From Barcelona: ‘Game Of Thrones’ Small Group Tour in Girona

Girona does a remarkable bit of double duty here. Its stone lanes become King’s Landing and Braavos, so you can follow Arya through the old city, find the steps used as the Sept of Baelor, and match each location with photos from the show. I especially like the Jaime golden-hand ice cream and the proper Catalan lunch with homemade sangria in Blanes.

I also like the small group size, capped at 15, and the mix of guided time and free wandering. The main drawback is the pace: Girona involves plenty of stairs, and this is a full 8-and-a-half-hour day with about two hours in transport. The final castle stop is appealing, but the exact castle name is described differently in the supplied details, so confirm the day’s final stop if that matters to you.

Key points to know before booking

• Girona supplies the main event: Walk the medieval streets used for scenes in King’s Landing and Braavos, with show photos to help you place the action.
• The guide shapes the experience: Past departures have featured Sergio, Enrique, Cam, Camilo, Stephen, and Sergey, with strong praise for their storytelling, humor, and Game of Thrones knowledge.
• The golden-hand ice cream is included: This playful snack is shaped like Jaime Lannister’s famous hand and comes on a popsicle stick.
• Lunch is more than a quick stop: In Blanes, you get a three-course meal at a family-run restaurant, plus housemade sangria and local specialties.
• You get time beyond the show: Girona’s Jewish quarter, alleys, historic buildings, and waterfront are yours to explore independently.
• Plan for stairs and a long day: The tour runs from about 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and uses an air-conditioned vehicle between stops.

Why Girona works so well for Game of Thrones

The clever part of this excursion is that it does not treat Girona as a film set alone. The city already has the old stone streets, monumental stairways, arches, and tightly packed medieval buildings that made it useful to the production. You get the show connection, but the setting has a life and history of its own.

Your guide leads you through locations linked with Arya, Jaime, Cersei, and Margaery Tyrell. The route includes scenes used for both King’s Landing and Braavos, with the steps of the Sept of Baelor among the most recognizable stops. If you know the show well, the visual matches will be the main reward. If you only watched a few episodes, the guide’s photos should make the connections easier to spot.

The best guides add context instead of simply pointing at a doorway and naming a scene. Sergio, Enrique, Camilo, Sergio, Cam, Stephen, and Sergey are among the guides associated with different departures, and the strongest feedback centers on their energy, show knowledge, humor, and local history. A guide who brings printed or displayed scene photos can help you see how a street looked on screen, even when the real place is full of daily life.

That personal presentation matters because filming locations can be surprisingly ordinary once the cameras are gone. A photo held up at the correct angle turns a plain corner into a scene you recognize. It also gives the walk a clear purpose, rather than leaving you to guess which parts of Girona appeared in the series.

Meeting in central Barcelona at 8:45 a.m.

The day begins near the Palau de la Música Catalana at C/ Palau de la Música, 1. You meet the guide at the operator’s main office, with a little time to use the restroom or buy a quick coffee before departure. The stated tour start is 9 a.m., so arrive early enough to find the meeting point without rushing.

You leave Barcelona through the Eixample district. During the drive, the guide gives you an introduction to Barcelona, Girona, and Catalonia before you settle in for the roughly one-hour ride. This is a useful use of travel time, especially if you are new to the region and want more than film trivia.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the group can include no more than 15 people. That is small enough for a guide to answer questions and manage a walking group without the feel of a large coach tour. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the central meeting point.

Girona’s stone lanes, stairways, and show locations

The Girona portion is the heart of the day. You follow the guide through key filming locations while learning how the city was adapted for different places in the story. The route includes scenes connected with Arya, Jaime, Cersei, and Margaery, and the guide uses show images to connect the real streets with their on-screen versions.

Expect a walking tour through medieval alleys and historic streets, with stairs along the way. One practical warning is worth taking seriously: Girona has a lot of steps. Comfortable shoes are essential, and you should be ready for uneven paving and repeated climbs. The supplied information says most people can participate, but the stair-heavy route may be tiring if you have mobility limits.

The Sept of Baelor steps are likely to be a highlight for fans. Even without special effects, the scale and stonework give the location a strong sense of place. You can take photos from the same general positions used by the production, then compare the real view with the guide’s images.

The tour does not rush straight from one photo spot to another. You also have time to explore Girona independently. Use it to wander the Jewish neighborhood, look at the old architecture, browse the lanes, or pause near the waterfront. This free period is important because the guided portion gives you the story connection, while independent time lets you enjoy Girona at your own speed.

The Jaime golden-hand ice cream

At some point during the Girona visit, you receive the included Jaime golden-hand ice cream on a popsicle stick. It was created as a Game of Thrones-themed local treat and shaped to honor Jaime Lannister’s golden hand.

This is a small detail, but it adds fun to the day. It gives you a memorable photo opportunity and breaks up the walking. The treat is associated with a Michelin-starred chef, according to the tour description, so it is more distinctive than an ordinary stop at an ice cream shop.

Do not think of it as a major meal or a long tasting session. It is a themed snack, and its real value is the link between Girona, the show, and the local food scene. If you are booking mainly for film locations, it is a pleasant extra rather than the reason to choose the tour.

A three-course Catalan lunch in Blanes

After Girona, you drive to Blanes, described as the gateway to the Costa Brava. The included lunch takes place at a family-run local restaurant. The owner welcomes the group with homemade sangria, followed by several starters, a main course, and dessert.

