Train stations in Tarragona

Tarragona Estació is the station for the city centre and regional trains. Camp Tarragona is the high speed station outside town.

Which Tarragona station should you use?

Choose Tarragona Estació for the city centre, the waterfront and regional trains. The station is on Passeig de Espanya, in the city, with taxis and buses outside. It is the right arrival point when your hotel or plans are in Tarragona itself.

Camp Tarragona, officially Camp de Tarragona, sits between La Secuita and Perafort at the junction of the Madrid to Barcelona to French border high speed line and the Mediterranean Corridor. It handles the high speed trains, and it is not in the city. Tickets can show either name, so check which station your train ends at before you pay.

Regional and high speed trains

Tarragona Estació is on the Rodalies and regional network. R15 links Barcelona Estació de França with Reus and Riba-roja d’Ebre, while R16 links Barcelona Estació de França with Tarragona and continues towards Tortosa and Ulldecona. The station also has RT services, Regional Express, Media Distancia and Intercity trains. It is the stop for regional trains towards Barcelona, Tortosa, Reus and Lleida.

High speed trains such as AVE and Ouigo call at Camp Tarragona. From there AVE and other long distance trains run to Barcelona, with connections towards Madrid, Zaragoza and Valencia. A faster train into Camp Tarragona does not always mean an earlier arrival in town once the transfer is added, so for a central hotel or a tight connection a regional train into Tarragona Estació can be the better choice.

Getting into Tarragona

From Tarragona Estació you can walk, or take a local bus or taxi depending on where you are staying and how much luggage you have. The Empresa Municipal de Transports de Tarragona runs the urban bus network, and Tarragona also has a central bus station with local, national and international services.

Camp Tarragona is about 11 km from the centre. Plana runs a bus from the station to Tarragona bus station, and taxis wait outside; a taxi to the centre takes roughly 15 minutes. The bus normally runs into the Plaça Imperial Tàrraco area. Neither option is a walk, so allow time and money for the transfer, especially on a late arrival.

Tickets

Regional and long distance trains have different ticket conditions, so choose the train and the station together. Advance purchase can lower the price, and discounts exist for children, young people, seniors and large families on the relevant services. Fares vary with the date, train type and availability. A cheaper fare into Camp Tarragona can end up costing more once a taxi is added for a stay in the centre.

Rail passes and reservations

With an Interrail pass, the Renfe high speed and long distance trains need a paid seat reservation. Interrail lists it as compulsory on AVE at €10 in second class, on Alvia, Intercity and Euromed at €6.50, and on Media Distancia at €4. Regional trains such as Rodalies need none. Iryo also takes passes on domestic journeys, with a €10 reservation. Interrail names Renfe and Iryo as its Spanish partners, and Ouigo is not among them. Fees are indicative and can change. Reserve through the Interrail reservation service or at the ticket desk of a Spanish long distance station.

Before you go

Do not book Camp Tarragona for a central hotel without budgeting for the 11 km transfer. For Rodalies and regional trains, use Tarragona Estació. Rodalies publishes planned engineering works on its timetable page, so check it before an early or late regional departure.