Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Tarragona: A Comprehensive Guide august 21, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Archaeology, Attractions, Barcelona, History, Holiday, Spain, Tarragona, Vacation

Tourist Attractions in Tarragona

With its intriguing history and well-preserved Roman ruins, Tarragona is a gem you should look forward to exploring. Many people visit Tarragona on a day trip as part of a Barcelona vacation, but Tarragona is worth a holiday in its own right! There is a wealth of fantastic attractions in Tarragona, and the city serves as an interesting historical counterpoint to the new and modern Barcelona.

Located in the northeastern region of Catalonia in Spain, the coastal city of Tarragona is filled with fascinating sights that reflect its significance over the centuries, especially as a central location in the Roman Empire. From the impressive amphitheater to the winding medieval streets of the old quarter, Tarragona offers a plethora of cultural and historical experiences truly worth traveling for.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for great attractions in Tarragona, you can find the city’s tourist information here: Tarragona Turisme

Tarragona – History and Culture

Tarragona was founded by the Romans as Tarraco in the 5th century BC. As the capital of Hispania Citerior, the city flourished with impressive buildings, including a magnificent amphitheater, circus, and aqueducts. Tarraco, as they called the splendid city, covered an area comparable to 20th-century Tarragona.

After the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, the city shrank around the ancient Roman ruins, and its extent was generally smaller than in Roman times. It was only in modern times that Tarragona began to grow again and expand beyond its medieval boundaries.

Later, Tarraco was conquered by the Visigoths in 475 AD and subsequently came under Moorish rule from 714-1118. Tarragona was then conquered by the Kingdom of Aragón and incorporated into the Catalan Crown. During the Middle Ages, Tarragona was marked by a blend of cultures and religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Today, Tarragona is a vibrant and modern city that attracts visitors with its rich history, beautiful beaches, and cultural events. The city is home to a range of festivals and events throughout the year, including the famous Concurs de Castells festival, where people build human towers, castells, to the rhythmic sounds of drums and horns.

A Small Tip for Ticket Purchases

There is plenty to see in Tarragona, and if you want to save on admission, the first six attractions listed below can all be accessed with a combined ticket for €15 (2024). It is definitely worth buying the combined ticket, as even on a day trip to Tarragona, there is plenty of time to visit them all. We took our time and spent 5-6 hours visiting five out of the six sites – unfortunately, Casa Castellarnau was closed for renovation. If you don’t have much time and just want a wow experience, you can settle for visiting the unique amphitheater by the water.

Getting Around the Attractions

When moving between attractions, it’s fastest to lace up your walking shoes and explore on foot. There is only a 10-minute walk between the amphitheater and the old city walls. We have listed the six attractions in the order that makes sense to visit them while navigating the city. Tarragona also has a small tourist train that can take you around all the main attractions, which you can read more about here: The Yellow Train. You can board it right by the amphitheater and Hotel H10 Imperial Tarraco. Now, let’s get out and see something!

15 Fantastic Attractions in Tarragona

1. The Roman Amphitheater

Tarragona’s Roman amphitheater is one of the city’s most iconic attractions. The amphitheater is situated right by the water, where it still impresses with its breathtaking view of the Mediterranean and its grand construction. Uniquely, inside the amphitheater itself, a Visigothic church was built, which was later transformed into the Christian basilica-church whose beautiful ruins you can see today.

2. Circus, Praetorium, and Torre de les Monges

From the amphitheater, head over to the Roman circus and the impressive Torre de les Monges, the monks’ tower. This octagonal tower was built in the 14th century as a defensive tower and part of the city’s fortifications. It also served as an observation tower to monitor the surroundings and defend the city against attacks.

The Roman circus is extremely well-preserved, and you can look forward to a tour under the large vaults. Only a small part remains today, but from the platform, it’s easy to get an overview of the large structure. With dimensions of about 325 meters in length and a width of between 100 and 115 meters, it was one of the largest of its kind in the Roman Empire.

From the circus, you step into the Roman praetorium, the large square tower. The Praetorium served as a connection between the lower city and the provincial Forum via stairs. Located at one of the corners of the provincial forum square, it symbolized power and administration in the Roman era.

3. Casa Canals

Casa Canals is a well-preserved modernist mansion built in the early 20th century. The impressive facade is adorned with typical modernist elements such as curved shapes, colorful tiles, and wrought iron details. If you have children with you, they will love exploring the beautiful old house. At the top, there is a small tower with a view into the chapel.

4. The City Walls around Tarragona

From Casa Canals, head up to the old city walls. The old Roman walls surround part of the old town and provide a glimpse into Tarragona’s Roman past. They were built in the 2nd century BC and are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Later additions include the Moorish towers and the Archbishop’s Tower and Minerva Tower. At the latter tower, try to spot the small face carved into the stones.

5. Casa Castellarnau

Casa Castellarnau is unfortunately closed for renovation at the moment. Therefore, we couldn’t go in and see it, but we look forward to returning to see the beautiful town house. You can read more about it by clicking the link.

6. Colonia Forum

At the large market hall in the southwestern end of the city, you will find Colonia Forum. Tarragona’s forum was built around 30 BC, and today only the large columns and some building parts remain. From the small bridge, you can still see a small part of the old Roman city, including several streets and houses.

7. Cathedral de Tarragona

Here ends the part of the tour covered by the combined ticket. If you want to enter and see the grand cathedral, it will cost an additional €11 (2024). The impressive Gothic Cathedral de Tarragona was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and houses a range of artworks and religious treasures. However, we chose just to enjoy the cathedral from the outside since the sun was shining so beautifully.

