It is located in eastern Spain in the south of the region of Catalonia. The coastline is identified with the Costa Dorada tourist brand. The capital city is Tarragona, which is home to the Tárraco Archaeological Site, awarded the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO.

The Cistercian monastery of El Poblet also has the World Heritage distinction, and can be visited by taking the Cistercian Monastery Route which also includes the monasteries of Santes Creus and Valbona de les Monges. The province has several nature reserves, which offer a perfect setting for outdoor sports.

Highlights of the province's gastronomic attractions are particularly a range of wine-related activities, especially along the Penedés Wine and Cava Route. There are also numerous gastronomic festivals where visitors can enjoy specialities such as the calçotada (grilled spring onions) and xató (cod and escarole salad).