Here we answer all the big questions when you arrive at Girona-Costa Brava Airport for your summer holiday.
Need to know how to get to your beach resort from the airport? Maybe you want to find out about nearby hotels. Or learn exactly what facilities the airport has.
Read on for all that and more – we’ve got it covered in the article below (and if we haven’t already answered your question then ask by leaving a comment below!)
One of Ryanair’s aircraft (PixaBay)
The current terminal consists of two levels, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures split between the ground and first floors. Let’s now take a look at those in detail.
When you arrive
As you disembark the aircraft you’ll probably immediately notice the difference in climate. Even if you arrive at night, the difference in temperature can be considerable, particularly during the summer months.
Airport baggage trolleys (PixaBay)
- Disembarking: You’ll probably disembark using steps down to the tarmac then walk to the terminal building. Ground staff will be on hand to guide you from the aircraft.
- Passport control: If you’ve flown from the UK you’ll first go through passport control and then through to the baggage reclaim area. Any checked-in luggage you have will (eventually!) appear on whichever of the five luggage carousels is being used for your flight. Look out for your flight number displayed above it.
- Baggage reclaim: While you’re waiting for your luggage to appear on the carousel there are toilets, vending machines and an ATM. There is also an information desk and car rental desks.
- Main arrivals: Finally you pass customs and into the main arrivals area.
If you’re being met at the airport then that’s all the hard work done. Otherwise you still need to get to your final destination.
So how do you do that?
Getting to your destination
So you’ve arrived in Girona safe and sound. But what next?
You can find flights to Girona-Costa Brava from all over Europe (PixaBay)
Depending on where you’re headed, you’ll need to continue your journey using one or more of the following:
We’ll look at each of those below. But since it’s not always obvious what you need, we’ve put together a handy tool using Google Maps. Use it to help find the right bus and train combinations to get where you want to be.
Click here to find bus & train routes to your destination
Use the links below to plan your trip to your final destination. When you follow the link on each town you’ll find the trip recommended by Google Maps.
It works well, you can trust it to find out when the next service is next scheduled or to find out what is available on at specific date and time.
To get back to the airport you can reverse the journey using the up/down arrows.
Desktop view of Google Maps. Use the up/down arrows (indicated by the red circle) to reverse the journey.
The first three towns listed are the main destinations or transport hubs. After that towns are listed alphabetically.
If no route is found then try changing the date to your actual date of travel. And if that doesn’t work, look for a route to a nearby town.
Just arrived and reading this on your smart phone? You can find out what your options are right now by opening the tool above.
Bus
Buses run throughout the day from the airport. After exiting the terminal turn right and continue walking. You’ll see the bus stop ahead of you with an information and sales point.
Buses run from the airport throughout the day (PixaBay)
Currently the service runs between around 05:30 am and 00:30 am. However, some routes have very few buses throughout the day and may not be useful for you for that reason.
When you’re looking at the timetables you may find Girona-Costa Brava Airport listed under Vilobí d’Onyar rather than Girona.
Buses from Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Barcelona Nord
604: Multiple buses per day to Barcelona Nord.
602: Several times a day to Barcelona Nord and on to Barcelona airport.
Operated by Sagalés: View timetable
Girona
607: Hourly to the bus station in Girona from 05:30 am to 00:30 am.
Operated by Sagalés: View timetable
Northern Costa Brava
602: Stops at Girona and goes on to Figueres. From there take the train or a bus to your final destination.
Operated by Sagalés: View timetable
Southern Costa Brava/Maresme
601: Daily to Blanes and various towns on Costa Maresme.
605: To Lloret, Tossa and Blanes.
Sarfa: Twice daily to Lloret and Tossa.
Operated by Sagalés/Sarfa: View timetable
Train
As an alternative to the bus, you might want to take the train to Barcelona or Figueres. From Figueres you can continue by bus to the coast. You still need to get to Girona station, but the rail network is cheap and modern, if not always punctual.
The train is a good alternative to reach Barcelona or Figueres (Pixabay)
Trains between Girona and Barcelona start at around 6:15 am and go on until about 9:20 pm. In the opposite direction the first train departs Barcelona before 6:00 am with a service running throughout the day until around 9:45 pm.
Train timetables change a couple of times a year. For the most up to date information on train times click the link below and enter your starting location and destination.
Check current timetables on Renfe’s website
Car hire
For the ultimate in flexibility hire a rental car for the duration of your stay. Not only does it get you to your destination but you can also easily explore the area without having to rely on public transport.
