Salou, Spain – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Salou is a large resort town on the Costa Dorada in Catalonia, Spain, 10km from Tarragona and 112km from Barcelona. Its location makes it a great base from which to explore these beautiful metropolitan areas. The golden beaches have also helped make it the most visited holiday resort on the Costa Dorada. Social media brims with pictures of bathers basking in the sunshine on these glowing sands, but is there more to Salou than its beautiful beaches?

Read on to find out!

• Currency – Euro
• Language – Spanish but locals speak fluent English
• Time – One hour ahead of Ireland
• Plugs – Type F plug (the 2-prong rounded one) so be sure to pack an adaptor
• Cash or Card – Card is accepted throughout and ATMs are everywhere should you need cash
• Public Toilets – Common along the promenade and clean and free to use
• Tipping – Not always necessary or expected but certainly always appreciated

Reus Airport (REU) is a 15 minute drive from Salou but it is small so flying to it can be expensive. The more common method is to fly to Barcelona, a 2hrs 35mins trip from Dublin. Barcelona Airport (BCN) is easy to navigate but queues can be lengthy so arrive in good time for your return trip. There are two terminals with most short-haul airlines flying from Terminal 2. This is likely where you will be heading for your return flight.

Find Cheap Flights to Salou

Assuming you do not hire a car, there are four ways to reach Salou from the airport. Avoid getting a taxi however, due to the costs.

By Bus: The Bus Plana runs direct to Salou from the airport for €21 each way. You can buy tickets at the machines beside the bus stops but we recommend purchasing them online through the link below instead. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.

Buy Plana Bus Tickets

By Train: Catch a train from Barcelona Sants Train Station, connected to the airport via Metro. The metro leaves every 7 minutes and costs under €5 for a single ticket. It takes 20 minutes to reach Barcelona Sants. From here take a train to Salou PortAventura, which will take around 1 hour 30 minutes. You’ll still be 10 minutes from central Salou, which you can reach by bus or taxi from PortAventura.

By Private Transfer: If booking a package holiday we recommend booking transfers, especially if you have children with you. Transfers are generally great value here compared to places like Sorrento. They can typically get you to your hotel in under 1 hour and 30 minutes! We book our package holidays through OnTheBeach.ie who offer very cheap transfers for Salou.

Check out our Travel Guide to Sorrento

There are accommodation options in Salou catering for every kind of need. We always book our package holidays through OnTheBeach.ie as they are pretty much unbeatable for price in Ireland right now. Those looking for simplicity without venturing too far can avail of their excellent all-inclusive packages. If cost is a concern then there are plenty of good two and three star hotels and apartments on offer. We usually opt for something in between with one of their superb four-star hotels.

We stayed half-board at the four-star Hotel Las Vegas. We usually avoid half-board because eating out is a big part of our holidays, but this town isn’t known for cuisine. The hotel boasted lovely staff and a brilliant buffet breakfast, as well as four pools. One of the pools was a majestic adults only rooftop plunge pool. It came with unbelievable views over Llevant Beach.

Dinner was fine with a plethora of options for all tastes. The hotel was about a one minute walk from both the resort center and its incredible beach. We would very happily stay here again.

Check out Salou Hotels

Prices are outstanding in Salou, with a main course such as a burger costing €10 – €14. There are greeters outside most bars and restaurants but they are pleasant and not nearly as pushy as in other resorts. There are plenty of nice restaurants like The Roadhouse further from the seafront. You’ll also find the usual staples like McDonalds and Burger King for those pickier eaters.

Ice-cream lovers have their pick of delicious gelaterias to choose from. There are also incredible sweet shops in the center of the resort selling gigantic sugary treats!

Michaelangelo Supermarkets are everywhere here and are especially ideal for anyone staying in self-catering accommodation.

Hot Beverages: There aren’t many charming cafés dotted around the place. There are plenty of places to get a nice coffee in the morning but they double as restaurants too.

Alcohol: A beer in Salou costs anywhere from €2 to €4 and cocktails range from €6 to €9. These are some of the best prices in Europe and the cocktails are incredible.

There aren’t a lot of great Spanish Bars so head to one of the many Irish or British Bars instead. Old Brown Cow is the pick of the British bunch but don’t let your trip pass without visiting Danny Boy’s. This is one of the best Irish Bars in the world, with cheap prices, good drinks and incredible live music! They serve up great craic and show all of the GAA and Premier League matches in this home away from home.

For something wilder head to Carrer de Carles Buigas, the main strip. It is lined with some brilliant nightclubs for a night of drinking and dancing.

Sangria: Spain is famous for Sangria, a delicious punch containing red wine and fruits. Although massively popular with tourists, locals don’t actually consume that much of the beverage. It’s not expensive so sample this lovely beverage at least once during your trip.

