Gerona is a dark horse. Rent a car in Gerona and you'll see why. Blessed with sun-drenched summers and a fascinating mediaeval heritage, Gerona makes for an interesting alternative to Barcelona. The best thing about renting a car in Gerona is that you can pick and choose your holiday activities at a pace that suits you. Independent of timetables and scheduled stops, you'll be free to discover this beautiful city and its surrounding countryside for yourself. To help you get your bearings in Gerona, we've compiled the following guide to get you on your way.

Gerona Airport Mini Guide:

Gerona Costa Brava Airport is situated 12km from the city of Gerona, close to the village of Vilob? d'Onyar in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain. The airport is well connected to Costa Brava, Barcelona and the Pyrenees.

Things To See/Do in Gerona:

The vibrant city of Gerona is to be found en route from the Pyrenees to Barcelona and is regarded as one of the most historical sites in Spain. The city was first settled by the Romans and later by the Moorish stronghold. The medieval city attracts thousands of curious day-trippers from the Costa Blanca resorts and bustling Barcelona during the summer months. Must-see sights include the 12th century Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants and the 14th century cathedral, which was built in the Catalonian Baroque style. A tour of the adjoining museum makes for a pleasant afternoon. Back in the sunshine, you'll find the 12th century Arab baths and the decorative Jewish Quarter. In addition, you'll find plenty of museums and galleries in the area.

Eating Out in Gerona:

Dining out in Gerona allows you to sample the best of Catalonia's answer to tapas-pinxtos. There are many fine restaurants and bars in the area, where you'll find cuisine to tempt every palate and pocket. If your budge is stretched, you'll find many tourist cafes offer menu del dia options. As well as local specialities, you'll find local restaurants offering a whole host of cuisines including French, German, Italian and Japanese.

Day Trips/Events in Gerona:

Gerona is an excellent base from which to discover a range of day-trip destinations. A two-hour drive will take you to the southern slopes of the western Pyrenees, famous for its wonderful skiing. The sleepy fishing village of Cadaques makes for another excellent destination. Here you'll find a superb selection of restaurants and the fantastic Salvador Dali Museum. One of the best things about the province of Gerona is its wonderful diversity. Gerona has a mountain region that is ideally suited to tourism and a wide variety of sports.

The locals of Gerona are no different from any others in Spain and love a good party. The lakeside town of Banyoles is renowned for hosting international rowing events during the summer months. Other events worth pencilling into your diary include Sant Narcis Fair, a week-long celebration of cultural events which takes place in the last week of October and the first week of November.