family travel guide
Did you know that Spain has almost 5,000 km of coastline? The coastline of the Spanish province of Tarragona, bathed by the waves of the Balearic Sea, is known to tourists as the "Gold Coast". This is the Spanish translation of the name "Costa Dorada", which the beaches of Tarragona receive for their delicate, golden sand.
Mountains protect the coast from cold winds, the number of sunny days a year exceeds 200, and the sea is shallow and calm — is it not an ideal place for a family holiday? And if we mention that this is where the famous theme park "PortAventura" is located, it's clear why holidays with children in Costa Dorada are so popular.
The Costa Dorada is a coastal resort in eastern Spain, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, on the coast of the Balearic Sea. The northernmost town on this coast is Vilanova i la Geltrú, and the southernmost is Alcanar. The Costa Dorada often includes neighbouring Sitges and Castelldefels (Spain's division into resort regions is somewhat arbitrary).
Tarragona, the province's administrative centre, is located 100 km from Barcelona. From Tarragona to Salou — 17 km, La Pineda — 10 km, Cambrils — 22 km, and Sitges — 70 km. Tourists will find out where the Costa Dorada is due to a visit to Spain's largest amusement park, Port Aventura. But Tarragona has more ancient attractions, such as the Roman theatre and the circus. All in all, a holiday programme on the Golden Coast takes care of itself.
What's so special about the Costa Dorada? Seemingly nothing: Spanish-inspired beaches, comfortable hotels, mild climate, delicious cuisine. And yet there is a certain zest to rest in the Costa Dorada — if you describe it, it will take quite a long text, but you can feel the special atmosphere of the Gold Coast in a moment. The first thing tourists pay attention to is the weather.
Here the Costa Dorada is in a better position than the neighbouring resorts. The beach season in the Costa Brava is short, and the sea is cool; the Costa Blanca can be too hot, and the beaches of Cambrils, Salou, La Pineda half the year is kept pleasantly warm, and the sea can be bathed until the end of September.
The second is the atmosphere. The resorts of the Costa Dorada can hardly be called a sleepy: in high season, there is a pleasant exhilaration. But it is not the noise of night discos but the full-blooded joy of the warm sea, a delicious meal, and the surrounding beauty. It's an excellent place to stay with an infant, especially if you stay in a quiet town with good hotels rather than a well-publicised resort.
An important reason to come to Costa Dorada with children is the resort's focus on family holidays. Cambrils and Salou are certified as family-friendly, while the other towns try to make it easy to enjoy a holiday with your child.
The third is entertainment. Spain's leading amusement park has already been mentioned (and we'll mention it more than once), but the Costa Dorada has plenty to offer the kids. Each resort has its own set of trumps, from water parks to museums of an unusual format. How to get the most out of your trip to the Golden Coast? Read more about it.
The main holiday time in the Costa Dorada is from May to September, the warmest time. The resorts are relatively empty in May, and the number of beachgoers rises rapidly in June. If you are planning to arrive in time for the season in Costa Dorada, look for a hotel with a swimming pool as the sea does not warm until July.
If you can postpone your holiday to Costa Dorada until September, do so. The early autumn weather in the resorts of the Gold Coast is lovely, and you won't want to leave the warm sea. Plus, the beaches are getting more and more crowded by the day.
Although the holiday season in Costa Dorada is winding down in September, PortAventura Park is still open. It is open daily from the end of March to the end of October; in November and December, it is available on weekends and then enjoys festive events from December 24 to January 7. After the holidays, the park closes until spring.
The cultural highlights of Costa Dorada can also influence when to go. In mid-May, Tarragona transforms into the Roman settlement of Tarraco for a fortnight and gladiators and legionaries walk the streets. This is part of the "Tarraco Alive" festival, which celebrates the history of the Roman Empire. At the end of June, the province celebrates San Juan's Night, with the building of "human castles" as a highlight. At the beginning of July, there is a spectacular fireworks display.
