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Travel guide – salou

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Overview

Situated on the Costa Dorada's sun drenched coast, 50 miles (80km) west of Barcelona and six miles (10km) west of Tarragona, the popular resort town of Salou is hard to beat for a fun family vacation. It is fairly spread out and merges with the neighbouring resorts of La Pineda to the east and Cambrils to the west, all of which benefit from the string of wonderful clean sandy beaches and secluded rocky coves. As well as the natural attractions, Salou is also packed with entertainment for all ages, from watersports to an aqua park, go-karting and one of Europe’s most thrilling theme parks, Universal’s Port Aventura. Sightseers interested in museums or ancient history will find plenty to occupy them in nearby Tarragona, or on excursions into the countryside. Salou’s seafront promenade is set with beautifully landscaped gardens and parks; fountains are lit up at night when holidaymakers stroll to the restaurants, nightclubs, bars and British-style pubs.

Shopping

There is a good selection of souvenir and fashion stores in Salou, and those who want to enjoy more extensive shopping can hop on a train and travel to the renowned shopping Mecca of Barcelona, just 40 minutes away. There is a flea market in the old town centre on Mondays.

Restaurants

There are no shortage of restaurants in Salau and its neighbouring resorts. Eating out is relatively cheap and although many places cater for British palettes, there are also plenty of good Spanish and seafood restaurants.

Nightlife

Salou is large, busy and packed with pubs and bars, many (such as The Rovers Return) catering for British tourists. Compared to resorts such as Benidorm the nightlife is fairly quiet with only a couple of nightclubs, but Barcelona is under an hour away on the train and well worth a visit for an evening.

Activities

Even the most hyperactive child can be kept amused for weeks in Salou. Watersports such as banana boats and windsurfing can be arranged at the main beach and Port Aventura can provide entertainment for two days or more, while the go-kart track and the aqua park in Pineda are great fun for kids of all ages.

Attractions in Salou

Tarragona

The Costa Dorada’s main city, Tarragona, has almost doubled in size during the last few decades, its residential districts continually expanding around the medieval core. Tarragona, originally built on a rocky bluff, can trace its roots back to 218 BC, when it was founded by the ancient Romans as a legionnaires military base. Vestiges of its past still remain in the form of ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, aqueduct, forum and other buildings sited on the Paseo Arqueologico (Archaeological Avenue), which leads to some panoramic viewpoints. A wide boulevard called the Rambla Nova represents the modern main street outside the old city walls. A popular outing for visitors is to explore the old harbour, known as El Serrallo, to watch the fishing boats arrive and auction their catch. The city also sports some excellent beaches on its doorstep, including Playa Llarga, regarded as one of the biggest and best on the Catalonian coast. Among the many museums is an archaeological museum devoted to Roman antiquities; the Diocesan Museum displaying Gothic paintings, sculptures and tapestries; and a house museum detailing the life and career of renowned cellist, Pablo Casals.

Port Aventura

This massive theme park, based on Busch Gardens in Florida, attracts holidaymakers from far afield to its five worlds (Far West, Mediterránia, Mexico, China and Polynesia). Visitors can be at the Great Wall of China one minute and at the ruins of Mayan Mexico the next, and meet some cowboys for a taste of the Far West before cooling off by jumping into the great lake from the summit of the Tutuki Splash volcano. Popular attractions include the Sea Odyssey underwater adventure, the Stampida roller coaster ride and the Grand Canyon Rapids water ride.

Climate

The Costa Dorada is cooler in summer than the southern Spanish holiday Mecca of the Costa del Sol, with temperatures ranging between 73°F to 77°F (23°C to 25ºC), cooled by sea breezes. Rain is a rarity, even during the mild winters.

Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.

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Travel Guide by www.wordtravels.com
Disclaimer: By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Winter Sunshine Holidays & Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.