Trip ideas · Girona flower festival, Lleida and Roman Tarragona
Girona flower festival, Lleida and Roman Tarragona: a One-Week Road Trip in Spain
Best in May, also good in April
From Barcelona and back: seven nights, 550 km, the longest day about 2 h 35 at the wheel. Driving costs €50–€90.
Girona, Temps de Flors: 71st flower show in courtyards, patios and gardens of the old town; free entry, 9:30-21:00: 9-17 May 2026 (2027 dates not published yet). Watch for: Barcelona LEZ (ZBE Rondes): foreign-plated cars MUST register beforehand with the Metropolitan Registry; non-compliant vehicles max 10 daily permits a year.
Use this route in my plan Your checklist for Spain: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.
Day by day
Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.
Day 1
Barcelona → Girona 107 km · about 1 h 30 driving
Walled old quarter (Barri Vell); Temps de Flors fills its courtyards and streets with flowers in May; base for Costa Brava day trips. Source
Day 2
A day out from Girona No long drive
Day 3
A day out from Girona No long drive
Day 4
Girona → Lleida 237 km · about 2 h 35 driving
Inland stop under the Seu Vella old cathedral and Castell del Rei hilltop complex (guided visits by Turisme de Lleida).
Day 5
Lleida → Tarragona 103 km · about 1 h 15 driving
Roman Tarraco, "monumental sites declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO"; Tarraco Viva Roman festival in May. Source
Day 6
A day out from Tarragona No long drive
Day 7
A day out from Tarragona No long drive
Day 8
Tarragona → Barcelona 103 km · about 1 h 25 driving
Why go in May
- Girona, Temps de Flors: 71st flower show in courtyards, patios and gardens of the old town; free entry, 9:30-21:00: 9-17 May 2026 (2027 dates not published yet). Source
- Tarraco Viva, Tarragona's Roman history festival (theme 2027: women in the ancient Mediterranean): 3-16 May 2027. Source
What to watch for
- Barcelona LEZ (ZBE Rondes): foreign-plated cars MUST register beforehand with the Metropolitan Registry; non-compliant vehicles max 10 daily permits a year (Year-round). Source
- Girona ZBE (since 15 Sep 2025), weekdays 7:00–20:00; cars with a B, C, ECO or 0 label enter freely. The city does not ask foreign cars to register, but they may request a temporary authorisation via zbe.cat (Mon-Fri 7:00-20:00). Source
- Lleida ZBE (historic centre), weekdays 7:00–20:00; non-residents whose vehicle does not meet the requirements get 24 entries a year from 1 Jan 2026 (same in 2027). The city's page has no rule for foreign cars (Mon-Fri 7:00-20:00). Source
- Tarragona ZBE (in force from 31 Dec 2025), weekdays 7:00-19:00; vehicles without 0/ECO/C/B label restricted. Foreign plates not identified by DGT get automatic authorisation, no registration, up to 12 days a year (Mon-Fri 7:00-19:00). Source
- Temps de Flors week: Girona old town busy (event open daily 9:30-21:00) (9-17 May 2026; 2027 not published). Source
What the week costs to drive
| Item | Cost | Worked out from |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for 550 km | €53–€85 | Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices |
| Driving the week | €50–€90 | Rounded to €10 |
Not included: hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.
The rules on this route
Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.
Next on the road
Sources
- Girona, Temps de Flors: 71st flower show in courtyards, patios and gardens of the old town; free entry, 9:30-21:00
- Tarraco Viva, Tarragona's Roman history festival (theme 2027: women in the ancient Mediterranean)
- Barcelona LEZ (ZBE Rondes): foreign-plated cars MUST register beforehand with the Metropolitan Registry; non-compliant vehicles max 10 daily permits a year
- Girona ZBE (since 15 Sep 2025), weekdays 7:00–20:00; cars with a B, C, ECO or 0 label enter freely. The city does not ask foreign cars to register, but they may request a temporary authorisation via zbe.cat
- Lleida ZBE (historic centre), weekdays 7:00–20:00; non-residents whose vehicle does not meet the requirements get 24 entries a year from 1 Jan 2026 (same in 2027). The city's page has no rule for foreign cars
- Tarragona ZBE (in force from 31 Dec 2025), weekdays 7:00-19:00; vehicles without 0/ECO/C/B label restricted. Foreign plates not identified by DGT get automatic authorisation, no registration, up to 12 days a year
- Temps de Flors week: Girona old town busy (event open daily 9:30-21:00)
- AP-7 Barcelona-Girona / Barcelona-Tarragona and AP-2 Lleida-El Vendrell (toll-free since 1 Sep 2021)
- Walled old quarter (Barri Vell); Temps de Flors fills its courtyards and streets with flowers in May; base for Costa Brava day trips.
- Roman Tarraco, "monumental sites declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO"; Tarraco Viva Roman festival in May.
Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.