A service built from a lived experience
Moving Stories Girona was founded by someone who made the move — and felt every bump along the way. That experience is what drives everything we do.
"I know both sides of this move — I grew up here, and I've lived abroad. That combination is why I started this."
— Paula, Founder · Moving Stories GironaBorn here. Left. Came back. Now helping others do the same.
I'm Paula — a native of Catalonia who spent over a decade living abroad: seven years in Berlin, four in the UK. I know what it means to build a life somewhere new. To navigate a foreign healthcare system, figure out where to open a bank account, find the neighbourhood that actually fits your life, and slowly — sometimes painfully — feel like you belong somewhere.
When I eventually came home to Girona, I looked at this city with fresh eyes. And I understood, maybe for the first time, what an extraordinary place it is to land. Not just to visit — to actually live in. For remote workers who want to slow down. For retirees who want warmth and culture without the cost of France or Italy. For families who want space, safety, good schools, and the sea 30 minutes away.
From blog to service — the Simple Life story
A few years ago I started writing honestly about what the move to Girona actually involves. Not the glossy version — the real one. What the rental market is like. What NIE applications feel like in practice. Which neighbourhoods have character and which just have noise. The blog, Simple Life on movingtogirona.com, grew into a resource with 40+ guides and a growing community of people planning or living the same move.
But people kept asking for more than guides. They wanted someone to actually walk alongside them — to look at their specific situation, their budget, their family, their working style — and tell them what to do. So I started doing exactly that, informally at first, and now properly through Moving Stories Girona.
What makes this different
I'm not a relocation company staffed by people who've never left their home city. I've been on both sides — the expat figuring it out alone, and the local who knows every shortcut. I know which landlords are reliable. Which lawyers understand international situations. Which areas feel right for a family versus a solo creative. And I know what it feels like to have no one to ask.
That's the gap Moving Stories fills. Not a directory. Not a portal. A real person, with real local knowledge, who genuinely wants your move to go well.
Honesty first
We tell you the truth about neighbourhoods, properties, and trade-offs — even when it's not what you hoped to hear.
Local, always
We live here. Our knowledge is current, personal, and real — not scraped from a blog post written three years ago.
No hidden agenda
We charge for our time and advice. We don't take referral fees that could bias what we recommend.
Human-scale service
We work with a small number of clients at a time. Your move gets real attention — not a templated response.
What this place does to people
There's something about Girona that doesn't let go. It's not just the medieval streets or the cathedral or the way the Onyar River reflects the coloured houses. It's the pace of it. The way a Tuesday morning feels like an event when you're sitting on a terrace with a coffee and nothing specific to do.
It's a city that makes you walk slowly. That has enough to keep you engaged — a serious food scene, cycling culture that borders on religion, markets on weekends, good schools, and a growing international community — without the noise and pressure of a big metropolitan city.
And then there's everything around it. The Pyrenees within 45 minutes. The Costa Brava a half hour in the other direction. Barcelona on the train in 38 minutes. Girona is, in a very real sense, a headquarters for an entire way of life.
We believe this city deserves to be known — not as a generic "cheap alternative to Barcelona", but as the extraordinary, lived-in, genuinely beautiful place that it is. That's what drives everything we build here.
"To make moving to Girona feel the way it should — exciting, clear, and worth every step."
I built the resource I wished had existed when I was navigating life in a new city. Now I'm building the service to go with it.
One conversation, one family, one story at a time — Paula
Start your storySmall team, full attention
We deliberately work with a limited number of clients at any one time. Your relocation gets our complete focus — not a shared inbox and a template response.
Real conversations
We start with a phone or video call — not a form. Understanding your situation personally is the only way to help you well.
Responsive, always
When you're in the middle of a relocation, waiting days for an answer isn't an option. We reply fast — and we stay reachable.
Trusted network
Our local contacts — lawyers, agents, doctors, schools — are people we know personally and would refer to our own family.
We measure success differently
We're not happy when you sign a lease. We're happy when you message us six months later to say you've found your place.
We'd love to hear your story
Every relocation is different. Tell us yours — and let's see how we can make it a good one.
Get in touch