Salou Beach Resort Guide
Introduction
Salou is the most popular and built-up resort on the Costa Dorada. The resort's main attraction is its long golden beach, plus guaranteed fun whatever the weather at nearby Port Aventura, one of the biggest theme parks in Europe (closed in winter). Salou merges with neighbouring La Pineda to the east (a headland divides their beaches), with their respective centres some 4km (2.5 miles) apart.
Who goes there?
Salou is very popular with British and other north European package holidaymakers with young families. The resort is also patronised by Spanish families.
Where in the world?
Salou is on the Costa Dorada, on the east coast of Spain, 11km (7 miles) south of Tarragona and 110km (69 miles) southwest of Barcelona. Reus Airport is 16km (10 miles) northwest. The resort is mainly on the flat though the road does rise steeply to the east as it goes around a headland to La Pineda.
When to go?
Between May and October the daily average maximum temperatures for Salou never falls below 20ºC and rises above 30ºC in July-August. The ideal time to visit is late May-June (average daily max temperature 22ºC to 26ºC) when the temperature is comfortably warm and dry and the crowds have not yet arrived. September and October (average daily max temperature 25ºC to 22ºC) and early May (20ºC to 22ºC) are also pleasant but these are the three months of most rainfall (42mm, 50mm and 50mm respectively), with short heavy downpours. For the rest of the years there is very little rain. The winters are mild.
Beach
The broad long golden sandy beach of Playa Levante is divided from the town by a wide palm-lined promenade. It stretches for around 1.2km (0.75 miles) and is lively and commercialised with most watersports on offer. Just east of Playa Levante is the picturesque beach of Playa de Capellans. Backed by tall cliffs and pine trees it is an ideal spot out of season. To the west, Playa Poniente is flat, but also partly backed by pines. This is much quieter than Playa Levante and joins with Cambrils.
Beyond the beach
The ferris wheel of the Salou funfair, just off the beach, has become almost as much a symbol of the town as its famous illuminated ‘dancing' fountains on the promenade. Just past the west end of the beach is a rare remnant of old Salou - the Torre Vella (Calle Arquebisbe Pere de Cardona), a 16th-century watchtower, which now accommodates modern art exhibitions. The biggest draw away from the beach however is PortAventura theme park (see Family Fun).
Family fun
Many visitors rate PortAventura (Autovia Salou/Vila-seca, 2.2km/1 mile from Salou) (
www.portaventura.es) as Europe's top theme park, and you will need at least two days to see it all. It is famous for its thrill rides (
Dragon Khan is a legendary white-knuckle roller coaster) and some of the evening shows are breathtakingly spectacular. However there is also plenty to do for youngsters with scaled-down versions of the big rides and lots of
Universal Studios characters to meet. On a warm day bring your swimming costume as there is an excellent water park, Costa Caribe, on site (separate admission). There are cheaper, if not quite so exciting rides at the Salou funfair and kids can splash about in the Aquopolis water park at the neighbouring resort of La Pineda (Passeig Pau Casals, 65). Aquopolis is also home to a dolphin show.
Retail therapy
Most shops in Salou are geared only for the tourist trade. It is fun to shop at the illuminated evening stalls in summer and there is a market on Mondays. For a thoroughly Spanish shopping experience visit Tarragona (see Exploring Further Afield).
A night on the town
Salou is well stocked with international music bars and pubs catering mostly for a British market and there is a choice of at least half a dozen different nightclubs and discos. The famous nightclub Pacha has two local branches,
La Cage in Salou (Avinguda Carles Buigas 81) and
Pacha in La Pineda (Plaça de la Canço Catalana) (
www.pachalapineda.com).
Eating out
Salou is home to dozens of fast-food joints and the usual quota of international restaurants (Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian and so on). Dutch and German restaurants also cater for homesick northern Europeans. There are also some good Spanish restaurants with the speciality being fish. The quiet small neighbouring resort of Cambrils is famous for both the quality and quantity of its fish and seafood restaurants and is definitely worth a visit.
Getting around
Most points of interest in Salou are within walking distance of the main promenade. Regular buses service the seafront shuttling to and from La Pineda and Cambrils. There is a shuttle bus to PortAventura theme park. Bicycles are useful for sightseeing west as far as Cambrils but the road east is steep in parts.
Exploring further afield
Tarragona (11km/7 miles north of Salou) is an atmospheric city with a compact historic centre featuring some outstanding medieval and Roman remains. Its cathedral is one of the finest in Spain. Well-preserved Roman relics include an amphitheatre, the Roman Praetorium (traditionally the birthplace of Pontius Pilate) and, just out of town, the Pont del Diable (Devil's Bridge) aqueduct - one of the greatest Roman structures still standing in Spain. You can walk across its 217m (712ft) span and enjoy vertiginous views into the valley below. Barcelona (110km/69 miles northeast) is around 90 minutes away by train.
Splashing out
Make the short journey, 6km (4 miles) west to Cambrils for the best seafood on the Costa Dorada. The Michelin-starred
Can Bosch (Rambla Jaume I, 19;
www.canbosch.com) serves innovative dishes in a family-friendly atmosphere. In the heart of Old Tarragona, try
Merlot (Calle Cavallers, 7), where traditional Mediterranean recipes are given a creative twist. In summer you can dine in the courtyard.
Flying in
Reus Airport (REU)
