Plan your perfect Tarragona day trip - Explore Roman Ruins

About Roman Tarragona (Tarraco)

Tarragona is a Barcelona Travel Hacks top day trip or multi day trip when visiting Barcelona, Catalonia. The coastal city of Tarragona, 95Km south of Barcelona on the Costa Dorada is known for its preserved ancient Roman ruins from its days as a Roman Provincial capital known as Tarraco, founded in 218 BC. While not the only Roman city of Spain, this was The first Roman settlement on the Iberian peninsula outside of the Italian mainland.

Today, Tarragona is mainly a port city with large chemical industrial sector outside of the city to the south of the port. The Roman/medieval historic city centre is located on a hill of 160 meters high that provides beautiful view of the Mediterranean from several places. The Roman remains are UNESCO World Heritage monuments. The narrow streets have many squares with great restaurants and bars.

To visit all of the Roman ruins you should allow three days, However, you can explore the most important ones as a Tarragona Day Trip if you start at nine in the morning in Tarragona. On this page I detail the most important Roman Ruins that form part of the collection of MHT, Museos historics de Tarragona.

MHT Combined Tickets

The MHT combined ticket costs €15 and includes one visit to each of the below museum spaces:

• Roman Amphitheatre
• Roman Circus & Praetorium
• Casa Canals
• Casa Museu Castellarnau
• Roman Tarragona Wall / Paseo Arqueológico
• Colonial forum of Tàrraco

Individual tickets for each of the above attractions cost €5 each so the ticket is excellent value for money. The ticket can be purchased in any of the ticket offices of the above attractions. The ticket does not expire. When you visit one of the attractions, it is stamped on the ticket.

Tarragona Day trip - Part Alta (day 1 & 2)

Part Alta is the historic Roman and Medieval Centre of Tarragona within the city walls. To visit everything I recommend allowing two days. Below I suggest how you might divide the days.

• 09:00h - 10:00h: Tarragona Mediteranean balcony
• 10:00h - 11:00h: Tarragona Roman Amphitheatre
• 11:00h - 12:00h: Roman Circus & Praetorium
• 12:00h - 13:00h: Tarragona Modern Art Museum (MAMT)
• 13:00h - 14:00h: Casa Canals
• 14:00h - 15:00h: Snack in Plaça del Rei or Plaza del Forum
• 15:00h - 17:00h: Tarragona Cathedral
• 17:00h - 22:00h: Last train back to barcelona departs around 22:00h
• 10:00h - 11:00h: Casa Museu Castellarnau
• 11:00h - 12:00h: Roman Wall of Tarragona
• 12:00h - 14:00h: Tapas in Plaça de la Font
• 14:00h - 18:00h: Roman Aqueduct pont del Diable
• 18:00h - 22:00h: Last train back to barcelona departs around 22:00h

Tarragona Day trip - Part Colonial (day 3)

Part Colonial was the Roman Colony within the city walls and next to the port. Today this part of town is mostly modern constructions with a scattering of archaeological roman ruins and museums.

• 10:00h - 11:00h: Colonial forum of Tàrraco
• 11:00h - 12:00h: Roman Theater of Tàrraco
• 12:00h - 15:30h: Mercat de Tarragona & Parc de la Ciutat. Tapas in Mercat de Tarragona
• 15:30h - 16:30h: Early Christian cemetery of Tàrraco - Necròpolis Paleocristians (MNAT)
• 16:30h - 17:30h: Museu del Port de Tarragona
• 17:30h - 18:30h: National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona (MNAT)
• 18:30h - 19:00h: Barri del Serrallo fishermans village
• 19:00h - 21:00h: Dinner in Barri del Serrallo fishermans village
• 21:30h - 22:00h: Last train back to barcelona departs around 22:00h

Where to Eat Roman Tarragona (Tarraco)

Plaça del Rei & Plaça del Forum (Near Roman Ruins)

• Gure Toki Restaurant: Basque food, tapas and sandwiches. Plaça del Rei 4.
• Home Run Restaurant: American theme burger restaurant. Plaça del Forum 10.
• CaTabularium Restaurant: Tapas food. Plaça del Forum 8.
• Tarakon Restaurant: Grilled food and Cocktails. Plaça del Forum 1.

Pla de la Seu (near Tarragona Cathedral)

• Restaurante la Cuineta: Mediterranean food. Carrer Nou del Patriarca 2 bis.
• Frida Restaurant: Mexican Food. Carrer de les Coques 1 Bis.
• Restaurant Casa Balcells: Mediterranean food on a terrace in front of the cathedral. Pla de la Seu 5.
• El ceibo bar: Tapas & cocktails. Plaça de la Font 8.

Plaça de la Font (Near Tarragona townhall)

• Quattros Restaurant: Delicious tapas, skewers and pinchos as well as 3 course lunch menu for €17. Plaça de la Font 2.
• Restaurante Mediterráneo Sentits: Salads, Tapas, Grilled meats. Plaça de la Font 25.
• Istanbul Restaurant: Turkish food - upmarket kebab house. Carrer de Sant Domènec 26.
• El ceibo bar: Tapas & cocktails. Plaça de la Font 8.

Barri del Serrallo (Tarragona port)

• El Pósit Restaurant: Seafood restaurant with meat and salad dishes. Moll de Pescadors 25, Barri del Serrallo.
• Varadero Restaurante: Seafood restaurant with grilled meat and salad dishes. Carrer de Trafalgar 13, Barri del Serrallo.
• Octopussy Restaurante: Seafood restaurant with specialisation of Octopus dishes. Carrer de Trafalgar 5, Barri del Serrallo.
• Arrosseria El Serrallo Restaurant: Seafood restaurant, paella and grilled meat dishes. Carrer de Trafalgar 1, Barri del Serrallo.
• L'Àncora del Serrallo Restaurant: Seafood restaurant, paella, fish casarolles, grilled meat and fish dishes. Carrer de Trafalgar 21, Barri del Serrallo.
• Ca l’Eulàlia Restaurant: Seafood restaurant, paella, grilled meat and fish dishes. Plaça del Bisbe Bonet, Barri del Serrallo.