Enjoy a day of a fun and relaxation at L’Arrabassada Beach. The 1,804-feet (550-metre) long bay is a favourite with families because of its calm water and golden sands. In fact Tarragona's long coastline is nicknamed Costa Daurada which is Catalan for Golden Coast.
Bring a towel and a book and stretch out on the soft sands. The beach is cleaned regularly and has been given the European Blue Flag award for its safety and water quality. Go for a swim in water that is calm for most of the year. The shoreline shelves gently and so the shallow sea here is good for children and inexperienced swimmers. Swim out to the floating platform and propel yourself into the water down its slide.
Amble along the scenic seafront promenade, which stretches for the length of the beach. When you’re ready to escape the sun, cool off with a drink at one of the cafés.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, take a walk to the small peninsula between L’Arrabassada Beach and neighboring La Savinosa Beach. Here you will find the city’s abandoned sanatorium, dating back to 1929. The hospital complex encompasses a main building, chapel, several streets, plazas and fountains. Its original purpose was to house tuberculosis patients. Later, it served as a home for children left orphaned by the authoritarian regime of the dictator Francisco Franco. The site was closed down in the 1970s and has been derelict ever since. Today, it is surrounded by a fence.
Tarragona’s mild climate means that sea is good for swimming from June to September. Among the facilities here are toilets, beach bars and showers. L’Arrabassada Beach is less than 2 miles (3 kilometres) from the city centre. If you don’t want to walk, take a taxi or drive. There is a parking zone near the beach. Alternatively come by public transport. Several bus routes serve the beach.