The Balearic Sea, which washes Tarragona's shores, is part of the Mediterranean Sea, so the climate of Costa Dorada is typically Mediterranean. It is slightly hotter than the Costa Brava resorts but somewhat cooler than the Costa Blanca: the golden mean is characteristic of the Golden Coast.
The summer heat sets in on the Costa Dorada as early as May. Earlier in the month, the thermometers show +22 ° C, and by the arrival of the calendar summer, the temperature rises to +25-26 ° C. The sea is still cold in May, but the best time to enjoy the Costa Dorada with an infant is in spring when there is no heat.
Bring clothes for cooler evenings if you're planning a holiday in Costa Dorada in the second half of summer. In June, the air heats to +26-27 ° C; the hottest time is July and August when the thermometers rise to +30 ° C. At night, the temperature drops to between +19 and 22° C.
The best holiday in Costa Daurada with children is September. The summer heat is left behind, and you can spend much more time on the beach than in July or August. Temperatures drop to around +27°C, and the sea water is still warm.
There are a few rainy days in September, but they don't spoil the mood. The beach season ends in October when the temperature drops to 23-24°C. Holidays with children at this time can be spent on excursions or exploring all the attractions of PortAventura Park, open daily until late autumn.
From November to March, Costa Daurada is cool but surprisingly sunny. Temperatures drop to around +14-16°C, and there is hardly any rain. As early as April, the air warms to +19°C and spring spots of rain wash ashore: nature does a general cleaning before the new holiday season.
What's most important at a beach resort? Sun (daily), air (fresh) and water (warm). In the Costa Dorada resorts, the sun and air are available anytime, but the sea temperature is only pleasant for bathing in summer and early autumn.
In June, the sea at the Gold Coast only gets as warm as +22ºC. By the beginning of July, the water temperature in Costa Dorada is already +24-25 ° C, and in August gets up and +26 ° C. During the first half of September, the seawater remains at a temperature of +24°C. By October, the temperature drops to +22°C.
Don't be intimidated by the fact that the Costa Dorada doesn't offer an all-inclusive meal plan. It is unlikely that you want to be tied to the hotel's daily routine when you arrive in Spain. On the way back from the beach or after an excursion, you can have lunch or dinner at any of the many restaurants.
The province of Tarragona serves Catalan cuisine, but as the region surrounding the Costa Dorada becomes part of the autonomous community of Valencia, the famous paella is also popular.
Fresh produce from the shop and market is available if you rent an apartment or room with a kitchen. There are large shopping centres only in Tarragona and Reus, while the smaller resorts mostly have mini-markets.
Public transport in Costa Dorada includes buses in Tarragona and tourist trains in the other towns. The fare on the city bus costs about €1.2, and on the tourist train — €3-4 (the price of tickets for children is the same as for adults).
Intercity transport in Costa Dorada includes buses from several transport companies and regional trains. Bus and train routes connect all resorts in the province. Fares start at €2.50. If you buy a T-10 ticket, which costs around €13, bus and commuter train travel is cheaper. Timetables are available on the carriers' websites and the RENFE website.
If you are planning an active sightseeing programme in Tarragona, we recommend buying the TarraGO!na Card. Its benefits include free entry to museums, free public transport, and discounts in restaurants and shops.
A taxi ride within the resort costs €1.3-1.5 per kilometre, with a further €3.50 charge for boarding. Airport transfers are more expensive: from Reus to Salou, for example, a taxi will cost you €30. Taxis in Costa Dorada are metered and must be hired at taxi stands or by phone.
One of the best ways to get around the Costa Dorada is by car. Car rental companies have offices at the airports in Barcelona and Reus and the resorts. You should book well in advance, as only the most expensive cars remain available during peak season. There are plenty of car parks in the cities, some free (marked white) and some for a fee (marked blue).
A family holiday in Costa Dorada is unthinkable without a trip to Salou, the Port Aventura theme park. There are so many rides and shows that two days is insufficient.
