Ferreres Aqueduct or Devil's Bridge, Tarragona

Tarragona

History comes to life on the Mediterranean

Tarragona

Catalonia

Tarragona
Max 33ºC / Min 24ºC
Tarragona / Catalonia

In Tarragona, declared a World Heritage City, history steps out of the books and comes to life around every corner.

The city specialises in historical re-enactments that bring the Roman era back to life, featuring shows in key landmarks such as the amphitheatre and the Roman circus. Add to this its exceptional location on the Costa Daurada on the Mediterranean sea, its delicious local cuisine and its festivities and popular traditions, and you have the capital of the Costa Dorada: Tarragona.

The living history of the city

Tarragona is Roman history, the medieval past and Catalan tradition. It is one of the cities with the highest density of Roman remains, and many of them can be visited. These include the Roman amphitheatre, the circus, the Praetorium, the theatre and the Les Ferreres Aqueduct. In spring, you have a fantastic opportunity to get to know them in an original way with the celebration of the Tarraco Viva festival. The city is filled with elaborate historical re-enactments, guided routes and activities relating to the Roman past. There are also night tours and events during the summer. The wide range of historical reenactments in Tarragona also includes the festival Tarragona 1800 (in October) showcasing the city at the turn of the 19th century.The Middle Ages were another important period in Tarragona. You can see this for yourself by following the route past monuments such as the Cathedral, the city wall, the arches of the old Jewish quarter and the castles of Paborde, Tamarit and del Rey. Right opposite the cathedral, you’ll often be able to enjoy one of Catalonia’s most popular traditions: the castells, or human towers. They perform as part of the city’s various festivals on many summer afternoons. Tarragona also hosts the international human tower building competition at the start of autumn in every even-numbered year.

A place to enjoy the Mediterranean

Tarragona is open to the Mediterranean, and the beach is an easy walk from the old quarter. It boasts 15 kilometres of coastline with fine sandy beaches and very gentle slopes. Its mild climate means it is almost always perfect for bathing from June to September.The city still retains its seafaring atmosphere in the Serrallo fishing district. This is a good place to enjoy the best local fish and seafood. You can even witness the fish auction every afternoon in the fish market.Tarragona, and in particular its old quarter, is a pleasant city with many pavement cafés where you can enjoy views of heritage sites in places like Plaça de la Font, Plaça del Fòrum and Plaça del Rei. You can round off your day with a walk along the Rambla Nova where most of the modern shops are located, and enjoy a dinner of the best traditional local cuisine.

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Don’t miss it

What to visit

Select from the list or hover over the map to find out about points of interest.

Don’t miss it

What to visit

Select from the list or hover over the map to find out about points of interest.

What to do

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

  • Barcelona AirportIt is about 80 kilometres from Tarragona, around an hour’s drive.The quickest way to get to Tarragona by public transport is the direct bus from the airport, which takes about an hour. Another option is to go to Sants Station in Barcelona (a Cercanías Barcelona commuter train takes you directly from the airport in about 20 minutes) and take the regional train(Renfe), which connects the two cities, and takes about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train to Camp de Tarragona station and continue from there by bus to the city centre.More information

  • Reus AirportIt is situated about 12 kilometres from Tarragona, less than 15 minutes’ drive away, and offers seasonal flights.By public transport, the no. 50 Bus connects the airport with the city (10 minutes). Another bus connects Reus with Tarragona in about 30 minutes. There is also a regional train service between the two cities.Reus airport has direct connections with the United Kingdom and operates charter flights. More information

How to get to train

  • The Tarragona railway station is situated in the city centre. Long-distance connections (Valencia, Andalusia, Madrid and France) and nearby destinations (Barcelona, Tortosa, Reus and Lleida)

  • The Camp de Tarragona high-speed train station is situated about 10 kilometres from Tarragona, around 15 minutes’ drive by car or taxi and about 20–25 minutes on the special bus. Direct connections by high-speed AVE train to Barcelona, Lleida, Figueres, Zaragoza, Madrid, Málaga, Córdoba and Seville.

  • Book tickets

How to get to bus

  • Tarragona bus station is located very close to the city centre, just 1.5 kilometres from the cathedral (a 20-minute walk).

  • It is served by national, inter-provincial and provincial routes, but also by Tarragona’s city buses, so you can travel from here to other parts of the city.

How to get there by road

  • From Barcelona, via the AP-7 and the N-340.

  • From Madrid, via the A-2 and AP-2 roads.

  • Find out here where to park in Tarragona.

How to get to boat

  • The port of Tarragona is close to the centre and has a cruise terminal, the Tarragona Cruise Port. The city's cathedral can be reached from the port in about 30 minutes on foot.

  • There is a free shuttle bus from the Port’s Welcome Centre to the quay. There are also taxi ranks and bus stops nearby.More information

  • In Tarragona, you’ll also find Puerto Tarraco (a modern marina) and the marina Nautic Tarragona.

How to get around in bus

  • Many of the EMT (Tarragona Municipal Transport Company) city bus routes depart from Plaza Imperial Tarraco, connecting the city centre with its neighbourhoods, beaches and other places of interest. 

  • Most of the city bus routes in Tarragona operate between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm.

  • There are night buses on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

  • More information

How to get around in other means of transport

  • The taxis in Tarragona are white with a diagonal orange stripe. There are various taxi companies which you can look up on the Tarragona tourism website.

  • There is a tourist train which makes a circuit around the historic centre.

Calendar

Shows, festivals, sports...

View some of the most relevant events you will be able to enjoy at the destination.

Holy water bearers participating in the Sant Magí Portants de l’Aigua procession. Fiesta of Sant Magí in Tarragona (Catalonia)

Sant Magí

Tarragona

11 August 2026 - 19 August 2026
11 Aug
Castells (human towers) competition in Tarragona
Show

'Castells' competition (human towers)

Tarragona

03 October 2026 - 04 October 2026
03 Oct

Santa Tecla Fiesta

Tarragona

15 September 2026 - 24 September 2026
15 Sep
See more