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Tarragona

In this effervescent port city, Roman history collides with beaches, bars and a food scene that perfumes the air with freshly grilled seafood. The biggest lure is the wealth of ruins in Spain’s second-most important Roman site, including a mosaic-packed museum and a seaside amphitheatre. A roll-call of fantastic places to eat gives you good reason to linger in the knot of lanes in the attractive medieval centre, flanked by a towering cathedral with Romanesque and Gothic flourishes.

Tarragona is also a gateway to the Costa Daurada’s sparkling beaches and the feast of Modernisme architecture in nearby Reus.

Explore Tarragona

Catedral de Tarragona
Crowning the town, Tarragona’s cathedral incorporates both Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade. The flower-filled cloister has…
P
PortAventura
A massive, blockbuster amusement park, PortAventura lies 10km west of Tarragona. Divided into themed sections, it's crammed with exhilarating rides and…
M
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
This excellent museum does justice to the cultural and material wealth of Roman Tarraco. The mosaic collection traces changing trends from simple black…
A
Amfiteatre Romà
Near the beach is Tarragona's well-preserved amphitheatre, dating from the 2nd century CE, where gladiators hacked away at each other or wild animals. In…
A
Aqüeducte de les Ferreres
This magnificent aqueduct sits in a tangle of dusty pathways and glades 4km north of central Tarragona, just off the AP7 (near where it intersects with…
P
Pretori i Circ Romà
This sizeable complex with two separate entrances includes part of the vaults of Tarragona's well-preserved, late-1st-century Roman circus, where chariot…
P
Passeig Arqueològic Muralles
A peaceful walk takes you around the inland part of the old town's perimeter between two lines of city walls. The inner walls are mainly Roman and date…
M
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians
This sprawling Roman-Christian city of the dead on the western edge of town consists of over 2000 elaborate tombs. It was used from the 3rd century AD…
T
Tinglado 4
Temporary exhibition space for major pieces from the Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona while the museum undergoes renovation (scheduled for…

Catedral de Tarragona
Crowning the town, Tarragona’s cathedral incorporates both Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade. The flower-filled cloister has…
P
PortAventura
A massive, blockbuster amusement park, PortAventura lies 10km west of Tarragona. Divided into themed sections, it's crammed with exhilarating rides and…
M
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
This excellent museum does justice to the cultural and material wealth of Roman Tarraco. The mosaic collection traces changing trends from simple black…
A
Amfiteatre Romà
Near the beach is Tarragona's well-preserved amphitheatre, dating from the 2nd century CE, where gladiators hacked away at each other or wild animals. In…
A
Aqüeducte de les Ferreres
This magnificent aqueduct sits in a tangle of dusty pathways and glades 4km north of central Tarragona, just off the AP7 (near where it intersects with…
P
Pretori i Circ Romà
This sizeable complex with two separate entrances includes part of the vaults of Tarragona's well-preserved, late-1st-century Roman circus, where chariot…
P
Passeig Arqueològic Muralles
A peaceful walk takes you around the inland part of the old town's perimeter between two lines of city walls. The inner walls are mainly Roman and date…
M
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians
This sprawling Roman-Christian city of the dead on the western edge of town consists of over 2000 elaborate tombs. It was used from the 3rd century AD…
T
Tinglado 4
Temporary exhibition space for major pieces from the Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona while the museum undergoes renovation (scheduled for…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Tarragona.

See
Catedral de Tarragona
Crowning the town, Tarragona’s cathedral incorporates both Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade. The flower-filled cloister has…
See
PortAventura
A massive, blockbuster amusement park, PortAventura lies 10km west of Tarragona. Divided into themed sections, it's crammed with exhilarating rides and…
See
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
This excellent museum does justice to the cultural and material wealth of Roman Tarraco. The mosaic collection traces changing trends from simple black…
See
Amfiteatre Romà
Near the beach is Tarragona's well-preserved amphitheatre, dating from the 2nd century CE, where gladiators hacked away at each other or wild animals. In…
See
Aqüeducte de les Ferreres
This magnificent aqueduct sits in a tangle of dusty pathways and glades 4km north of central Tarragona, just off the AP7 (near where it intersects with…
See
Pretori i Circ Romà
This sizeable complex with two separate entrances includes part of the vaults of Tarragona's well-preserved, late-1st-century Roman circus, where chariot…
See
Passeig Arqueològic Muralles
A peaceful walk takes you around the inland part of the old town's perimeter between two lines of city walls. The inner walls are mainly Roman and date…
See
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians
This sprawling Roman-Christian city of the dead on the western edge of town consists of over 2000 elaborate tombs. It was used from the 3rd century AD…
See
Tinglado 4
Temporary exhibition space for major pieces from the Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona while the museum undergoes renovation (scheduled for…

Guidebooks

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