In 2017, the park added a new Ferrari Land entertainment area with race tracks, mind-blowing rides and a Ferrari Museum of Fame.
This theme park also offers the added bonus of a visit to the Caribe water park, taking you from Spain to the Caribbean islands in one fell swoop. The water park opens at the end of May and runs until mid-September. The Aquopolis water park near La Pineda is just as popular. Its beauty is in the enchanting show with dolphins and sea lions. It doesn't close in a hurry and remains open even in October.
Another great place to take your kids is Aqualeon Park in Albignan. Exotic animals, a zoo and a water park, populate this African savannah. Rope parks are just as much fun for children. Jumpland Adventure near Salou has trails for both pre-schoolers and adult risk-takers. Jungle Trek in Tarragona challenges all ages. And the Bosc Aventura Salou Park has a track for three-year-olds.
Here are some more ideas for things to do in Costa Dorada with a child:
Beaches and hotels are not the main attractions of the Costa Dorada. A walk through the old streets is as much fun as a beach holiday. The city of Tarragona itself is like an open-air museum. There are a few buildings left over from Roman times. These include a theater and an aqueduct called the 'Bridge of the Devil'.
While in other towns the main promenade is the seafront, there is the Roman Promenade in Tarragona. A stroll through the ancient streets will replace several pages from a history book.
Also, visit Plaça dels Sedassos and gawk at the weirdos that line the balconies of one of the houses. Who, children or adults, will guess faster that balconies and people are painted on a blank wall? Yes, humour is not alien to Tarragonians. However, girls can take classes at the Mermaid Academy, where they learn to use a mermaid's tail seriously.
The highlight of Salou is the unusual fountains: luminous, singing. There's even a labyrinthine fountain.
Idle is, in a good way, Cambrils. There are lovely parks with shady alleys where you can walk with your child. The Fisherman's Park, more like a botanical garden (and several playgrounds for children), is fantastic. Not far from the town is Sama Park, which recreates the landscape of the island of Cuba.
A holiday with a child in Costa Dorada doesn't have to be restricted to urban activities. For an escape from the noise of the city, visit the Ebro delta in southern Costa Dorada.
This protected area is home to herons, flamingos, and many migratory birds. The Spanish consider it the most beautiful coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The verdant cliffs of the Garraf Natural Park near Sitges are their own beauty. Take one of the many hiking routes, and you'll be rewarded with the beautiful ruins of Eramprunyà and Olivella castles and a fully intact and working Tibetan monastery.
A characteristic feature of the Costa Dorada's beaches is their width and length. Even during the high season, there is enough room for sunbathers and sandcastle builders alike.
The shallow, sandy seabed and shallow shoreline are perfect for children. Experienced swimmers might have to wade about fifty metres to reach the bottom.
Like those all over Spain, the beaches on the Costa Dorada are municipal. Entrance to any beach is free. On the cleanliness of the coast, do not have to worry — almost all beaches in this province are marked by the prestigious "Blue Flag". Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented wherever you go.
The Platja Llarga beach in Tarragona is considered the most suitable beach for a holiday at sea with children. It is 3 km long, well equipped, separated from the noise of the streets by century-old oak trees and surprisingly unfrequented. The sandy beaches in Salou are always crowded with families with babies as the sea is shallow, just right for small bathers. This is especially noticeable on Ponent Beach.
The most comfortable beach for kids is Llevant, which stretches along Boulevard Jaime I. But as it is centrally located, most tourists flock here.
The beach at Llarga preserves the natural beauty of the area. There are children's clubs along the Salou coast where pre-schoolers can be left in the care of animators for a couple of hours.
The quietest resort for a beach holiday in Costa Dorada is probably La Pineda. The beaches in this town are not overcrowded, the shallow sea warms up well, and plenty of children's clubs and paddlers are on the beach.
