A view over 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.

Get in

Tarragona's main station, Tarragona, is on the main train line between Barcelona and Alicante, served by 'Euromed' and 'Alaris' trains, as well as regional trains. Talgo trains run as far as Montpellier in the north, and Lorca in the south. The 'Trenhotel' night train to Granada also calls here. Note that it's best to buy train tickets a few days ahead during the high season to avoid getting stuck in one place. However, you always have the chance to take a stop-train, which is reasonable when coming from Barcelona, as it basically takes the same amount of time.

Tarragona is also close to the Camp de Tarragona AVE station, 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, buses run regularly to Tarragona and to other towns in the Camp, and taxis are readily available.

Furthermore, Reus airport also serves the Tarragona region. Reus is mainly served by charter flights and Ryanair.

Get around

All of Tarragona's sites are within walking distance of the train station. Taxis and local trains can take you further.

See

Cathedral

• Tarraco UNESCO World Heritage Site complex of Roman ruins, including an amphitheatre, next to the sea, built in the second century AD.
• Universitat Rovira i Virgili
• The beaches are north of town. Avoid pollution from the town's larger 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.
• Churches
• Plazas
• Museum of Archeology
• Casc antic (old part of the city)

Roman amphitheatre

Major Events

• Tarragona International Dixieland Festival. the week before Holy Week, end of March. he unique Dixieland festival in Spain and one of the most important in Europe: 25 bands and 100 concerts. 
• Tarragona International Fireworks Displays Competition. first week of July. The most important fireworks contest in the Mediterranean area is held every first week of July in Tarragona, in a wonderful bay -Punta del Miracle-, a place praised by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The competition selects six international pyrotechnic companies every year. 
• Santa Tecla Festival. between 15th and 23rd September. One of the most important Spanish traditional festival, between 15th and 23rd September. It has been celebrated since 1321 and it has been considered of national touristic interest by Spanish government. Human towers, historical parades and fireworks are some of the main activities. 
• Tarragona Cultura Contemporania (TCC). October to April. Concerts, films in Original version, Theatre... L'associació cultural Anima't since 1994 produced a cultural program in Tarragona under the label of Tarragona Cultura Contemporània (TCC) together a program of music and films in original version of the October to April. 

Do

Streetview in the city centre

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. One of the most beautiful parts of Tarragona is the old streets (Casc Antic), the ones near the cathedral, do not miss them.

There is a cultural agenda

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.

• 1 Bonavista street market. Sundays. Large street market. (updated Oct 2016)

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 and 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.

• Hotel Catalunya Express, C/ General Contreras (16), ☏ +34 977 219 119. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. From €25. 
• Aparthotel Alexandra, Rambla nova 71, ☏ +34 977 248 701, fax: +34 977 245 672, hotel@ah-alexandra.com. Rooms starting at €49. 
• Hotel Restaurant Canadá, Carretera de Valencia 211, ☏ +34 977 541 633, fax: +34 977 543 738, informacion@hotelcanada.biz. From €40. 
• Hotel Ciutat de Tarragona, ☏ +34 977250999, hoteltgn@sbgrup.com. Plaça Imperial Tarraco 5, / / Modern and centrally located. Free WI-FI connection in all rooms and common areas, splendid reunion salons and a wide range of Tarragona’s rich gastronomy. Conveniences for a warm stay, private garage, gim, sauna and solarium terrace with pool. 
• Hotel SB Express Tarragona, ☏ +34 977221050, ssalas@sbgrup.com. Plaça de les Corts Catalanes 4. Located at the beginning of the Rambla of Tarragona. Private garage. Modern, comfortable and functional hotel, spacious rooms suitable for families. Free WI-FI connections in all rooms and common areas. Cafeteria, reunion salons and car rental office. 
• Hotel Les Oliveres, Calle Garbí, s/n 43519 El Perelló Tarragona, ☏ +34 977 51 90 00. Beach Hotel in El Perelló 
• Ohtels Cap Roig, Calle Marinada, s/n Urbanización Cap Roig 43895 L'Ampolla 43895 L'Ampolla, ☏ +34 977 593 80. 4-Star hotel in L'Ampolla 
• Ohtels Sant Salvador, Calle Llobregat, 11 43880 Comarruga Tarragona, ☏ +34 977 684 041. 3-Star hotel in Comarruga 
• Gran Hotel Europe Salou, Avda. Palfuriana, 125-127, ☏ +34 977 68 42 00. 4 Star hotel in Comarruga 

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

Poblet Monastery

• The nearby holiday resort of Salou is a popular destination.
• Reus
• Poblet Monastery UNESCO listed Cistercian monastery 30 km north on the road to Lleida
• PortAventura One of Europe's largest amusement parks.