Cases de l'Onyar i Pont de les Peixateries Velles
The colourful houses over the river and the red iron bridge built by Eiffel's firm in 1877. Girona's definitive postcard view.
What you'll see (and why it's worth the stop)
The Cases de l'Onyar are the colourful houses that literally hang over the Onyar river — Girona's most iconic image. This is no stage set: where these façades now lean out over the water, a medieval defensive wall once stood on the western bank, blown up by French troops in 1814. Between the 17th and 20th centuries, houses with double façades (one facing the street, one the river) were built out over the channel on corbelled platforms. The colours you see today are not original: between 1983 and 1985 architects Josep Fuses and Joan M. Viader defined a palette of 32 natural tones — ochres, siennas, iron reds — after studying the historic colour schemes of the old town. The ensemble is listed in Catalonia's Architectural Heritage Inventory. Directly opposite stands the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, the red iron bridge built in 1876–77 by the Parisian firm Eiffel et Cie. A detail many people get wrong: it was built by Gustave Eiffel's company, not by Eiffel himself, and twelve years before the Eiffel Tower (1889). The bridge spans 42 metres and is barely 2.62 metres wide — crossing it is the best way to see the houses reflected in the water.
Tickets, opening hours and how to beat the crowds
It's free. Both the houses and the bridge are public spaces in the heart of the city: no ticket office, no entrance fee, no closing time — you can visit at any hour of the day or night. The only exception is Casa Masó (Carrer Ballesteries, 29), the only building in the ensemble that can be visited inside: it charges admission and may require a booking, so check opening hours and availability on the official Fundació Rafael Masó website (fundaciomaso.cat) before you go. For crowd-free photos, go first thing in the morning, before 9:00: the old town is almost empty and the light is soft. Weekdays in July and August see far fewer visitors than weekends, and the worst times are Sunday afternoons and summer Saturdays. Also avoid the May weekends of Temps de Flors: the bridge is beautifully decorated, but foot traffic is at its peak. At night the houses are lit up and offer a completely different atmosphere. The best water reflections come when the river is calm — typically at dawn on windless days.
How to get there and tips from those who've been
From Barcelona by train it's very straightforward: Rodalies line R11 (Sants → Girona, ~1 h 20 min) or AVE/Avant (~38 min). Girona station is about a 10-minute walk from the old town. Leave by the main exit, cross the bridge over the tracks and head down the Rambla de la Llibertat towards the river — it takes you straight to the ensemble. Urban bus lines connect the station and the centre (single fare around €1.40), but for that distance walking is the most practical option. There is no metro or tram in Girona, and Uber does not operate in Catalonia. Allow 15–30 minutes just for the houses and the bridge; they are not museums but a walk-through sight to admire and photograph. If you combine the visit with the Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter (Call Jueu), the Carolingian walls and Sant Feliu, budget half a day (3–4 hours) for the old town. The bridge is narrow and pedestrian-only, so it can get congested during peak hours for photos. The cobblestones are slippery when wet: wear comfortable shoes. As of June 2026 no works or closures have been reported, but if you want to confirm you can call the Girona Tourist Office (+34 972 010 001).
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to pay or book to see the houses and bridge?
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Other places in Girona
Catedral de Girona (Santa María)
monumentoThe cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in the world, atop 90 Baroque steps. Inside, the famous 11th-century Tapestry of Creation.
Banys Àrabs
monumentoDespite the name, these are 12th-century Romanesque baths inspired by hammams. The cold room with its domed octagonal lantern is the most photographed.
El Call (barrio judío)
barrioOne of the best-preserved medieval Jewish quarters in Europe: very narrow stone alleys and the Museum of Jewish History.
Basílica de Sant Feliu
monumentoRomanesque-Gothic church with a bell tower truncated by lightning, the tallest in the city. It holds Roman early-Christian sarcophagi.
Passeig de la Muralla
miradorFree walk along the top of the old Carolingian walls, with towers to climb and the best views over the rooftops and surrounding hills.
Revetlla de Sant Joan
fiestaThe Nit de Sant Joan is free and open to all, lighting up Girona on the night of 23–24 June (the 24th is a public holiday across Catalonia). Bonfires blaze in neighbourhoods and squares, the Flama del Canigó arrives at the Plaça del Vi, and coca and cava fill the tables: an inland midsummer festival, no beach, right beside the Onyar.
Temps de Flors
fiestaEvery May, Girona's Barri Vell becomes an ephemeral garden: Temps de Flors fills more than 100 spaces across the medieval old town — the cathedral, the Arab baths, private courtyards that only open for the occasion — with around 140 floral installations. Nine days, free admission, and over 400,000 visitors at the last edition.
Fires de Sant Narcís
fiestaThe Fires de Sant Narcís are Girona's Festa Major: roughly ten days in late October, around the 29th, with over 200 free events. Documented since the 14th century, it is the oldest fair in Catalonia, featuring the famous fira d'atraccions in the Parc de la Devesa and the old town spilling out into the streets.
Navidad en Girona
fiestaDecember turns Girona into one of Catalonia's most beautiful postcards: the Barri Vell and the bridges over the Onyar are lit up from late November, there's a free Christmas market in the Plaça de la Independència, and the Cathedral can be visited without queues — all with tourism at its lowest and crisp, dry cold.
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Ponte Dom Luís I
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