Tarragona from Barcelona by train: Roman Tarraco in a day
How to reach Tarragona by train from Barcelona and see Roman Tarraco in a day: trains, tickets, opening hours and free open days.
Sources (4)
Tarragona was Tarraco, the capital of Roman Hispania Citerior, and its amphitheatre, circus, walls and forum are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Regional trains from Barcelona-Sants get there in 71 minutes, roughly every half hour.
Trains
Regional lines R14, R15, R16 and R17 run from Estació de França, Passeig de Gràcia and Sants to Tarragona station, which is in the city by the sea; on the official timetable every train takes 71 minutes from Sants, 78 from Passeig de Gràcia and 89 from França. Departures from Sants are at about :03 and :33 past the hour, roughly from 6:03 to 22:03, with the last trains back around 22:26; some run only on weekdays or weekends, so check the day's timetable.
Do not confuse it with Camp de Tarragona, the high-speed station outside the city. The commuter R2 Sud ends at Sant Vicenç de Calders and does not reach Tarragona. Fares on this line are distance-based: buy at the machine or in the Renfe app.
The Roman sites
The city's history museum runs five Roman sites: the Amphitheatre, the Circus with the Praetorium, the Archaeological Promenade along the walls, the Colonial Forum and Casa Canals. A single site costs €5; a joint ticket for all five costs €15. Under-12s go free; ages 12 to 17, students and retired people pay half.
| Site | Tuesday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday and holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphitheatre, Archaeological Promenade, Colonial Forum | 9:00–18:30 | 9:30–18:30 | 9:30–14:30 |
| Circus–Praetorium, Casa Canals | 9:00–20:00 | 9:30–20:00 | 9:30–14:30 |
All closed on Mondays. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. From 1 April to 26 October they open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00–20:45.
Free days
The Roman sites are free on the last Tuesday of every month, and the city has also announced free entry on 28 and 29 November for the anniversary of the UNESCO listing. The Roman aqueduct (Pont del Diable), outside the centre, is always free.
The archaeological museum
The Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona on Plaça del Rei is closed for renovation; the museum plans to reopen it in the last quarter of 2026. Check mnat.cat before planning around it.
A day in Tarragona
- Morning: train to Tarragona and up to the Amphitheatre, above the beach.
- Midday: the Circus and Praetorium, then lunch in the Part Alta, the old town.
- Afternoon: the Archaeological Promenade along the Roman walls; in winter it closes at 18:30.
- How long is the train from Barcelona to Tarragona?
- 71 minutes from Barcelona-Sants on the regional trains R14 to R17, according to the official timetable.
- How much does it cost to see the Roman sites in Tarragona?
- €5 for one site or €15 for all five; under-12s free, and everyone free on the last Tuesday of the month.
- Is the Tarragona archaeological museum open?
- Not as of October 2026: it is closed for renovation, with reopening planned for the last quarter of 2026.
Keep reading
Sources
This page cites official and primary sources. If you spot an error, let us know.
- Horaris R15 (Rodalies de Catalunya) — Rodalies de Catalunya
- Museu d'Història de Tarragona — preus — Ajuntament de Tarragona
- Museu d'Història de Tarragona — horaris — Ajuntament de Tarragona
- Museu Arqueològic de Tàrraco — Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
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