Arriving by Train: Girona & Figueres-Vilafant Transfer Planning for Costa Brava
Updated: Oct 6
For international travelers, the Costa Brava does not have to begin at an airport. High-speed rail through Girona and Figueres can be an efficient gateway from Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and other connected cities, but the train only solves the first part of the journey. Many coastal villages, villas and resort addresses still require an onward road transfer from the station. This guide focuses on how to plan that handoff without turning a rail arrival into a chain of last-minute transport decisions.
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Why rail arrivals deserve their own transportation plan
The Costa Brava high-speed rail access guide identifies high-speed rail stations in Girona and Figueres as key gateways to the province. That creates a useful alternative to flying into Barcelona or Girona, particularly when a traveler is already in Barcelona, arriving from Madrid, or connecting through France.
The operational question is what happens after the train stops. A traveler may still need to reach Begur, Cadaqués, Palamós, Pals, Roses, Llafranc, a rural property or another Costa Brava address. A prearranged private chauffeur service can turn the station arrival and final road leg into one coordinated movement rather than asking the traveler to solve the last segment on arrival.
Girona and Figueres-Vilafant are not interchangeable
There is no single rail station that is automatically best for every Costa Brava trip. Choose the station around the train you can actually book and the final destination you actually need to reach. The correct comparison includes the rail itinerary, the onward road leg, luggage, arrival time and whether the traveler has commitments after check-in.
Girona is a natural gateway for many central and southern Costa Brava itineraries. Figueres-Vilafant is worth comparing when the trip is focused farther north in Alt Empordà. That is a planning heuristic, not a universal rule: a better train schedule can outweigh a modest difference in the road leg.
Girona station: a city-center rail gateway
Adif’s official Girona station information places the station at Plaça d’Espanya in Girona and lists both taxi and bus intermodality. For travelers continuing into the Costa Brava, that makes the station a practical handoff point between long-distance rail and the final road journey.
The pickup brief should identify the train, not only the clock time. Train number, origin, scheduled arrival, passenger name, mobile number and luggage profile give the coordinator enough context to distinguish one arrival from another. “Girona station at 14:00” is weaker information than the actual train service and passenger details.
Figueres-Vilafant: confirm the exact station name
Figueres-Vilafant deserves extra attention because it is not the same place as the conventional station in central Figueres. official Figueres-Vilafant station information at Avinguda Puig Grau in Vilafant and confirms taxi and bus intermodality. If the ticket says Figueres-Vilafant, the pickup should be planned for that station—not simply for “Figueres.”
That distinction matters most for international travelers unfamiliar with the area, assistants booking on someone else’s behalf, and families coordinating several passengers. The station name should be copied exactly from the rail booking into the transportation brief.
Do not build the pickup around a guessed platform exit time
Rail arrivals can shift, and passengers still need time to leave the platform, collect belongings and reach the agreed meeting point. A robust plan uses the scheduled train details as the reference and keeps communication open around the real arrival. The traveler should not have to manufacture an exact curbside time days in advance.
For a private-client or executive itinerary, this becomes even more important when a restaurant reservation, meeting, villa check-in or onward appointment follows the train. The transfer should absorb normal arrival variability while protecting the commitments that actually matter.
Luggage can make a rail arrival more complex than it looks
Train travel often encourages passengers to think the ground handoff will be simpler than an airport arrival. That is not always true. Large suitcases, several cabin bags, golf equipment, strollers or shopping luggage still affect vehicle selection and loading time. Passenger count and luggage count should be treated as two separate capacity inputs.
When the final destination is a hotel, villa or resort, share the exact property and any relevant arrival instructions before travel. Our villa, hotel and resort transfer service addresses that final property handoff rather than treating the station exit as the end of the transportation problem.
When public transport is enough—and when it is not
Both Girona and Figueres-Vilafant have onward public-transport options. For a solo traveler with light luggage, a flexible schedule and a straightforward destination, scheduled transport or a local taxi may be entirely reasonable. A private transfer becomes more useful when the group has substantial luggage, children, a fixed arrival commitment, a rural or villa address, multiple travelers, or simply wants one responsible point of coordination from station to door.
The objective is not to claim that every rail passenger needs a chauffeur. The right transportation structure should match the complexity of the actual trip.
Rail can be the first movement in a multi-day Costa Brava itinerary
Some travelers arrive by train and then have several days of planned movements between accommodation, restaurants, coastal villages, golf, events or meetings. In that case, the station pickup can become the first movement in a wider multi-day chauffeur plan rather than an isolated transfer.
This is particularly useful for EAs, Chiefs of Staff, family offices and travel advisors who already hold the itinerary. The ground plan can be built around the known sequence of commitments instead of asking the traveler to arrange transport repeatedly during the stay.
A practical rail-arrival brief
Before travel, confirm the exact station name, train number, origin, scheduled arrival, passenger names, working mobile number, luggage quantity and type, and the complete Costa Brava destination. If several travelers arrive on different trains, decide whether the group should consolidate or move separately. These details remove more uncertainty than a generic request for a “train station pickup.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Which train stations are the main high-speed rail gateways for Costa Brava?
The official Costa Brava Girona Pyrenees tourism board identifies Girona and Figueres as the province’s high-speed rail stations. Which one is more practical depends on the train service, final Costa Brava destination and the rest of the itinerary.
Is Girona train station the same place as Girona Airport?
No. Girona railway station is in Girona city at Plaça d’Espanya, while Girona-Costa Brava Airport is outside the city. Travelers should make sure the pickup brief names the correct gateway.
Is Figueres-Vilafant the same station as central Figueres station?
No. Figueres-Vilafant is the high-speed station in Vilafant. It is a different station from the conventional rail station in central Figueres, so the exact station name on the ticket matters for pickup planning.
Can a private driver meet a train arrival and continue directly to a Costa Brava hotel or villa?
Yes. A station pickup can be planned as a direct road transfer to the final hotel, villa or residence when the train number, scheduled arrival, passenger details, luggage and exact destination are provided in advance.
Should I choose Girona or Figueres-Vilafant for a Costa Brava stay?
There is no single best station for the whole Costa Brava. Compare the rail service itself, the final destination and the onward road leg. Girona can be practical for many central and southern itineraries, while Figueres-Vilafant can be worth comparing for northern Alt Empordà destinations.
Coordinate the station-to-Costa Brava handoff
For a private pickup at Girona or Figueres-Vilafant station, send the rail and destination details to concierge@vipcostabravatransfers.com. We can coordinate the station arrival with the final property and, where useful, the rest of the Costa Brava itinerary.
Editorial note: This guide is prepared by the VIP Costa Brava Transfers Editorial Team and published by VIP Costa Brava Transfers, using current official destination information and practical experience coordinating private transportation across Girona and the Costa Brava.
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