The surroundings of Tarragona are the ideal destination for a holiday or a short break of a few days. The province has a lot to offer: wonderful coves on the Costa Dorada, castles and Roman ruins, charming villages and natural areas such as the Ebro delta, the Natural Reserve of Sebes or Priorat. In addition, in the area you can do many activities such as canoeing, hiking or visiting caves. Whether you are travelling with friends, as a couple or as a family, what is certain is that you won’t get bored in Tarragona.
In this post, we have compiled a list of the best places to see in the province to help you organize your travel itinerary or simply give you ideas for a day trip or a weekend getaway. We’ve also listed some good places to stay in the area and restaurants where you can enjoy the region’s gastronomy. In Tarragona, you will discover an ideal destination for rest and relaxation. So prepare your block notes and don’t miss any details.
What are the best places to see around Tarragona?
1. Tamarit, the best beach in the surroundings of Tarragona
Tamarit is another coastal town known for its wonderful beach of 2km of golden sand and views of the castle of Tamarit. It is the ideal place to spend the day with friends or family relaxing and playing in the sun. And if you prefer something more cultural, then you can visit the complex of Villa Closa, an ancient medieval town centre where you can see the ruins of a castle, the wall, prisons and other period buildings.
It only takes 15 minutes by car from Tarragona. You can also go by bus 12, which takes 48 minutes, or by regional train, which takes just 10 minutes, but then it’s a 25-minute walk to the beach.
2. Montblanc
Montblanc is one of the best preserved medieval villages in Catalonia. Today it still preserves its walls, a reflection of its splendour during the Middle Ages when it was one of the main economic powers of Catalonia. There you can take guided tours. Stroll through its narrow streets and visit the Convent of San Francisco, the Gothic Church of Santa María la Mayor, the Convent of San Francisco and the Palace of the Josa family.
From Tarragona it takes 30 minutes by car and 1 hour by regional train. It’s a fairly touristy city, so you may encounter traffic and parking difficulties during high season.
3. Prades, the Red Village
Prades, also known as the Red Village, is another obligatory stop on your itinerary around Tarragona. Its Muslim-style sandstone buildings give a particular charm to the town, one of the most important urban centres during the Middle Ages. Some of the obligatory stops to make in Prades are the hermitage of l’Abellera and the church of Santa Maria. The square and the walls surrounding the old town also form part of the cultural heritage and help us to relive the town in the Middle Ages.
Every year in June there is the Cava Festival. It is a celebration during which cava is poured instead of water from the fountain in the square, a landmark of the Catalan Renaissance. The only way to get to Prades from Tarragona is by car, and it takes about 1h.
4. L’Ametlla de Mar, the town of coves
L’Ametlla is a small coastal town known as “La Cala” for the large number of coves and beaches along its stretch of coastline. L’Alguer y Pixavaques are the most touristic beaches as they are in the centre of the village together with the beach of Sant Jordi, which is protected by a castle. But if we are looking for something quieter, we only have to go a little further away from the town along the coast to find beautiful coves.
A good way to get to know the coves is to take a hiking route that runs parallel to the coast. It is about 9 km long and lasts 2 hours. If you prefer something chill, we recommend being at the port at around 16:00h to watch the fishing boats arrive and unload at the fish market.
5. The Ebro Delta Natural Park
The Ebro Delta is one of the richest natural areas in Catalonia. There you can see kilometres of white sandy beaches and hectares of rice fields and marshes inhabited by all kinds of birds such as flamingos. In the natural park, you can take boat trips to the mouth of the river and go hiking. One of the most beautiful routes is the one that goes to Far de Fangar. It is also recommended to go and watch the sunset at Platja del Trabucador. Or rent a bike to get around the area.
In addition to the beauty and natural wealth of these lands, another of its attractions is its gastronomy, as some of the best rice dishes and paellas in the province are made in the area.
6. The Priorat and its wines
The Priorat is an area known for the cultivation of grapes and the quality of the resulting wines, as well as for the beauty of its landscapes with the Montsant mountain range in the background. It is the perfect place for a weekend getaway during which you can go hiking, visit the villages of Siurana or Cartoixa d’Escaladei, and taste the wines of the region in the restaurants and wineries in the area. Whichever plan you choose, you’re sure to love the area.
