Visit Valls

Visiting Valls means discovering the capital of Alt Camp, in the province of Tarragona, through its castells, its old town and its gastronomy. If you’re looking for what to see in Valls in one day, note down plaça del Blat, Sant Joan church, Món Casteller and plaça de l’Oli. They are the starting point for a walkable getaway around the centre.

And save room for food. On this route there are three must-stop places: buy a fraisier or a bracito de gitano at Ca la Sire; try a cookie and a cheesecake at Dolça Fantasia, whose creators are also behind Golosa Cakery; and make, without fail, a stop at the Magatzem del Vermut for a vermouth with its delicious cap i pota, its mandonguilles or its legendary bravas.

What to see in Valls during your visit

Plaça del Blat and the castells tradition

Plaça del Blat is one of the essential places to visit in Valls. This is where the Town Hall is located and where the well-known zero kilometre of the casteller world stands, where Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls and Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls perform. Castells, the human towers built by the colles, have been part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.

It is worth stopping in the square, looking at its arcades and understanding why it holds such an important place in the city’s life. If you want to see a performance, check the agenda so you can match your getaway with a castell day.

Món Casteller and castells culture

To understand how a castell is built and what it means for those who build it, include Món Casteller – Museu Casteller de Catalunya in your visit. It is on plaça Pere Català Roca and its exhibition traces the history, technique, music and life of the colles, with an immersive sensory experience.

It is a good choice if you arrive in Valls without knowing this tradition. It will help you later look at plaça del Blat with more context and recognise what happens during a performance. Check visit options and tickets on the museum’s official website.

Sant Joan church and its bell tower

Sant Joan church, built in the 16th century, combines late Gothic with a Renaissance façade. Its bell tower reaches 74 metres and is the tallest among Catalonia’s parish churches.

Walk up to the façade and look for the bell tower among the streets of the centre. If you want to go up, arrange the visit in advance through the guided routes from Valls Tourism.

Carrer de la Cort and Capella del Roser

Carrer de la Cort lets you combine heritage and local shops. On this street you will find the Capella del Roser, known for its 17th-century glazed ceramic panels depicting scenes related to the Battle of Lepanto.

On the same walk you have Ca la Sire, at number 18. That is why it is worth setting aside time to look at the shop windows and make your sweet purchases, as well as finding out how to visit the chapel.

Plaça de l’Oli and the market atmosphere

Plaça de l’Oli retains arcades on two sides and a close relationship with the market. On Wednesdays and Saturdays it hosts the vegetable market, a chance to get closer to everyday life in Valls.

This is where the midday break fits in: go to Magatzem del Vermut, order something to share and enjoy the square with a glass of vermouth on the table.

Where to eat in Valls and which sweets you cannot miss

Calçotada originated in Valls and is one of the main reasons to come to the city. You can also organise the getaway around tapas and pastry shops, with stops that pair easily with a walk.

Magatzem del Vermut and the essential midday stop

If you are looking for where to have a vermouth in Valls, our essential stop is Magatzem del Vermut, at carrer de la Peixateria, 19, next to plaça de l’Oli. Its location lets you add it to the old-town route without turning lunch into a separate trip.

The recommendation is clear: order a vermouth and pair it with its delicious cap i pota, its mandonguilles —meatballs— or its legendary bravas. If you are several people, sharing the three options is a good way to try different dishes and stretch the conversation a little longer.

You can also order Vermut Montseta, the house’s own brand. For a visit to Valls with time to enjoy it, include this stop in the plan: a walk through the centre, vermouth in plaça de l’Oli and some tapas before moving on.

Ca la Sire and its fraisier or bracito de gitano

At Ca la Sire, the recommendation is to buy a fraisier or a bracito de gitano, also known as braç de gitano. It is one of those purchases that deserves a place of its own in the visit, whether you want to treat yourself or are looking for a dessert to share.

The pastry shop is on carrer de la Cort, 18, and combines Catalan tradition with French inspiration. Its location means you can stop by during the route between El Pati and plaça del Blat.

If you plan to take one of these sweets home, check availability and order it before the visit. You can arrange pickup at the end of the walk, within the shop’s opening hours.

Dolça Fantasia and the creators of Golosa Cakery

The other essential sweet stop is Dolça Fantasia, at carrer Avenir, 26.

Its creators are also behind Golosa Cakery, and on this route the suggestion is very specific: try a cookie and a cheesecake.

You can share them to taste both or buy them to take away. Include the shop stop when planning the morning and, if you are going to keep visiting the city, ask whether you can pick up the cheesecake later, before closing time.

With Ca la Sire and Dolça Fantasia, the getaway lets you discover two local pastry options and choose something more personal than a passing souvenir.

The route’s three food stops

Route to visit Valls in one day

We suggest spending the morning on the walk and sweet shopping, reserving midday for vermouth and leaving room for indoor visits. The order is only a guide: adjust it to the tickets you book and the opening times of the venues.

In the morning

Start on carrer Avenir for the stop at Dolça Fantasia. Then continue towards El Pati and carrer de la Cort, where you can stop by Ca la Sire and Capella del Roser. Continue to plaça del Blat and Sant Joan church.

