Costa Dorada Holidays 2023/2024

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’ in Spanish, the 92 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. 86 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. Sitges is another bustling seaside town with too many beaches to name them all – 17 in fact. They range from urban, to quiet, family oriented to naturist beaches.

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 beaches that form 2.5 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.

Fun and thrills

Art and architecture lovers flock to Barcelona. Here you can visit the Picasso museum or see the intricate work of 19th century architect Gaudi. Think skull shaped balconies and pillars like giant bones. Barcelona is also home to the infamous Sagrada Familia – an immense and highly individual cathedral that Gaudi designed from 1883 and is still a work in progress.

Adding to the artistic line-up, Salvador Dali was born in nearby Figueres, where a fascinating museum of his works can be found, put together by the man himself. It’d be a shame to leave before it gets dark though, as you’d miss out on the city’s musical fountain display on the edge of Park Guell, as well as the top nightlife Barcelona has to offer.

If history is your thing, the city of Tarragona has more Roman remains than anywhere else in Spain and you might want to visit Miravet Castle for the spectacular views alone. Speaking of views, from the clifftop monastery of Montserrat, you can see the Balearic Islands on a clear day. There’s the choice of a rack railway or cable cars to get you up to the monastery, as well as a funicular train that takes you right to the top of the mountain. Visit at midday to hear the uplifting sounds of the boys’ choir echoing from the cloisters.

City sights

Art and architecture lovers flock to Barcelona. Here you can visit the Picasso museum or see the intricate work of 19th century architect Gaudi. Think skull shaped balconies and pillars like giant bones. Barcelona is also home to the infamous Sagrada Familia – an immense and highly individual cathedral that Gaudi designed from 1883 and is still a work in progress.

Adding to the artistic line-up, Salvador Dali was born in nearby Figueres, where a fascinating museum of his works can be found, put together by the man himself. It’d be a shame to leave before it gets dark though, as you’d miss out on the city’s musical fountain display on the edge of Park Guell, as well as the top nightlife Barcelona has to offer.

If history is your thing, the city of Tarragona has more Roman remains than anywhere else in Spain and you might want to visit Miravet Castle for the spectacular views alone. Speaking of views, from the clifftop monastery of Montserrat, you can see the Balearic Islands on a clear day. There’s the choice of a rack railway or cable cars to get you up to the monastery, as well as a funicular train that takes you right to the top of the mountain. Visit at midday to hear the uplifting sounds of the boys’ choir echoing from the cloisters.

Treat yourself

Barcelona is one of the biggest shopping cities in Europe so it’s easy to shop ’til you drop here. Stores range from high street to top-end names like Chanel and Cartier. Tarragona is also a great place for some retail therapy. Its main street, La Rambla Nova, is packed with exclusive Spanish fashion boutiques and it has a huge shopping mall called Parc Central on the edge of town.

For more laid-back browsing, both Sitges and Salou have major chains as well as individual boutiques. In Sitges, you’ll find most clothes and gifts on the streets surrounding the central square, Placa Cap de la Vila. The main shopping area and market in Salou is located around Carrer Barcelona and shops open up on the promenade during the summer season.

One thing to be aware of is siesta time, which is between 2pm and 5pm, when many of the shops shut in the heat of the day, particularly the smaller ones.

If you want something unique, check out the markets that take place across Costa Dorada. Salou’s market is full of local produce, gifts and souvenirs. You’ll find it in the main square, Plaza de Europa, on a Monday. Or try La Pineda’s Friday market, which has similar products. Cambrils market day is on a Wednesday and it’s hard not to be tempted by the wide range of local and very fresh foods on offer.

Party like you’re on holiday

You’ll feel at home in Salou come evening when the party gets going. The main street is the place to go for British-style pubs, happy hours, karaoke bars and fancy dress discos, with a smattering of neon lights. La Pineda has a strip of late night drinking and dancing establishments that run parallel to the beach.

Sitges is another lively location, which seamlessly mixes bars, discos and gay clubs in this liberal town. The biggest strip of venues is on Carrer del Pecat and you’ll find a Pacha nightclub on the edge of the port for those who like to dance hard all night. If this isn’t enough action, the bars and clubs of Barcelona are buzzing until the early hours.

For a chilled out evening vibe, in Cambrils you can enjoy tapas in one of the seafront bars or chiringuitos, which are pop-up cafe-bars common all over Spain. In Cap Salou, nightlife also stays low-key. There is a handful of good restaurants and bars to enjoy the evening in, making it a good place for families or those wanting a peaceful break.

This part of Spain also puts on some of the best fiestas in the country. The Carnival de Sitges is held in February and has parades of colourful floats and dramatic costumes, flamenco-ing down the streets. For a similar event, Tarragona has a 10-day festival running in September with fancy floats and fireworks.