Costa Dorada Holidays 2024/2025

Whether you want to bask in shallow, warm waters on the edge of the Med or have an exciting and cultured holiday, you’ll love holidaying on the Costa Dorada. Meaning ‘The Golden Coast’, the 81 kilometres of sand along this coast of Catalonia, north-east Spain, gives the Costa Dorada its well-deserved name.

Enjoy the city life too

Beaches galore

What all of the resorts in Costa Dorada have in common is the selection of amazing beaches – from peaceful coves to long stretches of immaculate sand. 26 of them have Blue Flags thanks to their clear, shallow waters and beautifully clean beaches.

Salou alone has 14 kilometres of coastline, with large, urban and well serviced beaches, as well as small bays with an exclusive feel. The two most popular beaches of Ponent and Llevant are split by the harbour and have the most to do. While Capellans beach is in the heart of Salou but you’ll feel like you’re much further out of town, due to its small and private nature.

Away from the bigger towns, there are still plenty of options for seaside fun. At Cambrils, seven kilometres of golden sands are edged by a promenade. They range from Regueral Beach in the heart of town to L’Esquirol Beach with its sailing school or more wild and rocky but quieter Cavet Beach. You’ll find three kilometres of Blue Flag paradise at La Pineda. During the summer a range of events are put on aimed at a family audience, from puppets to magic, as well as dancing and performances for all to enjoy. If you want to get away from it all, head to the quiet resort of Cap Salou, where its hidden-away beach is overlooked only by cliffs covered in pine trees.

Explore your surroundings

Costa Dorada is one of the main tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, thanks to its pleasant, mild climate. It is the ideal place to enjoy a holiday with the whole family.

Costa Dorada boasts so many things to see and do ,and there is something to suit everybody’s taste. From the coast to the beautiful scenery, rich cultural to the historical heritage, you can enjoy a jam-packed break to Costa Dorada. There’s also a wide variety of leisure activities including  PortAventura World, one of the largest holiday and family leisure destinations in Europe. If you head inland, expect to be surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes, where you can enjoy open-air activities, visit vineyards with a grand winemaking tradition and taste the delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Beach & leisure

On the Costa Dorada, you can enjoy 70 beautiful beaches where you can relax under the summer sunshine. The beaches are the perfect place to spend a day with your family, and of course, there’s no better feeling than a stroll along the sea front with the sand beneath your feet. If you’re a fan of a dip in the sea, then the Costa Dorada is the perfect place to visit as the sea is pleasantly warm, and super clear!

If your family is the sporty type on holiday then Costa Dorada offers lots of outdoor watersports including kayaking, diving and sport fishing. The Costa Dorada has a fantastic area called Nàutic Parc, which specialises in experiences and activities, all managed by professionals. This is the perfect place to head to if you and your family want to take part in watersports down at the beach.

Culture & history

Tarragona is a great place to visit during your Costa Dorada holiday for a healthy dose of culture and history. The city, once called Tarraco, is home to some fascinating Roman Empire ruins, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. But, you’re in for a real treat as this isn’t the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city! Tarragona has a rich history of monasteries, with Poblet Monastery holding the UNESCO title since 1991.

For the art lovers, Tarragona offers a whole host of galleries and interesting architecture to take in. The Paisatge dels Genis, which translates to The Landscape of the Geniuses, is a tourist attraction that lets you discover the landscape that inspired the works of Antoni Gaudi, Joan Miro, Pau Casals and Pablo Picasso on the Costa Dorada.

Reus is the city in which Antonio Gaudí was born and it preserves some places frequented by the genius that was Gaudi during the 16 years he lived there before leaving for Barcelona. The Modernist Route is a pleasant stroll through the centre of Reus, which allows visitors to view 26 beautiful buildings, all with a connection to the artist. Visitors should follow the route and stop in front of the buildings identified with a plaque, featuring the name of the building, the date of construction and the name of the architect.

Gastronomy

Visiting a new destination is always exciting, especially when you’re a foodie, as there’s a whole host of new dishes and accompanying drinks to try. Costa Dorada is a destination steeped in tradition, and many of its dishes reflect this. Being a coastal area, there are plenty of fish and seafood recipes which are prepared with the ‘catch of the day’. Though these recipes have been passed down many generations, they’re all tried and tested dishes with modern twists. One of the traditional dishes you’ll find on the menu in Costa Dorada is xató. It’s a sauce made with almonds, hazelnuts, breadcrumbs, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, salt, and the nyora pepper.

To accompany the delicious cuisine, there’s of course equally as tasty wine. Montsant, Tarragona, Conca de Barberà, Penedès are part of the Priorat DOQ which covers 11 municipalities of wine production. It primarily produces powerful red wines which pair beautifully with the delicious traditional Spanish meals you’ll find in the Costa Dorada. These wines are of high quality thanks to the climate and geographical conditions in which the grapes are produced.