The family-friendly beach resort of Salou is situated on the Costa Dorada coast of Spain (known as the Gold Coast).
Just 80 km south-west of Barcelona in the Catalonia region it offers a wonderful holiday and this tourist information guide gives you an overview. We help visitors to Salou with suggestions on things to do and see.
We list the best attractions in Salou and the surrounding areas, with ideas for excursions and days out, especially for families with children who will love the blue-flag beaches and the nearby Port Aventura, one of Europe’s biggest and best theme parks.
Getting to Salou
Nearest Airports
The nearest airport to Salou is at Reus (airport code REU) 5.2 miles away. Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) is 51 miles away with Lleida-Alguaire (ILD) 55 miles away.
It takes just 15 minutes to get to Salou from Reus airport or 1 hour 10 minutes from Barcelona airport.
Taxi
The quickest and easiest way of getting to Salou is jump in a taxi, especially if there are 4 or 5 of you. The price does vary depending on when and what driver you ask so make sure you ask the price before you load up and set off but it should be about 45 Euros one-way.
Getting a taxi to Salou means no waiting around picking up hire cars or waiting for other shuttle bus passengers if you have booked a shared shuttle transfer.
Train
Salou has a train station, with frequent services to Barcelona and Valencia.
Public Bus
The bus service can take you to the neighbouring towns of Cambrils and Tarragona and also Reus airport although the service is infrequent so be careful if you arrive or depart at usual times of the day.
Look for the Plana bus from outside the terminal with a cost of only €10 return per person.
Airport Transfers – Shuttle Bus
You are probably better off booking an airport transfer in advance with one of the shuttle bus companies that relying on the public bus. You know it is waiting to pick you up. It only costs £6 one-way with Shuttle Direct in a shared shuttle bus transfer or pay £27 for a private (just you) airport transfer.
Car Hire
Hiring a car from one of the airports or in Salou itself is a good idea if you intend on exploring the Tarragona province. Use these co-ordinates for satellite navigation to get to Salou: 41°04′40″N 1°07′44″E
Beaches
Of course the beaches (and weather) are the main reason for the popularity of Salou.
Most visitors head for the large main sandy beach called Playa (or Platja) Llevante. Families like it because the waters are generally calm and shallow, ideal for younger kids being able to paddle safely.
There are lifeguards and a first-aid station on hand. You can hire sun-beds and there are plenty of bars, cafes and snack bars for ice-creams.
The pedestrianised promenade lined with palm trees and gardens is called Passeig Jaume I and there is a monument celebrating this Catalan king who sailed from Salou in 1229 to recapture Mallorca from the Moors.
The Font Lluminosa is a beautiful fountain designed by Carles Buida. People gather here at night when it is lit up in spectacular fashion.
There are other beaches and coves such as Playa de Ponent towards neighbouring Cambrils and the Playa de Capellans, overlooked by cliffs as well as Cala Llengüadets Cove, Llarga Beach, Penya Tallada Cove, Font Cove, Vinya Cove and Crancs Cove.
You don’t just have to sit on the beach getting bored. If you are active you can go scuba diving, water-skiing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing or kayaking.
Things To Do and See in Salou
The old Customs House and Harbour Master’s Office are 19th century buildings worth seeing.
The Church of Santa Maria del Mar was built in 1766 for use by sailors, inside are paintings from Josep Grau Garriga.
Watchtower
It makes a nice walk to go to the watchtower built in the 16th century to look out for signs of pirates approaching. Inside is now a museum. The gardens have Adoma Puig’s sculpture of the three maidens.
Masia Catalana
This is a faithful reproduction of a Catalan farmhouse giving you a glimpse of what it must have been like in the olden days in this region when there was no such thing as tourism. Farming methods and tools are on display inside.
Nightlife
Head for the main street of Carlos Buigas where many of the liveliest bars are to be found and also the popular nightclub Kiss.
There are plenty of English and Irish pubs and bars such as Murphy’s Sports Pub, 007, Tropical, Bus Stop, Flash Back and Underground.
Golf
Play golf at the Lumine Golf Club where there are three courses to choose from two of which (north and central) were designed by famous Australian golfer Greg Norman.
Port Aventura Theme Park
One of the best theme parks in Europe naturally has a huge variety of roller-coasters yet there is something to do for all ages. Younger children have many smaller rides to choose from and for adults there are many entertaining shows.
Are you brave enough to try the Dragon Khan rollercoaster or ride on the Grand Canyon Rapids?
The park consists of five theme worlds: Mexico, Far West, Mediterranean, Polynesia and China.
Port Aventura website: https://www.portaventuraworld.com/en
Adjoining Port Aventura is the Costa Caribe water park and if you enjoy your flumes and slides you can also go to nearby Aquapolis.
Salou Webcams & Weather
A web cam is short for web camera. These are digital cameras filming live footage of Salou and streaming this from a website so that you can view live images and film of Salou from your computer.
Llevante Beach Webcam – The main beach in Salou with the promenade of Passeig Jaume I running behind the beach.
