Day trips and getting there without a car

Can you visit Castellfollit without a car?

Yes. There are two ways, depending on how much time you have and what you want to see.

By regular bus. Castellfollit has a stop on the road that runs through the village. On the TEISA website, checked in October 2026, it appears on the Olot - Barcelona via Banyoles, Girona - Olot via Banyoles and Olot - Figueres lines, which also stop in Besalú, and on the Bus Transversal de la Garrotxa, which links it with Olot and the Vall d'en Bas. From the stop, everything worth seeing in the village, including the walk down to the river, is done on foot. Check the timetables on the TEISA website before planning your day: we don't copy them here because they change with the season.

The bus works well for Castellfollit, Besalú and Olot. For the volcanic area and the Fageda d'en Jordà, which are more spread out, an organised tour or a night in Olot (see where to stay) will make things easier.

On an organised tour. Several companies run day trips that combine Castellfollit with Besalú and, depending on the tour, Santa Pau, Vic, Girona or the volcanoes. It's the most comfortable option if you're starting from Barcelona and only have one day.

From Barcelona

These are long days out: the village is about 120 to 150 km away, depending on the route (we explain this in getting there). This is what each listing says:

• Vic, Santa Pau, Castellfollit and Besalú (Civitatis). According to the listing, checked in October 2026, there's hotel pick-up, the group is limited to eight people and the day lasts about 11 hours. In Castellfollit, the programme is a walk through the streets to the church of Sant Salvador and its viewpoint over the Fluvià; in Besalú, the historic centre with its medieval bridge. Meals are not included, and the listing says the guide speaks Spanish and English.
• Girona, Besalú and Castellfollit (GetYourGuide). The listing combines the city of Girona with Besalú and Castellfollit in a single day. We haven't been able to read the full listing, so check the itinerary and the time spent at each stop before booking.
• Medieval villages and volcanic hike (GetYourGuide). Aimed at people who want to walk: the listing summary shown by search engines mentions a visit to Castellfollit, a hike over the lava flows of Sant Joan les Fonts and free time in Besalú. We haven't been able to read the full listing for this one either: check the itinerary, the length of the hike and the fitness level required.

From Girona

• The Garrotxa from Girona (Civitatis). Leaves at 9 am from Plaça Sant Feliu and gets back at around 5 pm. According to the listing, it stops for about two hours in Besalú with a guide and also takes in Castellfollit, the Santa Margarida volcano, Santa Pau and Lake Banyoles. The guide speaks Spanish, and lunch is at your own expense.

If you're in Girona without a car and would rather go independently, TEISA's Girona - Olot via Banyoles line stops in Besalú and in Castellfollit.

Once you're in the area

• Private tour of Besalú (Civitatis). A guided walk of about two hours that starts at the Romanesque bridge and covers the historic centre and the Jewish quarter, with its mikveh. The guide speaks Spanish. A good fit if you're staying in the Garrotxa and want someone to explain Besalú to you.

You don't need a guide for Castellfollit: the Natural Park's circular walk is waymarked, and we describe it in the walking route. If you'd still rather have company, Turisme Garrotxa's route page links to its list of guiding and environmental education companies in the area.

What to check before booking

• How long you spend in Castellfollit. On some tours the village is only a short stop. If the photo from the river is what you're after, check that the programme includes going down to the Fluvià footbridge or, at least, a stop at the roadside viewpoint.
• Pick-up and meeting point. Some tours pick you up from your hotel; others leave from a fixed point.
• What's included. On the two Civitatis day trips we checked, meals were not included.
• The guide's language. It varies from tour to tour.

We don't publish prices or ratings because they change every day: you'll find them on each provider's listing. If any of these links is an affiliate link, we say so next to the cards and explain it in how this guide is funded.