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If you are wondering what to expect here, Tarragona Spain is actually not far from Barcelona Spain, and it is famed for its Roman Amphitheater, and Roman necropolis, which are two of Spain's top tourist sites.
If you’re planning when to visit Tarragona Spain, one of the best times, in my opinion to visit the city it’s during a festival or event such as Santa Tecla festivity where you’ll get to see the famous body of towers (Castellers) the region is famed for.
Things to do in Tarragona Spain: Nearby Activities
Excursion
One of the best things you can do during your trip to Tarragona Spain, it’s to explore the outdoors.
One of the best places for this is at the Sierra de Montsant Park (Parque Natural Sierra De Montsant), located just outside of Montsant wine region (around 50 minutes by car).
There is a visitor center in La Morera village, which is really the best starting point for finding trails that lead into the park.
Wine Tour
If you love wine and fancy exploring Tarragona’s wine region to sample some fine wine, you can add a winery tour to the list of things to do in Tarragona Spain.
One of the most popular wine regions is the Priorat wine region, which is home around 8 wineries with wine tasting cellars
For instance, you could visit either Alvaro Palacios winery or Capafons Ossó, both located near the Montsant wine region, around 30 miles west of Tarragona’s city center.
Port Aventura & Caribe Park
Visiting both Port Aventura & Caribe Aquatic Park are two of the most popular things to do in Tarragona Spain during the summer months.
Port Aventura is a theme park with fun high-speed rides, while Caribe Park is a water park. They’re both located near the Salou beach resort, just fives miles away from Tarragona's city center (around 10 minutes by car).
Out of the two, Caribe Aquatic Park is the most affordable park costing around $29 (23 Euros) to get in.
Having said this, if you’re planning to visit Caribe Park during the summer, I would recommend getting there as early as you can to avoid the large queues.
Also, make sure you get one of the floating rings, straight away, because once they run out you won’t be able to get on some of the water rides.
Boat Rental
Another great activity worth adding to your itinerary it’s boat rental, and you could either rent a charter, a sailing boat or a canoe.
If you’re not an experienced sailor, there are rental companies that organize sailing trips to explore the bays of the Costa Dorada.
Aqualeon Park
Another popular theme park attraction nearby Tarragona it’s Aqualeon Park, which is both a safari park and a water park.
The park itself is just 20 miles northeast of Tarragona Spain but it’s worth the trip, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
Apart from fun water slides, the little ones will get to pet animals and enjoy a mini-safari tour at the premises.
Things to do in Tarragona Spain: Places of Interest
Tarragona Archaeological Museum
The Tarragona Archaeological Museum is located right in front of Parc Central, and if you are interested in ancient history, you’ll find this place interesting.
This museum basically is an archeological site where you can see over fifty 8th century Roman necropolis along with items such as pottery items and gold coins at the museum.
Tarragona Cathedral
The Tarragona Cathedral is located nearby the Roman necropolis and offers a pleasant view to marvel at. There is a small square right by the cathedral where you can sit down and do some people watching.
If you wish to enter the cathedral, there is a small entry fee but it is worth it, just to see the lovely interior decorations.
Roman Amphitheater
The Roman Amphitheater (Amfiteatro Romano) is located at the end of Rambla Vella, overlooking the coast of Tarragona.
This is one of the most pleasant attractions in Tarragona because of the lovely views you can get of the sea.
Once in the Amphitheater, you can walk around the main arena and sit on the stone seats and really get an idea what it might've been like during Roman times.
Things to do in Tarragona Spain: Shopping & Eating out
One of the main shopping hotspots in Tarragona is along Rambla Nova which is a two-way street filled with small shops, resturants and regular markets.
On Wednesdays and Sundays, there is a flea-market held on Rambla Nova where you can buy souvenir gifts, handmade items, etc.
Two other flea-markets worth checking out include Corsini Square flea-market , held every Tuesday and Thursdays, and an antiques market held every Sunday, right outside Tarragona Cathedral.
For retail shopping, head to Parc Central shopping center which has many department stores and a food court where you can enjoy a meal.
Alternatively, the nearby town of Cambrills has another shopping center called Cebado Tarragona Parc Central, located on Avinguda Cardenal Vidal Street.
Things to do in Tarragona Spain: Nightlife & Entertainment
The old part of Tarragona is the heart of the city's nightlife. For instance, in the marina and Tarragona Port you’ll find many bars, restaurants and discos, such as Disco Totem, located along Rambla Vella such as Disco Totem.
If you’re traveling with kids, north of Rambla Nova has many lovely pizzerias and restaurants more suitable for families.
Things to do in Tarragona Spain: Events &n Festivals
St. Tecla Festival
St Tecla or Santa Tecla festival is one of the most popular events of the calendar year in Tarragona Spain running in early September. The event boasts fun competitions, live entertainment and fireworks.
Tarragona Firework Competition
If you love fireworks, this is one event not to be missed. The Tarragona Firework display is held in early July at Punta del Miracle bay. It features local and international pyrotechnic companies competing for the number one prize of ‘best firework display’
Tarragona Carnival
If you’re planning a late winter vacation to Tarragona Spain, the Tarragona Carnival gears up in early February, featuring a street parade and live entertainment.
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