Girona
Urban RiverfrontGirona pulses with medieval intensity. Walk the narrow lanes of the Old Town and you're threading through centuries—Roman walls still stand, Gothic cathedral spires cut the sky, and the Onyar River mirrors it all back in shades of amber and green. The pace is deliberate, unhurried in a way that feels intentional rather than sleepy. This is a city that knows itself: university students fill the cafés, locals move through plazas with purpose, tourists cluster around the famous pastel-colored houses reflected in water. The Jewish Quarter (Call) remains one of Europe's best-preserved, its tight alleys a living archive. Girona sits in Catalonia's northeast, close enough to Barcelona for day trips but far enough to maintain its own identity—less polished, more lived-in. The surrounding landscape shifts between Pyrenean foothills and Mediterranean approaches, giving the region a geographic complexity that shows in the food, the light, the temperament of people here.
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Luxton Legal is a boutique law firm assisting expats and foreign buyers with property conveyancing and immigration matters across Spain. We guide clients through every step of the purchase process and offer expert support with visas, residency applications, and relocation planning. Our experienced, English-speaking team ensures legal clarity and peace of mind throughout your move.
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Luxton LegalLuxton Legal is a boutique law firm assisting expats and foreign buyers with property conveyancing and immigration matters across Spain. We guide clients through every step of the purchase process and offer expert support with visas, residency applications, and relocation planning. Our experienced, English-speaking team ensures legal clarity and peace of mind throughout your move.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
Visa & Residency
Obtaining a residency in Spain can be a straightforward process, but it requires careful preparation and attention to detail. The most common types of residency visas that expats apply for are the Non-Lucrative Visa and the Golden Visa. The Non-Lucrative Visa is ideal for individuals who can support themselves without working, such as retirees or remote workers. To apply for this visa, applicants must prove they have sufficient financial means to live in Spain without income from employment, provide proof of private health insurance, and have a clean criminal record. The visa is initially granted for one year and can be renewed for two-year periods, provided the requirements are still met. After five years of legal residency, applicants can apply for long-term residency or even Spanish citizenship. The Golden Visa, on the other hand, is aimed at investors. It requires a significant investment in Spain, such as purchasing real estate worth at least €500,000, investing €1 million in Spanish companies, or depositing €1 million in a Spanish bank. The Golden Visa offers a fast track to residency and is particularly popular among non-EU nationals. It grants residency for two years, which is renewable for five-year periods, and eventually leads to permanent residency and citizenship if desired. The application process for both visas involves submitting the necessary documentation to the Spanish consulate or embassy in the applicant's home country. After the initial approval, the applicant will receive a visa that allows them to enter Spain. Upon arrival, they must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) at the local office or police station. The process can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring translations and apostilles for official documents. It is recommended to seek legal advice or assistance from immigration professionals to navigate the process successfully. Overall, while the process is manageable, it does require thorough preparation and understanding of the Spanish immigration system.
Cost of Living
Living costs in Girona sit comfortably below Barcelona's while remaining higher than smaller Spanish towns. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center runs reasonable by European standards; groceries and dining out stay affordable, especially if you eat where locals do rather than in tourist zones. Property purchase prices have climbed in recent years as the city's appeal has grown, but remain accessible compared to major coastal cities.
Weather
Girona experiences a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild winters, though proximity to the Pyrenees brings occasional cooler mountain influence and autumn rains.
Healthcare in Girona
Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta is the main public facility, a well-equipped teaching hospital handling everything from routine care to complex cases, though wait times for non-urgent procedures can stretch. Private clinics like Clínica Girona offer faster access and English-speaking staff if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket or have private insurance. For expats, the public system works smoothly once you're registered, but navigating appointments and prescriptions requires either Spanish fluency or patience with bureaucracy.
Schools in Girona
Girona has several international options including schools offering International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and English-language curricula. These institutions serve expat families and Catalan residents seeking multilingual education, though enrollment numbers remain smaller than in Barcelona.
Catalan-Spanish bilingual education is standard across public schools in Girona, with many private institutions adding English as a third language. Several schools operate immersion models where Catalan and Spanish instruction runs parallel to English-medium subjects.
Restaurants in Girona
Living in Girona
Moving to Girona
Healthcare in Girona
