Tarragona scavenger hunt: The Secret Code of Tàrraco
From an amphitheatre by the sea to a Roman racetrack hidden beneath the houses of the old town — without paying a single entrance fee along the way. Or walk the route freely as a self-guided tour.
A city built on top of itself
Two thousand years ago the Romans governed a province covering half the Iberian peninsula from this hill. They left behind an amphitheatre by the sea, a three-hundred-metre racetrack and a city wall of blocks you could barely lift. On top of that the medieval city built, and on top of that again the city of today. A scavenger hunt is the best way to learn to see those layers: at every stop you have to look closely, count and compare.
You start at the bronze monument to the castellers on the Rambla Nova, where dozens of people stand on each other's shoulders. By way of the Balcó del Mediterrani — where every local touches the iron railing for luck — you look down into the bowl of the Roman amphitheatre. Then you climb into the Part Alta, past the Torre del Pretori, the cathedral and a small square where a two-thousand-year-old gateway sits plainly in the street wall. You finish on the Plaça de la Font, where the square's oddly elongated shape gives away the final secret.
No entrance fees. The route is deliberately built from places visible from the public street — you never need to go inside. If you do want to see the amphitheatre or the Roman walls from within, you can do that separately with a ticket.
Worth knowing: the content of the Tarragona route has been carefully fact-checked, with sources at every stop. The odd mistake can never be entirely ruled out — if you spot something that does not add up, report it in the app.
Rather just wander? You can also walk this route freely — no questions, with the story, the background and the sources at every stop. That makes it just as much a free walking tour.
- ±1.5 hrs2.6 km, your own pace
- Freeno fees along the way
- EN / ES / NLpick your language
- In the browsernothing to download
What you meet along the way
The amphitheatre by the sea
An oval bowl between the rock and the Mediterranean, with the remains of a church in the middle of the arena that did not yet exist in Roman times.
The hidden circus
A three-hundred-metre racetrack lies beneath the upper town — in the street façades the ancient masonry is simply built in.
The human towers in bronze
Eleven metres of bronze on the Rambla Nova: a castell mid-build, with the musicians and the team leader standing apart at street level.
The Torres de Quart and the cathedral
A city gate still scarred by cannon fire from 1808, and a Gothic front that was never finished.
Frequently asked questions about the Tarragona hunt
Can I walk the route without the puzzles?
Yes. Besides the scavenger hunt with puzzles you can walk the same route freely: no questions, just the story, the background and the sources at every stop. That makes it a free self-guided walking tour of Tarragona, at your own pace and without an account.
Do I need to pay any entrance fees?
No. The whole route is deliberately built from places visible from the public street. You look down into the bowl of the amphitheatre and stand on squares and at city gates — you never need to go inside. If you do want to see the amphitheatre or the Roman walls from within, you can do that separately with a ticket.
Where does the hunt take you?
You start at the bronze monument to the human towers on the Rambla Nova, walk to the Balcó del Mediterrani and from there look out over the Roman amphitheatre by the sea. Then you climb into the Part Alta past the Torre del Pretori, the cathedral and two squares full of Roman masonry, finishing on the Plaça de la Font — a square whose shape gives away the final secret.
How long does it take?
About an hour and a half, at your own pace. The route is 2.6 kilometres long and runs through the historic centre; you decide where to pause.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, for all ages together with an adult. It is about counting, looking and comparing — no prior knowledge needed. Do bear in mind that the Part Alta climbs quite a bit and its streets are cobbled.
What does it cost?
During the launch it is free. Afterwards you can make a small voluntary donation.
Ready to crack Tàrraco?
Pick the route, head out and open the chest. Completely free.
Start in Tarragona →