Reus

Although his greatest efforts may well be found in Barcelona, renowned architect Antoni Gaudí was nonetheless born in Reus, a fact which the city’s hotel scene is keen to remind its visitors of. The Hotel Gaudí (Carrer Arrabal Robuster 49) was not designed by Gaudí but boasts a location on Reus’ modernist art route five minutes from the centre. Brea’s Hotel (Avinguda Reus Tarragona 1) offers a step up in luxury, boasting stunning views of the city and a superb restaurant that specialises in Catalan cuisine. Meanwhile the Hotel Ollé (Passeig Prim 45) is a decent mid-range choice boasting a central location.

There are in excess of 600 shops that permeate the delightful colonnaded squares and boulevards of Reus, including well-known brands such as Mango and Zara. In addition to the high-street offering, the city is home to several markets, with the Mercadillo Central de Reus (Carrer Prat de la Riba) among the best. This market has over 150 stalls that sell all sorts from fresh local produce to quirky handicrafts. Meanwhile the best of the designer shopping scene is located at Passeig Comercial El Pallol (Carrer de La Presó 4), where you'll find bars and restaurants to complement the boutique fashion outlets.

Baix Camp is a Spanish county renowned for superb wine, and Reus is the capital of this comarca, meaning the ruby vino is a central figure to the city’s foodie scene. For traditional Catalan dishes and delicious local wines try La Giberga (Carrer d' en Vilàr 12), while the menjar blanc (a local pudding made with cream and almonds) is a real hit at Cullerades (Carrer de Pubill Oriol 8), and those looking for local tapas could do much worse than Ciutat Gaudí (Passeig Prim 2).

Reus Carnival

February

Colourful floats, parades and wacky costumes are all features of this two-week carnival, a great street party where the food and drink flows freely.

FEC Festival

March

This festival is dedicated to short films, so there’s always lots to check out, from mini documentaries to comedy skits and cinematic art installations.

Trapezi

May

Hordes of acrobats invade the streets and squares of Reus for a few days every May, with the trapeze artists a literal highlight.

Festa major de Sant Pere

June

This fiesta is the biggest on Reus’ social calendar, and commemorates the city’s patron saint through a series of parades, Catalan dancing and a huge bonfire. Look out for the ‘dance of the giants’, where locals boogie their way through the streets, donning oversized papier mâché outfits.

Cos

October

This annual mime festival draws theatre companies from all over Europe for a four-day event that features a series of performances, discussions and workshops.