Are you traveling in Catalonia and looking for a unique place to explore? Or maybe you’re looking for a pleasant and quiet escape from the bustling streets of Barcelona? No matter the reason, sooner or later you should direct your steps to the lovely town of Reus. This inconspicuous place might surprise you with its beauty and charm. If you’re a modernist architecture enthusiast, you’ll love it even more! Not without reason it’s called Gaudi’s city. Want to learn more? Stay with us and discover things to do in Reus, Spain.
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Reus, Spain FAQ
Reus is a small town located in Catalonia in the Province of Tarragona on Costa Dorada in Spain, only about 15km from Tarragona and 120km from Barcelona.
Sure! Reus is a town full of gorgeous architecture, history, and cozy streets perfect for lazy strolls. We’re sure that not only history or architecture buffs will love it. We’re neither of them, and Reus took us by surprise. In a good way!
Antoni Gaudi, the famous Catalan architect and designer, was born in Reus.
Reus is best known for being Antoni Gaudi’s birthplace, and countless modernist buildings that can be admired along the Route of Modernism. The city is also renowned for being one of the biggest exporters of vermouth, an aromatized, fortified wine flavored with various herbs.
A few words about Antoni Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi was born in 1852 on June 25th in Reus and spent the first 16 years of his life in this town. Then he left for Barcelona, where he gained fame for his designs. What may be the biggest surprise is that despite the fact Reus is packed with modernist buildings… None of them were actually designed by Gaudi! Even so, Reus still benefits from being Gaudi’s birthplace.
Many people visit Reus to follow in Gaudi’s footsteps. There’s a route you can follow to see where he was born (Carrer de Sant Vicenç street), baptized (Church of Sant Pere), and spent his youth. It ends in the Gaudi Museum, a huge place dedicated to his life and work.
Wondering what are the most popular works by Gaudi? We’re almost sure that at some point you’ve heard of Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Mila, or Casa Batlló in Barcelona. Or El Capricho in Comillas in North Spain.
Things to do in Reus, Spain
Reus Old Town
Reus Old Town is full of charming narrow streets and cozy squares. Among them, you’ll find dozens of beautiful modernist buildings, local boutique shops, restaurants, and cafes. Take a slow stroll and just soak in the city’s unique vibe.
In Reus Old Town you’ll find points of interest like Plaça de Prim square, Plaça del Mercadal square, Casa Navàs modernist building, Gaudi Museum, and the Church of Sant Pere. Also, be sure not to miss streets Carrer de Llovera, Carrer de Monterols, and Carrer Major. Let’s take a closer look.
Plaça del Mercadal is a lively main square in Reus. Here you’ll find impressive buildings of Casa Navas and Casa Pinyol, Gaudi Museum, Town Hall, and a Tourist Office. It’s also a place full of restaurants, and cafes perfect for a quick break and watching the world go by.
Plaça de Prim is the second most popular square in the city. It’s named after the general Juan Prim who was born in Reus, and whose statue sits in the middle of it. There you’ll find the main theater of Reus – Teatre Fortuny, and some charming modernist buildings to admire.
Gaudi Museum
Gaudi Museum (es. Museu Gaudí), or Gaudi Centre, is a place dedicated to the life and work of a famous Catalan architect. It’s located on Plaça del Mercadal, Reus main square. Inside, on three floors, you’ll find fascinating exhibits and interactive displays that will allow you to get to know Antoni Gaudi better and discover the secrets of his genius. In our opinion, visiting the Gaudi Museum is definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Reus.
Entrance to Gaudi Museum costs €11 for adults, and €7 for children (November 2024). The price includes audio guides available in a few languages. For current prices and opening hours visit reusturisme.cat website. You can also buy online tickets in advance on the same website.
Also, on the lowest floor of the same building you’ll find the Reus Tourist Office.
Casa Navas
Casa Navas without a doubt is one of the most beautiful buildings in Reus. It’s located on Plaça del Mercadal, just a few steps from Gaudi Centre. It was designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner for the merchant Joaquim Navàsm, and built at the beginning of the 20th century (1901-1908).
This extraordinary example of an Art Nouveau looks amazing not only from the outside but also from the inside, so if you have a chance don’t hesitate to visit it. Also, it’s worth noting that it’s the only Art Nouveau building in Europe that preserves its original interior! The only thing that is missing today is the tower which was destroyed by bombing during the Spanish Civil War and never rebuilt.
Visit to Casa Navas is possible during guided tours conducted in Catalan, Spanish, French, or English. Weekend entrance costs €16 for adults, and €13 for children. From Monday to Friday it’s €13 for adults and €10 for children (November 2024). Current prices, opening hours, and online tickets are available on casanavas.cat website.