If you’re looking to explore the Costa Brava then a hire car is a must (PixaBay)
The downside is that renting a car is more expensive than the other transport options. However, if you don’t plan on spending all your holiday in your resort town then a car is a must.
- Pre-book you car online. You’ll get a better price and won’t spend so long filling out paperwork as booking at the airport.
- There are a couple of budget options near the airport with a shuttle bus to their offices. They’re located on the road that runs between the AP7 autopista and the airport.
Auto Europe compares rates between different car companies to ensure you get the best rate.
Taxi
While a taxi is more expensive than the bus, you’re not bound to the same rigid timetables as buses and trains.
Taxis are a convenient but more expensive way of getting from the airport (PixaBay)
All taxis are metered and you can expect to pay in the region of €30 to Girona city centre. A taxi to your resort will cost considerably more, depending on the distance, while Barcelona will set you back something in the region of €150+.
- The taxi rank is in front of the terminal building and clearly marked.
- If there are no taxis available there’s a phone to call one of two companies operating at the airport.
- You can also take the bus to Girona station and continue by taxi from there.
Private transfer
Another option is to pre-book a transfer from the airport. You know the drill – look for someone holding a sign with your name in arrivals.
Pre-booking a private transfer can be extremely cost effective when travelling in groups (PixaBay)
If you’re in a group then this can work out quite economically. In June 2018 the prices to Platja d’Aro are as follows:
- €59 for 1-4 passengers (€15 to €59 per person depending on number)
- €72 for 5-7 passengers (€10.29 to €14.40 per person)
- €96 for 8-12 passengers (€8 to €12 per person)
- €120 for 13 to 16 passengers (€7.50 to €9.20 per person)
- €141 for 17 to 20 passengers (€7.05 to €8.29 per person)
The drivers are supposed to track your flight so should be aware if you are delayed.
When you leave
Obviously you’ll get back to Girona-Costa Brava Airport using the same transport links in reverse. So here I’m assuming you’ve managed to get back to the airport and found departures.
Passport and suitcase (PixaBay)
Here on the ground floor are around 30 check-in desks. Probably you’ve already checked in online, but if you still need to do so – or you need to check in your luggage – then head for the desk for your airline and flight. Usually you won’t have much of a queue.
After checking in you need to head up the stairs to go through security and passport control before heading for your departure gate. Girona-Costa Brava is quite small in comparison with airports like Barcelona and so you won’t have far to go.
Terminal facilities
The airport offers free WiFi but with roaming in Europe now effectively meaning you can use your smartphone like you do at home, there doesn’t seem like much point and you’re required to provide personal details to use the service. Airport WiFi also tends to be patchy and slow.
The check in area is on the ground floor. Photo by Dantadd.
Ground Floor: On the ground floor you’ll find a cafe serving coffee and other drinks, as well as pastries and cakes. Also on the ground floor is The Food Gallery, which mainly serves hot and cold sandwiches and cakes.
Airline desks are also located on the ground floor in case you need assistance, as is lost luggage and cash machines.
First Floor: After you’ve gone through security you’ll find a duty free shop and a convenience store on the first floor. You can also order food from McDonald’s, Subway or a restaurant serving Mediterranean food.
There are three smoking areas once you’ve gone through security, all on terraces marked with a cigarette sign. These are located (1) on the left after exiting duty free; (2) near gate 14 close to McDonald’s and Subway; and (3) close to gate 1.
There are also a couple of play areas for kids.
Parking
Girona-Costa Brava Airport has plenty of parking on site and nearby. There are several multi-storey car parks at the airport with a capacity of 3,500. These secure car parks offer sheltered parking your vehicle, charging points for electric cars and if you return to your car with a flat battery they’ll jump start you. When it happened to me they didn’t charge me.
Nearby are a number of off site car parks offering discounts on long term parking. In the past I’ve used Aparkivoli, which worked perfectly well. You do need to reserve your space in advance though. You can do that here.
Hotels
Got an early morning flight from Girona-Costa Brava Airport? If so maybe you should think about staying overnight in a hotel close by.
There are three within a couple of kilometres of the airport, the closest of which is Hotel Vilobí (*). In fact it’s so close that you could easily walk to the terminal building.
The Eden Park (****) and Sallés Hotel Aeroport Girona (****) are also nearby and close to the AP7 motorway. The latter offers guests a free shuttle to and from the airport, which is extremely handy. You’ll need to contact the hotel by phone if you want to be collected from the airport.