Visit from June to August to experience the brilliant madness of the peak season, with averages of up to 31 degrees. Although busy, the resort caters for the numbers really well. The beach is vast so space is plentiful and the atmosphere created by the crowds adds to the experience. Most of the main attractions here require high temperatures to be enjoyed to the fullest and the air conditioning here is also second to none.

Travel on Foot: Many of the best hotels and apartments are located close to the beach, unquestionably Salou’s main attraction. The roads are lined with good footpaths and the traffic isn’t overly manic so we advise travelling on foot where possible. It is a safe location so walking at night in groups is fine.

Public Transport: The resort is excellently served by some of the best public transport in Spain. Taxis are cheap and easy to find, with taxi ranks dotted along the beach front. The bus company Plana has stops located all around the resort and connects Salou seamlessly with places like Barcelona, Cambrils and Tarragona. A fun little Tourist Train brings you around the main tourist points for just €6 and offers great audio guides. Tickets must be purchased on the train but it does accept card.

Check out our Travel Guide to Barcelona

Vehicle Hire: There are many car hire providers for as little as €30 per day but we advise against it. The good footpath infrastructure makes walking a much better option. Traffic gets heavy in the center of the resort so it may actually be quicker to walk than drive! It can be fun however to rent scooters or bicycles and cycle to nearby Cambrils for a day.

Find Cheap Bicycle Rentals

Salou is undeniably picturesque due to its golden beaches and clear blue waters, but the bustling streets at the center of the resort offer another kind of beauty. At night families descend upon this magical land of happiness as they enjoy themselves beneath the beautiful palm trees.

The Carrer de Carles Buigas is the main strip where you will find much of the nightlife, but at its terminus sits the family-friendly Carrer de Saragossa. This joyous street is illuminated by an overhead lighting system and is home to arcades, amusements and plenty of shops. Head there after dinner for a gorgeous stroll with your children or partner.

On the beach side of the Carrer de Saragossa you will find this Luminous Fountain. Erected in 1973, the fountain usually lights up at sunset each evening for a pretty show. The shows are sometimes suspended for a season during periods of drought in the area.

For a more authentic look at the resort take a stroll down Carrer de Barcelona which starts at the marina. Unlike Carrer de Saragossa, this beautiful street is best explored during the day. It is essentially Salou’s old town, offering a glimpse into what life was like here before throngs of tourists arrived, and contains many brilliant shops and eateries.

Llevant Beach is easily the most popular beach in Salou. Over 1km long and blessed with perfect golden sands, it is easy to see why the Costa Dorada means Gold Coast. Head there after dinner for a romantic stroll as you listen to the gentle waves. At night this beach hums with activity as parents enjoy a drink at the quaint beach clubs while watching their kids play in the sand or the sea. The glistening lights of the resort in the backdrop make this one of the most romantic scenes in Europe.

This terrific stroll takes you along 2.4km of beautiful coastline, and even further if you don’t mind venturing away from the sea. Those less fond of long treks should head here anyway as the area around its origin at the bottom of Llevant Beach is simply stunning. Stroll the wooden walkways as you admire the views of the giant Salou Letters, the Monumento Els Pilons and the splendid Mediterranean sea.

Locals are extremely friendly and bounce well off of the Irish banter. The town is a melting pot of people from Spain, Ireland, Britain and France which makes it the perfect location to pick up new friends. People of all ages take to the streets here after dark and the friendly vibes are palpable! The resort oozes fun and laughter with the Irish Pubs being particularly enjoyable in this regard.

Those looking for something quieter can head to the beach clubs by the sea for a quiet cocktail as they watch the tide approaching. Salou somehow manages to have a fun and infinitely relaxing atmosphere simultaneously, ensuring there is something for everyone.

There are many blue flag beaches along this coastline but you won’t want to visit the others after you’ve tried Llevant Beach. This accessible gem runs along the main promenade of Passeig Jaume I and is home to 1km of soft golden sands. Although it gets busy, it is long and wide enough to easily cater for the crowds so space is no issue.

The shallow sea and minimal waves make this an incredibly safe bathing spot. The Mediterranean water is much warmer than the seas around Ireland yet still refreshing, with almost no seaweed or rocks to contend with.

The facilities are first class with lifeguards on duty, sunbeds, parasols, toilets and children’s play areas. The more adventurous can take part in banana boating, rent pedal boats equipped with slides or even go parasailing!

The House of Illusion, located at the western end of Llevant Beach, is one of the most unique holiday experiences available in Salou. During the peak season the magic show takes place twice a day, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Four ticket options are available ranging from VIP (€90) to Drinks Only (€43), all of which offer unlimited drink refills. On arrival you will be given a seat in the Houdini’s Attic rooftop bar while you wait for the show to start. The tickets recommend arriving 30 minutes early but we recommend coming just 10 minutes early to avoid being coaxed into spending money at the bar having already purchased a drinks package.

The show takes place in a candlelit theatre and three of the four ticket options come with a three course dinner. You will be seated at your own private table where you will witness some close up magic. The show itself is a comedic blend of fire breathing, magicians, illusionists and acrobatics and, although geared more towards children, it is definitely a fun day out for adults too.

