Want to explore Spain’s Costa Dorada during your vacation? Then you can do this from Tamarit with kids just fine! Tamarit is an old, small seaside resort centrally located on the Costa Dorada in the region of Catalonia. The town, along with neighboring La Mora, has belonged to the city of Tarragona since 1956. It is a popular tourist region in Spain that, in addition to sun, sea and beach, has much to offer for all ages in terms of culture and activities. In this blog we list all the information you need for a great vacation in Tamarit with kids.
Best travel time Tamarit with kids
Due to its Mediterranean climate, the temperature in Tamarit is pleasant almost all year round. In the summer months, it can get around 30 degrees, and then it is nice that the place is by the sea, so you can enjoy a refreshing swim.
It is also a fine destination for a vacation in the spring or fall, as the temperatures are then around 20 degrees and very pleasant to visit the various sights in the area. In the autumn months, there is a greater chance of rain.
We stayed at a campsite in Namur during the summer and chose to do activities mainly in the morning or at the end of the day/evening and seek the coolness of the water during the hottest moments of the day.
Transportation to and in Tamarit
Many people choose to go to Tamarit by car. From the Netherlands, you drive here in about 16 hours without stops (from Utrecht). Most Dutch families drive to this Spanish resort in two days.
Don’t feel like going to Spain by car? Then it is also possible to fly to Barcelona from the Netherlands. From Barcelona, it is about a 1-hour drive to Tamarit. You can rent a car at the airport in Barcelona. If you get on a plane with Reus as your final destination, you can drive to Tamarit in just 25 minutes.
To rent a car at Barcelona airport, take a look here and to rent a car at Reus airport, take a look here.
To explore the area of Tamarit with kids, it does come in handy if you have a car at your disposal. There is public transportation in the region, but it often takes you a lot longer than doing it by car. In addition, especially with kids by car, you are of course a lot more flexible.
Children’s activities Tamarit
#1 Beach of Tamarit and Cala Jovera
If you fancy a day at the beach, then Tamarit beach with kids is the perfect place. A quiet beach 1.5 kilometers long with lifeguard and showers. The beach runs from Tamarit to the nearby town of Altafulla. The special thing about this beach is that the Castle of Tamarit is also located here. So a great view from your towel or beach bed.
Near the castle of Tamarit you will also find the campsite Tamarit Beach resort. This campground has 2 restaurants and a beachfront (snack) bar, allowing you to enjoy a snack or drink in between beach fun with a nice view of the beach and castle.
On the other side of the Castle of Tamarit you will find the beautiful and hidden cove ‘Cala Jovera’. You have to walk a short distance around the castle for this. In addition, a bit of climbing and then descending (stairs), but it is well worth it. Perhaps less suitable for a whole beach day with small kids, as you have no facilities here and there are more rocks.
Still, the bay is worth a visit even with small kids. Our kids loved the bay because you also have several rock formations there that you can climb (wear water shoes) and then have a beautiful view of the bay, the blue sea and the castle.
Because the beach and the bay are only separated by the Castle of Tamarit, they are also easy to combine in 1 day.
#2 The castle of Tamarit and the Cami de Ronda
Popularly referred to as the Castle of Tamarit, it was actually a closed village surrounded by a wall. Since 1950, the village became part of the nearby city of Tarragona. It was built around the 11th century and is well preserved. To kids, a Castle always has a certain appeal, especially when they see it like this at the beach. When we stayed in Tamarit, the castle was open for visits on Tuesday mornings.
Right next to the castle you can go on an adventurous hike with your kids, the Cami de Ronda. Bit confusing, since there are several hikes in this region called that. So always check carefully that you have the right walk to catch. Tamarit has a different Cami de Ronda, for example, than nearby Salou. The Cami de Ronda that runs past Tamarit is a walk past cliffs, beaches and beautiful coves.
For example, from nearby Altafulla, you can walk all the way to Tarragona. For most kids (and the less trained hikers), however, this is challenging. We walked only a small stretch of about 1.5 kilometers with our kids, then aged 7 and 5. Because large stretches are mostly climbing and scrambling, this was enough for us at that point. We certainly found the hike more than worthwhile.
We did several hikes in the region and they were challenging during the day in the Spanish heat. Be sure to go a little earlier in the morning to get ahead of the real heat or take a dip in the sea at the little beaches you come across in time to cool off. Be sure to bring a bottle of water, too!
#3 Visit Barcelona, Salou or Tarragona
Tamarit has the perfect location to also visit other nearby places during your vacation. For example, take a day trip to Barcelona which is about 100 kilometers away. By car you can drive here in an hour.
Barcelona is a bustling city on the coast. Among other things, it is known for the various Gaudi buildings you can admire here, such as the famous Sagrada Familia. Do you have kids who are total fans of soccer? Then a visit to FC Barcelona’s stadium should definitely not be missed! You can book a tour of the stadium here! If you want to know more about what you can do in Barcelona with the family, read the blog Barcelona with kids.
In about 15 minutes you can drive to beautiful Tarragona by car. Feel like taking in some culture with the whole family? Then you’ve come to the right place in Tarragona! It is a coastal city brimming with culture. Tarragona has traditionally had a Roman past and the remnants of this are still evident.
