Hello, my name is Orlena and I’m planning to move to the Girona area of Catalonia in May. I have a husband and 2 young boys (1 and 3). We’re planning a trip in March to fine somewhere to rent ( a 3-4 bedroom house). We’ll be loving along the coast east of Girona. Does anyone have any tips? Or live in that area? Would be great to meet some people!

Hasta luego!

HI Orlena,

they say this is the most beautiful area of Spain - I live just south of Girona, near the airport. Think that living on the coast will be hard over the winter months as its quite isolated when its not summer, and super busy/hectic when it is. Also, if you need to get into Girona quick (work, school etc) it isnt that convenient as there is no straight road into the city (comming from the east that is). Main roads into Girona are from north and from south. So really depends on what you are looking for (convenience into the city or quiet secluded countryside).

A 3/4 bedroom house outside Girona will cost you between 800 - 1200 euro / month usually with a garden and pool. There are plenty on the market so you are in the position to cherry pick and negotiate. IN Girona this will cost you approx 1200-1500euro (no pool).

I have moved here 2 years ago from Italy and love it.

Good luck

Claudio

That’s really useful, thank you very much. Are there any areas outside of Girona that you would particularly recommend?

Orlena

depends on what you are looking for. English speaking schools, expat comunity, or you are looking for a local community and school. Do you need to go into Girona on a daily basis for work? do you want a small village or a decent size city? The area north of Girona called Alta and Baixa Empord? is beautiful, rolling hills, medieval fairy tale towns .... but is a good 45 mins form the airport (if you need to fly alot its not too convenient). We decided we needed to be near the airport, and a train ride form Girona and BArcelona. So we chose a small village that has a train station.

Begur (on the coats) is beautiful and has an international community all year round ... but if you need to go into girona, or take a train to barcelona, its pretty much off the beatin path.

Lloret de mar has a large internationl comunity but is quite ugly; Tossa de Mar is beautiful but isolated in winter and winding roads in and out. Figueres is a largish town and has a train station with the train taking you into BArcelona (1.5 hours) but also PAris (france) in 5 hours. Dali museum and lovely down town. But again, not much happening .... again depends on what you are after.

I live in a small village called Sils, nothing here, very quiet, long walks in the woods, only 25mins form the coast, 10 mins form airport, local train station, good schools, 15 mins from Girona, 1 hour from barcelona. No international community (by the way Im italian) and have made many local friends.

If you are ok with quiet, country villages, I would suggest the Empord? region (north girona) - like southern france but cheaper! like a fairy tale - alot of old medieval villages, houses for rent (check http://www.rusticbisbal.com/ for rentals) and just breath taking. But very quiet and rural. this area is quite international with alot of foreign expats retireing here.

Claudio

All depends on what you are after.

Another thing to deal with is schools are taught in catalan, and spanish as a second language - but kids do learn both and at that young age they will learn them both fluent. - quickly. So I wouldnt worry much about that.

this is a website renting old houses (masias) in my area http://masiaslaselva.com/eng/item.php?segment=28&item=41 Big properties divided in 2 or 3 houses so thus you have a huge garden and pool sharing with 2 or 3 families (usually foreign).

average 1200 euro a month for a big 16/17th century house - have visited these are were very nice (refurbished, mostly furnished or part furnished)

other websites in my area

if you want to spend less then houses in the ‘urbanizacion’ which are recidential areas usually go for 800-1000 euro per month (house with garden and often pool). The energy bills for smaller houses are much cheaper of course rather than the big masias. So that is something to consider

Claudio

Thank you so much for all your information. The websites are great. Really helpful.

Thank you again

Orlena

glad they were helpful.

Good luck

Hi Claudio

Sorry, another question if you have time! A lot of the websites seem to have a distinction between renting as a second home or a permanent residence. What is that all about? Also, it appears that some people want a 5 year contract. Is that normal, or is it possible to get shorter contracts? (We’re planning on renting for about a year and then hoping to buy.)

Thanks once again for your help,

Orlena

HI Orlena,

probably refers to the condition of the house (second homes usually do not have heating, are much more basic, etc) rather than any contract terms. Contracts here are usually straight forward, 5 + 5 years but you can cancel anytime you want with a 2 month notice. Yes you can stay only one year and then leave. The 5 year contract is to cover you incase the owner wants to kick you out: he basically cannot before 5 years unless he himself needs to move into the house.

SO yes surely you will be able to stay one year. Good idea I may add. Here is another good website to check. By the way CHALET and TORRE are the same and they basically mean single house usually in residential areas known as ‘Urbanisacion’. Piso and apartamento again are the same thing (as far as I know) and mean flat.

viviendas en Girona

Hi Orlena and Claudio,

I just joined the forum after lurking here for some months. Just wanted to tell you that this thread has so much information that I was looking for!  Thanks Claudio for your generous sharing.

Ideally, I’d live in a small, quiet village with a local community with a mix of expats somewhere between Girona and the coast.  I will check out your links.

Any ideas on where to stay for a couple of weeks in that area? 

Thanks so much. Maria

HI MAria,

I too am italian so the language was not a problem for my kids.

Here are 2 websites which are also very usefull

http://www.gironagrapevine.co.uk/

http://mygironaspain.com/

Begur which is on the coast seems to have a largish expat community. SO does La Bisbal D’empord? which is half way Girona- Northeast Coast.

Not many expats here compared to the south of spain and you will find larger comunites in Blanes, Lloret de MAr and south towards Barcelona.

Castellano ofcourse is fundamental and catalan would help but not necessary (except for schools that are tought in catalan).

Little to no expats (that have school kids that is) in my area south of the airport. Then again we’re very happy to be ‘full-in’ with the locals.

the more south you go the more larger expat community. If you are an older couple then there are quite a few retired older couples here but don’t get out much. However the above websites will know more.

Ah, I love Begur. Beautiful town. Nice folks. Great food and beaches.

Hi Claudio,

Thanks so much for your response and sharing more.  The gironagrapevine link looks wonderful! They even have a writer’s group. The second link did not work for me.

No, not retired—-widowed, pediatric intensive care/Emergency Room nurse. I’m in the midst of writing a book which figures prominently re: the kind of environment that I am looking for.  My 7yo Chocolate Lab, Stormy, will also be joining me on this next adventure.

I too have enjoyed and done very well with the locals in every region I’ve visited—-even during my solo visit from fishing villages in Galicia down to M?laga.

Which is why I feel so at home once I land on Spanish soil.  But these have been only visits and perhaps I’d feel better if English speaking expats were in the vicinity.  I suppose I won’t know until I get there.

I think, ideally, I’d live in a quiet village with mostly natives easily accessible to Girona where there is an expat population? I don’t need big metropolises like BCN any more except to pop in and out for occasional special art/cultural events that can’t be seen anywhere else.  I’ll be staying in a monastery with nuns I know from a prior visit in BCN for Easter and then zipping up north to Girona and environs, exploring the places you’ve suggested…I love that city….I’m just starting to get excited in the midst of the hecticness of all the pre-planning.

Thanks again and I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

PS: If there are other women who have made extended stays in Spain alone, I’d love to hear from you.