Buy House of Illusion Tickets

PortAventura World is a gargantuan theme park resort home to two theme parks (PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land) and a water park (Caribe Aquatic Park).

PortAventura Park is the main attraction. Spain’s first theme park opens daily from 10:30am to 10:30pm and features shows and over 40 attractions set across six fun worlds. World famous rollercoasters include Furius Baco (a heart stopping 135kmph) and the Dragon Khan, which once held the world record for most loops!. Arrive super early because the queues for rides can be over an hour long at mid-day! There are a plethora of restaurants and shops available but they can be extortionately expensive.

A one day ticket costs €52 and does not give access to the other parks. Purchase your tickets through the links below.

Buy PortAventura Entrance Tickets

Buy PortAventura and Ferrari Land Entrance Tickets

The second theme park at PortAventura world is also the only theme park in Europe dedicated to the motor giants. It treats you to shows and rides from 2pm until 10pm daily. Like PortAventura Park, there are shops and restaurants aplenty but they are very expensive. You will have to pay for many of the rides on top of the ticket price and there are very few adult rides!

A one day ticket costs €22 and does not give access to the other parks. Skip the line by using the link below to buy tickets.

Buy Ferrari Land Entrance Tickets

50,000 square meters of water sports and aquatic fun awaits you at PortAventura’s World’s very own water park. Open from 10:30am to 6:30pm daily, it is an exciting mix of petrifying slides, children’s attractions, wave pools and rapids, ensuring there is something for everyone. The queues can be insanely long and there aren’t many shaded areas on a scorching hot day. You’ll also find a mix of expensive shops and restaurants here.

A one day ticket costs €29 and does not give access to the other parks.

Barcelona is reachable via a Plana bus day trip excursion for just €30, which allows 6 hours of exploration time. For more time use one of Plana’s usual bus services to get to there. Alternatively, there are many guided tours to Barcelona from Salou, providing insightful commentary as you travel. There is too much to this great city to cover here so read our full travel guide to Barcelona. Here are some of the highlights.

Read our Travel Guide to Barcelona

The best thing to do in Barcelona is visit La Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished gothic church in the world. Audio guide admission tickets cost €34 and are worth every cent.

Purchase La Sagrada Familia Fast Track Tickets

Park Guell, another of Gaudi’s masterpieces, costs €18 to visit and is worth the price as you will be treated to a scenic park boasting wonderful views over Barcelona. Its buildings are trademark works of Gaudi’s, who lived here for almost 20 years. Don’t book a tour but do allow at least 1 hour 30 mins for exploration.

Purchase Park Guell Entrance Tickets

Stroll through the madness of the pedestrianized La Rambla, Barcelona’s 1.2km central street and main hive of tourist activity, before visiting La Boqueria, Barcelona’s world famous bustling market.

Head towards the Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gotic, to admire some of the most awesome streets and architecture in the world. It’s home to Cathedral de Barcelona, the stunning seat of the archbishop of Barcelona. Tickets cost around €14.

30 minutes from Salou via Plana bus lies the city of Tarragona. You can cover the best sites in this historical city on foot in one day due to its compact size. Much of the attraction lies in its charming streets and roman architecture, so there is plenty to see here without spending money.

Visit Tarragona’s Market to enjoy a coffee or some wine before exploring the many stalls. Head to the 1km long La Rambla Nova, Tarragona’s main street, featuring shops, restaurants and beautiful sculptures. This promenade is over 160 years old and is traffic free so it is perfect for a stroll and brings you from the city centre right to the sea.

At one end of La Rambla lies the Old Town and its Roman Walls, the oldest Roman construction still conserved outside Italy.

Head to Tarragona Cathedral to explore the largest cathedral in Catalonia. It sits impressively atop the acropolis hill dominating this part of the city. It costs just €12 for an adult to witness this gothic wonder constructed in 1334.

Purchase Tarragona Cathedral Entrance Tickets

Visit the Circ Roma, the open-air and underground ruins of a Roman Circus (chariot racing track), the summit of which affords wonderful views of Tarragona and its Roman Amphitheatre. Entrance is €5 but check out the combination tickets if you plan on visiting other historical sites nearby.

A short walk from here lies Tarragona’s famous Roman Amphitheatre, looking magnificently imposing against the backdrop of the sea. Admission is just €5 and it opens from 9:30am to 9pm most days.

Just 7km away and easily reached in 10 minutes via the Plana bus, this seaside village offers a quiet change from the manic Salou. Its gorgeous beach boasts brilliant restaurants and bars to unwind in before you explore the village by foot.

Visit the fish market to get an authentic feel for the importance of fishing in the area. Afterwards, sample some of the fresh fish in one of the many fine restaurants in what has become known as the culinary capital of the Costa Dorada.

Read our Travel Guide to Cambrils