Whether you’re heading there for Roman ruins, sunny beaches or just to escape the city noise for a bit, you’ve got a few solid travel options. Each has its ups and downs, so let’s discuss Barcelona to Tarragona in detail.
Taking a Taxi: Fast and Comfortable
And if convenience (and no bother of worrying) is your thing, a taxi is the handiest to get around. You simply pick one off your airport or hotel, or pre-book it Online through TAXXILO.COM.
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Travel time: Around 1 hour give or take depending on traffic, naturally.
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Cost: Around €150-€200, slightly more during nights or holidays.
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Best for: Too many bags to carry on public transport, business travel, or just tired of crowds on public transport.
Door-to-door, no waiting around, no navigating platforms — easy. A bit expensive, yes, but hassle-free.
Taking the Train: Quick and Picturesque
Spanish trains are actually not bad at all — comfortable, fast and not too pricey.
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Travel time: 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min (high-speed AVE or Avant being the quickest ones).
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Cost: Typically between €10 to €30 per ticket.
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Best for: Solo travelers, couples, people who like watching the coast whizz by outside the window.
Barcelona Sants is the last stop — jump on, sit down, and you’ll be in Tarragona before you’ve even had a chance to drink your coffee.
Taking the Bus: Budget Friendly
Buses are fine if you don’t mind a longer car journey. They do operate a couple of journeys throughout the day, so you won’t be waiting for long.
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Travel time: Around 1 hour 30 minutes, give or take.
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Cost: Typically in the order of €9–15.
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Best for: Backpackers, students, anyone cutting corners on cash for tapas in the night.
Most of the buses depart from Estació del Nord or Sants station and drop you downtown. It’s not graceful but it will do.
Which One to Take?
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Taxi → Saps the wallet the most, fastest, most comfortable.
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Train → Good middle option — not too expensive, not too slow.
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Bus → Slaps the wallet the least, slow, but, you know, it gets you there.
Economically is just a matter of how much time and patience you have in the day, and how much you’re willing to spend.
Final Thoughts
Really, it’s not that difficult to make the journey from Barcelona to Tarragona either way that you put it. For most tourists, merely taking the train is the easiest — it’s quick, beautiful and you can’t even have to trouble yourself to think about it. But if you require speed and privacy (and can afford the cost), a taxi is the best choice. And if you’re pinching pennies down to the bare essentials so you’ll be able to spring for paella and beach umbrella rental, the bus will do just fine.
FAQs: Tarragona to Barcelona
1. How far is Tarragona from Barcelona?
Tarragona is about 100 km (62 miles) southwest of Barcelona. Depending on your transport choice, it takes 1 to 1.5 hours to get there.
2. What’s the fastest way to travel from Barcelona to Tarragona?
A taxi is technically the fastest (around 1 hour, depending on traffic). But if you’re looking for consistent speed, the high-speed AVE train is usually just as quick and more predictable.
3. How much is it from Barcelona to Tarragona?
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Taxi: €150–€200 (more in the evening/holidays)
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Train: €10–€30 (depending on train type and if you book ahead)
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Bus: €9–€15 (inexpensive, but slow)
4. What is best for families?
If you have children and luggage, a taxi is simplest — no stations, no queues, direct door-to-door. Trains are also good since they’re convenient and quick.
5. What do I depart from Barcelona to board a train to Tarragona?
All the trains depart from Barcelona Sants Station, the city’s central train station. You can board an AVE, Avant, or Regional train to Tarragona from there.
6. What do I depart from Barcelona to board a bus to Tarragona?
Buses usually depart from Estació del Nord or occasionally Sants Station. Either will take you into central Tarragona near Roman remains and city sights.
7. Can I catch a direct taxi from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona?
Yes, you can catch a direct taxi from El Prat Airport to Tarragona. It will take around an hour or so and cost around €170–€220 depending on traffic and time of day.You can also book your taxi online from TAXXILO.COM.
8. Is the train scenic?
Yes — if you’ve been fortunate enough to reserve a seat by the window, that is! The route passes through sections of coast, so you get to view the Mediterranean out the window while you have your coffee.
9. What’s the cheapest option?
The cheapest is the bus, at about €9–15, although it’s longer than the train.
10. Supposing I only had to pick one, which would I pick as my number one?
The most convenient compromise for the majority of tourists is the train: fast, inexpensive, and comfortable with regular frequencies.
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