8. Rambla Nova

Instead, we took a lovely walk along Tarragona’s Rambla Nova, the long promenade that stretches from Balcó del Mediterrani, the beautiful viewpoint, all the way up to the statue of the large human tower. From the balcony, you can take the most wonderful pictures of the Mediterranean and the ancient amphitheater.

9. Food Market Mercado de Tarragona

From Rambla Nova, you can turn towards Plaça de Corsini and the large food market, Mercado de Tarragona. In the square outside the market, you can shop at one of the many stalls with inexpensive clothes and shoes or enjoy a coffee at one of the square’s cafés. Inside, there are several small food stalls where locals enjoy a little refreshment between shopping for vegetables, fish, and cheese. In the basement, you’ll find a huge Mercadona supermarket.

10. The Beaches

End the day with a swim in the Mediterranean from one of the lovely beaches near Tarragona. The city has several sandy beaches close to the city, all famous for their extremely fine and golden sand, hence the name Costa Daurada, which means the Golden Coast in Catalan.

11. Aqueduct Les Ferreres

The next day, head out to the Roman aqueduct, Les Ferreres or Pont del Diable, as it is also called. Les Ferreres was built in the 1st century AD and stands as a monument to Roman advanced engineering. With a length of nearly 250 meters and a height of over 25 meters, it consists of a double row of arches that carry the water conduit. The path to the bridge is flat and paved, but if you want to walk across the bridge, you need to climb a bit up the steep hillside. Wear at least a pair of good rubber shoes; flip-flops are not recommended here.

Click the link above for a detailed description of how to get to the aqueduct, both by foot and by car or bus. We chose to walk along the Francolí River and then follow the route description in the link for the return trip. It is a walk of about 6 km each way. The paths are flat all the way, and apart from the old crumbling stone steps on the mountainside above the aqueduct on the way back, there are no major challenges. If you plan to walk there and around the terrain, remember to wear hiking shoes or boots. Also bring water, a packed lunch, and a hiking stick for the trip.

12. Quarry Cantera del Mèdol

North of Tarragona lies the old Roman quarry, Cantera del Mèdol. Like the aqueduct, it is free to visit, and you can get there by bus number 12 towards El Pont. Cantera del Mèdol offers a unique insight into Roman stone cutting and sculpture work. The quarry has been in use since ancient times and was an important source of building materials for the Roman monuments in Tarraco. Excavations have revealed sculptures, gravestones, and other objects reflecting the area’s rich Roman history.

13. Necropolis Romana de Tarragona

Back in the city, you can visit the Romans’ large cemetery, Necropolis Romana de Tarragona. The Roman necropolis is an impressive archaeological site where you can see ancient graves and ruins. Many of the graves are richly decorated and provide insight into Roman burial practices and beliefs.

Some of the most notable sites include the large mausoleum known as Centcelles, and tomb monuments like Torre dels Escipions and Torre de Pallol. These sites display various styles and symbolism from Roman times and provide a deeper understanding of Roman culture and burial practices.

14. Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona

A fifteen-minute walk from the Roman necropolis is the archaeological museum, Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona. At the museum, you can get a glimpse into Tarragona’s rich past. Among other things, it features Roman artifacts, including jewelry, pottery, and sculptures.

15. The Old Town

If the sun is shining, as it often does in Tarragona, you can also take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets. Tarragona’s charming old town is filled with narrow cobbled streets and historic buildings.

Be sure to also visit Pilon’s Street, the street with the hand-painted bollards. Note that Pilon’s Street is located on Carrer de Comte. The iconic street mural at Plaça dels Sedassos is also worth a visit. Of the old Jewish quarter El Call, only a winding maze of narrow streets and several pointed arches remain along Carrer Talavera and on Plaça dels Àngels.

In the small streets, you can easily get lost – only to suddenly find yourself in one of the city’s many large and open squares. Order a coffee, settle in, and enjoy the delightful city life in Tarragona!

More Tips for Your Vacation in Tarragona

How to Get to Tarragona?

It’s easy to travel from Barcelona to Tarragona. If you land at Barcelona Airport, you can take a direct bus down the coast. The bus company Plana runs about once an hour to Tarragona from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Be aware of which terminal you land in, as there is a 15-minute difference between departure times. It costs €17 and takes about an hour and a half. You can buy tickets on the bus with cash or on Omio. Click here to see the latest schedule!

If you are already in Barcelona, you can take the train from Passeig De Gràcia Station, which takes about an hour and fifteen minutes and costs €9.

Where to Stay in Tarragona?

If you really want to pamper yourself during your vacation in Tarragona, we highly recommend Hotel H10 Imperial Tarraco. We stayed here with a splendid view over the amphitheater and Torre de les Monges. The room is spacious and bright with several sections. Additionally, there is a huge bathroom with two sinks and so much closet space that there is easily room for all the belongings of a family of four.

Hotel H10 Imperial Tarraco also offered a truly excellent breakfast. The selection was exquisite, with just the right ham, fluffy pancakes, crispy croissants, sliced fruit, etc. From the restaurant, you can access one of the pools, and the other pool can be found on the top of the hotel at the rooftop bar.

Hotel H10 Imperial Tarraco is located at Balcó del Mediterrani, the city’s best viewpoint and right where everything happens. It is quite peaceful in the evenings, precisely because Tarragona has many day-trippers who only use the city during the day. Tarragona’s city center is small enough that you can stay at a slightly cheaper place and still be within walking distance of all the sights. See the wide selection of good hotels in Tarragona or conduct your own search right here:

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