Reus Route of Modernisme
Despite not having any works of Gaudi, following the Route of Modernism is still a great thing to do in Reus during your visit. Along the signposted route through the town center, you’ll discover 29 of the most impressive modernist jewels of the city. Route of Modernism can be followed for free. You can get the map at the tourist office located in Plaça del Mercadal.
Discover: Accommodation options in Reus
Priory church of Sant Pere Apòstol de Reus
Priory church of Sant Pere Apòstol de Reus (es. Església Prioral de Sant Pere de Reus) is one of the most important monuments in town. It’s located on Plaça Sant Pere, just a few steps from Casa Navas on Plaça del Mercadal square. The church was built in the 16th century in the Baroque style, but its main facade is in a Renaissance style. It features a 60m high octagonal bell tower.
It’s a church where in 1852 Antonio Gaudi was baptized.
You can enter the church for free. For current opening hours visit catalunya.com website.
Reus Central Market
If you like visiting markets, you’ll be glad to know that there is one in Reus too! Central Market (es. Mercat Central) is located not that far away from Plaça de Prim square and is full of vendors selling fresh products and local specialties. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, sweets, olives, oils, herbs… All is there!
Taste Reus Vermouth
If you like to taste new flavors, you should try vermouth, the traditional drink of Reus. It’s an aromatized, fortified wine mixed with various herbs. In the 19th century, vermouth was introduced to the Catalan market, and in the 20th century, there were around 30 vermouth producers in Reus. Later it suffered a downfall, and only a few years ago it experienced another boom achieving international prestige.
Nowadays you can try it in a few places around the city, but Restaurant Museu del Vermut and Vermuts Rofes are probably the most popular ones. Keep in mind that the first one isn’t the vermouth museum, and its name is just misleading.
Discover: Accommodation options in Reus
How to get to Reus, Spain?
Reus is located about 15km from Tarragona, 10km from Cambrils or Salou, and 110km from Barcelona. The most convenient way to get to town is by car, bus, or train.
Where to park in Reus?
If you’re traveling by car you can choose from many parking lots in town. We recommend leaving a car in this parking lot, located only about 10 minutes on foot from Plaça del Mercadal square and 5 minutes from Plaça de Prim square.
Airports near Reus
The closest airport to Reus is located in Reus itself. But it looks like it’s used mostly by travelers from the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Other more popular airports are located in Barcelona and Girona. All airports offer bus connections to Reus. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Reus by bus
You can easily reach Reus by bus. For example, a trip from Tarragona will take about 25min (€1-4), 15min from Salou (€1-3), or 1.5h from Barcelona (€7-18). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Reus by train
From some places like Tarragona, Girona, Sitges or Barcelona you can also get to Reus by train. You can check out a map of available train connections on the acprail.com website.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
Camping Reus
If you’re traveling by camper, campings like Playa Cambrils, La Siesta Salou Resort & Camping, or Camping & Resort Sangulí might interest you. They are located close to Reus, on the coast near Cambrils or Salou.
Things to do in Reus, Spain – Summing up
If you’re bored by lying on one of Costa Dorada‘s beaches and are looking for a small and charming town in the area perfect for a day trip – Reus might be the right choice for you. Especially if you’re interested in architecture, you’ll be in heaven and your jaw will drop not only once or twice… We wish you an amazing time and hope that thanks to our guide you won’t miss any of the things to do in Reus.
Our video from Reus
Our opinion about Reus
For us, a visit to Reus was a half-day trip from Salou where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it at the end of May and during that time the city was fairly quiet, without many tourists. Architecture or history is not a huge thing for us, but we still found Reus as a very pleasant destination. We really enjoyed strolling among its old town streets, admiring modernist buildings, and learning about Gaudi. We saw everything we wanted in the town in just about 5 hours.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Reus?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Reus:
Where to sleep in Reus?
Brea’s Hotel
Brea's Hotel is a welcoming accommodation option in the charming town of Reus. With comfortable rooms and a friendly atmosphere, it provides a convenient base for travelers exploring the Tarragona region. Located in the heart of Reus, hotel allows easy access to the town's attractions and is a great choice for those seeking a relaxed and enjoyable stay.
Hotel Centre Reus
Hotel Centre Reus is a comfortable and conveniently located accommodation in the heart of Reus. Offering well-furnished rooms, it's a great choice for travelers exploring the Tarragona region or looking for a pleasant stopover. The hotel's central location provides easy access to the town's historic sites, shops, and dining options.
Nh Ciutat De Reus Hotel
Nh Ciutat De Reus Hotel is a modern and stylish accommodation option in Reus. With its comfortable rooms and excellent facilities, it's perfect for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel's convenient location provides easy access to the city's attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring vibrant town of Reus.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
