Costa Dorada Holidays

from € 386 pp

Costa Dorada holidays are a cocktail of Instagram-worthy beaches, luxurious waterfront hotels and vintage fishing villages.

Golden Coast

You’ll find the Costa Dorada running along Spain’s north-east coast, offering up traditional towns, dainty fishing villages and waterfront hotels along 92 kilometres’ worth of caramel-coloured beaches. Everything from shopping trips to Cambrils, to lazy tanning days on a tucked-away beach are on the cards here.

Salou and La Pineda

These two seaside towns are neighbours. You can get from one to the other in a 10-minute drive. Salou’s the larger of the two, and boasts a pair of Blue Flag beaches. La Pineda raises the stakes with a giant waterpark and a mile and a half of uninterrupted sand. If wandering around a city’s historical quarter’s more your scene, one of the largest in the area, Tarragona, is a 20-minute drive from both of these.

PortAventura Park

One of Europe’s biggest theme parks draws visitors to this part of Catalonia from all over Europe. After you catch a glimpse of its different themed worlds, which include Ferrari Land and a Caribbean-style aqua park, you’ll soon understand why. Some of the rollercoasters hit 80 miles per hour, and there’s a selection of bite-sized, family-friendly rides for little ones, too.

At a glance

Sink your toes into a sugar-fine-sand beach
Go for a shopping spree in the city of Tarragona
Hit the rides at PortAventura Park

Destinations in Costa Dorada

The Golden Coast

The Costa Dorada’s beaches are what originally put the region on the map, and they’re still the main draw for tourists today. The coastline here unravels for 150 miles, stretching from Ebro Delta in the south, past Cambrils, Salou and La Pineda, right the way up to Sitges and Barcelona in the north.
The big beach

Salou’s huge sweep of golden sand is one of the most popular in the region. It’s clinched Blue Flag status thanks to its clear, shallow waters and, behind the sands, restaurants and cafés huddle along a palm-dotted promenade. Little ones will love the fairground that’s tucked at one end. Visit in the morning, as the queues get bigger as the day goes on.
The secret beach

You can catch a bus to Cap Salou from Salou or La Pineda – the journey only takes around 10 minutes. When you arrive, though, you’ll feel like you’re miles from anywhere. This small, sandy cove is tucked behind a headland and cradled by pine-cloaked cliffs. What’s more, because there aren’t any beach bars or cafés here, it’s completely devoid of the crowds you’ll find further along the coast.

Bargain Buys

Come to Salou on a Monday, and its main square, Plaza de Europa, fills up with stalls selling everything from feathered dream catchers to bottles of olive oil. You can hunt for similar bargains in the La Pineda Market on a Friday. Foodies, meanwhile, should schedule in some time in Cambrils. Market day is on a Wednesday, and you can get your hands on the likes of fresh fruit and just-plucked crabs.
Mid-Range Buys

The massive Parc Central shopping mall, on the edge of Tarragona, is full of stores selling clothes, toys and books. Reus is another good option for shopping. Make a beeline for El Tomb de Reus quarter, in the centre of town, and you’ll stumble upon funky clothes shops and cute coffee houses. You’ll spot some names you recognise, too, like Mango and Bershka.
Designer Buys

Barcelona gives Paris and Milan a run for their money in the blow-the-budget stakes. For the glossiest stores, wander along the Plaça Catalunya or Avenue Diagonal – you’ll find top-end names like Chanel, Versace and Cartier. If you don’t fancy the journey up to Barcelona, Tarragona’s main street, La Rambla Nova, is packed with exclusive Spanish fashion boutiques.

Laid-back evenings

In Cambrils, evenings begin in the cosy tapas bars on the seafront promenade, and end in the chiringuito bars around the marina. Tarragona has the same kind of philosophy when it comes to nights out. Romantic dinners by the yachts in the port are usually followed by live music and martinis in the bars that line the water’s edge.
Lively evenings

Salou leads the way as far as happy hours and neon lights are concerned. Its main street is packed with British-style pubs, karaoke bars and fancy dress discos. La Pineda is lots of fun, too. A long strip of dance bars and late-night cafés runs parallel to the beach, and for hard-core clubbers there’s the world-renowned Pacha nightclub.

Suquet

This juicy seafood stew is a real classic. The seafood used can differ from restaurant to restaurant, but mussels and shrimp are more than likely to feature. The stew is flavoured with saffron and almonds, and is sometimes served as a soup.
Fuet

Fuet is a long, thin Catalonian sausage made from pork meat. The sausage is cured and dried by hanging it on ropes or strings for more than two months. Taste-wise, it’s a bit like salami, and it’s often used in casseroles and soups. You can also eat it on its own, or as part of a tapas board.
Crema catalana

Crema catalana looks and tastes a lot like crème brulee. In fact, many locals claim the Catalan version is actually the original. Wherever it came from, this melt-in-the-mouth pudding is a must-try while you’re here. It’s sweet and creamy and comes with lashings of cinnamon.
Botifarra

These beefy, garlicky sausages are most commonly eaten in a dish known as ‘botifarra amb mongetes’, in which the meat is mashed up with sweet white beans. ‘Escudella i carn d'olla’ is another popular meal. In this one, the sausage is sliced and added to boiled vegetables.
Torres wines

The Torres family have been making wine in the vineyards of Salou for more than 300 years, and their bottles appear on menus up and down the region. For a budget-friendly option, try the fruity, red Sangre de Toro, or for a more expensive choice, go for the award-winning Mas Las Plana.

MAIN MENU

Account & Booking

Costa Dorada Holidays

Golden Coast

Salou and La Pineda

PortAventura Park

At a glance

Destinations in Costa Dorada

Top things to See and Do in Costa Dorada

The Golden Coast

The big beach

The secret beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

Suquet

Fuet

Crema catalana

Botifarra

Torres wines