Situated on the Costa Dorada, Spain's golden coast, Salou is a modern seaside resort that embraces both Spanish tradition and cosmopolitan culture. It has warm friendly shores, a lively and entertaining nightlife, a relaxing atmosphere and is within close reach of one of the most spectacular theme parks in Europe. Temperatures regularly surpass 30°C in the summer and the winters remain mild, making this an all year-round destination. Flights to Reus airport take less than two hours from many UK airports with Salou a further 30 minutes on, putting this sun lover's paradise and its many wonderful beaches just a short drive away.
The warm friendly shores of Salou are as inviting as the atmosphere in this family friendly destination…
Both Salou and Cap Salou cater for all kinds of holidaymakers and are the most popular on the Costa Dorada, welcoming about two million visitors every year. It's a particular favourite among families looking for a beach holiday without paying over the odds. The locals are generally friendly, and most of the hotels offer kids' club facilities while many of the beaches contain playgrounds, showers and meeting points for lost children. By law, every beach must have a lifeguard, which offers further peace of mind.
All of the beaches on the Costa Dorada are highly recommended and Playa de Levante at Salou is no exception. It is a safe, sandy beach with a number of watersports to be enjoyed such as water skiing, and diving. The waterfront is the busiest area of Salou and is surrounded by shops, cafes, international restaurants and ice cream parlours.
International dining is very much the order of the day as the tastes of all tourists are catered for with Chinese, Indian, Mexican and even British outlets in the form of fish 'n chip shops and English pub foods. If you're looking to be more adventurous there are also a host of Spanish restaurants in the area offering local cuisine such as paella and seafood.
The nightlife buzzes throughout Salou with numerous outdoor bars, side street restaurants and late-night clubs. Despite having a strong clubbing scene the resort is rarely overrun and there are a good selection of shops and markets to be enjoyed with real variety. However, if you prefer something a little quieter then La Pineda is within close reach and offers a more family orientated scene. It should also be noted that Barcelona is not too far away, and is well worth experience for both its daytime beauty and its night-time atmosphere.
If you fancy a change of scenery then head to the nearby theme park of PortAventura which offers non-stop entertainment and is one of the most fun-filled destinations in Spain. The park takes you through five regions of the world and includes the Dragon Khan renowned as the world's only eight-loop rollercoaster as well as many live shows and a water park.
Travellers looking for something a little more tranquil will enjoy a day trip to Cambrils, which is a quaint fishing village with a more traditional vibe. Culture buffs should head to the Roman city of Tarragona or take in the many architectural wonders of Barcelona, including La Sagrada Familia. And if you fancy something completely different take a trip to Ebro Delta National Park where you can take a boat trip to explore the river and wetlands in what is a birdwatcher's paradise complete with numerous species, from flamingos to kingfishers.
