Call Us today On
0203 026 2440
Open today: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Golden beaches, history and culture, pure nature and a host of destinations for you to make the most of your holiday mean the fun never ends.
The Costa Dorada covers a 120 mile
stretch of Mediterranean coastline south of Barcelona.
This ‘Golden Coast’ comprises of twelve zones: Altafulla, Calafell, Cambrils,
Coma-Ruga, El Vendrell, Hospitalet Infant, L Ametlla de Mar, La Pineda, Miami
Platja, Montbrio del Camp, Salou, and Tarragona. Unlike its neighbour, the Costa Brava, the coastline is less rugged with miles of flat
golden sandy beaches.
As tourism has increased the
coastline has become built up with hundreds of hotels, camp sites and apartment
blocks, catering mainly for family holidays. However that does not mean it has lost its
charm and history. Inland there are bursting with historical interest such as Reus,
Valls, Montblanc, and Tortosa, as well as the great medieval monasteries:
Poble, Santes Creus and Scala Dei.
The picturesque landscapes
of Prades and Siurana and the rugged mountain ranges overflowing with big game
reserves (Tivissa, Cardo and Ports de Tortosa), are also not to be missed.
For those that enjoy soaking up local culture and history, the main regional city
of Tarragona boasts historical ruins and a variety of museums. Moving further
inland, among vineyards, olive groves and almond plantations, you will find the
medieval city of Montblanc with its fine Gothic church.
If you are looking for a fun
filled family holiday the popular resort town of Salou is hard to beat. It has
fantastic clean sandy beaches and secluded rocky coves. It is also packed with
entertainment for all ages, from water sports to an aqua park, go-karting and
one of Europe's most thrilling theme parks, Universal's Port Aventura.
For something a bit quieter L’ Almadrava
(south of Salou) is a lesser known beach resort. Other resorts include L’
Amella de Mar and Les Cases d’ Alcanar.
The Costa Dorada enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate making it an
ideal holiday location.
The average monthly
temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
14 |
15 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
25 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
22 |
17 |
15 |
|
Night |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
19 |
19 |
17 |
13 |
9 |
6 |
Most of the resorts along the
Costa Dorada offer the usual souvenir/holiday essential shopping. Favourite
purchases among visitors are pottery, wrought-iron work, crafts made of palm
and leather items such as botas (leather wine bottles made from goat skin).
If you are looking for some serious retail therapy, head for Tarragona. The
main street, La Rambla Nova, is packed with exclusive Spanish boutiques. There
is also a large shopping mall and hypermarket on the outskirts of the city.
Another good spot is Reus,
especially the area known as El Tomb de Reus in the centre of town. Much of it
is pedestrianised and the streets are lined with clothes shops and coffee
houses.
But of course for the serious shopperholic there is only one place to go – Barcelona. Don’t miss the famous five kilometre-long
shopping line which stretches from Las Ramblas all the way up to the Avenue
Diagonal. To save your feet, jump on the Tombus which is a special service that
runs up and down this shopping route where you’ll see big names like Armani,
Versace and Cartier.
For a more authentic shopping
experience, why not visit one of the many markets in the area: La Boqueria in
Barcelona, Cambrils, La Pineda and Salou.
Whether you like relaxing
evenings or loud music and partying, there is somewhere in the Costa Dorada for
everyone.
Salou comes into its own
after dark. As the liveliest of all the resorts, its main street is packed with
British-style pubs, karaoke bars and discos. It is full of clubs and bars that
will keep you occupied until the small hours. A few names to look out for are:
Bahia, Snoopy’s, Gabbers, Rover’s Return, Ibrox, Kiss, Bar 007 and Champions.
La Pineda is lower key but still lots of fun. A long strip of disco bars and
cafés runs parallel to the beach, and for hardcore clubbers there’s Pacha and
Level O.
Tarragona also comes to life after dark. Most of the action can be found around
Pau de Protectorat. Some of the names to look out for here are Puerto de
Positive, La Fabula, Ramblas Nova and Vella.
Of course, for the serious partiers amongst you, there is always Barcelona. As one of Europe’s great party cities head for
the Port Vell’s Maremagnum centre for a memorable night. This shopping mall
transforms into a throng of smart bars, cafés and nightclubs come sundown.
There is a wealth of
things to see and do in the Costa Dorada. Here a just a few
things you might like to do when you’ve had enough sun, sea and sand:
·
Universal Studios Port Aventura Park
·
Barcelona
·
Tarragona
·
Montserrat
·
Andorra
·
Aquopolis, La Pineda
It is best to stick to bottled water rather than
drinking the tap water. Crime is relatively low in the area but you would be
wise to take the usual precautions with your valuables, especially when in
crowded tourist areas.