10 essential activities that you can do if you do a cruise stop in Tarragona
The city of Tarragona was declared Worldwide heritage by the UNESCO in the year 2000 due to its archaeolical legacy. This beautiful mediterranean city is a perfect port or to make the perfect cruise stop. This is a beautiful mediterranean city to make a stop in your cruiseship or to embark from there because it does not only highlight its historical heritage, but also its cultural and culinary heritage, as well as its beautiful beaches and coves.
If you are lucky enough to visit Tarragona during your cruise stop in the Mediterranean, you cannot miss out this 10 advices:
1. Archaeological museum
The Archaeological Museum of Tarragona you will be able to find an amazing colleaction of the roman times that reflects the historical importance of the roman city of Tarraco and the archaeological remains of its surroundings. The Ivory Doll, the Jellyfish, Antínoo, the emperor Lucio Vero, amongst other museum pieces, that can be seeing in the Museum.
Since 2018, the Archaeological Museum is undergoing a renovation process to modernize the facilities and adapt them to the public. For this reason, most of the collection has been moved to Tinglado 4 in the port of Tarragona, making it a perfect place for cruise passengers, since they do not have to travel too much. You can visit the Museum for only € 4, but there are offers for over 65s or students
National Archaeological Museum located in the Rei Square in Tarragona
2. Archaeological promenade
The Archaeological promenade is a beautiful route of about 30 minutes through the old Roman Wall that surrounds the city of Tarragona. During this walk you can enjoy a mix of Roman and medieval remains, as well as gardens with spectacular views of the city.
The Roman Wall that surrounds Tarragona was built in different phases between 217 BC. and 125 a.c. with large stone blocks and numerous towers. In Roman times, the wall was 4 kilometers long, of which 1 kilometer is preserved for your visit.
The entrance to the Archaeological Walk has a very reduced price, you can enjoy the walk for only € 3.
3. Roman Circus in Tarraco
The Roman Circus of Tarraco was intended for chariot and horse racing. It was built in the 1st century in the center of the city of Tarragona and is believed to have a capacity for 30,000 spectators. It is considered one of the best-preserved Roman circuses in the West due, in part, to the fact that it remains buried under 19th century buildings.
If you are cruising and stopping in Tarragona, in addition to visiting the Roman Circus, you can visit the Torre del Pletori, the gateway to the Circus site, where you will enjoy one of the best views of the city of Tarragona.
The visit to the Roman Circus has a reduced price, making it perfect to visit during your cruise layover. You can access the Circus for only € 3.30.
Preserved part of the ancient Roman Circus of Tarraco that is located in the center of the city of Tarragona
4. Font Square
Plaza de la Font is located in the center of the city of Tarragona and is presided over by the Neoclassical façade of the Town Hall. In the center of the square you can see an iron fountain inaugurated in April 1979 in honor of the name of the square and the old fountain built in 1827 by Pere Anton Verderol and Vicenç Roig, which was destroyed in the 19th century.
If you prefer to enjoy a quiet plan during your cruise call in Tarragona, Plaza de la Font is ideal for it. The square is full of picturesque local businesses and restaurants where you can still see ancient Roman remains. If you cruise on a hot season, Plaza de la Font is perfect to relax and enjoy a snack on the terraces.
5. Fórum Square
The Plaza del Fórum is located in the old Provincial Forum from the Roman era of Tarragona. The Provincial Forum was about 300 meters long and 200 meters wide, surrounded by extraordinary porticos, of which you can visit one that remains in the center of the square.
Like the Plaza de la Font, in the Plaza del Fórum you can enjoy a relaxing walk or, if you prefer, visit the local businesses, which conserve monuments, walls and porticos belonging to the former Provincial Forum. Be sure to visit this picturesque square if you stop with your cruise in Tarragona.
Do not miss the bars and restaurants of this square, where you can enjoy the remains of the old Provincial Forum
6. Acueducto de Les Ferreres
The Les Ferreres Aqueduct, also called Pont del Diable, was used in the 1st century to carry water from the Francoli River to the Roman city of Tarraco. The aqueduct carried water for more than 10 kilometers, the Pont del Diable is a fragment 217 meters long.