This is one of the strongest parts of the itinerary for anyone who wants a fuller taste of Catalonia. Instead of buying lunch wherever you happen to be, you sit down for a planned three-course meal with local specialties. The food also gives the long day a proper pause before the final sightseeing stop.

The lunch is included in the $127.03 price, along with the vehicle, guide, and golden-hand ice cream. That makes the cost easier to justify than a basic transport-and-walking tour, especially in Barcelona, where a full meal and a separate day trip can quickly add up. Still, value depends on your priorities. If you only want Girona and do not care about the meal or castle, a simpler train visit could suit you better.

The restaurant setting has a family-run, local feel rather than a quick tourist café. You should allow time for the meal because the Blanes stop lasts about two hours, including the lunch and the transition to the final stop. Homemade sangria is included, but you should not treat the day as a tasting tour. The focus is a generous meal within a sightseeing schedule.

The final medieval castle stop

The last excursion is to a well-preserved medieval castle in the Blanes area, with views toward the coast. The description identifies the stop as Castillo de Garcimunoz, while other supplied details refer to a castle or palace near Blanes and Palafolls. Since the naming is not fully consistent, ask the operator to confirm the exact site before you go if the castle is a major reason for booking.

What is clear is the purpose of the stop. You get time to look around a medieval fortress with surviving structures from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, then enjoy broad coastal views before returning to Barcelona. After the tight streets of Girona and the seated lunch, this open-air stop changes the rhythm of the day.

The castle visit is scheduled for about 30 minutes in the formal itinerary, though the Blanes section includes more total time around lunch and the transfer. That is enough for a look and photographs, but not a long archaeological visit. You should see it as a scenic final stop, not a full guided castle tour.

Several departures have included especially memorable views from the castle area. If the weather is clear, bring your camera and use the free time for the outlook rather than expecting a lengthy lecture on every remaining wall.

Timing, transport, and group size

The complete experience takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes. You leave around 9 a.m. and usually return to central Barcelona around 5:30 p.m. The stated end point is Plaça Catalunya, though traffic rules and group size can mean a return to the main office near the Palau de la Música instead. Either location is central and close to public transport.

The driving sections add up. Barcelona to Girona takes about an hour, and Girona to Blanes requires another transfer, followed by the trip back to Barcelona. I see this as a fair trade for visiting three separate areas without arranging trains, taxis, and restaurant bookings yourself. You give up some flexibility, but you gain a guide, lunch, and a packed route.

The maximum group size of 15 is a useful middle ground. You get the social ease of a small group without paying for a private tour. The downside is that the schedule must work for everyone, so your free time in Girona is limited compared with an overnight stay or independent day trip.

The tour is offered in English only. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is near public transportation at both ends. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If the minimum number is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this day most

This is an easy choice for a committed Game of Thrones fan who wants to see Girona’s filming locations with someone who can explain the scenes. The guide’s show photos and scene knowledge are central to the experience, so fans who remember characters and locations will get the most from the walking tour.

You do not need to be a devoted fan, though. Girona’s medieval center, the Catalan meal, the coastal setting, and the castle give the day several reasons to work. I would also recommend it to families with older children and teenagers who enjoy the series or medieval sites. The castle and the themed ice cream add variety, while free time gives everyone a short break from group touring.

It is less suitable if you want a slow day. The schedule covers Barcelona, Girona, Blanes, lunch, and a castle in one outing. You should also think twice if stairs are difficult for you or if you prefer to choose your own restaurants and spend a full day in one town.

Is the $127.03 price fair?

For a full-day small-group tour, the price is reasonable if you plan to use most of what is included. You receive return transport from central Barcelona, an English-speaking guide, the Girona walking tour, the themed ice cream, and a three-course restaurant lunch with sangria. You also reach a coastal town and a medieval castle without arranging the connections yourself.

The value is strongest when you want convenience and a broad day out. A self-guided Girona trip may cost less, but it will not include the same scene-by-scene explanation, lunch arrangement, or extra stops. On the other hand, independent visitors can spend longer in Girona and choose their own food, so the package is not automatically best for every budget.

The consistent strengths of this experience are the guides and the balance between guided stops and personal time. Sergio is repeatedly praised for his show and regional knowledge, while Enrique, Camilo, Cam, Stephen, and Sergey are also associated with engaging departures. Guide assignments can change, so book for the itinerary rather than expecting one particular person.

My call: book it for the full Catalonia mix

Book this tour if you want Girona’s Game of Thrones locations but also care about food, scenery, and regional history. The best parts are the guide’s scene photos, the chance to walk the Sept of Baelor steps, the Jaime ice cream, and the relaxed family lunch in Blanes.

Skip it if you want a short Girona-only visit, dislike fixed schedules, or need a route with few stairs. For everyone else, the tour makes a strong day trip from Barcelona because it turns a filming-location walk into a wider look at Catalonia. Just wear good shoes, arrive early at the Palau de la Música meeting point, and confirm the exact final castle before booking.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at C/ Palau de la Música, 1, near the Palau de la Música Catalana in central Barcelona. The meeting time is 8:45 a.m., with departure scheduled for 9 a.m.

Where does the tour finish?

It usually finishes around 5:30 p.m. at Plaça Catalunya. Depending on traffic restrictions and group size, it may instead end at the operator’s office near the Palau de la Música.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a three-course lunch at a family-run restaurant in Blanes, along with homemade sangria.

Is the ice cream included?

Yes. You receive an ice cream shaped like Jaime Lannister’s golden hand on a popsicle stick during the Girona visit.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 participants.

Is the tour offered in languages other than English?

No. The tour operates in English only.