Considered the Golden Coast’s capital, Salou is one of the most privileged tourism sports with a plethora of activities for all the family to enjoy.
Few cities in Spain have as many leisure and entertainment activities as Salou. Considered the capital of Costa Dorada and the most visited town in this region, it offers visitors great theme parks, water parks, historical remains, restaurants, shops, and nine fantastic beaches to enjoy with the whole family.
The tourist capital of Costa Dorada has a wide range of leisure and entertainment options. There are many things to do in Salou, discover our favourite places that we recommend.
We offer you a list of the best places to see in Salou and its surroundings, to enjoy your trip to the fullest and to get to know the other side of this famous tourist town.
Salou is, without a doubt, one of the privileged locations for tourism on Costa Dorada. Knowing what to see in Salou is not complicated, as it is a city full of attractions, places to visit, beautiful natural locations and, in addition, it offers endless activities of all kinds and unique experiences.
Although Salou is especially attractive during the summer (thanks to its good weather and the excellent quality of its beaches), it is a town you can travel to at any time of the year. It is equipped with numerous services, excellent transport, including beautiful beaches and coves, an important historical past and even one of the most important theme parks in Spain: PortAventura.
Whether you decide to go to the city with your partner, your family or your friends, you are sure to have a trip full of laughter, experiences and wonderful places to visit. There are all kinds of options, adapted to the type of trip you are looking for and to suit your tastes and preferences.
Get an Adrenaline Rush at Portaventura
Salou has had the privilege of having, for 20 years, one of the best amusement parks in Europe. A visit of at least one day to PortAventura is a must.
This will be a favourite outing for the whole family. The park is divided into 5 themed areas, Far West, Mediterranean, Polynesia, Mexico and China where you will enjoy roller coasters, great attractions, children’s areas and magnificent shows in every corner of the park.
Plus, in the Mediterranean area, you will find Sésamo Aventura, an area of the park dedicated exclusively to the little ones who will enjoy rides and shows by the famous Sesame Street characters.
Undoubtedly one of the essential places to see in Salou, where young and old alike will have an unforgettable day out.
14 Kilometres of Golden Beaches
This is undoubtedly one of its main attractions. In its 14 kilometres of coastline, you can visit long beaches of fine golden sand, as well as less frequented coves with clear waters and panoramic views that will make you want to keep coming back.
As for the most recommendable urban beaches, we can mention Levante beach, the city’s main beach, which is right in front of the Jaume I promenade, which I will tell you more about later.
It’s equipped with all the necessities and, together with the Poniente beach, it’s the most accessible if you are staying in the centre of Salou. Both options of Poniente and Levante offer clear, calm and shallow waters, as well as fine golden sand. Capellans beach and Llarga beach are also well known.
However, if you don’t mind travelling and are looking for something quieter and different, there is nothing like Llenguadets cove, which is 125 metres long and beautiful, although it also tends to be crowded. On the other hand, Penya Tallada cove or cala is a hidden gem, surrounded by vegetation and less visited by tourists.
Get Lost in the Adventure Forest
It doesn’t have to be cloudy in the morning to enjoy an afternoon in this beautiful complex in the centre of Salou. Under a leafy forest, you can find fantastic facilities with activities and zip-line circuits of different levels, mini-golf, climbing wall and paintball.
If you are planning activities with children in this town, the Bosque Aventura is a great place to watch the little ones enjoy themselves as they climb trees and have fun with the gifts that nature has to offer.
The park offers three circuits for children from 3 years old. In addition, the monitors are constantly on hand to ensure that no one is in any danger.
Stroll Along Paseo Marítimo Jaume I
A must if you visit Salou, the Paseo Marítimo Jaume I is a charming 2 km long promenade lined with giant palm trees, restaurants, playgrounds and fountains where you can cool off on the hottest days, both for children and not-so-children during the summer.
For us, it’s the perfect place to get a sense of the city and a meeting point for locals and tourists who stroll around at all hours either on foot or by bicycle. Presiding over the promenade is the majestic statue of the great James I, who set out from these shores with 16,000 men to conquer Mallorca.
Take a Load Off at Infinitum Beach Club
Located in the heart of Salou’s Playa Larga beach, just 500m from the centre, we find this beautiful swimming pool complex where relaxation, fun and gastronomy combine to perfection.
Salou’s Playa Larga beach hides under a leafy pine forest some fantastic facilities where you can spend a nice day, whether you go with your family or as a couple, and enjoy 7 spectacular swimming pools in a wild natural environment next to the sea.
With an extension of almost 3 hectares, it features Mediterranean-style architecture, rock walls, warm colours, chill-out areas, sun loungers, beds for relaxation and several restaurants that make up this place. If you are looking for relaxation, put it on your list of must-see spots.
How to get to Salou
As you would expect, the city is very well communicated by land, sea and air. If you travel by train, Salou is about 20 minutes by car from the Camp de Tarragona high-speed train station.
At present, due to the laying of the railway track which no longer crosses the coast, the new train station of Salou is not in the centre of the town. It is still possible to get to the Salou – PortAventura halt while the works are being completed.
If you travel by plane, there are 2 international airports nearby, Reus airport is only 10 km away and Barcelona international airport is only 100 km away.