Tarragona

Tarragona is the first large seaside town south of Barcelona. The town also offers a number of historical sites including churches from several different periods and a well preserved Roman colosseum. The town itself has the usual Spanish assortment of plazas sprinkled with cafes and tapas bars. Tarragona is a good choice if you only have a day or two to get out of Barcelona, otherwise the beaches further south or the remoter seaside villages to the north of Barcelona offer a more unique experience.

By train
Tarragona's main station,, is on the main train line between Barcelona and Alicante, International trains no longer run through here but intercity & regional expresses do. However, you always have the chance to take a stopping train, which is reasonable when coming from Barcelona, as it basically takes the same amount of time. Lines serve Barcelona.

Tarragona is also close to the, on the Madrid-Barcelona High Speed line. From Camp de Tarragona, high speed trains run to Zaragoza, Madrid, Sevilla, Malaga, Burgos, Vigo, Bilbao and San Sebastian, as well as the 'Trenhotel' night trains to Burgos, Vigo, A Coruña and Gijon. From the station, Plana (+34 977 553 680) runs buses regularly to Tarragona between 6:00-23:00; the trip takes about 20 minutes. Taxis are also readily available.

By plane
is 9 km from Tarragona. Reus is mainly served by charter flights and Ryanair. Taxis can be hired to take you to Tarragona for roughly €30. Hispano Igualadina (+34 902 292 900) provides service to Tarragona's bus station from Reus Airport 3-5 times per day.

The nearest major airport is Barcelona El Prat, about 90 km away. Transfers from Barcelona's airport can be by train, bus, hiring a taxi or renting a car.

By car
Tarragona is on the AP-7 (Autopista de la Mediterrània) motorway. Barcelona is roughly 100 km northeast and Valencia is roughly 250 km (just under 3 hrs) south. North of Tarragona, the AP-7 is a toll road, but south it is toll-free. The tolls north of Tarragona are expected to be removed in Sept 2021.

Tarragona also connects to the AP-2 motorway, via the A-27 and N-240 highways. Lleida is 100 km (1 hr) and Zaragoza is 235 km (2 ½ hrs drive) away.

Get around
Many of Tarragona's sites are within walking distance of the train station. Taxis, buses and local trains can take you further.

See
Befitting a city that's existed for over 2,000 years, there are a number of historical sites to see in Tarragona. One of the most beautiful parts of city is the narrow old streets of the Casc Antic, or Medieval Quarter, particularly near the cathedral.


 * Universitat Rovira i Virgili
 * Universitat Rovira i Virgili
 * Universitat Rovira i Virgili
 * Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco
The Roman city, Tarraco, was one of the Roman Empire's most important cities in Spain and a provincial capital. A number of buildings and landmarks remain from that era and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many are within walking distance of the town center.

Do
There are not a lot of organized outdoor activities in Tarragona beyond strolling through the town, swimming at the beaches, and people watching in the plazas.

Beaches
Tarragona has a number of golden sand beaches, mostly to the north of town. Avoid pollution from the town's large shipping port (one of the biggest in Spain) by walking a ways up the beach. There is a nice walk following the shoreline, about 6-7 km long, where you will find the five main beaches and several smaller ones.



Major events
The Tarragona 'Ajuntament' ie Town Council publishes a fortnightly online 'what's on' guide called 'publics' which can be accessed via the ajuntament website.



Buy
There are many interesting shops along the Rambla Nova and in the streets around it, as well as in the old part of the city. A lot of typical Catalan stuff can be bought there.

Eat
Tarragona has a number of small bars, restaurants, and cafes serving the usual selection of tapas, bocadillos (sandwiches), and local seafood dishes. The best area to browse for tapas and full meals is from The Plaça de la Font along the Carrer Major up to the Cathedral, with Carrer Nau and the Plaça del Rei and Plaça del Fòrum particularly worthwhile.

The Serrallo neighbourhood near the fishing harbour has some excellent fish and seafood restaurants, which are particularly popular for Sunday lunch. There is a market hall just off the Rambla Nova in the middle of town where the basics of a good picnic can be bought cheaply.

Drink
The nicest place to spend an evening is in one of Tarragona's many plazas with a glass of beer and plate of tapas. At night if you want to have some drinks and dance you should go to "El Port" (the port), there are a lot of pubs and dance locals there.

The local speciality is vermouth, and you will find plenty of vermuterias that serve their own brand vermouths.

Sleep
The tourist office at Carrer Fortuny in the New Town and Carrer Major in the Casc Antic can point you to hotel rooms at any budget.



Stay safe
Be careful if you choose to visit the night clubs of the Puerto Deportivo alone, especially if you are a guy. Foreign visitors have been robbed there.

Go next

 * Salou — Popular beach town with holiday resorts. PortAventura, one of Spain's largest amusement parks, is nearby.
 * Reus — Antoni Gaudi's birthplace.
 * Poblet Monastery UNESCO listed Cistercian monastery 30 km north on the road to Lleida
 * The Roman Villa of Els Munts 13 km to the east. Reachable by train.