Tarragona travel guide; the perfect day trip from Barcelona

Looking to get out of Barcelona for a day and experience Spanish charm in a way that’s a little less hustle and a bit more easy going? At just an hour away, Tarragona is the perfect place to wander through Roman ruins, relax at the beaches and explore Catalan food. This coastal city has something special that will make you want to stick around, and our Tarragona travel guide will help you do just that.

Tarragona travel guide

How to get to Tarragona from Barcelona

Tarragona has 2 train stations; Camp de Tarragona and Tarragona. Camp de Tarragona is still a 20 minute car ride from the centre, while Tarragona is right in the centre. The latter is served by local trains (1 hr) and they depart from multiple stations in Barcelona, while Camp is served by the fast trains (30 mins), whose tickets can be booked in advance here. The trains to Camp only depart from Barcelona Sants. Tickets for local trains can be bought at the station on the day of departure.

Rather go by bus? Buses depart from Barcelona Nord bus station and drop you at Tarragona in just under an hour and a half. Find schedules and tickets here.

Or you can make it even easier for yourself by booking an organised trip and not have to worry about anything at all.

Balcó del Mediterrani

Start your morning at the Mediterranean Balcony, located right next to the amphitheatre. From here, you’re offered beautiful views over the blue sea and beaches as you enjoy the morning sunshine. Touching the railings is said to bring good luck!

The Roman Amphitheatre

Continue to the city’s highlight; the Roman Amphitheatre. The amphitheatre is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Spain, and was once capable of holding 15 thousand people. It was mostly used for animal and gladiator fights, but has lost its original purpose with the introduction of Christianity to the Roman empire. Today, the theatre is on the World Heritage list.

Tarragona actually has a wealth of Roman ruins scattered throughout the city and you’ll find remnants or towers, walls and buildings on city squares as part of every day life.

Catedral de Tarragona

Tarragona’s cathedral dates back to the 12th century, and sits on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter. You can climb up to the bell tower and take in the views over Tarragona, and enjoy the cloisters and gardens within the cathedral. Built in Roman Gothic style, it houses a number of chapels and the diocesan museum.

Lunch

We loved eating our way through Tarragona, and there’s a lot to choose from! We’ll give you a few options that we particularly enjoyed.

Filosofia. A fantastic local place that offers great tapas and cocktails. Just minutes from the cathedral.
La Mossegada. We ate here twice and had about every dish on the menu. None disappointed!
Cube de la Font. When you sit down at a main square it is important to be choosy. At Cube they serve good food, including vegan and vegetarian.

Streetart

Tarragona has a surprising amount of street art! The city started supporting the ‘murs que parlen’, walls that speak, project, that allows young artists to use public spaces for their work. Because of this you’ll find art everywhere throughout the city.

The most famous one is located Plaça dels Sedassos, painted by muralista Carles Arola. It was finished in 1995 and symbolizes life in the late 19th century. From there, continue on to Carrer del Comte, where not only the walls have been painted, but the traffic pillars as well.

Finally, it is a short walk to Carrer d’en Mediona and Carrer dels Cavallers, where ancient games are portrayed.

Mercat Central de Tarragona

What’s a Spanish city without a food market? Tarragona’s Mercat Central dates back to 1915 and was originally built to centralize sales. Not only can you get your fresh produce here, but you’ll also find little coffee and wine cafe’s, and stalls that serve a full menu. Even cooking workshops and shows are done here!

But hold your horses; we have the perfect dinner spot for you.

El Serrallo

El Serrallo is the fishing neighborhood by the marina, and the perfect place to end your day. Explore the narrow streets, and then sit down with a cocktail in hand to soak up the sunshine, or get some well deserved shade! This is where you eat the freshest fish and enjoy authentic mediterranean cuisine!

Where to eat

El Crank. A Catalan restaurant and winebar tucked away in a little street. Freshest fish of the day!
Taberna Romero for low key, no fuss meals
In for something really local? Just outside the train station is Bar Cafetería Transit, a proper local café where grandma cooks, the TV blares Spanish and locals will be surprised to see you. A set menu every day with few options, but grandma’s cooking is excellent! We had dinner and wine for barely €15 each.

Where to sleep in Tarragona

Because we had a car and time, we stayed in Tarragona for a few days, so did not have to go back to Barcelona. These were our favourites:

→ Hotel Lauria; a great budget option right between El Serrallo and the old city centre.

→ Prefer to stay right in the middle of it all? Hotel Plaça de la Font is right on the main square. Can’t beat that location!

→ If you’re looking for a little more luxury, H10 Imperial Tarraco is fantastic, with a rooftop pool, terrace and hamam spa. The suites are actually quite affordable!

Tarragona travel guide FAQ

Is 1 day enough for Tarragona?

To see all the sights, yes, but it’s a full day. We spent a few days and were happy we did as this gave us time to visit in a relaxed manner.

How do I get around in Tarragona?

Tarragona is a surprisingly walkable city! The distances are not that great, and it is relatively flat. You won’t really need to use taxis or public transport.

Does Tarragona have nice beaches?

Yes! Tarragona’s beaches are know for their find golden sand. There is a reason this region is called Costa Daurada, which means golden coast!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Find our favourite tours on GetYourGuide: