Tarragona, Spain Beaches
Eight beaches to visit in Tarragona, Spain
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Does Tarragona have nice beaches?
Yes! Living in Tarragona for four years gave us plenty of opportunity to visit the many nearby beaches and coves. They don’t call it “Costa Daurada” (“Golden Coast” in Catalan, the regional language) for nothing! The beaches boast fine gold sand on the shores of the often shallow (read: good for swimming) crystal blue-green Mediterranean. Combine this with the pine forest and vegetation that runs along the rocky coast and it makes for a very scenic day at the beach.
While some of the beaches on this list offer more services than others - lifeguard stands, restrooms and even restaurants - none of these beaches are overly developed or overrun by high rises or hotels. (Below I offer a few suggestions for hotels nearby if you want to explore the coast.)
Tarragona, Spain Beaches: Fast Facts
Tarragona is the name of a city, as well as, a province. The beaches included in this article are all within Tarragona province.
“Beach” = “Playa” in Spanish, “Platja” in Catalan, the regional language
Barcelona to Tarragona by train: You can travel easily to Tarragona from Barcelona by train in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The stop right before Tarragona is Altafulla/Tamarit, which is near the final beach listed below.
If you like hiking, Walk the very scenic GR-92, which is part of an extensive Spanish trail system up the coast and see several of the beaches listed below. If you start in Tarragona, you could even take the trail past Barcelona through Costa Brava and all the way up to France! (That’s a post for another day.)
Walking from Tarragona all the way to Altafulla is a 14km route, roughly 8.5 miles, so you need to be prepared with proper shoes and water. You could of course choose to do any portion of the trail.
In addition to the beaches, the trail passes through beautiful forested area and rocky shoreline. (This route is also referred to as the “Camino de Ronda.”)
Where to Stay: Tarragona Beach Spain Edition
H10 IMPERIAL TARRACO 4* SUP Freshly renovated and reopened in the last 5 years, this Spanish hotel brand has a prime local. Poised at the foot of the Rambla and the Mediterranean balcony in Tarragona, the rooftop vistas of the historic city, Mediterranean coast and mountain backdrop are some of the best in town (in my opinion).
MAY ALTAFULLA BEACH BOUTIQUE HOTEL Located a short walk to Tamarit Beach in Altafulla with clean design and an inviting rooftop pool and terrace.
Tarragona Beaches: At-A-Glance
*Listed in order traveling from the city of Tarragona going North up the coast:
Miracle Beach: Though not the prettiest on the list, it’s the closest to town, just a short walk past the epic roman amphitheater.
Arrabassada Beach: Second closest to the city center of Tarragona, this wide, clean beach also includes three chiringuitos (beach bars) to grab a snack or a drink.
Savinosa Beach: Half of this beach is designated nudist thanks to a more secluded position.
Cala Romana: A small, stunning cove great for a dip or a picnic at one the tables in the forest above.
Larga: The longest stretch of beach (hence the name), this beach includes boat rentals, restaurants and beachfront camping.
Cala Fonda, Waikiki Beach: Well-preserved and surrounded by forest and limestone rock, this may be the most picturesque place to set up or swim.
Playa de La Mora: A very accessible location, this beach is set against a community with houses and places to stay. It also includes a boardwalk with a few beachfront restaurants.
Tamarit Beach, Altafulla: There’s a castle on the beach (need I say more?) This beach is also a great place to rent a stand up paddle board then grab a drink or enjoy a meal along the boardwalk.
MIRACLE BEACH
Though far from the most beautiful on the list - one side of the beach has vistas of the more industrial port side - it is certainly the closest to the actual town of Tarragona.
If you are visiting Tarragona for the day and want to stick your toes in the sand or the sea, it’s a short walk down the hill (past the epic Roman Amphitheater no less!)
Note: There are no places for food or drink right off the beach and typically it’s only during the summer season that the public restrooms are unlocked.
Pro Tip: Take the popular walking/jogging path along the water all the way south to the Port and visit the colorful “fishermen district” of El Serrallo. This is a great spot to grab a beverage or a nice seafood meal.
2. ARRABASSADA BEACH
Arrabassada // Tarragona Beach Spain
I don’t want to play favorites, but…
This is by far the beach I frequented most, partly because of its proximity to where we lived. Though Miracle Beach is directly in front of the town, Arrabassada is the next beach to the north.
You can make the 15 minute walk from town or hop on a city bus. There is parking near the beach as well, but it tends to fill up quickly.
Why do I love this beach so much beside the location? It’s not too big and not too small (though as you can see from the photo above, in summer it can be busy!) The beach is clean and well-maintained. There are typically nice shallow sections of the sea good for wading and swimming.
Often times rows of volleyball nets are set up, if you are keen and brave enough to jump in on a game. During the summer there is also a station that rents paddle boats and such.
There are three chiringuitos (beach bars) great for a beverage, snack or casual meal. We’ve posted up several times on these terraces with a cold drink! We’ve taken many a visitor here too. They also have restrooms open to the public as well.
3. SAVINOSA BEACH
As noted in the breakdown above, half of this beach is designated nudist (which is probably why I don’t have any photos!)
If you follow the trail from Arrabassada going north, this is the next beach. There is also one chiringuito on this beach.
Though not as large as Arrabassada, it’s a little more secluded and and is bordered by the forest on one end of the beach, which is nice.
4. CALA ROMANA
If you kept walking the trail north you would run into this charming cove. As you can see from the photo above, it’s not a wide stretch of beach.
There are picnic tables under the trees behind the beach, which provide a nice shady spot for lunch.
5. LARGA
Running 2.5 Km, roughly a 1.5 miles, this is the longest stretch of beach on this coast (The shot above was taken from the far north side and doesn’t completely capture the scale) It is popular with locals and tourists alike.
If you have a car, drive over to one of the beach front restaurants and enjoy a paella lunch. There is parking available by the beach. As always, plan accordingly during the busy seasons though!
If you are into camping, there is quite a large campground right off this beach as well. Seems to be a very popular option for family travelers in Spain. There are a few spots to rent boats as well.
6. CALA FONDA, “WAIKIKI BEACH”
Surrounded by the shady pine forest and the rocky limestone cliffs, this well-preserved slice of beach is a real gem.
Visit this beach if you want to be fully surrounded by the raw natural beauty of the coast. Don’t forget to pack your own water and provisions. (In other words, If you’re looking for a beach spot with cafes and bathrooms this is not it!)
Note: The above photo was taken during a hike in January. It will be more crowded during the summer months!
7. LA MORA BEACH
La Mora // Tarragona Beach Spain
Unlike the undeveloped stretch of Waikiki, La Mora is more equipped for the modern beach goer with showers, lifeguard stands, and restrooms.
On the boardwalk there are a couple of restaurants and spots to enjoy a coffee, cocktail or an ice cream.
Visually speaking, this beach is also sandwiched between the forest, rocks and natural vegetation. There is another large campsite right to the south of this beach too.
8. TAMARIT BEACH, ALTAFULLA
Altafulla Tamarit // Tarragona Beach Spain
And last but not least, Tarmarit Beach. I’m a big fan of this spot!
At the southernmost end, you can walk down to the Tamarit castle. On one side is a beautiful little cove, Cala Jovera. On the other side is the restaurant Brisa, an offering from the Tamarit Beach Resort. We’ve never eaten in the formal dining area but have enjoyed refreshments on the terrace overlooking the sea and the castle.
Walking north is a nice stretch of unspoiled beach. Though not as wide as some of the other beaches on the list, it runs quite long. There is a place to rent sailboats, kayaks and stand up paddle boards as well.
The boardwalk has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes right on the water (see photos of drinks and paella below!)
CONCLUSION
There are many great Tarragona Beaches to choose from!
Even if you’re not visiting during the peak summer beach months, the coastal hike along the GR-92 is stunning in any season.
We’ve even set up on these beaches during winter for picnics and polar plunges! A quiet seaside stroll and a sunset never disappoint either…
Tarragona Beach Spain Sunset
Vamos a la playa
