Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
The small Catalan town of L’Ampolla is a beautiful spot to visit, located in between the more-visited Barcelona and Valencia. Situated in south Catalonia, it’s a picturesque area with impressive mountains, lovely beaches, and the Ebro Delta. Although it’s a small town, there are some great things to do in L’Ampolla, as well as some lovely spots to visit on day trips nearby. It’s a particularly great spot for birdwatchers, with flamingos, hoopoes, kingfishers, and more in the area! We were fortunate to enough to spend two weeks in the area, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing a different, more chilled-out side of Catalonia. Find out everything you need to know with this guide to the best things to do in L’Ampolla, Spain.
How to get to L’Ampolla
By Train
Generally speaking, the easiest way to get to L’Ampolla is by train. There are several daily departures from Barcelona Sants station to L’Ampolla El Perello Deltebre station, as well as a couple of trains per day from Valencia. If you are coming from Barcelona then make sure to check out our 5 day Barcelona itinerary for inspiration for your stay!
The train journey takes around 2 hours from Barcelona, or around 3-4 hours from Valencia. A train ticket from Barcelona to L’Ampolla costs just €12 one-way, and from Valencia it costs around €18 one-way.
It’s also possible to get a train to L’Ampolla from some other spots along the east coast of Spain, including from the port city of Tarragona. Some trains can be booked in advance on the Omio website, but tickets for regional trains can only be purchased in person at a train station.
Click here to book your train tickets in advance on Omio!
As tickets for regional trains can only be brought in person at the station then we recommend visiting the Renfe website as you can search for the train schedule on there. Unfortunately Omio do not list the schedule for regional trains and only show any trains they are able to sell tickets for online.
By Car
The alternative to taking the train is to make your way to L’Ampolla by car. Although it’s generally more expensive, this is our preferred option as having a car is ideal for exploring south Catalonia as there are some beautiful spots to see here.
Some of the best things to do in L’Ampolla are much easier to get to by car. Renting a car isn’t overly expensive in Spain, especially if you check the Discover Cars website as they compare a number of operators to get you the best deal!
Click here to check out the latest prices on the Discover Cars website!
Best places to stay in L’Ampolla
Mid-Range
Camping Ampolla
One of the best accommodation options in L’Ampolla is Camping Ampolla Playa. The property offers a number of 2-3 bed bungalows, which is ideal for families or anyone travelling in a group.
Situated by the beach in L’Ampolla the property is conveniently located just on the edge of town. There are also two pools at the property, which is perfect for cooling off in!
Bungalows have air conditioning, as well as a kitchenette and a covered porch. The main area of town is a short drive away, but is also within walking distance if you’re not travelling by car.
Click here to take a look at this lovely property on Booking.com!
Treat yourself!
Cap Roig Resort
One of the nicest hotels in L’Ampolla is the Cap Roig Resort, located just north of the town. The resort boasts both an indoor and outdoor pool, but be sure to check whether the pools are accessible for your preferred dates due to seasonal opening.
Located on a clifftop by the sea, the resort is in a beautiful location with some lovely views. Rates are all-inclusive, so although you’re paying more you have everything you need included if you wish!
Click here to book a stay at the Cap Roig Resort on Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
Best things to do in L’Ampolla
L’Ampolla Beaches
One of the best things to do in L’Ampolla is to visit the beaches both in the town and along the Catalan coast. Admittedly there are nicer beaches elsewhere in Spain, but the beaches here have the advantage of being quieter and also being nearby to some beautiful mountains, which can often be seen from the beaches.
There are a few beaches in L’Ampolla itself, including Platja de les Avellanes and Playa de Capellans. Platja de les Avellanes is a small sandy beach a short distance from the town’s marina, and Playa de Capellans is a small stony beach. A bit further out of the town is the lovely Platja de l’Arenal – a large sandy beach where you can sometimes even spot flamingos a short distance out at sea.
If you have a car then it’s easy to explore some of the other beaches near to L’Ampolla too. Along the coast you can find a number of calas, which are effectively small and often picturesque coves.
