Tarragona Holidays: Roman Ruins, Beaches and Travel Guide
Província de Tarragona · Catalonia · Spain · 141,542 residents · on the coast
Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco
Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of St. Tecla
Tarragona Amphitheatre
Roman theatre of Tarraco
provincial forum of TarracoTarragona is a coastal Catalan city of around 141,500 people, and few places in Spain put so much Roman history within walking distance. The remains of Tarraco, the ancient city beneath the modern one, are scattered through the centre: a seafront amphitheatre, a circus, two forums and a Roman theatre listed by UNESCO, all under a mile from the middle of town. The cathedral of St. Tecla and the National Archaeological Museum sit close by, and the beaches of El Miracle and L'Arrabassada are within easy reach. Summer highs reach 30°C in July, and Reus airport, just 4 miles away, has direct flights from the United Kingdom.
Why go
- The Roman theatre of Tarraco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under half a mile from the centre.
- Reus airport is about six minutes' drive away, with direct flights from the United Kingdom.
- June and July bring dependable warmth, with July highs around 30°C and few rainy days.
Top sights in Tarragona
Roman Tarraco and the City Beaches
Tarragona's headline sight is the ancient city itself, Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco, whose remains lie about half a mile from the centre. The Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of St. Tecla is around 0.7 miles away, and the Tarragona Amphitheatre, a Roman arena by the sea, roughly the same distance. The Roman theatre of Tarraco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about half a mile out, with the provincial forum at 0.7 miles and the colonial forum just 0.3 miles from the centre.
The National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona, about 0.7 miles away, is a good choice for families, as is the Museo Diocesano de Tarragona at around a mile. The Early Christian cemetery of Tárraco (0.4 miles), the Roman circus (0.6 miles) and Casa Castellarnau, a historic masia at half a mile, round out the cultural circuit.
For time by the water, Playa El Miracle lies under a mile from the centre and L'Arrabassada about 1.6 miles away, beyond Punta de l'Arrabassada. The Far de la Banya lighthouse at the port, around 2.4 miles out, makes a pleasant outing for couples. Tours and tickets for Tarragona's sights can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco
- 2Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of St. Tecla
- 3Tarragona Amphitheatre
- 4Roman theatre of Tarraco
- 5provincial forum of Tarraco
- 6colonial forum of Tarraco
- 7National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona
- 8Early Christian cemetery of Tárraco
- 9Roman circus of Tárraco
- 10L'Arrabassada
- 11Playa El Miracle
- 12Far de la Banya
1archaeological siteColonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco
In the centre · Photo
ancient city on the site of modern Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
- 2cathedral
Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of St. Tecla
1 mile from the centre · Photo
cathedral and minor basilica in Spain
- 3amphitheatre
- 4archaeological site
- 5archaeological site
provincial forum of Tarraco
1 mile from the centre · Photo
archaeological site in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
6archaeological site
7museumNational Archaeological Museum of Tarragona
1 mile from the centre · Photo
cultural property in Tarragona, Spain
8archaeological site
9archaeological site
10beachL'Arrabassada
2 miles from the centre · Photo
Beach off Tarragona coast separated from La Savinosa beach by the Punta de l'Arrabassada (Arrabassada Point)
11beach
12lighthouse
Tours & tickets in Tarragona
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Tarragona can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Tarragona
Historic Centre or Beachside Base
Most of what draws visitors here sits within a mile of the centre, so staying in the historic core puts the forums, amphitheatre, cathedral and museums on your doorstep and makes a car unnecessary for sightseeing. It is a working city of some 141,500 residents, so expect a lived-in, year-round atmosphere rather than a purpose-built resort.
If beaches matter more, look towards Playa El Miracle, under a mile from the centre, or L'Arrabassada, about 1.6 miles out, which suit families wanting sand without losing access to the old sites. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare areas side by side.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Tarragona and the villages around it is a hire car from Reus (REU), about 6 min away.
