the territory adjacent to Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona. You need to take care of replenishing the tank with fuel in advance, the nearest REPSOL gas station is located on the N-II highway about five kilometers before the turn to the airport, in the direction of travel from Girona.
The second refers to HERTZ and possibly to the time defined as "out of season". More specifically, at the beginning of May 2012, the pick-up at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona is carried out by a specially trained person who arrives at 11-00 am (11.00 a.m.). How long he works is unknown, but when we took the car on April 27, after arriving at 15:00, the booth in the parking lot where the HERTZ representative should sit was locked. Despite the fact that the opening hours are stated from 8.00 to 20.00. The result - we just parked the car in the parking lot, next to the HERTZ booth, and took the keys to where they were given out.
To get to the car park of renta-car companies at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona, you need to drive between the car park and the airport terminal, almost making a circle. Traffic signs are marked on the asphalt, as well as signs along the roadside. Entrance to the renta-car parking through a barrier that rises automatically when approaching.
For now, it's all about renting a car at Barcelona-Girona Airport-Barcelona...
Taxi at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona.
For those who are interested in the possibility of leaving or arriving at Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona by taxi, I can say the following. Taxis at the airport are minivans or minibuses such as Mercedes-Vito and the like. Travel cost for famous people settlements- Fixed or at least predictable. So the cost of a trip from Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona to the city of Girona is declared as €25.0 for a one-way flight. Mikriks are multi-seat, if you recruit a group of people who want to, then there will be less for each. We were traveling together, in fact it turned out that way, the counter at the end of the journey clicked - € 24.55. Tariff category -3.
From Girona, from a hotel in the Salt area, taking into account the early time (5-00 am) and ordering a taxi by phone, the cost of a trip to Girona Airport (Barcelona-Girona Airport)-Barcelona was almost €30.0. Tariff category -4. That's what it looked like on the counter.
Girona Airport is 103 km (64.2 miles) northeast of Barcelona, or 1 hour 20 minutes by train from Barcelona city centre.
Some low cost airlines mention Barcelona in the description of Girona airport to let you know that by flying into such small airports, you will have the opportunity to get to the final destination - Barcelona.
It is also worth noting that Girona is often written with an "e" - Gerona. Both are correct, but one is in Spanish and the other is in Catalan.
There are three main types of public transport operating between Girona airport and Barcelona city centre.
Girona airport hotel
If you are arriving on a late flight, you may need to spend the night at a hotel at Girona Airport. In this case, visit the page dedicated to the Girona airport hotel.
Hotel in the center of Girona
Alternatively, you can take a taxi to the center of Girona in 30 minutes and spend the night there. Check out our overview of hotels in the center of Girona
Barcelona Bus
The Barcelona Bus is probably the most convenient way to transfer between Girona Airport and Barcelona city centre. The bus is owned by an independent company not directly affiliated with Ryan Air. However, the schedule of the Barcelona Bus is arranged in such a way that it coincides with the schedule of RyanAir flights.
Relying on the Barcelona Bus for a transfer to Girona Airport in time for departure, do not forget that Barcelona Bus and Ryan Air are different companies. Additional information on this subject.
The bus stops right outside the airport and takes you to Estació d" Autobusos Barcelona Nord(Barcelona main bus station) in the center of Barcelona. There you can transfer to underground to get to your desired location. The nearest metro station to the bus station is underground Arc de Triomf (Red Line, L1). You must exit through the exit. Sortida Napols. The metro station is located just 5-10 minutes walk from the bus station.
Barcelona Bus ticket price
Tickets cannot be reserved in advance.
Barcelona Bus ticket prices
One way ticket: €16,00
A round-trip ticket: €33,00
You can also call the Barcelona Bus information company. They have an English speaking operator:
Information company Barcelona Bus
Tel.: +34 90 213 0014
Train transfer between Barcelona city center and Girona
The timetable for the trains connecting Barcelona city center with Girona can be found at the following link to the RENFE website.
The journey from Barcelona to Girona takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. The train arrives in the center of Girona.
Girona city center to Girona airport
From the center of Girona you will need to get to Girona airport. Don't forget to allow an extra 30 minutes for your trip from Girona city center to Girona airport. You can go by taxi or bus.
Taxi fare from Girona airport to Girona city center: €20,00
From Girona airport to Barcelona city center by taxi
Taxi fare from Girona Airport to Barcelona: €130,00
A tempting option, if you are in no hurry, is to rent a car either at Girona airport or in the center of Barcelona and drive it along the coast. In the process, along the way, it will be possible to turn onto one of the many beaches of the Costa Brava. The best way to compare car rental agencies is by the prices offered. The price difference will surprise you. Also, do not forget to check whether it is possible to take a car at one airport and return it at another, in case you are traveling one way.
Car rental at Girona Airport
GRO airport information
Girona airport information for Barcelona
Tel.:+34 91 321 1000 (Spain)
Tel.:+34 91 321 1000 (international)
Girona (Girona) is one of the most ancient and noble cities in Spain. The city is famous for its monuments and labyrinth of stone narrow streets that can intoxicate the most skeptical tourist. And actually the question: "what to see?" disappears by itself.
Girona is located in the northeast of Catalonia, about a hundred kilometers from Barcelona.
How to get from Barcelona to Girona
A branded bus runs from Barcelona Airport to Girona three times a day.
Concerning public transport, there are no direct buses from Barcelona airport to Girona city centre.
First you need to get to the center of Barcelona and then follow the bus or train.
The easiest way to get there is by Airbus (this is an express bus that runs between the airport El Prat and the center of Barcelona) to the stop Plaza España (Plaça Espanya).
The Girona railway station is located in the city center, and the Girona bus station is also located here.
How to get from Girona to Barcelona
Often airlines (eg RyanAir) use the Girona airport and not Barcelona.
How to get from Girona airport to Barcelona city center.
Perhaps the most convenient transfer option is Bus Barcelona Bus.
The advantage is that the bus schedule coincides with the RyanAir flight schedule.
The bus leaves directly from Girona Airport, which is especially convenient.
The interval of movement is every 15 minutes, the first flight is at 7:55, the last one is at 23:50.
Travel time 1 hour 15 minutes.
There is a Barcelona Bus bus to the center of Barcelona, or rather to the main bus station Estacio d'Autobusos Barcelona Nord.
Here you can already sit down and continue moving in the required direction.
The closest metro station to the bus station is Arc De Triomf(Red branch, L1).
You can get to Barcelona by train.
To do this, from Girona Airport by bus (runs every hour) you need to get to the railway station of Girona and then by train to Barcelona Sants station in Barcelona.
Trains run every half hour. Train timetables can be found on the RENFE website.
Travel time averages 1 hour 30 minutes.