Castell de Sant Miquel is the reward at the end of one of Girona's best short hikes. The ruins are modest: a tower, wall fragments, and the remains of a fortified chapel on a ridge between Girona and Celrà. What makes the place travel-worthy is the position, with views back to Girona and out across the Empordà and the Gavarres.
Start from the old town or Sant Daniel if you want the walk to feel like a real escape from the city. The route climbs steadily but is manageable for most fit walkers, and cyclists use the same hill tracks. Bring water in warm weather; there is little shade near the top, and the exposed stone can be fierce in summer.