I have no beef in this Spain-Catalonia argument because I’m uneducated, but I’m also not trying to get cussed out either if I refer to a Catalonian city as a Spanish city. Regardless, Tarragona is a must-see destination no matter what you call it.

The city has become my one of my favorite places in Spain I’ve visited this year. After my time spent in Extremadura working at an English summer camp , I decided I needed the sun and the beach with limited human interaction. My wallet desperately craved a return to Barcelona, but my limited funds said otherwise. Though Tarragona is definitely not Barcelona, the city boasts beautiful and easy accessible beaches, roman remains, and a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you use Tarragona as a one day pit-stop on your hour journey to Barcelona or a 5-day vacation, this fun-sized Catalonian city should absolutely not be missed during your Spanish travels.

Main tourist points

As of lately, I’m more prone to smaller cities where all of the main sightseeing locations can be done in one day. I spent four days in Tarragona, and compared to Barcelona, where four days isn’t enough to bask in the essence of the city, Tarragona left me satisfied for the amount of time spent.

 

Balcon del Mediterraneo

If you look at the city’s location tag on Instagram, this will most likely be the first thing you see. This is one of the best viewpoints of the city and is an easy walk from the center and to the city’s main beach.

Roman Amphitheater

Roman presence is extremely rich in Spain, and Tarragona is just one of the many cities that preserves ancient Roman remains. The amphitheater, built in 2nd century B.C. was used as an entertainment spot for gladiator games and sporting.

Placa del Sedassos

This colorful mural cannot be missed as you make your way to the Cathedral. The quirky painting is said to be a reflection of the lively and unique lifestyles of Tarragona.

The Cathedral

Yes, another Cathedral in Europe. But it’s pretty to look at.

Beaches to visit

I was lucky to visit four beautiful beaches during my stay. Each of the beaches can be accessed by bus 12 from the center, and it’s easy to spend the whole afternoon walking along the different beaches of Costa Dorada.

Jovera

Jovera beach is easily recognizable from its stunning views upon the castle of Tamarit. Compared to Tamarit, it’s a bit smaller, but surrounded by beautiful coves. This was personally my favorite out of the four.

Tamarit

In a little over a half an hour, you can walk from Jovera to Tamarit. Both beaches are similar, except Tamarit is slightly bigger.

La Mora

La Mora is the bigger and busier beach out of the four and does the job if you’re searching for a lively beach with beauty equivalent to that of a secluded, untouched beach.

El Milagro

I talk shit about city center beaches because they’re usually dirty and filled with thieves, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Tarragona’s main beach is actually quite pretty. It’s really big and spread out, and even in the middle of August, I was able to keep an eye on my belongings while in the water because there weren’t that many people in my proximity. Tarragona’s beach scene makes it a great city for beach bums to chill without having to catch three buses to get to a decent beach.

Cala La Fonda

Also known as “Wakiki beach”, Cala La Fonda is one of Tarragona’s nude beaches. Somehow I ended up here at midnight in the midst of a nude, hippie full moon party. I saw lots of genitals and drugs that night.  This is one of the trickier beaches to access because you must take a 30 minute hike down through the forest to reach the shore.

How long should I stay in Tarragona?

As mentioned, I prefer chilled out beach towns over big cities if I don’t have a lot of time to spend, but Tarragona can easily fit your needs no matter the occasion. Walking along the trails to the beaches, I saw plenty of camp grounds filled with R.V.’s and little camping communities. Tarragona would be a great place for get togethers, yoga retreats, or a baecation on the beach that would take up a larger amount of your week– but, if you’re looking to party it up, two days is enough. If you find yourself in Barcelona, consider Tarragona for a quick day trip during your stay!