What to see in Tarragona in 1, 2 or 3 days

What to know and book before you go

• History Museum sites. There are five: the Passeig Arqueològic (the walls), Pretori i Circ, the Amphitheatre, the Fòrum de la Colònia and Casa Canals. One site costs €5 and the combined ticket for all five is €15; under-12s go free, and retirees, students and 12 to 17-year-olds pay half. Buy on the museum's ticket website (official prices).
• Opening hours. Until 26 October they open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 20:45, and Sundays and public holidays 9:00 to 14:30. From 27 October to 31 March, the amphitheatre, Passeig Arqueològic and Fòrum open Tuesday to Friday 9:00 to 18:30 and Saturday 9:30 to 18:30; Pretori i Circ and Casa Canals stay open until 20:00. Sundays and holidays, 9:30 to 14:30. Closed on Mondays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing (opening hours).
• Cathedral. A standard ticket is €12.50, reduced €8.50 and junior (ages 7 to 12) €5.50; under-7s go free. The self-guided visit includes a free audio guide on your phone. Buy on the official website.
• Roman theatre. You can only go inside on the free guided visit on the first Sunday of each month, 11:00 to 12:00, in Catalan and with booking through the MNAT. The next one is on 1 November 2026.

Flying in? All the options are in our airport to Tarragona guide. For concerts, theatre or exhibitions during your stay, check the Tarragona events calendar.

Day 1: the Roman and medieval Part Alta

Morning. Start with the Passeig Arqueològic, the walk along the city walls, entered from Avinguda de Catalunya. The first stone wall went up between 217 and 197 BC, and three towers from that time survive: the Arquebisbe, Cabiscol and Minerva towers (History Museum).

Then climb to the Cathedral, at the highest point of the city, where the temple of Augustus stood in Roman Tarraco. It is a Romanesque-plan church with a Gothic rose window and a cloister, and the visit now includes the Santa Tecla la Vella gardens. Until 1 November it opens Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 19:00, Monday 10:30 to 19:00 and Sunday 14:00 to 19:00. From 2 November to 31 December it closes earlier: 17:00 Monday to Friday (opening at 10:30 on Monday), 18:00 on Saturday, and on Sunday it opens 14:00 to 18:00 (opening hours).

Afternoon. Walk down to Plaça del Rei for the Pretori, the tower of the old provincial forum, which forms a single site with the Roman Circus, where chariot races were held (Rambla Vella, 2). The circus was about 325 metres long and was built on vaults that served as corridors to move spectators around (History Museum).

Finish at the Amphitheatre, by the sea in the Parc de l'Amfiteatre romà. Gladiators fought here, and in the year 259 Bishop Fructuosus and his deacons were burned alive in the arena, which is why a basilica was later built on it in the 6th century and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Miracle in the 12th (History Museum).

If you would rather go with a guide, private companies run guided tours of Roman Tarragona.

Day 2: the lower town, the Serrallo and the beach

Morning. Head to the Fòrum de la Colònia on Carrer Cervantes, the local forum at the heart of the colony's political and social life, presided over by a basilica from the time of Tiberius. Close by is the Roman theatre (Carrer Sant Magí, 1), the first of Tarraco's entertainment buildings, next to the old port district. Remember you can only go inside on the free guided visit on the first Sunday of the month.

Midday. Carry on towards the port to the Serrallo, the fishermen's quarter. On the Moll de Costa is the Port Museum, free: from October to May it opens Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, and Sundays and holidays 11:00 to 14:00; closed on Mondays (Port of Tarragona).

Afternoon. End at Miracle beach, the closest to the town centre, along Passeig Rafael Casanova below the amphitheatre (City Council). If you still have energy, the Volta del Pallol video mapping in the Part Alta costs €5 and is free for under-12s; check show times on the History Museum website.

Day 3: the aqueduct and a day trip

Morning: Les Ferreres Aqueduct (Pont del Diable). This 1st-century bridge has two tiers of arches, 27 metres high and 217 metres long, and access is free (History Museum). It lies outside the centre, off the N-240 road towards Valls. EMT city bus lines 5 and 85 leave from Plaça Imperial Tàrraco and stop at "Pont del Diable"; a single ticket costs €1.60 and is sold on board (EMT fares).

Afternoon, option 1: PortAventura World. The resort has its own station, Salou-PortAventura, on Rodalies de Catalunya lines R17 and RT2, which run through Tarragona (PortAventura World). Check the opening calendar on its website, as it changes by season.

Afternoon, option 2: the Priorat. This is the inland wine region. On Renfe's map, line R15 has a station at Marçà-Falset, but to get around villages and wineries a hire car is the practical choice.

What to do if it rains

Under cover you have the Cathedral, the Pretori, Casa Canals, the Port Museum and the Volta del Pallol video mapping. The amphitheatre, Passeig Arqueològic, Fòrum and aqueduct are open-air: save them for a dry spell.

Note: the Necropolis is temporarily closed for works, and the Archaeological Museum building on Plaça del Rei is also closed while the new museum is prepared (MNAT).

How to save money

1. Use the free days. According to the official websites:

The next free Tuesday is 27 October 2026. All the free hours, day by day, are on our free museums in Tarragona page.

2. Buy the combined ticket. If you plan to see all five History Museum sites, the combined ticket is €15, against €5 for each single ticket. If you will only see two, buy single tickets.

To sleep in or near the Part Alta, look for a place to stay in the centre. And if you are visiting at Christmas, see our Christmas in Tarragona guide.