Besalú sits in La Garrotxa, at the crossroads between Girona, Figueres and Olot, and that position explains why it is so easy to reach: it is less than 40 minutes from three different towns and a little over an hour and a half from Barcelona.
What usually catches people out is the last stretch. There is no railway station and traffic in the old town is restricted, so it pays to know in advance where to leave the car and what happens next.
In short
- From Girona
- 35 km, about 37 minutes on the AP-7 and C-66
- From Figueres
- 25 km, about 28 minutes on the N-260
- From Olot
- 21 km, about 21 minutes on the A-26 and N-260
- From Barcelona
- 132 km, a bit over an hour and a half
- By bus
- Teisa stops in Besalú on its lines towards Olot
- Train
- No station; the nearest ones are Girona and Figueres
Every way of getting there
Car, bus, train combinations and what to do on arrival.
By car, the easiest option
From Girona it is 35 kilometres and about 37 minutes: you take the AP-7 and join the C-66, which passes through Banyoles and drops you straight into Besalú. From Figueres it is 25 kilometres on the N-260, about 28 minutes, and from Olot 21 kilometres on the A-26, roughly 21 minutes.
From Barcelona it is 132 kilometres, a bit over an hour and a half on the AP-7 and C-66. That is a comfortable day trip, especially if you add another stop in the area.
- Girona: 35 km on the AP-7 and C-66, about 37 minutes.
- Figueres: 25 km on the N-260, about 28 minutes.
- Barcelona: 132 km, a bit over an hour and a half.
Where to park, and why you cannot drive in
Traffic in the historic centre is regulated. Under the local rules, private vehicles that do not belong to residents may only stop, never park, inside the restricted area. It is not a minor detail: circling the old town looking for a space gets you nowhere.
The solution is simple and designed for exactly this: there is a large free car park at the entrance to the town, next to the bridge, and you walk in from there. The tourist office is right beside it, before you cross, which makes it the natural place to start.
- Car park: Free, at the entrance to the town and next to the bridge.
- Inside the old town: Non-residents may only stop, not park.
- On foot: You cross the bridge on foot and walk the centre.
Tip: On spring and summer weekends the car park fills up by mid-morning. Arriving early saves you the hunt and gives you a much quieter town.
Get the visit ready before you set offBy bus with Teisa
Besalú sits on the bus corridor linking Girona with Olot, operated by Teisa. The line that runs via Banyoles stops in Besalú, and in the published timetables the Besalú to Girona leg takes around 50 minutes. Services between Figueres and Olot also run along the same corridor.
From Barcelona there is a direct line: the Barcelona to Olot service via Banyoles stops in Besalú, taking around two hours on the departures checked. There are only a handful of services a day, so check the timetable on the Teisa website before you plan, especially at weekends and on public holidays.
- From Girona: The line to Olot via Banyoles, around 50 minutes.
- From Barcelona: Direct service via Banyoles, around two hours.
- Before you go: Check times on the Teisa website: they change by season and by day.
No train, but it combines well
Besalú has no railway station. The nearest are Girona and Figueres, both well connected with Barcelona and with the French border, and from either you can connect with the bus towards Olot that stops in Besalú.
In Girona the connection is particularly easy because the bus station sits next to the train station, so the transfer is a one-minute walk. It is the most sensible way to get there from Barcelona without a car in a single day.
- Nearest stations: Girona and Figueres, both connected to Barcelona.
- Easy transfer: In Girona the bus station is next to the train station.
- Without a car: Train to Girona and bus to Besalú is the most direct option.
What is nearby to fill the day
Besalú takes half a morning, so most people pair it with something else. Castellfollit de la Roca is 13 kilometres away, Banyoles 14, Olot 21 and Santa Pau 30. Figueres, with the Dalí museum, is 25 kilometres away.
The advantage of that geography is that you can build the day as you like: medieval town in the morning, volcanoes or lake in the afternoon, without ever driving more than half an hour between stops.
- Castellfollit de la Roca: 13 km away, the village on the basalt cliff.
- Banyoles: 14 km away, with its lake.
- Olot and the volcanic zone: 21 km away, in the heart of La Garrotxa.
What time to arrive
If you can choose, arrive early in the morning or in mid-afternoon. Midday is when the bridge and the Plaça de la Llibertat are busiest, and when photographs get the flattest light.
Allow at least half a morning for the old town. If you also want to climb the hill of Santa Maria, stay for lunch or arrange the visit to the mikveh, you are looking at a full day.
- Early: The town is quiet and the bridge gets its best light.
- Midday: The busiest moment, and the hottest in summer.
- How long: Half a morning for the centre; a full day to see everything.
And once there, explained while you walk
Getting there is the easy part. The harder part is understanding what you are looking at: a bridge that bends, a Jewish quarter with a ritual bath underneath it, and a 10th-century monastery in a town of 2,500 people.
The app has audio guides made by local guides that walk you through Besalú at your own pace, with the guide's voice in your ear. Buy once, listen when you arrive, no group and no fixed departure.
- At your pace: Start when you want and stop wherever you feel like it.
- By local guides: Recorded by people who know the town.
- One purchase: Listen on your phone on the day you go.
Download it before you set off
You buy the audio guide and download it to your phone before the trip, and it works offline once you are there. No booking, no group and no fixed time: you start it as you cross the bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train to Besalú?+
No. Besalú has no railway station. The nearest are Girona and Figueres, and from both you can connect with the bus towards Olot that stops in Besalú.
Can you get there from Barcelona without a car in one day?+
Yes. There is a direct Barcelona to Olot bus via Banyoles that stops in Besalú, taking around two hours. The alternative is the train to Girona and the bus from there, with the bus station right next to the train station.
How long does it take from Girona?+
By car, about 37 minutes for 35 kilometres on the AP-7 and C-66. By bus, the journey takes around 50 minutes according to the published timetables.
Where do you park?+
In the car park at the entrance to the town, next to the bridge. It is free and sits beside the tourist office. From there you walk in.
Can you drive into the old town?+
The area is regulated: private vehicles that do not belong to residents may only stop, not park. The practical move is to leave the car outside and walk the centre.
Do you need to book anything to visit Besalú?+
No. There is no entrance fee for the town and no timetable to keep. The only thing you arrange is the visit to the mikveh, through the tourist office. If you want the town explained as you walk, the audio guide is bought and downloaded before you leave home and works offline.