Tarragona was simply Terrific – check it out!

Hearing some of the recent stories about over-tourism in Barcelona, we thought we would try out a different coastal city.  South of Barcelona, on the Costa Dorada is the city of Tarragona.  This old, historic city has alot to offer!  Rooted in tradition, it is a modernized coastal city where Spain comes to play.  This post is to share our experiences in Tarragona, Spain in 2025.

Background

Tarragona is a port city in northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region. There are many ancient ruins remaining from its time as the Roman colony of Tarraco. The Amfiteatre Romà is a 2nd-century arena facing the Mediterranean, the Necropolis contains Roman tombs, and traces of the Forum stand among the alleys of the walled, medieval Old Town. Although quite hilly, this is an eminently walkable city.

Getting to Tarragona

We arrived in Tarragona at the AVE train station – Camp de Tarragona.  This is approximately a 20 minute bus ride outside of Tarragona itself.  Spain’s high speed trains make transiting the country very quick and efficient.

Other options include the airport, and regional trains via Renfe.

Transportation in Tarragona

Bus: 

EMT (link) in Spanish, can only download on phones registered in Spain.  Website can be translated somewhat to get some idea of what buses to take where and their schedules. (translate the page via you browser).

Walking:

We walked much of the city, including the residential areas and the marine quarter, El Serrallo.  End to end is approximately 10km.  

Taxis:  

There are some taxis around.  When we arrived and when we departed, we walked, with luggage the 1.5km to the bus station.  There are taxis at stands and the rates are reasonable, so, it is an option.

Accommodation in Tarragona

We found a stellar apartment to rent – La Cuirateria del Casc Antic – via Booking.com.  (Affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Ferran, our host, was fantastic and very helpful in suggesting activities and restaurants.  He was also available throughout our stay to answer any questions we had.

The rental itself was very new, clean, and easy to find in the Old Town.  Navigating the cobblestones on our first day with luggage was a challenge, but, we learnt our lesson.  When we left, we took a different route with smooth sidewalks to reach the bus station!

Activities – What to do in Tarragona

There is a lot to see and do in Tarragona. Apart from the Old Town, the contemporary town are laid out in a grid system and are beautifully cobbled and in some areas, inlaid with designs. The main street in town is Rambla Nova. On the street you’ll find many of the high street stores as well as numerous cafés and restaurants that cater to tourist and locals. If you’re interested in more diverse offerings, and a more local experience venture off of the main streets. The back side streets is where you will find lots of squares and interesting squares (placas) to eat and get to know all the activities that go on in town.

Beaches

Tarragona is known for its beaches. Just at the end of Los Ramblas at the Balco del Mediterrani there is a walkway to one of these beaches. A walkway over the train tracks takes you to the promenade along one of the main beaches of the city, Platja del Miracle. This large beach was busy each day of our stay with locals and tourists alike.

Roman historic sites

Tarraco is the original name of the city of Tarragona. This was an old Roman settlement, and is now a World Heritage City. This is apparent from the amphitheatre right on the inner harbour to the surrounding Roman walls to the aqua docs that are just outside of the main part of town. Tarragona Tourism has a very comprehensive and detailed site that shares different ways to explore and learn about the history of Tarragona as well as to see and learn more and experience what Tarragona was like during the Roman settlement.

The Marine Quarter

El Serrallo is the name of this area. This is a interesting and very spread out part of the town. From luxury yachts, to yacht and private beach clubs, museums to industrial buildings, theatres and gaming areas, it provides everything you may be interested in! We enjoyed a morning wandering down to the quarter, strolling the promenade, having an espresso and drinks with the locals.

Shopping 

One of the highlights for us in staying in town in rental apartments is having the ability to go grocery shopping. Being able to pick up food from a market and cook it on our own is great. There are the usual supermarkets – El Corte Ingles, Carrefour – as well as plenty of other boutique and standalone stores.  

If you’re looking for clothes there’s a the aforementioned High Street stores as well as local stores – Desigual, Massimo Dutti, and so on. There is a large mall as well, about 1km outside of the city center.  Local leather providers are well represented as well, with a few stores in the Old Town to check out their unique purses, backpacks and jewelry.

Base for Regional Wine Tours

If you enjoy wine tasting – I’m sure it’s obvious I do – Tarragona is central.  If you look on a map, the Tarragona Wine Region abuts the Penedes Wine Region (ie, Cava) and the Priorat Wine Region (ie, amazing red wine). We enjoyed tours of both.  

Click on our links here to red more about these wine tours:  Penedes Wine Tasting Bike Tour, Priorat Wine Tasting with Wino.Tours. 

Cathedral

From almost any point within Tarragona, you can look up and see the top of the cathedral. The Tarragona Cathedral is very large, old, and well worth a full half day of exploration. It’s easy to walk-through and listen to the audio guide (available via your cell phone) to understand the history of the cathedral.

Santa Tecla

Santa Tecla in Tarragona is a major annual festival celebrating the city’s patron saint, Saint Thecla, and its cultural heritage.  It is around 700 years old!  We just happened to be in town during this event and it meant many visitors from within Spain had travelled there just for the festivities.  There are parades, fire works, parties, human towers (castellers), and music.  There is a schedule, and it helps to know it!  

Food & Drink in Tarragona

We were spoiled for choice during our stay.  We enjoyed our evenings in cooking up fish and produce from the local markets; and went out to some fun restaurants.

Interested in some local wine and cheese?  Magda Cheeses Tasting on Carrer d’August will give you some great tapas and wines to enjoy in a modern interior or out on the front patio.  

If perfect cortados are your preference with divine pastries, Pastisseria Granja Dibà on Carrer Major in the Old Town is a great option.  There are a lot of wonderful cafes, but this one had the most flaky croissants we had on our Spain trip!

Out for a walk in El Serrallo (Marina District) and want some home grown traditional food?  Stop in at Bar Cortijo and enjoy local wine, terrines, stews and enthusiastic service.

If you can’t finish your day without gelato, try MUCCA DA LATTE Puro Gelato on Carrer Major.  You may have to wait in line, but, it’s worth it.

Summary of Tarragona

Our stay here was a revelation for us.  We had lovely warm weather all but one day of our week stay.  Getting around was easy.  Food and drink was plentiful and reasonable.  There were lovely and engaging places to see and experience.  And the locals were friendly, happy and generally thrilled to see you.  The short train/bus from Barcelona is well worth it.  Whether for a day or a multi-night stay, we highly recommend you visit Tarragona to experience a bit of regional Spain.

Check out our other travel posts!