If you want to enter the museum in the morning, allow time to get to the vermouth afterwards. If you prefer to stroll at a leisurely pace or have a guided visit booked, adapt the route around that appointment.

At midday

Head to plaça de l’Oli and stop at Magatzem del Vermut. After the walk, it is nice to sit down, choose the tapas and spend time eating. Vermouth is part of the visit just as much as the squares you have just walked through.

If you stay into the afternoon

You can dedicate this stretch to Món Casteller if you have chosen an afternoon ticket, or extend the walk depending on what you still have pending. Another cultural option is to check the visit to the air-raid shelter located beneath plaça del Blat, built during the Spanish Civil War.

To make the most of the three food stops, our suggestion is to come on a Saturday morning and continue until midday. In addition, you will be able to combine the route with the market. Confirm the opening times for the date you choose, especially if you are coming on a public holiday.

How to prepare your visit to Valls

You can get to Valls by car, bus or train. From Tarragona, road access includes the A-27 and the N-240; the city also has a railway station. Check the services and schedules for your travel day in the practical guide from Valls Tourism.

To organise transport, parking or a longer stay, you have our practical guide to visiting Valls. Once in the centre, plan the route on foot and book the visits that have a set entry time.

If you want to combine the getaway with a calçotada, check where to have a calçotada in Valls and organise the rest of the day around the reservation. You can keep the sweet purchases and have an aperitif before lunch.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Valls

What to see in Valls in one day

For a first visit, combine plaça del Blat, Sant Joan, the Museu Casteller and plaça de l’Oli. Add carrer de la Cort and Capella del Roser, and set aside time for the food stops on this route.

Can Valls be visited on foot

Yes. The main points on this route are in the centre and can be linked on foot. The route lets you combine squares, heritage and local businesses, adapting the stops to the time you have.

Where to have vermouth in Valls

Our recommendation is Magatzem del Vermut, on plaça de l’Oli, at carrer de la Peixateria, 19. Order a vermouth with cap i pota, mandonguilles or bravas and make the most of the break to eat tapas.

What to buy in Valls to take away

On this route we suggest a fraisier or a bracito de gitano from Ca la Sire and a cookie and a cheesecake from Dolça Fantasia, whose creators are also behind Golosa Cakery. Check availability and pickup with each establishment.

Do you need to book to visit Valls

You do not need a reservation to stroll through the squares and streets. To go up the bell tower, take a guided visit or enter the museum, check the conditions of the activity you choose. If you want a specific sweet, it is also worth ordering it in advance.

Visit Valls with time to wander and an appetite to discover it. Between the casteller heritage, the vermouth in plaça de l’Oli and the shopping at the pastry shops, you will have a day with concrete things to enjoy and share.

Visit Valls with a guide: 10 routes to discover the city

Valls, in Alt Camp (Tarragona), offers ten one-hour guided routes. You can choose between monumental heritage, medieval history, markets, calçot culture or architecture.

At GuiaValls we help you choose with these questions and answers. To check dates, availability, prices and how to book, call the Valls Tourist Office: 977 61 25 30.

When you call, say that you are coming from GuiaValls.

Questions and answers about the 10 guided routes in Valls

1. How do you visit the Sant Joan bell tower in Valls?

The proposal combines Sant Joan and its bell tower, with a maximum of 20 people on the climb.

The bell tower reaches 74 metres and is the tallest among Catalonia’s parish churches. From the top it offers views of the Camp de Tarragona landscape.

We recommend it if you enjoy viewpoints and photography. Set aside time to also look at the church: the current building dates from the 16th century and combines late Gothic with a Renaissance façade.

2. Which route should you choose to get to know Valls’ monumental centre?

The monumental route passes through the former Hospital de Sant Roc, with audiovisual, El Pati, the Roser, the Blat, the Town Hall and Sant Joan.

Our recommendation is to choose it if you like to stop at buildings and understand their history. In the Capella del Roser, for example, the 17th-century glazed ceramic panels depicting the Battle of Lepanto stand out.

When preparing the visit, think about what you want to ask the guide: the architecture, the uses of each building or the changes the centre has gone through.

3. Is there a guided walk to discover the best-known places in Valls?

Yes. The general itinerary links Blat, refuge, Sant Joan, Jewish quarter, Oli and Roser.

At GuiaValls we suggest it as a starting point for a first getaway. Plaça del Blat has a special meaning: it is identified as the zero kilometre of the casteller world and is one of the key settings for understanding Valls’ relationship with castells.

Use the walk to decide which corner you want to return to later with more time. Leaving free time after the activity helps you enjoy what most caught your attention.

4. Can you discover Valls’ underground heritage?

Yes. The visit brings together the Gothic Room of Ca Segarra and the air-raid shelter on plaça del Blat.

The shelter was built during the Civil War. These spaces make it possible to approach local history from the Second Republic to the Transition, within the framework of the Memorial Democràtic.

It is our suggestion for those interested in historical memory. It can be a chance to ask how the war affected the population and how that past is preserved and explained today.

