Girona sits at the heart of the Empordà and the buses and regional trains make it an easy base for a day out. The most rewarding short trip is to Besalú, a small medieval town reached by bus in under an hour. You can do a round trip if you check the timetables carefully. Besalú is built around a wonderful fortified Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià, and its compact old centre and former Jewish quarter reward an unhurried wander.
For something more surreal, the Gala Dalí Castle at Púbol makes a fine half-day excursion into the Empordà countryside, part of the trio of Dalí sites alongside Figueres and Portlligat.
