You get a real mix of laid-back beach life and ancient history in Tarragona. The Catalonian city clusters along the coastline and lines up a handful of sandy beaches, a walled old town, and a collection of UNESCO-listed Roman ruins. Plus, Barcelona is within easy daytripping distance.
There are a handful of Roman ruins scattered about the city, but the most impressive is the amphitheatre, which comes with views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Spend some time exploring the Medieval old town – a spiderweb of little lanes that lead up to the city’s honey-coloured cathedral.
Barcelona is just an hour’s drive away. Fairy tale architecture, Gothic churches and pocket-sized tapas bars decorate the city.