5. Which guided visit lets you learn about the calçot tradition?

The gastronomic route goes through the centre and the agricultural cooperative. It is aimed at families and groups, from November to April.

The calçotada is part of Valls’ gastronomic identity: calçots are cooked over an open flame and eaten with their sauce, in a meal that invites you to gather with family or friends.

We recommend it to give context to a food-focused getaway. If you want to eat a calçotada that day, ask how to combine both activities and what you need to book. Confirm exactly what the package you book includes.

6. How can you learn about the history of Valls’ squares and markets?

The itinerary goes through Pati, Alls, Oli, Garrofas and Blat.

Valls’ market tradition is more than 800 years old. The fruit and vegetable market remains active on Wednesdays and Saturdays in places such as Blat, Oli and Portal Nou.

We think this is a particularly interesting choice if you enjoy observing the everyday life of a city. If you want to use the time to buy produce, also set aside some free time and check how the market fits with your visit schedule.

7. Is there a route of stories and legends in Valls?

Yes. It links Pati, Oli, Sant Joan and Ca Mercadé through stories tied to the city.

It is an option we recommend to those who prefer to discover a place by listening to stories. When talking with the guide, you can ask which episodes are documented and which belong to popular tradition. That distinction helps you enjoy the stories and understand how a community remembers and tells its past.

8. What can you learn about in Valls’ former Jewish quarter?

The walk goes through Escribanía, Judíos, Call and Simó.

The former Call of Valls is located within the Vilaclosa core, near Sant Joan. The Jewish community lived in this area between the 13th and 15th centuries, and the streets of the Call and of the Jews retain their original urban layout.

We suggest this route if you are interested in medieval history. Observe the street layout and ask about the everyday life of its inhabitants to understand the neighbourhood beyond its names.

9. Is there a visit devoted to Valls’ historic shops?

Yes. The proposal focuses on the historic commerce of the old town.

The age of Valls’ trade has documented examples: the Generalitat places the origin of the basketry Cal Blanco in 1850 and recognised it among establishments over 150 years old. It is an example of the city’s commercial heritage; check which businesses will be visited on your specific route.

We recommend it if you are interested in trades and family histories. You can ask about changes in products, customers and shopping habits over time.

10. Which route lets you discover Cèsar Martinell in Valls?

The architectural route goes through Cort, Sant Joan, Sant Antoni, Pati, Quarter, Caputxins and Lledó.

Cèsar Martinell offers a way into early 20th-century Catalan architecture. Among his first private commissions is the Badia house in Valls; his work used exposed brick with both structural and decorative functions.

We recommend this option if you enjoy observing materials and building details. To extend the day, the Nulles cooperative winery is suggested as an independent visit. Check its conditions separately.

Practical Q&A: how to organise a guided visit to Valls

What phone number should you call for information about the routes?

Call the Valls Tourist Office at 977 61 25 30, and explain which visit interests you, how many people there will be and what date you have in mind.

You can say: “I’m calling on behalf of GuiaValls and I’d like information about the guided routes in Valls.”

How much do the guided visits cost?

Check the price of the option you choose before booking. Ask whether the rate is individual or per group, what tickets are included and how the booking is confirmed. That way you can organise the budget according to the conditions of your specific visit.

Can you add a tasting of local products?

An optional tasting is suggested in the bell tower, the monumental centre, the underground spaces and the squares and markets.

When you call, ask about availability, content and price, and communicate any dietary needs of the group.

How do you choose a route if you are travelling with children?

Start with the children’s interests: looking out from a viewpoint, listening to stories or discovering how a food is produced. Mention their ages and the pace you need when requesting information so they can guide you to the most suitable option.

How can you check a route’s accessibility?

Explain the group’s specific needs before booking. Ask about stairs, slopes, access to indoor spaces and options for taking breaks. This is especially useful when considering the climb up the bell tower or visiting underground spaces.

Can several visits be combined in one getaway?

You can bring this up when planning the day and ask whether the schedules are compatible. Our recommendation is to start with a general visit and, if you want to go deeper, then choose a theme that especially interests you.

Leave room between activities to travel, rest and eat calmly.

Complete your visit to Valls with GuiaValls stops

To keep enjoying the city on your own, set aside time for our food recommendations as well:

• Ca la Sire: it is essential to stop by and buy a fraisier or a bracito de gitano. A sweet stop to take home a memory of Valls.
• Dolça Fantasia: try a cookie and a cheesecake from the creators of Golosa Cakery. Two treats that deserve their place in the getaway.
• Magatzem del Vermut: here you absolutely have to stop for a vermouth, accompanied by its delicious cap i pota, its mandonguilles or its legendary bravas.

Check opening times and availability of whatever you want to try so you can fit these stops into your day.

Prepare your next guided visit to Valls

Choose the theme you most want to discover and take the next step: call 977 61 25 30, check the options for your date and say that you are coming on behalf of GuiaValls.

We look forward to seeing you in Valls!

Official information for organising visits

• Heritage and visitable spaces in Valls
• Guided routes and climb up the bell tower
• Museu Casteller de Catalunya