Tarragona Walking Tour: A Guide to Tarraco, Rome’s Other Capital
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Travel back 2,200 years in history to when Tarragona was Tarraco, one of Rome’s most important colonies and an ancient holiday destination – much like it is to this day. Over the years, the Romans, Moors, and Medieval Christians influenced the city and on this walking tour, I’ll point out where they left their mark in Tarragona’s Old Town. I’ll show you some of the numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites they left behind, and talk about some of the events that shaped them.
Our tour starts at the Balcó de Mediterrani, overlooking the beautiful and tempting Miracle Beach. From there we’ll walk to Amfiteatre de Tarragona, Tarraco’s spectacular old Amphitheatre, and visit the Colonial Forum of Tarraco, the Roman wall of Tarragona, and Portal del Roser (a city gate). But it’s not all about Rome. Most of what you’ll see on your way to Mercat de Tarragona (the central market) where our tour ends was built in Medieval times. You’ll be amazed at how parts of the town still look and feel like a village from the Middle Ages. I’ll tell you how the Romans were more like us than you might realize – they were hygienic, loved to be entertained, built surprisingly modern-looking architecture, and were pretty open-minded.
On this 75 minute walk, you’ll also:
- Relive what happened on an average day at the Amphitheatre
- Find out why the stunning Cathedral of Santa Tecla has remained unfinished since 1348
- See Maqueta de la Ciutat Romana de Tarraco, a precise model of Roman Tarraco at the height of its glory
- Walk through Carrer dels Cavallers, one of the ritziest streets in Medieval Tarragona
- Take in Casa Museu Castellarnau, a fancy palace that belonged to an iron forge mogul
- Discover the fate of Spain’s Medieval Jewish community in Tarragona’s Jewish Quarter
- Immerse yourself in a day at the (chariot) races, held at the iconic Circ Romà (praetorium)
- Learn how Tarraco’s most important leader was also one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world
- Get to know why the hilltop was the most important place for Romans
By the end of the tour, you’ll have fallen in love with Tarragona. You’ll leave the Old Town with a new appreciation for this relatively unknown (but once Spain’s most important) city!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Spain Walking Tours
The best way to see any Spanish city is on foot. It’s not just the destinations that dazzle, it’s what you see on the way. These beautiful cities have character, and a walking tour is the only way to uncover the unsung attractions between landmarks: vibrant streets, monuments, street art, ruins, shops, and the locals.
Spain’s fascinating history truly comes alive starting around 2,000 years ago when the Romans settled here. Since then, a lot has happened, and your host John will dive deep into this history so you don’t have to. His tours focus on the momentous events that shaped the cities, but also the lighter, quirky side of their stories.
John’s tours not only guide you to the most famous tourist attractions but also show you the lesser-known plazas, stunning architecture, hidden cafes, and Instagram-worthy spots. He’ll share strange histories, myths, stories of famous historical figures, and even bizarre events that once unfolded on these very streets.
We’re adding new cities all the time, and some of our most popular tours are in Barcelona, Valencia, Sitges, and Zaragoza. Whether you’re uncovering Roman ruins, medieval castles, or picturesque plazas, there’s always something new to discover.
The average tour length is around 3.5 km, so get ready for a great walk and enjoy Spain 🇪🇸
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 13
Turn left - Plaça del Forum
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Mediterranean Balcony
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Amfiteatre de Tarragona
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Torre del Pretori o Castell del Rei
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National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona
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Ca la Garsa
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Plaça del Fòrum
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Forum provincial mur perimetral
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Casa Corderet
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Inscripció a Gai Bebi Myrisme
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Plaça de Santiago Rossinyol
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Catedral Basílica Metropolitana i Primada de Santa Tecla de Tarragona
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Plaça de Sant Joan
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Portal del Roser
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Antiga Audiència
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Casa Museu Castellarnau
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Restes del circ romà
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Circ Romà
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Plaça de la Font
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Tarragona City Hall
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Rambla Nova
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Roman theatre of Tàrraco
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Fòrum colonial de Tarraco
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Central Market of Tarragona
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationPasseig de les Palmeres, s/n, 43004 Tarragona, Spain
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Total distance3km
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Final locationPl. de Corsini, 43001 Tarragona, Spain
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Distance back to start location638.1m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour kicks off with a beautiful hilltop view over Miracle Beach, on the Balcony of the Mediterranean. It's very easy to find. Make your way to Rambla Nova, modern Tarragona's main street, then head towards the ocean. The Balcony is right at the end of the street, behind the huge statue of a Roman Legionary.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
The entire length of this walk you'll only be a few steps away from a cafe or restaurant. So take your pick - you can stop the tour at any point and resume it when you're finished.
All of the locations are fascinating but of the locations with a fee, these are the ones I'd recommend paying the (very reasonable) entry fee for. If you're unsure, listen to the audio before you make up your mind.
- The Amphitheatre.
- The Cathedral of Saint Tecla (includes the Cloister and the Diocesan Art Museum).
- Model of Tarraco (free).
- The Colony Forum.
Got some time to spare and wondering what else to see? Not included in this tour, but worth a visit...
- Definitely hit the Beach, the Mediterranean is a wonderful ocean to swim in.
- Les Ferreres Aquaduct. The Romans built things to last, this is how they got their water into town for centuries.
- PortaVentura. A waterpark that attracts visitors from all over the world.
- Salou - A small coastal resort town, just 10 km south.
- Reus - Birthplace of Antoni Gaudi... and Vermouth. 10 km inland.
Best time of day
Most of the tourist attractions in Tarragona are closed on Mondays.
For the rest of the week, the best time is after 10 am when they'll be open for tourists. Keep in mind that a few of the smaller locations, like Casa Corderet, might be closed during the afternoon siesta which is between 2-5 pm. I know, right? Afternoon sleep should be global.
Precautions
In the historic old town, there are occasionally roadworks that completely block off a street. Without sidewalks, that means they're closed to pedestrians too.
If you find that our route is blocked, use your map to find a way around it. Blocks are small, so it should only take a minute to find a way to the other side. Pause the tour while you're navigating to the next point. You can restart it by selecting the correct audio - tap the pinpoint on the map to play, then you're on your way.
This is a very safe town, plus we're walking through nice areas, so don't be too concerned about theft and muggings. But be safe anyway, don't carry valuables, and hold onto your bags.
Summertime is hot here, that's probably why you're here. We're never far away from shade, but there's still a bit of walking out in the open, so wear a hat, carry some water, and slap on some sunscreen. The total length of the walk is 3 km (more if you go inside the attractions to explore), so wear comfortable shoes and hot weather clothes in the summer months.
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