Best time to visit Tarragona
When to Visit Tarragona
- 15°CJan17 mm
- 16°CFeb35 mm
- 19°CMar36 mm
- 21°CApr29 mm
- 23°CMay43 mm
- 27°CJun52 mm
- 30°CJul32 mm
- 31°CAug64 mm
- 27°CSept76 mm
- 24°COct108 mm
- 20°CNov66 mm
- 16°CDec15 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
June and July are the most pleasant months, with highs of 27°C and 30°C and lows that stay comfortable at night. July is also one of the drier summer months, with around five rainy days. August is the hottest month at about 31°C, and it is noticeably wetter than July.
Autumn is the wettest period: October brings around 108mm of rain over 11 days, and September about 76mm over 10 days, though temperatures stay mild at 24°C to 27°C. Winter is dry and cool, with December and January each seeing only about three rainy days and highs of 15°C to 16°C, a reasonable time for sightseeing without crowds of heat.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 5°C | 17 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 6°C | 35 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 9°C | 36 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 11°C | 29 mm | 11 h |
| May | 23°C | 14°C | 43 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 19°C | 52 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 22°C | 32 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 22°C | 64 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 18°C | 76 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 15°C | 108 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 20°C | 10°C | 66 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 16°C | 6°C | 15 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and Driving
Reus airport is remarkably close, about 4 miles away and roughly six minutes by car, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona airport, around 45 miles away, is about an hour's drive and also has direct UK flights, giving a much wider choice of schedules. Girona airport, roughly 96 miles away, is a little over two hours by road and likewise served directly from the UK.
The port of Barcelona, about 52 miles away, runs ferries to the Balearics (Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza), to Italy and to Morocco, useful if you are combining Tarragona with an island stay. Driving from Calais takes around 16 hours at the wheel, so most British drivers split the journey over two days.
By air
- Reus (REU)4 miles, about 6 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)45 miles, about 1 h 4 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Girona (GRO)96 miles, about 2 h 15 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 48 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (52 miles).
Tarragona is good for
Around Tarragona
Day Trips Along the Coast
The Costa Daurada towns are all close. La Pineda is about 4 miles away and Salou around 6 miles, while Torredembarra lies roughly 8 miles up the coast and Cambrils about 11 miles to the south-west. Further along, Mont-roig del Camp and the smaller resort of Coma-ruga are each around 15 miles away.
Inland, Reus, a city of over 100,000 people, is about 7 miles away, and Valls roughly 12 miles. Distances are short enough to make most of these an easy half-day outing.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Visit
The Roman sites cluster tightly, mostly between a third of a mile and three-quarters of a mile from the centre, so comfortable shoes will serve you better than car hire for sightseeing; keep a car for the coast and day trips.
If you are planning an autumn break, pack a waterproof: October is by far the wettest month, and September is not much drier. And remember Tarragona is a sizeable city rather than a seasonal resort, so it stays active outside summer, which makes the dry, mild winter a sensible option for a cultural short break.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Tarragona?
Reus airport is the closest, about 4 miles away and roughly six minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona airport, around 45 miles away and an hour's drive, also has direct UK flights.
What is the best month to visit Tarragona?
June and July offer the most pleasant conditions, with highs of 27°C and 30°C. July tends to be the drier of the two, with around five rainy days. August is hotter at about 31°C, while October is the wettest month.
Is Tarragona good for a beach holiday?
Tarragona leans towards culture, but it does have city beaches: Playa El Miracle is under a mile from the centre and L'Arrabassada about 1.6 miles out, both suited to families. Salou and La Pineda are within 6 miles for more beach time.
What Roman sites can you see in Tarragona?
The remains of ancient Tarraco include the seafront amphitheatre, the Roman circus, the provincial and colonial forums, the Early Christian cemetery and the Roman theatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All lie within about three-quarters of a mile of the centre.
How far is Tarragona from Salou?
Salou is about 6 miles from Tarragona, making it an easy trip for an afternoon on the beach. Cambrils is around 11 miles away and La Pineda about 4 miles, so the main Costa Daurada resorts are all close by.
Can you drive to Tarragona from the UK?
Yes. The drive from Calais takes around 16 hours of motoring, so most British drivers break the journey with an overnight stop in France. Flying into Reus or Barcelona is far quicker if time is short.