Region: Europe
Girona is an elegant, walkable medieval city in Catalonia, about 100 km northeast of Barcelona, prized for its beautifully preserved old town, riverside charm, and world-class food scene. It offers an authentic Catalan lifestyle with excellent Spanish healthcare, strong safety, and a relaxed pace, while sitting within easy reach of the Costa Brava beaches, the Pyrenees, and Barcelona's international airport. It suits retirees who want history, culture, and gastronomy without the crowds and cost of a big city.
Climate type: mediterranean. Average temperature: 59°F (15°C).
Healthcare quality rating: 5/5. Safety rating: 5/5. Overall rating: 5/5.
Primary language: Catalan & Spanish. English proficiency: moderate. Expat community rating: 3/5.
Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is popular with retirees: applicants must show sufficient passive income (about 2,400 EUR/month for one person plus ~600 EUR/month per dependent in 2025) and private health insurance valid in Spain, with no right to work. Valid 1 year, then renewable for 2-year periods. After 5 years of legal residence retirees can apply for permanent residency, and after 10 years for Spanish citizenship. Residents can access Spain's excellent public health system once registered.
Girona traces its roots to a Roman settlement (Gerunda) on the Via Augusta and grew into a strategic walled city fought over for centuries by Moors, Franks, and Spanish kings - earning the nickname "City of a Thousand Sieges." Its remarkably intact medieval core, including one of Europe's finest preserved Jewish quarters, reflects a layered Roman, Jewish, and Catalan heritage. Today Girona is a prosperous, cultured Catalan city, famous worldwide for its gastronomy and as a backdrop for film and television.
The xuixo (pronounced "choo-cho") is Girona's signature pastry: a cylinder of fried, sugar-dusted dough filled with rich crema catalana (Catalan custard). Invented in Girona in the early 20th century, it is crisp on the outside and creamy within - traditionally enjoyed with a morning coffee. It remains a proud local specialty found in bakeries across the city.
Connect through Barcelona (BCN), then a short high-speed train or drive north to Girona.
Total travel time: ~9-11 hours total