The Les Ferreres Aqueduct is located within a public park and admission is free. Around the park you can find informative posters of the history of the park and the aqueduct, making it a perfect place to visit if you make your stopover in Tarragona, since you decide the pace of the visit. However, if you prefer a guided tour, they can be hired for an approximate price of € 5. In addition, inside the park you can rest and eat at one of the tables located throughout the park or at the restaurant and bar located inside the park.
7. International Festival Dixieland
The Dixieland International Festival has been held in different parts of the city of Tarragona since 1994. It is a series of concerts and shows of traditional jazz, in the purest New Orleans style, also called Dixieland. The Dixieland has three main aspects: ragtime, blues and European marches. The main venue for this festival is the Teatro Metropol, but other venues and even streets in Tarragona also host certain concerts.
The Dixieland International Festival is held the week before Easter, so if you book a cruise at Easter departing from Tarragona you are in luck. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the city a few days before to enjoy numerous concerts and shows.
8. Wonderful beaches of Gold beach
In addition to an incredible historical and cultural heritage, the city of Tarragona has some 15 kilometers of coastline with large, easily accessible beaches, hidden coves and crystal clear paradisiacal waters
The beaches of Tarragona have an excellent quality thanks to the cleanliness of the sand and the analysis of its waters, which is why many of them have the Blue Flag quality mark. Others of them are surrounded by natural protected areas so that in addition to the sea, you can enjoy dunes, vegetation and birds. Tarragona’s beaches are perfect for sunbathing, relaxing, bathing and enjoying with the family thanks to its calm waters, sports activities or mild temperatures.
One of the main beaches in the city is El Miracle and can be accessed by following the Rafael de Casanova promenade.
La playa de El Miracle is one of the most accessibles of Tarragona, situated under the lookout of the balcony of the Mediterraneanuna de las más accesibles de Tarragona, situada bajo el mirador del Balcón del Mediterráneo y al norte del puerto deportivo, mucerca del centro de la ciudad. The Miracle´s beach
9. Mercado Central de Tarragona
El edificio del Mercado Central de Tarragona se construyó en 1915, donde se albergaban en un mismo lugar los puntos de venta que antes se encontraban repartidos por la ciudad. Merece la pena visitar el mercado por su asombrosa arquitectura Modernista: columnas de hierro colado para dar más luz y amplitud, las rejas de las puertas de acceso, la tipología de las letras que presentan el edificio, o la cubierta revestida de cerámica. El Mercado Central de Tarragona recuerda a otros reconocidos mercados internacionales, como el Mercado del Born de Barcelona o el vienés Karlsplatz de Otto Wagner.
10. Gastronomía
Si haces una breve escala de crucero en Tarragona, no pierdas la oportunidad de disfrutar de la rica gastronomía catalana. En esta gastronomía son protagonistas los productos de mar, en especial los mariscos y el pescado azul. Podrás deleitarte con los mejores pescados y mariscos en el barrio marinero de El Serrallo.
Además de los productos de mar, merece la pena probar otros platos típicos de Tarragona como los calçots, la romescada, el arroz caldoso de galeras o la escudella, un cocido típico tarraconense.
Una de las novedades por la que empiezan a apostar los locales tarraconenses es el helado de avellana. La avellana de Reus, un pueblo próximo a la ciudad de Tarragona, tiene Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) y es de gran relevancia, por ello se ha convertido ya en todo un clásico de la ciudad.
Podrás disfrutar de una deliciosa “calçotada” desde enero hasta abril en muchos restaurantes de Tarragona
Elige una ruta de crucero que incluya Tarragona en su itinerario o como puerto de salida y llegada y aprovecha para descubrir uno de los destinos en alza del Mediterráneo. Si visitas Tarragona, comparte con nosotros tu experiencia en los comentarios y ayuda a otros cruceristas a descubrir nuevos lugares de la ciudad para visitar.
Si quieres descubrir otras curiosidades o lugares que visitar en Tarragona, visita estos artículos:
What are you interesting in seeing in Tarragona if your cruiseship if that is your departure port