Grand Tour of Catalonia, Section 2: Tarragona to Lleida Road Trip
Seven days from Roman Tarragona to Lleida: Reus and its vermouth, seafood in Cambrils, the birdlife of the Ebro Delta, Picasso's Horta de Sant Joan, Priorat wine country and the Cistercian monasteries of Poblet and Vallbona.
Route overview
Section 2 follows the Mediterranean south from Tarragona, then turns inland along the Ebro, Spain’s great river, through some of the least-visited and most rewarding corners of Catalonia. Roman ruins, vermouth bars and seafood restaurants come first; then wetlands full of birds, a village where Picasso found his voice, a greenway along an old railway, and the wine villages of Priorat.
The last two days are quieter and deeply historic: the walled town of Montblanc, the monastery of Poblet and the nuns of Vallbona, before the old cathedral of Lleida brings you to the edge of the plains.
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Add more time
- Tarraco Viva — Tarragona’s Roman festival every May, with gladiators in the amphitheatre.
- PortAventura World — a day of rollercoasters and Ferrari Land near Salou, ideal with children.
- Rock art in the Prades mountains — the CIAR centre in Montblanc explains the UNESCO-listed paintings.
- Forest bathing in Els Ports — a guided walk among monumental trees.
- Mas Miró in Mont-roig — Joan Miró’s family farmhouse and summer refuge.
- Blossom season — fruit and almond trees flower across Lleida and the Ebro from February to April.
Keep going: ← Section 1: Barcelona to Tarragona · All five sections · Section 3: Lleida to La Seu d’Urgell →
This itinerary follows Section 2 of the official Grand Tour of Catalonia route, created by the Catalan Tourist Board. We tailor it to your dates, pace and budget.
Trip highlights
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Roman Tarragona at sunrise
the amphitheatre below the Balcó del Mediterrani, and the walls of ancient Tarraco.
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Vermouth in Reus
Gaudí's birthplace, modernist houses and the drink that made the town rich.
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The Ebro Delta
flamingos and herons at dawn, oyster tasting in the bay and a night in a restored rice-field house.
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Picasso's Horta de Sant Joan
the hill village and rock formations that the painter said taught him everything.
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Priorat's wine villages
terraced vineyards, the Escaladei charterhouse and cliff-top Siurana.
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Poblet and Vallbona
the Cistercian Route's living monasteries, then the old cathedral above Lleida.
Your route
Day-by-day itinerary
8 days from Tarragona, Spain to Lleida, Spain
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Day 1 The Roman legacy (35 km)
Watch the sun rise over the sea from the Balcó del Mediterrani, then a guided walk through Roman Tarraco — the amphitheatre, the circus and the walls. Drive to Reus for its modernist route (Casa Navàs among 26 buildings) and a vermouth tasting, then on to Cambrils for an afternoon sail. Try: suquet de romesco, the Cambrils fish stew.
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Day 2 Into the Terres de l'Ebre (70 km)
In L'Ametlla de Mar, swim with bluefin tuna in their sea pools (a guided experience), then walk a stretch of the coastal Camí de Ronda between red-rock coves. Learn about honey in El Perelló, and take a boat from L'Ampolla into Fangar Bay to taste mussels and oysters straight from the farms. Sleep in a rice-field house in the delta. Try: Terra Alta white Garnacha at sunset.
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Day 3 The Ebro Delta and Tortosa (67 km)
A dawn birdwatching outing with a naturalist — flamingos, glossy ibis, marsh harriers — then the MonNatura Delta centre. Drive to Tortosa for its castle, cathedral and modernist market, and arrive in Horta de Sant Joan, where Picasso painted, in time to watch the sunset on the Roques de Benet. Try: Tortosa's angel-hair pastries.
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Day 4 The greenway and the river (67 km)
Hire bikes and ride part of the flat Via Verde de la Val de Zafán to Bot. Visit the modernist 'wine cathedrals' of Gandesa and El Pinell de Brai, and the Battle of the Ebro interpretation centre in Corbera d'Ebre. In the afternoon, kayak the Ebro to Miravet and its Templar castle, then continue to Falset. Try: a pottery workshop in Miravet.
