Historic gateway to Costa Brava beaches, Pyrenees valleys and medieval Catalan villages.
Girona sits 100 km north-east of Barcelona on the Onyar river, its colourful houses and Jewish quarter drawing visitors who then drive east to Costa Brava coves or north into Pyrenees foothills. A car turns a city stopover into a launch pad for Dali's Figueres museum 40 km away, Besalu's stone bridge 35 km inland, or the winding coast road to Cadaques 70 km distant. The AP-7 toll autopista runs north to France and south to Barcelona, while the free N-II parallels it and smaller C-roads branch to lakeside Banyoles 20 km or beach villages like Pals and Begur 45 km out.
We offer cars across Girona without the traditional deposit hold or mandatory credit card requirement on eligible models. When you search, each result displays whether that specific vehicle can be rented with a debit card or cash for the balance, and whether the rental company waives the deposit hold. The excess - the amount you remain responsible for in case of damage - still applies; removing the deposit simply means no blocked funds on your card during the rental period. You pay a booking advance online to secure the reservation, then settle the rest when you collect the keys.
Pick-up happens at Girona Airport 12 km south of the city centre, which serves budget airlines and offers the widest selection of cars, or arrange delivery to your hotel or address within the city. Some local suppliers operate from offices near the train station or old quarter, though the fleet in Girona is smaller than Barcelona's and certain models may be unavailable during off-season months. Your voucher lists the exact collection point, contact details and the payment methods accepted for that booking.
Right-hand traffic applies throughout Spain. Urban speed limits sit at 50 km/h, rural roads at 90-100 km/h, and autopistas and autovias at 120 km/h. The AP-7 toll motorway charges fees in Catalonia; budget extra if your itinerary leans heavily on that route. Fuel stations - Repsol, Cepsa, Galp - appear regularly along main corridors and in town. EU licences are valid; drivers from outside the EU should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national document.
Collection points spread between the airport terminal south of the city and delivery services that bring the car to your accommodation or a central meeting spot.
The terminal 12 km south via the C-66 and GI-533 hosts most rental desks in the arrivals hall. Budget airlines dominate the schedule, so morning and evening peaks can queue. Book ahead and your airport pickup confirms the desk location and any shuttle if the car park sits off-site.
Several suppliers deliver to hotels in the historic quarter, near Placa Independencia or along the Onyar riverfront. You meet the driver at the agreed time, complete the paperwork and drive away. Narrow medieval lanes make parking tricky, so confirm a sensible handover spot when you book.
A handful of local offices operate near Girona railway station on the western bank. Walking distance from the old town, these suit travellers arriving by train from Barcelona or France who want to avoid the airport shuttle. Fleet choice is narrower and off-season availability can be limited.
The city's position halfway between Barcelona and the French border opens loops along the Costa Brava coast, climbs into volcanic highlands and crossings into neighbouring regions.
Forty kilometres north on the AP-7 toll autopista or the parallel free N-II brings you to Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dali and home to his theatre-museum. The building itself - crowned with giant eggs and bread loaves - holds the artist's tomb in the crypt. Allow two hours for the museum and another hour to walk the compact old quarter. Parking appears near the fortress walls east of the centre. Any compact or mid-size saloon handles the flat motorway run; budget an hour each way if you take the slower N-II through villages.
Thirty-five kilometres north-west via the C-66 and A-26, Besalu rises above the Fluvia river, its 12th-century fortified bridge the Instagram magnet. Stone arcades line the Placa Llibertat, and a mikvah - medieval Jewish bath - hides beneath one side street. Park in the signed lot before the bridge; the old quarter is pedestrian-only. The road twists through farmland, so a small hatchback like a Citroen C3 or Toyota Auris keeps fuel costs down. Combine with a loop through Castellfollit de la Roca perched on basalt cliffs 10 km further.
Seventy kilometres north-east, the white-washed fishing village where Dali lived sits at the end of the GI-614 coast road. Hairpin bends drop from the ridgeline into coves, so the drive takes ninety minutes. Cap de Creus lighthouse marks the peninsula's tip another 8 km beyond, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. Park near the Riba beach or above the town; streets are too narrow for anything wider than a Mini Cooper or Audi A3. Mornings offer clearer light for photos; afternoons bring the Tramuntana wind that can gust hard enough to rock a small car.
Forty kilometres south on the GI-682 coast road, Tossa de Mar wraps around a bay guarded by a walled old town - Vila Vella - on the headland. Sandy Platja Gran fills with families in summer; rocky coves to the north stay quieter. From Tossa, continue south another 20 km to Lloret de Mar, or loop inland through Sant Feliu de Guixols. The road hugs cliffs with frequent viewpoints but few overtaking lanes, so a nimble hatchback or compact crossover like a Toyota C-HR suits the curves better than a large saloon.
Forty-five kilometres east via the C-66 and C-31, the medieval village of Pals crowns a low hill above rice paddies, its Gothic tower visible for miles. Begur sits 10 km further, a base for half a dozen coves - Aiguablava, Sa Riera, Fornells - each reached by narrow spur roads. Another 20 km north, Empuries displays Greek and Roman ruins on a bluff above the beach. Park at each site and walk; the roads between villages are single-lane in places. A hybrid like the Lexus UX250h or Hyundai Ioniq keeps fuel burn low if you tick off all the villages in one loop.
