17 things to do in Girona for less than €5

Bikes and coffee combine much better than you might at first expect, and La Fàbrica is a clear example of their mutual attraction. Bicycles hang on the walls and there’s a counter full of desserts to choose from. This café will delight all lovers of good coffee (cyclists or not) who also enjoy original bites to eat. Banana croissants, yoghurt with chia seeds, and toast topped with goats cheese and fried egg are just some of the gastro options on offer to go with your coffee, so you can recharge your batteries and leave La Fàbrica ready for some serious pedalling.   

Sandpipers, streaked fantail warblers and flycatchers are just some of the birds that inhabit the area around the river Ter. To discover the secrets of these and other birds, the association El Blauet de Salt organises regular nature days and other activities related to birds. The events are aimed at families and take place in the Ter area, allowing participants to find out more detail about these creatures at the hands of experts. After spending a morning listening to birdsong, tits and robins will seem that much more familiar.

An eagerness to go walking and an explorer’s soul - you don’t need much more to have fun on the orienteering route that joins Salt and Girona via Les Deveses de Salt. The circuit, which is suitable for all ages, follows the banks of the river Ter from the Santa Eugènia Civic Centre and is an initiative of Aligots, a Girona orienteering club. It passes through the Pla dels Socs and the wetlands of Santa Eugènia via ten control points. If you’re not so fond of walking, there’s also the option of following the route by bike.

There’s no need to take the car if you’re looking for a green space where you can dream about legends of elves and fairy stories. The island of Ter is just outside Girona and has everything necessary to captivate young and old alike. Declared a refuge for wild fauna by the Catalan government, in this area you’ll find mammals such as genets and otters, a wide range of plants and almost 200 species of birds. It’s the ideal destination for nature lovers looking for a place to indulge their passion that’s close by, beautiful and easily accessible for walking, taking photos of peaceful landscapes and enjoying the great outdoors.

At Via Lúdica, a shop in Salt that specialises in modern board games, they organise regular competitions of some of their most popular games, such as Catan, Carcassonne, Dominion and Time Line, and even Game of Thrones card games. The aim of these activities is to entice people to get into the culture of playing such games, and the shop hosts a range of different events: role play, strategy games, speed games and many others that will get you hooked on the idea of beating your rivals. Taking part in the tournaments is free and a great way to meet new people. What’s more, you’ll find a team of experts on hand who can explain the rules of any games that you’re unfamiliar with.