Girona to Barcelona by train

The train is how most people travel between Girona and Barcelona. Renfe’s AVE and AVANT high-speed services cover the 86 km (53 mile) route in 37 to 39 minutes. Regional and Media Distancia trains take about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and stop more often. Around 16 to 20 direct trains run daily, from early morning to late evening. Advance fares on AVANT services start from around €7.

Renfe is the only operator on this route. Iryo does not serve Girona.

Train options and journey times

Renfe runs two main types of service between Girona and Barcelona.

AVE and AVANT are both high-speed trains on the same high-speed line, and both take 37 to 39 minutes. AVANT is the more frequent service on this short corridor and has standard-class seating only. AVE trains also appear in the timetable and offer both a standard seat and a comfort seat, but less often. For journey time, the choice between them makes no difference.

Media Distancia (MD) and regional trains use the conventional rail network and make more stops. These services take about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on the departure. They are generally cheaper than AVANT, and they stop at more Barcelona stations, including Passeig de Gràcia and El Clot-Aragó.

You may also see Renfe AVLO, Renfe Euromed, and Rodalies de Catalunya listed on aggregator sites for this route. The core timetable is AVANT, AVE, and MD. Check which service you are actually booking.

Tickets and fares

Advance fares on AVANT start from around €7. Buy on the day and you will usually pay €15 or more. Prices go up as the departure gets closer and the cheaper seats fill. Prémium fares, which include a comfort seat and onboard food and drink, are higher still and mainly available on AVE trains. Check Renfe for current prices on those.

Renfe replaced the old Turista and Preferente class names with a ticket-tier system. The three tiers are Básico, Elige, and Prémium.

Básico is the cheapest and gets you a standard seat. It is non-refundable and non-exchangeable without fees, so only book it if your plans are fixed.

Elige also gives you a standard seat but with a free first change and a partial refund if you cancel. Elige Confort is the same tier but upgrades to a comfort seat.

Prémium includes a comfort seat and food and drink service and is the most flexible option.

For a 37-to-39-minute journey, Básico or Elige for a standard seat is what most people book. The comfort upgrade is only worth it on an AVE departure where it is actually available.

Buy directly on the Renfe website or app. Resellers like Omio, Trainline, and Rail Europe also sell Renfe tickets, though booking direct usually avoids third-party fees. Saturdays and off-peak departures tend to be cheaper than weekday peak hours. Booking well ahead generally gives you the best price.

Interrail and Eurail passes

Both Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Renfe services between Girona and Barcelona. You cannot board a high-speed AVE or AVANT train on a pass alone. A paid seat reservation is compulsory.

Reservations cost around €10 for pass holders on Renfe high-speed trains. If you book through the Interrail or Eurail reservation system online, a booking fee of around €2 applies on top of that. Renfe ticket offices in Spain can also issue reservations, but queues at major stations can be long in summer.

On this route the AVANT is the most common option and is standard class only, so your pass reservation gives you a standard seat.

Barcelona station options

Which station your train uses depends on the train type. Check the ticket before you pay, not after.

Barcelona Sants is the station for all AVE and AVANT trains on this route. It is in the Sants-Montjuïc district, with Metro lines L3 and L5 connecting to the city centre.

Passeig de Gràcia is served by some AVE trains and most Media Distancia services from Girona. It sits in the middle of the Eixample, within walking distance of most central hotels, and is considerably more useful than Sants if your accommodation is in that area. Metro lines L2, L3, and L4 are at street level outside the station.

El Clot-Aragó is a stop on regional and Media Distancia trains. It is less central but has Metro line L1.

If you are on an AVANT or AVE, you will arrive at Sants. If you are on an MD or regional train, check whether your service calls at Passeig de Gràcia. It usually does, and for central Barcelona it is the better arrival.

Girona station

Girona’s train station, Estació de Girona at Plaça d’Espanya, is about a 15-minute walk from the old town. There are self-service luggage lockers at the station, with small lockers starting at around €3.50. The ticket office and a cafeteria are in the main building. City buses L1 and L2 stop outside if you do not want to walk.

Seat types and onboard services

On AVE trains, Renfe has two seat types. Standard seats are arranged 2-2 with reclining seats, fold-down tables, and power outlets at most seats. Comfort seats are wider at 2-1 and include complimentary food and drink when booked with a Prémium ticket.

AVANT trains, which handle most departures on this route, have standard seats only.

All high-speed trains are air-conditioned and have overhead luggage racks and wheelchair-accessible spaces. AVE trains typically have a cafeteria car selling hot drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. AVANT services on a short run like this may carry a trolley or vending machines instead.

If you are travelling with a bicycle, Renfe allows bikes on some services but requires a separate reservation. Confirm this is available on the specific train before you book.

Getting to and from the stations

From Girona station, city buses L1 and L2 stop outside. Taxis are at the main entrance. The old town is about a 15-minute walk.

From Barcelona Sants, Metro lines L3 and L5 cover the city centre and the main tourist areas. Taxis and buses are outside the main exits.

Passeig de Gràcia opens directly onto the boulevard of the same name. Metro lines L2, L3, and L4 are a short walk from the platforms. Most central hotels are within walking distance.

El Clot-Aragó connects to Metro line L1, which runs across the north of the city centre toward Plaça de Catalunya.

Girona Airport and Barcelona

Girona Airport (GRO) is about 12 km south of Girona city and has no rail connection to the city train station. If you are flying into GRO and heading to Barcelona, the Sagalés bus runs directly to Barcelona Nord bus station without going through Girona city first. The journey takes around 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes.

If you are travelling between Girona city and Barcelona, use the city train from Estació de Girona. It is faster and runs more often than any bus alternative.

Bus and car

Bus services from FlixBus and local operators run between Girona and Barcelona, but the journey takes 1.5 to 2 hours and departures are less frequent than the train. By car the motorway is around 1 hour, but parking in central Barcelona is expensive and can be hard to find. The train is faster, more frequent, and usually cheaper than parking a car for a day in the city.