Last Updated on November 5, 2023
The perfect location in Girona, a Catalan gem.
Located in the centre of Girona, Hotel Ciutat de Girona is perfectly positioned for a visit to this charming city. Ciutat is Catalan for ‘city’, and the four-starred Hotel Ciutat is very much in the heart of one of the jewels of Catalonia, a fascinating region in northeastern Spain.
Hosted by the hotel for my three-night stay in Girona, I arrived mid-evening following an afternoon of travel from Madrid. From Barcelona, you can reach Girona on the fast train in 38 minutes. A 15-minute walk from the train station through the commercial centre of town brought me to the hotel which I found a few steps off a central shopping street. While on the train I had researched where to eat while I was visiting the city and I was keen to secure a table for dinner the following night at a popular restaurant that was, for me, disappointingly fully booked throughout my time in Girona. I mentioned this to the friendly staff member at Reception as I checked in. By the time I reached my room on the 4th floor, the phone was buzzing and I was informed that a table had been found and a booking made at the restaurant. That is the kind of service one hopes to find in a hotel.
Hotel Ciutat de Girona is positioned on a corner and has views out over two streets which are lively and offer very good shopping opportunities at a range of unique boutiques, bakeries and outlets selling all manner of interesting items. The 44 rooms in the hotel are simply appointed, with white linen and pops of bright red and grey. The large bed was comfortable as were the pillows. Blackout curtains enabled me to get a good sleep There was a good-sized desk which was very handy and the Wi-Fi was excellent. There are double rooms as well as triples and family rooms. For guests travelling with families and who prefer to have self-catering facilities, the hotel has eight luxury apartments a few steps away from the main building.
The bathroom had a walk-in shower with eco products. The hotel also provided bamboo toothbrushes miniature toothpaste tubes, a comb, and a razor. I have not had all these items made available in a hotel since my recent travels in Japan where these are standard issue in every hotel. However, in Japan, the toiletries are all made from plastic whereas at the Hotel Ciutat de Girona, I was pleased to find them in bamboo. It makes travelling so much more effortless when you don’t have to pack basic toiletries when going on a trip.
The hotel has a spa with a range of treatments on order. I was tempted to book a sports massage as a daily count of 20,000 steps for several weeks while travelling was starting to take its toll. Unfortunately, I had many more thousands of steps to cover to get a good sense of Girona as there is a great deal to see. There is also a spinning room with virtual classes should you feel the need to have a workout. I noticed an impressive number of cyclists in Girona as well as bicycle rental outlets. I learned that the city has a well-earned reputation as the European capital of cycling and many cyclists come to Girona to train in the surrounding area. I believe that Lance Armstrong opened a bike shop in the city after he arrived there in 2001. Nowadays hundreds of professional cyclists base themselves in Girona where they train with their teams. At Hotel Ciutat de Girona guests can book a special cycling package with secure bike storage, laundry service and access to the spinning room.
The Suksma bar is located in the lobby area of the hotel and you can enjoy local wines or cocktails either indoors or on the terraced area outside. Digital nomads will find a space to work while smoothies and juices are available from the bar along with snacks.
The in-house eatery, Restaurant Blanc, is situated on the ground floor. It has a chic ambience and is a relaxing space for dinner. Wooden floors and a white colour palate with huge glass panels overlooking the street all make for a most pleasant environment. The back wall is covered with backlit white shelving filled with colourful bottles, while white leather banquettes add to the smart monochrome look.
The menu has a range of typical Spanish starters including croquettes, squid, Iberian ham and octopus as well as a range of vegetarian starters and salads. Mains include Italian pasta-based dishes or Spanish rice dishes. Then there are international dishes such as chicken tikka masala or Thai red curry and duck confit. There is a selection of fish dished including sea bass, tuna, monkfish and cod or stir-fried shrimp. Desserts range from the traditional crème Catalan to cheesecake, carrot cake and pineapple carpaccio.
Breakfast was served in the restaurant where we sat at a floor-to-ceiling window enjoying some people watching over our coffee. The breakfast buffet included Spanish cheese and charcuterie, scrambled eggs and bacon, a range of cereals, breads, pastries, yoghurts, jams and fresh fruit.
If you wish to eat out, there is an extensive range of restaurant options within minutes of the hotel. In fact, there are several eateries mere seconds away.
On a city break, the location of one’s hotel is important not only for its proximity to the main sites you wish to explore but also for how close it is to the sort of nightlife you are looking to enjoy. Most of Girona’s historic buildings and museums are situated in the old town and the medieval quarter both of which are very close to Hotel Ciutat de Girona. At night, the old town is packed with diners at night who spill out onto the cobbled streets from a multitude of bars and restaurants. This being Spain, eateries are open late and there is a really good vibe walking along the streets and it feels very safe to do so. Staying at Hotel Ciutat de Girona you will never be more than a 15-minute walk from most places you want to go to. Even the train station is walkable in that time. The old town is a few steps away over the small, red Eiffel Bridge at the end of the street that crosses the Onyar River. It is one of the most popular spots to take photographs and has lovely views at all times of day.
Hotel Ciutat de Girona is centrally located and comfortable. Moreover, I found it to be a very friendly place to come back to after a day of sightseeing. The staff are well trained, warm and helpful. The rooms are well-appointed and have everything you need for a city break.
Calle Nord 2, 17001 Girona, Spain
I was hosted at Hotel Ciutat de Girona courtesy of The Catalan Tourist Board
https://www.catalunya.com