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Day 5 A glass of Priorat (86 km)
A visit to the modernist Falset-Marçà cooperative cellar, then the panoramic road through Gratallops and the Vilella villages. See the charterhouse of Escaladei below the Montsant cliffs, spend the afternoon in cliff-top Siurana, and drive via Prades — the 'red town' — to Montblanc. Try: Montsant and Priorat DOQ wines.
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Day 6 Montblanc and Poblet (15 km)
Breakfast in a wine cellar, then a walk on Montblanc's walls, where the legend of Sant Jordi is re-enacted each April. Walk or drive the Cistercian Route to the monastery of Poblet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and finish at L'Espluga de Francolí's Museum of Rural Life and the Font Major cave. Try: pa amb tomàquet with botifarra and local olive oil.
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Day 7 On to Lleida (78 km)
The medieval village of Guimerà in the early morning, then the cloister of Vallbona de les Monges, where nuns still live. Taste Les Garrigues olive oil, walk round the Ivars i Vila-sana lake for its birds, and arrive in Lleida for the Seu Vella, the old cathedral on its hill. Try: Lleida's snails roasted 'a la llauna'.
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Day 8 Depart or continue
Drop the car in Lleida, take the train back to Barcelona, or carry on north into Section 3 and the Pyrenees.
Where you stay
- Cambrils Seafront hotel on the Costa Daurada
- Deltebre Restored rice-field house or small hotel in the Ebro Delta
- Horta de Sant Joan Village inn with views of Els Ports
- Falset Wine-country hotel in Priorat
- Montblanc Hotel inside or near the medieval walls
- L'Espluga de Francolí Country hotel near Poblet
- Lleida City hotel below the Seu Vella
What's included
Included
- 7 nights in hand-picked hotels, rural inns and character stays, with breakfast, chosen around your budget and style.
- Car hire for the whole section, collected and dropped off where it suits the route (one-way rentals can carry a drop-off fee, which we include in your quote).
- A day-by-day route with driving times, our suggested stops and the places worth booking ahead.
- Pre-booked experiences on request, such as guided visits, tastings and activities mentioned in the itinerary.
- Flights from the UK on request when international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
- Support from your Travel Designer before you go and a UK phone line while you travel.
Not included
- Fuel, motorway tolls and parking.
- Catalonia's tourist tax, charged per person per night and paid at each hotel (the rate depends on the hotel category and is higher in Barcelona).
- Lunches and dinners unless listed, and entrance fees for sights you choose on the day.
- Travel insurance (we strongly recommend a policy that covers driving abroad).
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want lively resorts and nightlife — this section is quiet, rural and slow.
- You'd rather not take part in active days — cycling and kayaking are optional, but they are part of the fun.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this road trip?
Tap any "Enquire" button and a Travel Designer will be in touch within 24 hours (often the same day). Tell us your dates, how many nights you would like and the style of hotel, and we will build the trip and quote it. Nothing is booked until you confirm.
What financial protection do I get?
Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). When international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
When is the best time for the Ebro Delta?
Spring and autumn for birds, and late spring or summer when the rice fields are flooded and green. Flamingos are present most of the year.
Do I have to cycle or kayak?
No. Both are optional, and there is always a road alternative.
Do I have to drive every day?
No. The stages are a guide, not a timetable. We can add rest days, cut a long day in two, or base you in one place for two nights so you can explore without packing up.
Can I book a private driver-guide instead of self-drive?
Yes, a private driver-guide is available on request for any section, or just for the mountain or city days.
Can I combine this with another section?
Yes. The five sections join up into one loop, so you can do two back to back, or all five over about a month. See the Grand Tour of Catalonia page.
This is a suggested route — talk to us and we'll shape it around you.
The itinerary above is an example we like for solo travellers. Want to spend longer on one island? Swap a hotel? Add a stop in Chiang Mai? We have tried-and-tested hotels across all four destinations we can firsthand recommend, and we'll re-quote your trip with your dates, your group size and your priorities. Talk to us — that's what we do.
Talk to a Travel Designer