Visit the Cathedral of Tarragona
We particularly liked the Cathedral in Tarragona. It stands on the Acropolis hill in the old town. Its construction began in 1171, but it was not sanctified until 1331. The entrance fee for students was 3.50 EUR. Otherwise, the entrance fee is only 5 EUR, which I think is worth it. The cathedral with its individual rooms looks very interesting from the inside. There is also a beautiful inner courtyard, which is home to small tortoises. Incidentally, the entrance fee is used for the maintenance of the cathedral and goes to a useful purpose.
After your visit, you can enjoy the view from the forecourt of the cathedral. From here, you can look out over the old streets of Tarragona. You can linger for a moment on the steps and watch the hustle and bustle of people.
Stroll through the old town of Tarragona
Tarragona is best known for its well-preserved, beautiful old town. That's why you should take the time to stroll through it and take a look at all the buildings.
We started our little sightseeing tour at the Roman theater of Tàrraco and walked from there to the Colonial Forum. We then walked across the market square to the old city wall (Maqueta de la Ciutat Romana de Tàrraco). After our visit to Tarragona Cathedral, we walked on to the Praetorium Tower. At Circ Romà, we enjoyed a beautiful view of the sea before heading to our last stop in the old town: The Amfitheater. This is not only characterized by the fact that it is well preserved. But also because of its beautiful location right by the sea. A wonderful view is therefore included.
Enjoy the sunset at Balcó del Mediterrani
Speaking of beautiful views, I have another one for you. Nils took us to the Balcó del Mediterrani to watch the sunset, as it is particularly beautiful from here. If you're lucky, you might even be accompanied by one of the street musicians!
Afterwards, you can head out into the hustle and bustle of the Rambla Nova, which is the center of the city. On Tarragona's Rambla Nova, however, you'll have to be prepared for fewer pickpockets and hustle and bustle than in Barcelona. This makes it much more pleasant to stroll along the street.
Visit a museum in the city
Admittedly, we didn't visit any museums in Tarragona as we wanted to enjoy the good weather. But we were recommended the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona. It also looked very cool. I also read that the Port Museum is supposed to be interesting.
Linger on one of the many squares
Tarragona has several squares where you can take a short break. The most interesting is probably the Plaça del Rei, as you can go sightseeing right there. Here you will find a few sights of the old town. However, Plaça del Fòrum, Plaça del Pallol, Plaça dels Sedassos and Plaça de la Font are also ideal for a short break.
Relax at Llevant beach in Salou
Tarragona itself has a beach, but the much nicer beach is a little further out in Salou. So if you're planning a day at the beach, it's best to go to Llevant beach.
However, we went to Salou for another reason. There are a few amusement arcades where you can play fun games on slot machines. We certainly had a good laugh that evening!
Experience pure adrenaline at Port Aventura Park
If you want a little more action, just outside Tarragona you will find the Port Aventura theme park, which is considered one of the best theme parks in Spain. Here you can spend a whole day on various roller coasters and other attractions.
Hike along the Devil's Bridge aqueduct
We actually wanted to do a short hike at the Devil's Bridge aqueduct. However, as there were signs saying that cars are often broken into, we decided against it. However, the hike is said to be very beautiful. So maybe you can come without a car and do a short hike and then tell me how it was.
Visit the Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet
Just outside Tarragona is the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet. The entire monastery complex looks very interesting and is beautifully embedded in the vineyards. Admission costs EUR 6.50 for students and EUR 8.50 for adults.