Fifty kilometres west on the A-26 through tunnels and gorges, Olot sits in a basin surrounded by forty dormant volcanic cones. The Parc Natural de la Zona Volcanica de la Garrotxa protects beech forests and lava flows; the Santa Margarida crater holds a chapel at its centre reached by a twenty-minute walk. Continue north 30 km to Camprodon in the Pyrenees foothills for Romanesque churches and valley hikes. Roads climb and twist, so a car with decent torque - BMW X1, Toyota C-HR - makes overtaking slower tractors easier. Winter snow can close high passes; check forecasts November through March.
The fleet mix in Girona leans toward compact and mid-size models suited to narrow village lanes and coast roads, with a scattering of hybrids and small crossovers.
| Model | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Citroen C3 | Economy hatchback | City parking, solo or couple, Besalu and Banyoles lake day trips |
| Toyota Auris | Compact hatchback | Four adults, boot space for luggage, efficient on AP-7 motorway runs |
| Audi A3 | Premium compact | Cadaques hairpins, refined ride, tight old-town parking |
| Mini Cooper | Premium small | Medieval village streets, fun on twisty coast roads, two passengers |
| Toyota C-HR | Compact crossover | Higher seating, family comfort, gravel tracks to rural ermitas |
| BMW X1 | Premium crossover | Pyrenees foothills, longer road trips, winter weather confidence |
| Hyundai Ioniq | Hybrid saloon | Low fuel costs, city-coast loops, smooth motorway cruising |
| Lexus UX250h | Premium hybrid crossover | Quiet cabin, multi-stop itineraries, elevated driving position |
Off-season - November through March outside Christmas - some premium and hybrid models disappear from the Girona fleet, so book early if you have a specific preference. The airport generally stocks a wider range than city-centre depots. Each listing in the search shows real-time availability, so what you see is what you can reserve.
Catalonia's north-east corner mixes fast toll motorways, winding coastal routes and single-track mountain roads, each demanding a different approach.
A growing number of cars in Girona are available without the deposit hold that traditionally ties up hundreds on your card, and many also accept debit cards or cash for the balance payment.
Each search result shows payment badges: "No Deposit" means the supplier will not place a hold on your card; "Debit Card" or "Cash" indicates accepted methods for the balance when you collect the keys. These conditions vary by individual car, not by category - one Toyota Auris may require a deposit while another does not, depending on which local company owns it. Use the filters to narrow results, then read the terms on each listing before you book.
You pay a booking advance online by card to confirm the reservation; the remaining balance is due at pick-up using the method stated in your voucher. The excess - your liability in case of damage - remains active regardless of deposit terms. Removing the deposit simply frees your card from a hold during the rental; it does not change your responsibility for the vehicle.
Bring your driving licence, the credit or debit card used for the online advance, and a second form of ID such as a passport. If the voucher permits debit-card or cash payment and you prefer that route, ensure your card has sufficient available balance to cover the stated excess amount - not as a hold, but as proof of funds. Some suppliers photograph or note the card details; others simply check and return it.
At the counter or delivery meeting point, you will sign the rental agreement, which lists the excess, fuel policy and any damage already noted on the vehicle. Photograph the car from all angles before you drive away. The contact number for the local company appears in your voucher; reach them directly if you encounter trouble on the road. For payment questions before you travel, see our payment and advance guide.
Practical answers about picking up a car in Girona, driving around the region and managing payments without a credit card.
Yes, many cars in our Girona search accept a debit card or cash for the balance payment. Each listing displays the accepted methods; book one that shows "Debit Card" or "Cash" if you do not have or prefer not to use a credit card. You still pay the booking advance online, then settle the rest when you collect the keys.
We show real-time results from local suppliers, and many cars carry the "No Deposit" badge, meaning no hold is placed on your card during the rental. Filters help you find the lowest-cost options among those no-deposit vehicles. Bear in mind that smaller fleets and off-season gaps can reduce choice compared to Barcelona.
Most rentals start at Girona Airport 12 km south of the city, where desks sit in the arrivals hall. Alternatively, arrange delivery to your hotel or a meeting point in the city centre. Your voucher confirms the exact address, contact details and any instructions for after-hours collection.
Girona lies 100 km north-east of Barcelona, roughly ninety minutes via the AP-7 toll autopista. If you plan to explore Costa Brava coves, Pyrenees foothills or cross into France, picking up in Girona saves the drive through Barcelona traffic. If your itinerary centres on the capital and includes a day trip north, a Barcelona rental may suit better; see our Spain car rental overview to compare.
You need a valid driving licence held for at least one year, a credit or debit card in the main driver's name, and a passport or national ID. Drivers with licences issued outside the EU should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national document. The rental agreement is signed at the collection point, and the supplier checks these documents before handing over the keys.
Yes, the French border sits 50 km north via the AP-7, and cross-border travel into France and Portugal is generally permitted. Check the terms in your voucher; most suppliers allow it without extra paperwork. If you intend to take a ferry to Morocco, you must request written approval - listed as ferry approval for Morocco crossings - at the time of booking, and an additional fee usually applies.
A compact hatchback - Audi A3, Toyota Auris, Citroen C3 - handles the narrow coast roads and village parking with ease. If you plan multiple coves and the Cadaques hairpins in one day, something nimble like a Mini Cooper makes the drive more enjoyable. For family groups or longer loops into the Pyrenees, a compact crossover such as the Toyota C-HR or BMW X1 adds space and confidence on mountain stretches.
Medieval bridges, volcanic craters and cliffside villages wait beyond the city walls. Search now to compare cars available without deposit holds or credit-card requirements, then secure your booking with a simple online advance. The coast, the mountains and the border all sit within an hour's drive.