Summary
Salou represents the primary resort on the southern Catalonia Costa Daurada (Golden Coast). For families seeking sunshine and sandy shores, it provides a comprehensive experience, featuring expansive resort beaches and secluded coves. The area is well-equipped with amenities, attractions, and services that match the best Spain has to offer.
Adjacent to Salou is Spain’s premier theme park, PortAventura, accompanied by various golf courses and an exceptional water park. For a change of scenery, the UNESCO-recognized historical and cultural attractions of Tarragona are merely a ten-minute train ride away from Salou.
Let us explore the top attractions in Salou:
1. PortAventura World
As Spain’s most frequented theme park, PortAventura also features among Europe’s top ten. It is an outing that captivates individuals of all ages.
Younger visitors will appreciate the well-orchestrated performances, various playgrounds, amusements, and the newly introduced SésamoAventura, themed on Sesame Street. Older children and adults can anticipate an array of record-setting roller coasters.
Every year, new attractions emerge within the park’s five thematic zones: Far West, Mediterrània, México, China, and Polynesia. For avid thrill-seekers, the Hurakan Condor, a 100-meter drop tower, is prominently visible from a distance.
2. Llevant Beach
Located at the forefront of the town, Salou’s principal beach offers a perfect setting for leisurely summer days spent under the sun.
With a generous expanse of fine golden sand stretching for a little over a kilometer, its proximity to hotels and accommodations makes it a favorable choice for families.
Children will find ample entertainment, with playgrounds placed at intervals along the beach. The surf in this area is typically moderate, with currents somewhat sheltered by the Cap de Salou headland to the east.
3. Salou’s Fountains
The spectacle commenced with the Font Lluminosa, constructed in 1973 by Carles Buigas, who also designed Barcelona’s celebrated fountain at Montjuïc. Each evening from Easter until November, a captivating light and sound performance occurs post-sunset.
The magnificent display features synchronized music, complemented by 100 jets of water that produce an array of stunning patterns. Recently, the addition of the Cybernetic Fountain has introduced even more complexity to the performance.
This latter installation boasts a thousand jets and creates a water labyrinth that visitors can navigate.
4. Avenida Jaume I
Adjacent to Playa de Llevant lies this expansive marble-paved promenade. It serves as a vibrant gathering spot for both locals and visitors, situated in the most animated area of the resort.
On the northern side, one can discover Salou’s finest shops, bars, and restaurants, under the backdrop of characteristic apartment buildings typical of a Mediterranean resort.
This promenade is lined with palm trees and includes a monument honoring James I the Conqueror, a significant Catalan figure from the 13th century known for reclaiming the county of Barcelona from the French and retaking cities from the Moors.
5. Portaventura Caribe Aquatic Park
Similar to Portaventura’s theme park, this aquatic attraction provides an exceptional experience compared to typical Mediterranean water parks. Spanning 34,000 square meters, it is landscaped with palm trees and tropical foliage, offering pools, exhilarating slides, and high-speed drops.
Younger family members can enjoy a safe environment at the Zona Indoor, featuring shallow pools and secure obstacles suited for climbing. Meanwhile, older kids and adults seeking thrills can take on the King Khajuna, which plunges from a height of 31 meters at a steep angle of 55 degrees.
6. Coves of Cap de Salou
If the resort beaches do not suit your preferences, a short venture leads you to some captivating little beaches just around the eastern headland.
Five coves are available: Cala de la Vinya, Cala els Crancs, Cala Morisca, Cala de la Font, and Cala de la Penya Tallada. They are easily accessible by car or through a pleasant walking trail for the more adventurous.
Development at the cape remains minimal; these tucked-away beaches are surrounded by rugged limestone outcrops and aromatic Aleppo pine trees.
7. Capellans Beach
Tucked between the cape and Llevant Beach is a scenic and tranquil spot: this lovely beach is nestled between two rocky promontories.
The waters here are calmer and shallower compared to Llevant Beach, making it a preferable option for families with less confident swimmers.
Although it may not be the longest beach in the vicinity, Capellans boasts a generous swath of sand, ensuring that even during peak summer periods, it feels less crowded than Llevant Beach next door.
8. Dining Options
Situated approximately 50 kilometers south of Salou, the extensive rice fields in the Delta of the River Ebro have significantly influenced the local cuisine.
The renowned Spanish dish, paella, originated in the nearby region of Valencia. Likewise, numerous restaurants along the coast offer this culinary delight. It is advisable to seek out reviews to avoid tourist traps.