7. La Vilella Baixa
La Vilella Baixa is one of the most surprising villages in the province of Tarragona. The old town is formed by beautiful steep and narrow streets, Romanesque bridges that cross the Montsant river and the houses built over the Escaladei ravine.
To visit the village you can hire guided tours that also visit wineries and mills, or a boat trip on the river to see the village with perspective. Another must-do before you go is to try the region’s wines and oils, and the sugary cakes.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Where and what to eat in the surroundings of Tarragona?
To organize your trip we recommend using the Passporter where you can get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most to add them to your route map.
Catalonia is a great place to eat, and Tarragona is no exception. The cuisine of Tarragona is one of the richest in the country for its combination of products from the sea and the land with different culinary techniques and customs. Some of the most typical dishes are Romescada, a fish and seafood casserole with romescu sauce, calçots, rice with galleys and escudella, a pasta soup with meatballs. And to give you the opportunity to try these dishes and many others, here is a list of some of the best restaurants in the area around Tarragona:
- La Llotja: located in L’Ametlla, La Llotja is one of the best restaurants in the region to eat fish and seafood, where the tuna stands out. It may not be one of the cheapest in the region, but the quality of the food and the service are worth it.
- La Barraca del Delta: located in Ambosta, La Barraca del Delta is one of the best places to eat rice. For about 20€ per head you can taste rice and fideguas with local produce and seafood of the highest quality.
- El Celler de l’Aspic: is a restaurant of traditional Catalan cuisine where the quality of the product and the flavours are the most important. The wine list is another of the strengths of the restaurant.
Where to stay around Tarragona
In the area around Tarragona, you will find a whole sea of possibilities in terms of accommodation. On the coast or in the mountains and for all tastes and budgets: flats, hostels, rural houses, hotels… you just have to choose. Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your trip:
- Xalet De Prades: is a beautiful complex of wooden cottages in the middle of the forest. The complex has a swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, bar and parking. It is the perfect option to be in contact with nature from €115 per night.
- Hotel Rural Cor De Prades: Located in Mont-ra, this rural hotel is a good option for getting around Tarragona. The hotel has a bar and offers breakfast for €9. Prices start at €96 per night.
- May Altafulla Beach Boutique Hotel: This is a luxury hotel with all the amenities. It is located just 50 metres from the beach of Tamarit and has a bar, restaurant and swimming pool. The price per night is around 130€.
In this post, you can find more accommodation options in Catalonia: The best hotels in Catalonia
How to get around Tarragona
If you are planning a trip around Tarragona, bear in mind that public transport does not reach all tourist destinations. The suburban and regional trains cover several tourist towns such as Montblanc, but there are many others that cannot be reached by train, such as Tamerit or Prades. It is therefore advisable to travel around the province by car. You can rent a car in the capital itself or at the airport. It is also possible to rent a bike in many villages. It is another pleasant way to get to know the area.
What should I consider before travelling around Tarragona?
- The best time to travel around Tarragona is between May and July, and September and October.
- To get around the area it is recommended to hire a car as there are destinations with no public transport links.
- Catalonia is an expensive destination, try to stay away from the more touristy areas to save money.
- Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured
- In Barcelona, as in any other big city, you have to be careful with your belongings, especially in the metro.
- Spanish and Catalan are spoken throughout Catalonia, but in the smaller villages you may be spoken to in Catalan.
- The region is very touristy, so avoid the summer months and bear in mind that it’s always better to get up early than queue
How to prepare what to see on your trip around Tarragona
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see around Tarragona.
Frequently asked questions about a trip around Tarragona
The best time to travel around Tarragona is between May and July, and September and October. July and August are the hottest months and January and February the coldest.
The best option for getting around Tarragona is by car or train (rodalies).
Some of the most beautiful villages in Tarragona are Montblanc, Prades, Tamarit and L’Ametlla de Mar.
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