Girona is a perfect base ...

The stylish city of BARCELONA lies just 75 minutes south of Girona by train. The city is famous for its street performers and its Gaudi architecture, including the Sagrada Familia (left). The fountains at the National Palace are a popular family attraction (top photo). The city has an hourly train service from Girona, with trains arriving just a ten minute walk from Placa de Catalunya at the top of Las Ramblas in the heart of the city (return fare, 12 euros).

The SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM at FIGUERES provides an eye-opening insight into the strange mind of one of the great surrealists. As well as a tremendous range of paintings, the museum also features his work in other media, including his use of holograms to capture three dimensional objects in a two dimensional way. This incorporates an imaginative use of mirrors, as well as projecting holograms onto rotating cylinders to create 360 degree views. Figueres lies 30 minutes north of Girona by train.

BANYOLES LAKE provides an ideal family day out, with safe bathing and various boating options, including pedaloes and cruises. Lakeside restaurants enjoy attractive views of the Pyrenees. There's a gentle walk around the lake which passes by the elegant Romanesque church of Santa Maria. The lake lies within a 15 minute walk of the centre of the town of Banyoles, which has a regular bus service to Girona (journey time 30 minutes).

A dramatic 11th century bridge provides access to the medieval town of BESALU. The steep, narrow streets, dusty squares and dark archways of the old town exude a powerful sense of history. The bridge itself towers over the River Fluvia, and features a fortified gatehouse complete with portcullis. There are regular buses from Girona (journey time one hour).

The ancient ruins at EMPURIES provide extensive evidence of one of the earliest Greek and Roman settlements in Spain. With the help of an audio guide, visitors are able to explore the maze of urban streets and discover the fountains, mosaics and columns which once overlooked one of the major trading ports on the Mediterranean. A musuem showcases a large collection of ceramics and artifacts, along with a visual presentation of the history of the town. (Empuries is an hours drive from Girona).

The dramatic mountain range of MONTSERRAT lies an hours drive south of Girona. Montserrat is famous throughout Catalunya for its monastery (founded in 1025) and its shrine to the Virgin Mary, which is today tended by 80 Benedictine monks, whose other occupation is the distilling of the herbal liqueur Aromes de Montserrat.

SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS is the closest coastal resort to Girona (45 minutes by bus). It has an attractive seafront of restaurants and plane trees, and a crescent-shaped beach of coarse sand. Back from the beach, the narrow streets and cafe-bars of the old town are also appealing.

High medieval walls and turrets dominate the coastline at TOSSA DE MAR, one of the most popular resorts on the Costa Brava. Founded originally by the Romans, Tossa has twelfth-century walls surrounding an old quarter, which is all cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and flower boxes, with terrific views over the bay. Tossa has three beaches, the quietest in summer being Mar Menuda, just around the headland from the old town. There is a fairly regular bus service from Girona in summer (journey time one hour).

PALS BEACH is one of the longest on the Costa Brava, an hours drive from Girona. It is also the starting point of an idyllic coastal walk south to the small resort of Sa Riera, passing some delightful coves en route.

The beautiful MEDIEVAL VILLAGE of PALS actually lies a few miles inland from Pals beach. The village is popular for its shops selling pottery and ceramics, many of which date from the 14th century and have been lovingly restored by local craftsmen. Its fortified, hilltop setting provides dramatic views of the Gulf of Roses, extending into the far distance to the north.

One of the most attractive walks on the Costa Brava is along the clifftop from LLAFRANC to CALELLA. Both resorts are popular in summer, with pretty beaches and some excellent beachside restaurants and tapa bars. There are regular buses from Girona to the nearby town of Palafrugell (journey time 90 minutes). It's then a 10 minute taxi ride to the coast (or take the bus in the summer).

TAMARIU is just north of Llafranc, and is also reached in summer via a bus from Palafrugell. It's a quaint resort with a pretty beach, but car drivers should beware that it has very limited parking, so an early arrival is recommended in summer. The Costa Brava generally has very clean water, and the sea at Tamariu appears particularly crystal clear.

CADAQUES is a 90 minute drive from Girona, accessible by a steep, winding road through some dramatic moountain scenery. The box-like, whitewashed houses which line its narrow, hilly streets make it one of the most picturesque resorts on the Costa Brava. It's also one of the most popular with day-trippers, making parking a particular problem in summer (early arrival is recommended). It's famed for its many private art galleries, which proudly display the works of the thriving local arts community.

Just north of Cadaques lies PORT LLIGAT, famous for Salvador Dali taking up residence there in the 1960s. The road out to the coast at Port Lligat cuts through a strange, barren landscape, almost lunar in nature, whose influence can be seen in many of the Dali landscape paintings. His house is open to the public, and provides a fascinating insight into one of his most productive working environments.

CAP DE CREUS is a place of sublimely rugged beauty, with a steep, rocky coastline indented by dozens of lovely, turquoise-watered coves. It has an especially magical atmosphere at dawn and dusk, with spendid views in all directions. This is spectacular hiking country, with coastal paths to Cadaques to the south and El Port de la Selva to the north, as well as inland to the Monestir de Sant Pere de Rodes. Cap de Creus is a 90 minute drive north from Girona.

Further north, LLANCA is the one coastal resort which can be reached directly by train from Girona (journey time one hour). It's a pleasant resort, with a beach of coarse sand, providing access to some spectacular walks along the coast.

Finally, for a taste of the Pyrenees, CAMPRODON lies a 90 minute drive to the north west from Girona. The bubbling River Ter plunges through the centre of the town in its early stages, later to pass through Girona at a more tranquill pace as it heads east to the coast. There are numerous walks from the town into the surrounding countryside.