Let me share some of the best things to do in Tortosa – a city conveniently located between Barcelona and Valencia, yet often overlooked by travelers. Here’s everything you need to know, including the unique landmarks you shouldn’t miss.

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Top things to do in Tortosa

Is Tortosa worth visiting?

Tortosa is absolutely worth a visit if you’re traveling between Barcelona and Valencia and looking for a stop that feels unique, interesting, and still off the radar for international tourists. It’s also a great choice for a quieter weekend escape from Barcelona. The city offers a distinctive blend of history, culture, and a beautiful natural setting along the Ebro River. You can easily include Tortosa as a stop on any Tarragona road trip.

Where is Tortosa

Tortosa is a small town in the Tarragona Province, of the Catalonia Autonomous Community in Spain. It is conveniently located on the road from Valencia to Barcelona. So, Tortosa is a great idea for a Barcelona weekend break or a stop on any road trip across Eastern Spain.

How to get to Tortosa

You can quickly reach Tortosa by train from Valencia, Castellon, Barcelona, or Tarragona. The nearest airports to Tortosa are Valencia, Castellon, Reus, Tarragona, and Barcelona. I travelled by car from Castellon, and easily found free parking spots near its central park Parc Municipal Teodor Gonzalez.

What is the history of Tortosa?

Tortosa is known for more than 2,000 years of history. Originally the Iberian settlement, it became a strategic city of Dertosa during the Roman era in Spain. During the Islamic period in the 8th century, Tortosa flourished as a cultural and economic center and after the famous Reconquista (learn more via my list of Spain documentaries) was transformed into a medieval Christian stronghold.

The Tortosa Cathedral showcases layers of Roman, Gothic, and Baroque styles. So, the city’s multicultural backgrounds make it a fascinating place to explore for history lovers in Spain.

Famous celebrations in Tortosa

Your travel plans might overlap with one of the unique Spanish festivities. Top local celebrations in Tortosa are Fiesta del Renacimiento, Semana Santa, Festes de la Cinta.

How long to stay in Tortosa 

We only had one day in Tortosa, so it was not enough to see all of the local sights. In my opinion, a weekend getaway is the best time frame to enjoy the city. I´d love to revisit Tortosa one day.

Where to Stay in Tortosa

My top hotel picks for next weekend in Tortosa would be SB Corona Tortosa and Parador de Tortosa. Also, there are a few really unique stays near Tortosa, in Roquetes and Xerta: La Casa del Canal, Casa Josep, Hotel Villa Retiro, and Hotel Casa Ceremines.

Unique things to do in Tortosa

Start your visit at the Tortosa Tourist Office, where you can get a free map and purchase a Tortosa Card. It costs 7 euros and is valid for 3 days. But honestly, if you visit more than 2 local sights – it´s even worth purchasing the card for one day.

The Museum of Tortosa

A great place to start exploring the city is The Museum of Tortosa (since it’s located right by the Tourist Office). The expositions will guide you through different historical periods of the city, including the Roman era in Spain. The design of the Tortosa Museum is really cool.

Tortosa Cathedral

One of the famous city landmarks is Tortosa Cathedral, an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic Architecture. To reassure the Spanish multicultural past, it stands on the remains of a Roman Forum, Visigothic Cathedral, and Muslim Mosque.

While being rebuilt over a long period of time, its final addition was a Baroque facade in the 18th century. I enjoyed the cathedral tour, it takes you all the way through the tunnels to permanent art expositions and the main altarpiece.

Royal Colleges of Tortosa

Royal Colleges of Tortosa was my favorite stop in the city. This place was founded by Carlos V with the purpose of educating the Moors. The courtyard is absolutely stunning – it features the busts of the kings of the Crown of Aragon, from Ramon Berenguer IV to Philip IV.

In a nutshell, the Royal Colleges of Tortosa is composed of 3 buildings: College of Sant Jaime and Sant Maties (which houses the Ebre County Archive), College of Saint Jordi and Sant Domenec (which houses the Official School of Languages), and the Church of Sant Domenec (which houses the Interpretation Center). The last one is where you actually start your visit, then they guide you to the courtyard (since it is usually locked with the key).

The Suda Castle & Tortosa Fortifications

One of the coolest things to do in Tortosa is to wander along the city´s 14th-century walls. The local Suda Castle is a unique local landmark from the Arab presence in Spain. These days it houses a Parador Hotel. So, if you enjoy exploring castles in Spain, you can book a night and actually live inside one of them. At the Tortosa Tourist office, you can also grab a tiny leaflet called Passeig de les Fortificacions, with an itinerary of Tortosa fortifications. In our case, we were short on time, but it could be one of the most unique things to do in Tortosa for you.

The Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter of Tortosa has actually surprised me a lot. Getting lost in between its white narrow streets is absolutely one of the most peculiar things to do in Tortosa. Very much like my favorite Toledo, Tortosa used to be the city of three cultures, where Christians, Jews, and Muslims coexisted in peace. However, not so many of the Spanish cities managed to preserve the unique architectural style of the Arabs and the Jews. In Teruel and Andalusia, the Arab past was preserved with the elements of the Mudejar architecture, but the Jewish Quarter of Tortosa entirely looks like time has stopped.

Jardins del Princep

With my love for unique gardens in Spain, I could not miss Jardins del Princep in Tortosa. This place is a nice combo of nature and contemporary sculptures by Santiago de Santiago. The full collection is made of 23 groups, dedicated to the subject of man, his motivation, and his destiny. The gardens were inaugurated the the Spanish Prince Philip in 1991 (who is currently the King of Spain). The gardens were called after him, so it´s where the name of Jardins del Princep comes from.

Pont Roig 

Our last stop for a day in Tortosa was Pont Roig or the old Railway Bridge over the Ebro River. It used to be a part of the railway from Valencia to Tarragona, inaugurated in 1868. Currently, the bridge has been rehabilitated and forms a part of the local Greenway of the Val de Zafan (great for bicycles and walkers). Consequently, renting a bike is one of the most popular things to do in Tortosa.

Surprising fact about Tortosa

One of my favorite writers, Ernest Hemingway, did not limit his travels across Spain to Navarra and Spanish Wineries, he also visited Tortosa during the worst air raids on the city, back in 1938. On the official Tortosa Tourism website, you can book a Hemingway-themed tour and visit the local Air Raid Shelter No.4.

Things to do near Tortosa

One of the must-see natural settings near Tortosa is Deltebre (or Delta del Ebro natural park), known as one of the most unique birdwatching destinations in Spain. Top tours not to miss:

• Ebro Delta National Park: Guided Horseback Riding Tour (check availability)
• Ebro Delta: Guided Kayak Tour to Gracia Island (check availability)
• Flamingo-Birdwatching in the Ebro Delta at Sunset (check availability)
• Ebro Delta Cruise and Jeep Tour with Mussels Tasting (check availability)
• Ebro Delta National Park Scenic Drive and Kayaking Tour (check availability)
• Scenic Drive and Kayaking Tour (check availability)

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