Compare Salou holidays

History buff? There’s enough in Salou to get you up and away from your sun-lounger. This includes the Torre Vella (old tower), a traditional 16th-century tower that is still in extremely good nick – and repurposed to host art and cultural events – and the Catalan Farmhouse, which gives a glimpse of what life was once like here.

If you want to explore more of the Costa Dorada’s past, as well as visit its other beaches, you’re well-placed. The coastal city of Tarragona, known for its spectacular Roman ruins, and Reus, a lively town filled with modernist architecture, are both a short drive from Salou.

If you can avoid the height of summer, you’ve got a better chance of bagging a cheap holiday to Salou – and there are plenty of package deals available outside of this season for those who book early or last minute. May is a good shoulder season month, with days bathed in sunshine and temperatures usually in the 20s. October is another option for a cheap deal, though there is a higher chance of rain.

Winter tends to be dry and, while you probably won’t be stretched out on a sun-lounger, you can still enjoy walks along near-empty beaches. Bear in mind that attractions like PortAventura are typically closed until Easter.

This huge theme park – one of Europe’s largest – is a big draw for holidaying families. There are six different ‘worlds’ – Mediterrania, Polynesia, China, Mexico, Far West and SésamoAventura (a Sesame Street-themed zone). Each has its own rides, live shows, restaurants and hotels.

Hang on as you hit speeds of around 65-miles-per-hour on Dragon Khan or take a spin on the teacups. If you can only take so many thrills, maybe visit near the end of the holiday – once you bring your kids here, they’ll not want to go elsewhere!

Cami de Ronda

This 6.5km (4-mile) path winds along the coastline, past beaches and coves, and features stunning ocean views. The first, fully restored section is from from Pilons to Replanells, while the second and longer stretch leads to the lighthouse in Cap Salou.

Back in the day, fishermen used to tread along this path to observe the sea. Today you can follow in their footsteps while taking in several historic sights, including the ruins of a quarantine station and a cove with Spanish Civil War-era bunkers.

Cybernetic Fountain

Almost every town in Spain has a fountain or two, but few are as special as this one. Equipped with music and lights, which are synchronised with water jets, the Cybernetic Fountain provides a stunning nightly display. Head to Jaume I promenade to catch the 20-minute show.

Not content with just one fountain, Salou is also home to an illuminated fountain and a labyrinth fountain with water games for kids. The fountains close in winter.

Archaeological sites

It might be hard to believe looking at modern-day Salou, but being a port for the Ancient Greeks and Romans is only part of its interesting history. You can find out more about the town’s heritage at the Barenys Roman Villa archaeological site.

Once a ceramics workshop, the site still features an old oven. Head inside the kiln and see the very workshops where potters once shaped their clay, using water from aqueducts in the rock. Free guided tours are available in summer.

Bosc Aventura

This adventure forest in the centre of Salou promises to get pulses pumping with exhilarating activities. Challenge your friends to a game of paintball or whizz through the trees via a zipline.

Bosc Aventura isn’t just for kids, mind. Stag and hen parties are also welcome meaning you can celebrate your final days of singledom on a zipline circuit or playing archery tag. If you prefer something more sedate, practice your putting past a range of obstacles on the mini golf course.

Alternatively, at Camping & Resort Sangulí Salou, a 15-minute walk west of the town centre, you can spend the night glamping in a safari-style tent in the ‘Africa’ area or choose a Bali bungalow in ‘Polynesia’. There are swimming pools, restaurants and sports facilities on site.

For travellers on a budget

Frugal travellers are in luck in Salou, with plenty of budget accommodation available in the town centre, including cheap B&Bs and self-contained apartments. Some apartment complexes have facilities such as swimming pools and kitchens – the latter is great if you want to save a little more money by cooking ‘at home’. Stay here and you’ll also be within a few minutes’ walk of the beach.

Your euros will go even further staying at one of the campsites in town. Choose from a bungalow or mobile home, or pitch your own tent at La Siesta Salou Resort & Camping.

For food and drink

Capellans Beach, a couple of kilometres (1.2 miles) east of the centre, is a slightly quieter stretch of sand than the main Llevant Beach. Here you will find beach bars and waterfront restaurants where you can sample Mediterranean dishes including freshly caught seafood. Around the beach are self-catering apartments and high-rise resorts with pools and balconies overlooking the ocean.

For more regional specialties, the Roman city of Tarragona is only a 20-minute drive away. The gastronomic hotspot is famous for calçot, a Catalan green onion served barbecued with romesco sauce.

For nightlife

Salou may not be big, but it’s nightlife still packs a punch. You’ll find a cluster of bustling bars and clubs around Capellans Beach, offering everything from pints of Guinness in Irish pubs to disco tunes until dawn. Clubbers will be drawn to Pacha La Pineda, a legendary club in the neighbouring resort of La Pineda.

Revellers will also find a great night out at Sitges, about an hour’s drive up the coast. The town is a renowned LGBT destination and the Sitges Carnaval is a weeklong party like no other.

For culture

Salou’s culture extends beyond the sea and sand. For an insight into how locals once lived, the Catalan Farmhouse, near Capellans, recreates a typical countryside home, with traditional farm tools and other artefacts.

Another option for culture lovers is to stay in Reus, a town a 15-minute drive inland from Salou. The birthplace of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, Reus is full of modernist buildings and has a museum about the life and work of its most famous son. Meanwhile, Tarragona’s cultural sights include an amphitheatre and original Roman walls.