# August long weekend from Girona: getaways for the Assumption, 15 August Two getaways with a night away and five day trips from Girona for 15 August, the Assumption, designed to turn your back on the full coast: Núria lake, the Ripollès greenway, bends at 1,900 metres, shady beech woods and cool cellars underground. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/girona/getaways/august-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Girona - [A weekend in the Ripollès: Romanesque monasteries and the Núria rack railway](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripolles-romanesque-monasteries-and-nuria.md) (2 nights, Ripoll): In August Núria is at almost 2,000 metres and several degrees cooler than the coast, with the lake and the meadows in summer. The Rack Railway has its long timetable and fills by mid-morning: buy the train online and go up on one of the first. - [Ripoll: two monasteries and a greenway](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripoll-monasteries-and-greenway-from-manresa.md) (Day itinerary, Ripoll): When the coast boils, the Ripollès gives a Sunday of monasteries under cover and a flat greenway beside the Ter. Both monasteries open in August, and the Ripoll cloister is cool first thing. - [Berguedà by motorbike: Coll de la Creueta and a mountain table](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/bergueda-motorbike-route.md) (Day itinerary, Berga): In August the Coll de la Creueta, at 1,921 metres, is one of the coolest roads nearest Girona, with a stop in Castellar de n'Hug and the sources of the Llobregat. Set off early: in mid-afternoon the Pyrenean storms build up. - [Montseny: easy beech forest and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montseny-beech-forest-and-grill.md) (Day itinerary, Montseny): At 1,100 metres and under the beeches, Santa Fe is the nearest shade to Girona in August. The loop round the reservoir is flat and short, and the mountain grill is eaten outside; book, as on the long weekend it fills. - [Rupit: waterfall and inn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/rupit/itineraries/rupit-sallent-waterfall-and-suspension-bridge.md) (Day itinerary, Rupit): In August the Salt de Sallent carries little water, but the stream has shade and Rupit, at 800 metres, cools in the afternoon. The 1930 inn has a cool stone dining room; closed on Wednesdays. - [A getaway to Besalú and the volcanic Garrotxa, with a balloon flight](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/besalu/itineraries/besalu-garrotxa-one-night-balloon.md) (1 night, Besalú): In summer the balloon goes up with the first light, before the heat, and is the best time to see the volcanoes. Besalú is toured before eleven; the Besalú Medieval festival is at the end of the month, not on the 15th. - [Codorníu: cellars by train and lunch in the tower](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/codorniu-cava-cellars-by-train-sant-sadurni.md) (Day itinerary, Penedès): The Codorníu cellars are underground and are toured by train at a cool temperature, the plan for the hot hours. Open all year, August too: book the timed visit and lunch at the tower. ## The only long weekend when the coast is surplus The Assumption, 15 August, is a holiday across Spain and falls at the peak of summer. That weekend the Costa Brava has its busiest crowd of the year: Pals beach car park fills before nine or does not at all, Peratallada is full of visitors from the coast and the C-66 has queues at the roundabouts. From Girona, the August long weekend makes sense in the other direction: the interior, shade and height. Many people are already on holiday and the 15th changes nothing. For those who work, a Friday or Monday holiday gives three days, enough for two nights in the Ripollès; midweek, a single day for the Montseny or Rupit. ## Going up: Núria, the Ripollès and the Berguedà The summer rule is simple: every hundred metres of altitude, a little under a degree. The Núria valley, at almost 2,000 metres, is well below Girona's temperature, and you reach it without a car on the Rack Railway from Ribes de Freser. Down below, in Ripoll, the monasteries give the hot hours under cover and the Ter greenway is done in the morning. Anyone on a motorbike has the Berguedà: a hundred kilometres of bends between Berga and the Coll de la Creueta, with a stop in Castellar de n'Hug and the sources of the Llobregat. ## Forests and inns in the shade The Santa Fe beech wood, in the Montseny, and the Salt de Sallent, in Rupit, are the two nearest shady spots. Neither is a secret in August: arrive before ten and eat early. ## What to avoid on 15 August The coast at midday; the Cité of Carcassonne at midday, with queues and heat; the Trona ledge in Siurana, with no shade; and Besalú after eleven. The nights of the Castell de Peralada Festival fill the village: if you are not going to the festival, do not dine there. And many village festivals fall around the 15th and close streets: check the programme before parking. ## Heat, storms and water August on the Girona plain goes above thirty degrees. In the Pyrenees afternoon storms are almost daily: walks in the morning. Always carry water and a layer for the night in Núria. With children, the mountain's summer timetable is best: get up early, eat early and take a siesta. ## A mountain train and an underground one for the children Núria is the most complete plan: train, lake and meadows without cars. The Ripoll greenway takes pushchairs. At Codorníu, the underground train and the cool temperature make the visit easy, and under-eights go free. The Garrotxa balloon admits children according to age: ask when you book. ## Bookings and road The August Rack Railway sells out in the central hours; the balloon too, although it depends on the wind. Rooms in the Ripollès and Besalú go weeks ahead. For leaving, the AP-7 southwards and the C-66 towards the coast get heavy; towards the interior, the C-26 and N-260 are lighter. The return on the last day, better after nine at night. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is there anywhere cool near Girona in August? Núria, at almost 2,000 metres, the Coll de la Creueta and the Santa Fe beech wood in the Montseny. ### Is the Costa Brava worth it on 15 August? Only very early. At midday the beaches and villages are full and parking is difficult.