People who visit often ask me where downtown Girona is. I reply that it doesn’t really have a distinct ‘city centre’ in the usual sense. For shopping purposes there are certain areas that have streets which contain many different shops-I’ve tried to group them in the following way (see below).
Please be aware that store opening times here might be different from your own country. Many of the smaller independent shops close for lunch, which could be for up to 3 hours. Summertime can also be a bit of a hit or miss affair as shops close for their annual holiday-usually in August. Retail related stores are all closed Sundays.
Old town & fringes.
The Rambla de la Liberatat is the wide pedestrianised street that you can access once you cross over the Pont de Pedra bridge from the new part of Girona. A lot of largely smaller shops.
At the bottom it doglegs into C/ de les Ballesteries, again the same here, with a few interspersed quirky stores.
The long, shady street that leads up to the stone bridge (from Via Jaume 1) is C/Nou. It has more than its fair share of shoe shops and opticians.
As you walk down here and just before the stone bridge turn left into C/Santa Clara. Clothes shops predominantly.
Head for the Hotel Carlamany, this more modern area has larger shops, chains like H&M, Zara and Bershka. Roads radiating out from the hotel all have stores, or head for C/Migdia.
Retail / Commercial park.
Go south on C/Barcelona all the way to the end as if you were leaving Girona until you reach a large roundabout with a McD’s. Turn off here for 3 large retail sheds. All open late (9pm).
BauHaus-DIY, tools, lighting, paints, bathrooms and garden supplies.
Decathlon- Sports clothing, footwear and equipment for all major sports.
Media Markt-All things electrical, domestic appliances, kitchen gadgets, computers and peripherals, cameras, large range of TV’s.
For shopping mall enthusiasts Girona has Espai Girones in nearby Salt with free indoor/outdoor car parking. The L- 4 bus goes there, catching it from Pl. Marques-Camps. It advertises as having 130 shops with restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and budget hotels. Open till late.
Misc. & Other Girona shops
Wala-Placa Salt,1. Poligon Mas Xirgu. Large, top brands sports clothing and equipment store.
El Corte Ingles-C/Barcelona 106, multi storey branch of this national chain with an extensive basement food hall.
Abacus-C/Barcelona 42. Stationery chain run as a co-operative, order/buy general and school books, educational toys and games, English books section. Become a free member to get discounts on every purchase.
Microgestio- Ronda Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 25. Local official Apple reseller, repairs and training.
Further out of Girona
La Roca designer outlet village near Barcelona www.larocavillage.com
Gran Jonquera Outlet & Shopping, is near the French border with about 50 shops www.granjonquera.com
Cross into France, head for Perpignan and its giant supermarket Ocean for wines, cheeses and snacks that are hard to get in Girona.