Explore the Delta
L’Ampolla is conveniently located on the edge of the Parc Natural del Delta de l’Ebre, so one of the best things to do in the area is to explore the delta. The Ebro River is the longest river fully in Spain, and the delta is a lovely spot to visit.
It’s a lot easier to explore the delta by car, so if you weren’t sure whether to get a rental car then it’s definitely worth it for this alone! There are plenty of nice spots to visit in the area, whether you want to take a relaxing stroll along the beach or a longer walk to the Far del Fangar lighthouse.
If you park in Riumar there is a nice boardwalk along the beachfront, and if you continue walking for long enough you will reach the Mirador del Zigurat. This mirador is the highest viewpoint in the delta, and has great views of the Ebro River’s mouth as it flows into the sea.
Boat tours also run along the Ebro River if you want to enjoy the area without needing to do too much walking. These tours cruise through the delta and give you the chance to see some of the area’s amazing birdlife along the way. Tours can easily be booked online in advance through Get Your Guide, so it’s easy enough to arrange a cruise along the delta if you want.
Click here to take a look at the delta cruise on Get Your Guide’s website!
The Delta de l’Ebre is is a great for birdwatching, with flamingos, kingfishers, hoopoes and more in the area. On our visit we saw flamingos close to the Bassa de l’Estella lake, as well as regularly seeing flamingos and kingfishers near Gola de la Bassa de les Olles on the outskirts of L’Ampolla.
Another great thing to do in L’Ampolla is the hike at Foradada del Montsia in Serra de Montsia. It’s around a 1-1½ hour uphill hike one-way, but it offers amazing views of the delta once you reach the top!
Walk to L’Ametlla de Mar
On a sunny day a great thing to do is take a walk from L’Ampolla to L’Ametlla de Mar. We only recommend this is you fancy being quite active, as the walk will take around 4 hours one-way, but it’s a lovely thing to do if you want to enjoy some of the calas and beaches along the way.
Make sure to take plenty of water with you if you’re going to do this walk on a warm day, as you’ll want to stay well-hydrated. It’s a nice and easy thing to do though if you want to discover more of the nature in the area.
To find out what to do when you get to L’Ametlla de Mar read our guide here!
Visit L’Ampolla town centre
One of the most obvious, but also one of the most pleasant, things to do in L’Ampolla is to wander around the town itself. L’Ampolla has a lovely waterfront where there are a few restaurants with outside areas across from a small marina. If you fancy a nice lunch/dinner or a few drinks then it’s definitely worth visiting one of the restaurants here on a nice day!
Slightly outside of the main town there is a nice spot to walk close-by to Restaurant La Barraca. If you walk towards the town from here you will pass a children’s play area, some artwork, and some small gardens, all whilst being able to enjoy some lovely views out to sea.
Day trips from L’Ampolla
If you’ve rented a car then one of the best things to do in L’Ampolla is to take some day trips around south Catalonia. There are plenty of great places to visit near L’Ampolla, so it’s up to you where you decide to visit.
One of the easiest day trips is to the city of Tortosa, which is located inland towards some of Catalonia’s mountains. Tortosa is a lovely spot to wander around, and has a very unique cathedral which you can get some lovely views of from the castle. Find out more about this spot with our guide to the best things to do in Tortosa!
Another option is to drive to some beautiful viewpoints in Parc Natural dels Ports. There are some stunning viewpoints in the mountains that are accessible by car, so you can enjoy the amazing scenery with minimal effort! If you prefer to be more active then there are also some hiking trails in Parc Natural dels Ports!
Alternatively, Miravet Castle is a lovely spot to visit on a day trip from L’Ampolla. The castle dates back to the 11th century, and has beautiful views of the Ebro River. If you have an early start then it’s even possible to visit both Parc Natural dels Ports and Miravet in one day!
Tarragona is another choice for a day trip, and has a number of interesting spots in and around the city. Some of the best places to visit include the city’s Roman amphitheatre, the Roman Pont del Diable viaduct, the cathedral, and the unique Monumento a los Castellers – a sculpture of a traditional Catalan human tower.
If you’re heading to Tarragona then there are a few activities on Get Your Guide that may be of interest, including a Roman heritage walking tour or even a paragliding trip. Click here to see the activities available in Tarragona!
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