For those unfamiliar with paella, it is a delightful ensemble of shellfish and squid simmered with saffron-infused rice. Arròs negre is another regional specialty, featuring similar preparation to paella, but incorporates cuttlefish or squid and is dyed black with squid ink.
9. Roman Tarragona
One of the most significant cities of the western Roman Empire lies merely 10 minutes away by train. Tarraco was the inaugural major Roman settlement and served as the capital of Tarraconensis, which encompassed a large portion of modern Spain.
As anticipated, this history has resulted in Tarragona being endowed with an impressive array of Roman architecture and fortifications. The amphitheater is located by the coast, while a short ascent leads to the provincial forum, dominated by the Pretorian tower.
A comprehensive museum showcasing artifacts is present in this area, and just outside the city limits, one can marvel at the remarkable aqueduct, a funerary tower, a Roman quarry, and a triumphal arch.
10. Tarragona Walls and Part Alta
The construction of the walls of Tarragona was initiated by the famous Roman general Scipio shortly after his arrival on the Iberian Peninsula in the 3rd century BC. This city served as a strategic Roman base during the Punic War.
Though the walls have evolved over the last 22 centuries, the lower sections of the fortifications still retain their Roman characteristics, as can be observed at the medieval Torre de l’Arquebisbe.
The walls encompass the highest part of Tarragona (Part Alta), which features an intricate network of picturesque, steeply graded streets lined with some of the city’s finest dining establishments.
Hints of Tarragona’s Roman heritage are present in numerous locations, with several buildings supported by the original Roman wall structures.
11. Tarragona Cathedral
Perched atop a hill is the city’s magnificent Gothic cathedral, a site of historical importance spanning thousands of years: A Roman temple once occupied this location during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, discovered only in the recent 21st century excavations.
Additionally, the Moors had established a mosque at the site of the current cathedral. Visitors can tour the 19 chapels, which exhibit gothic, renaissance, and baroque styles.
Be sure to visit the cloister, a tranquil sanctuary amidst the bustling city, characterized by Gothic arcades and a central fountain. On the eastern side, there exists a small Arabic inscription from the 10th century, a remnant of the mosque’s past.
12. Castells
Every two years, the Concurs de Castells occurs in early October at Tarragona’s Plaza de Toros. This event presents a unique spectacle where teams (colles) from across Catalonia compete to construct human towers.
The foundation of each tower consists of robust individuals at the base, while the tiers above incorporate progressively younger participants. Often, a child as young as six or seven ascends to the top of a Castell, situated nine stories high, equipped with a helmet for safety in case of any mishaps.
Should your visit not coincide with the main competition, numerous exhibitions are available year-round, particularly during festivals, often accompanied by the sounds of a gralla, a traditional clarinet-like instrument.
13. Golf
For many visitors, a holiday along Spain’s Mediterranean coast is not complete without a round of golf. With two golf clubs located within a ten-minute radius, Salou is an excellent destination for golf enthusiasts.
At the cape to the east of the resort, the Mediterránea Beach Club & Golf Community offers an impressive 45 holes across three meticulously designed courses amidst olive groves and pine trees, crafted by renowned golfer Greg Norman. A challenge awaits low-handicappers on the demanding Lumine Hills course.
Alternatively, Club de Golf Reus Aigüesverds is also a commendable option. Younger players and beginners can hone their skills at the pitch & putt, while experienced golfers can tackle the 18-hole par-71 course.
14. Reus
Located less than 15 minutes inland from Salou, Reus is a thriving commercial city that experienced significant growth at the turn of the 20th century, leaving behind a wealth of stunning Catalan modernist architecture.
Although Antoni Gaudí, a native of Reus, did not contribute any buildings here, many of his contemporaries left their mark. A notable museum dedicated to Reus’ most famous resident showcases some of his belongings and sketches.
The tourism office also provides information on the Ruta del Modernisme, which guides visitors to the finest examples of modernist architecture in the city, including the beautifully designed Casa Navàs, created by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who is also responsible for Barcelona’s UNESCO-listed Palau de la Música Catalana.
15. Tarragona Wine Region
Visitors to the Tarragona province will find themselves in the heart of cava country. Approximately 70% of the grapes cultivated in the Tarragona D.O. are white varieties such as Macabeo, contributing to the production of Catalonia’s highly regarded sparkling white wine.
A drive into the countryside will reveal numerous village co-operative farm shops showcasing the finest local produce, making them the ideal spots to acquire bottles of cava, moscatell (Muscat), and chartreuse liqueurs directly from their source.
Moreover, visitors will also discover Selva del Camp’s award-winning olive oil and various dried fruits and nuts sourced from the orchards located on the coastal plains surrounding Reus and Tarragona.
