Tarragona
Tarragona is a Roman port on Spain's Costa Daurada, known for an amphitheater built against the sea and a cathedral in the old town above the harbor.
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Tarragona is a city in Catalonia on the Mediterranean coast of northeastern Spain. The Romans founded it as Tarraco, and it became the capital of a large Roman province on the Iberian Peninsula. Its Roman remains draw most visitors: an amphitheater built against the sea, a forum area, and a wider archaeological site that UNESCO lists as a World Heritage Site. The medieval cathedral and the old town stand on the rise above the harbor.
Come for history with a beach stop. Plan a full day for the Roman sites and the old town, and add a second day for the Costa Daurada beaches or a trip inland. Late spring and early autumn suit walking among the ruins and swimming. The Santa Tecla festival in September brings street celebrations to the old town.
Tarragona in five
- Pick the right train stationThe high-speed Avant stops at Camp de Tarragona, about 10 km from the center, so you still need a bus or taxi. The regional train from Barcelona Sants reaches the central station, usually in about an hour.Barcelona
- Start with the amphitheater and the Roman circusThe amphitheater sits by the beach and the circus runs under the old town. Check the official site for opening hours and combined tickets, which change by season.
- Visit the cathedral and the old town on footThe cathedral crowns the old quarter, and the lanes around it have terraces for lunch. It is compact, so allow half a day on foot.
- Plan for Santa Tecla in SeptemberThe patron festival fills the streets with giants and human towers. Rooms are scarce, so book ahead and check the official dates.
- Add Sitges for a beach stopSitges is a short train ride back toward Barcelona, so you can end the day on a beach.Sitges
Things to do in Tarragona
See all attractions in Tarragona
Need to know
- Airport
- Reus (REU) is closest; Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Regional train from Sants about 1 hour; Avant about 35 min to Camp de Tarragona
- Getting around
- On foot in the old town; buses to the beaches and Camp de Tarragona
- Best base
- The old town near the cathedral, or the central station
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with a beach afternoon
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°MildFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, springMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°WarmAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm, fewer crowdsMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fewer crowds
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, busyAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear11 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Santa TeclaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Santa Tecla
- OctoberClear11 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°MildOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°CoolNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Cool, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Tarragona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tarragona
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 35%
Tarragona
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°14°35%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Tue14°11°90%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed17°8°20%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Thu17°9°21%Thursday: Rain. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Fri19°6°6%Friday: Fog. High 19°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat19°9°11%Saturday: Rain. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun20°15°42%Sunday: Rain. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 42%.
Updated 09:44 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of Vilanova i la GeltrúSitges, a day trip
- May–JunPrimavera SoundBarcelona, a day trip
- JunSónarBarcelona, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Sitgesabout 40–50 min by trainWhitewashed old town and sandy beaches north of Tarragona.Read the guide
- Barcelonaabout 1 hour by regional trainThe base for most visitors, with Gaudí and markets.Read the guide
- Siuranaabout 1 hour by carA cliff-top village above a reservoir, popular with climbers.
Before you go to Tarragona
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Rules for Tarragona, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission EES page for current rules.
- Hotels and guesthouses in Tarragona add a tourist tax per night. Ask your accommodation for the current rate before you book.
Plan around Tarragona
The gateway and the other end of the line
Read the guideSitges travel guideCatalan beach town on the way back
Read the guideMontserrat travel guideA mountain monastery near Barcelona
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropePer-night local taxes and how they are charged
Read the guideIs a Eurail Pass worth it?When point-to-point tickets beat a pass
Read the guideAll of SpainCities, trains, islands and entry rules for a Spain trip
Read the guideTarragona FAQ
Is Tarragona worth visiting?
Yes, especially for Roman history by the sea. The amphitheater, the circus and the old town make an easy day, and the beaches add a half day if you want one.
How do you get from Barcelona to Tarragona?
Take the regional train from Sants, about 1 hour to the central station, or the Avant, about 35 minutes to Camp de Tarragona, which is 10 km outside the city.
How many days do you need in Tarragona?
One day covers the Roman sites and the old town. Add a second day for beaches, a winery or a trip toward Siurana.
What is Tarragona famous for?
A well-preserved Roman amphitheater by the sea, an old town cathedral and human tower traditions, castells, which are part of local festivals.
When is the best time to visit Tarragona?
April–June and September for mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and Santa Tecla in September fills the city.