Some of these remains are even on the UNESCO World Heritage List! In addition, it is well worth taking a look at the world-famous phenomenon of Tarragona; the building of human towers. With the whole family, you are guaranteed to feast your eyes here! For more information on what to do in Tarragona with the family, read the blog Tarragona with kids.
Do you feel like visiting another cozy seaside resort in the region for a day at the beach, shopping or eating out on a nice boulevard? Then you can drive to the popular resort town of Salou in about 30 minutes. Whereas we used to know this place as a real “youth seaside resort,” it has now become primarily a pleasant family seaside resort. So a fun outing during your stay in Tamarit with kids.
If you want to know more about what you can do with the family in Salou, read the blog Salou with kids, for more information.
#4 Port Aventura
You can also go to an amusement park in the Tamarit area with kids. Port Aventura is about a 20-minute drive from Tamarit and you have 2 amusement parks and a water park located here. Therefore, you can easily go here for several days with the family. Surely the most famous amusement park of the 2 theme parks (Port Aventura and Ferrari Land) is Port Aventura.
You have several worlds to visit at this amusement park and they have dozens of attractions for both young and older kids. In addition, you have several shows you can visit in the park. You can therefore have a great time for an entire day at this amusement park near Tamarit.
Of course, you must keep in mind that these amusement parks can be quite crowded during the summer months because of the high season. Because of this, the queues at the various attractions can be a lot higher than in the other months of the year So be sure to avoid the weekends.
You can already buy tickets online in advance through the PortAventura World website. They also have several multi-day passes you can purchase and then the admission price per day is slightly cheaper than a regular day pass. The parks have regular promotions, so keep a close eye online if there isn’t one, as it can save the necessary euros.
#5 Cycling/mountain biking along the Baix Gaia
Are you staying in Tamarit with already older kids and like some action? Then rent bicycles or a mountain bike to ride the Ronda Verda. This is a 40-km road along the inlands and close to the coast. The path runs from Altafulla, past Tamarit and up to Tarragona.
You cycle through several old medieval villages, forests, corn fields, along the river Gaia and in between you can see the Mediterranean Sea from several vantage points. Also in this area are several medieval castles, one of which is the Castle of Tamarit. So a very varied route!
#6 The caves of L’Espluga
Fancy a more adventurous outing with kids near Tamarit? Then visit the caves of L’Espluga. In 1853, while excavating a well, a huge cave system was accidentally found under the village of Problet. This village is about a 45-minute drive from Tamarit. The cave system is 1 of the 7 largest underground cave systems in the world and is nearly 4 km long!
Visiting the caves is especially fun for families with slightly older and more adventurous kids (ages 8 and up). You can visit parts of the caves with a guide. Please note; the guide speaks mostly Spanish and you can use an English audio tour. Hence, it is helpful if your kids can already speak a few words of English.
The guide will give a tour of the cave’s museum, where you will learn about the origins of the caves and the life of the people in the time when they were created. This tour takes about 1.5 hours. If you book the Adventure tour then you will get a helmet and wetsuit and go deeper into the caves. You crawl through narrow sections and through the water.
A ticket to visit the caves costs €8.50 for an adult and €5.50 for kids between the ages of 5 and 14. For tour times, take a look at L’Espluga’s website.
#7 Visit to the city of Reus
We did not have time to visit this city during our vacation in this region, but this city is still on our wish list for a later trip to this region. It is the second largest city in the region and the city where the famous architect Gaudi was born. Therefore, you cannot avoid Gaudi in this city. In the center of the city you will find the Gaudi Museum, where you will get an explanation of Gaudi’s life and his art.
They do this through an interactive tour with lots of technology, such as moving images and tablets. There are also several things that kids are allowed to touch. This seems to make it a fun museum even for smaller kids.
At the tourism office (near the museum) you can pick up a walking tour that takes you past Gaudi’s house and church (this is where he was baptized). That way you can see more of the city right away. You can also visit the San Pedro Church. Climbing the 66-meter tower, you will have a beautiful view of the city.
Family-friendly restaurant Tamarit-La Mora
One of the places we ate during our stay in Tamarit with kids was in the restaurant located on the beach of Tamarit belonging to Tamarit Beach Resort campsite. A children’s menu was available and before and after dinner the kids could play on the beach, which you as parents have a view of.
Family-friendly hotel Tamarit
We stayed during our vacation in Tamarit at the cozy family campground ‘Tamarit Beach Resort’. A campsite with a wide variety of accommodation options, which is located directly on the beautiful beach of Tamarit. You will also find on this same beach the Castle of Tamarit.
Within the family, do you enjoy sports? Then this is the perfect campsite for you. In fact, you will find a large sports complex that includes fitness, various group classes, a soccer field and paddle and tennis courts. The nice thing is that the mini-club with playground and the pool are in the same place. This allows you to get some exercise while the rest of the family has a good time too!
If you are looking more for a hotel or other accommodation in the Tamarit area, you have several family-friendly accommodations you can book. In Tamarit itself, you don’t have as many options for families with kids, but the region certainly does. We list some of the best-reviewed accommodations below. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Arc de Bará Camping & Bungalows
Mid-range accommodation: Altafulla Mar Hotel
Luxury Accommodation: Golden Donaire Beach
For the entire list of family-friendly accommodations on the Costa Dorada, take a look here.
About the author: we, Ronald and Maartje love to go “on adventures” with our 2 kids, discovering the world and making memories for life.