In Cambrils, the beach at Llosa is considered a children's beach. The rest of the resort's beaches offer plenty of outdoor activities. If children have outgrown playing in the sand, they may want to take a lesson or two at the Club Nautic Cambrils sailing school at Cap de Sant Pere beach.
The Prat d'en Fores/Regueral beach is also a gathering place for windsurfers, where you can learn how to board under the guidance of an instructor. There are also dive centres in Cambrils where you can train and explore the Tarragona Underwater Park and the Cala de la Fonte caves.
By the way, Spanish law allows nude sunbathing by the sea. So if you want your child to run along the beach without panties, there will be no obstacles. However, you're unlikely to see nude adults on the beaches — nudists prefer relaxing in secluded bays.
What to see in the Costa Dorada? Usually, travellers spot a few exciting sites during a tour of the tourist trains. But we will suggest a few more museums that are not eye-catching but worth a visit.
In Tarragona, we recommend a visit to the Archaeological Museum. Its most lively part is the foundations of the Roman settlement of Tarraco. If you take pre-schoolers on tour (admission is free), show them the ancient children's toys. There's also the Harbour Museum and the Lighthouse Museum.
Among the sights in Cambrils, the historical museum, which looks more like an apartment building, is usually mentioned. It houses exhibits related to the maritime theme. It is also advisable to show your child the old Port Tower.
There are also some top-secret museums where the name doesn't tell you anything about the exhibits. For example, the Museum of Romanticism in Sitges is worth a visit with children for its extensive collection of antique toys.
On holiday in Costa Dorada with children, you can also visit the town of Espluga de Francoli, which has the Museum of Rural Life. The city itself also looks like a museum, with its medieval houses.
Not far from Espluga de Francoli, there is another unusual and exciting place for children: the Font Major cave. This dungeon recreates the site of primitive people: you can see male hunters dismembering their prey and women preparing food and looking after children. The installations feature authentic archaeological finds dating back to the Paleolithic era.
What few people know is that Reus has a Gaudi museum. The museum has created a multimedia space that is as extraordinary as the creations of the Reus-born architect.
The Montserrat Monastery near Barcelona is often added to the list of things to see with children in Costa Dorada. It's a breathtakingly beautiful place but a relatively long drive, so we recommend taking a tour with school kids.
You can visit Miravet Castle in the Costa Dorada with a child about 65 km from Tarragona. The fortress has been dilapidated for a thousand years, but you can still see how powerful and cleverly constructed it is.
The choice of where to stay in the Costa Dorada is quite democratic, with a couple of five-star hotels, about a hundred solid 4* hotels, many budget 3* hotels and an incredible variety of villas and apartments. To understand where to go with the kids, you need to focus on holiday goals and ideas about comfort.
Hotels in the Costa Dorada, as elsewhere in Spain, are rarely located on the coast. In remote hotels, as a rule, a transfer to the sea is arranged. For independent recreation in Costa Dorada with children, you can rent a villa or an apartment, but in this case, you must travel to the beach on your own.
A particular feature of Tarragona province is a railway line running along the coast. When booking accommodation, ensure you know how far away it is from the train tracks.
All areas of the Costa Dorada are suitable for holidays with children. One thing worth mentioning is that Salou and Cambrils have a Family Tourism Destination Certificate (DTF) issued by the Catalan Tourist Board. This entails a wide range of child-friendly activities in the town, providing various services for families with children in the hotel and meeting several safety requirements. Other resorts will not have the same range of facilities for children, but sufficient comfort is provided everywhere.
The central city of the province and a family-friendly holiday destination. Close to shops, bustling streets and quiet beaches. Tarragona's 15km coastline offers many safe and family-friendly beaches, such as Capellanes, Miracol or L'Arabassada. What's more, they have all been awarded the Blue Flag. Another great advantage of this city is that you can easily alternate between a passive beach holiday and something more active. You can go scuba diving, snorkelling, boat trips around the Costa Dorada, or visit exciting museums in Tarragona.
The cultural life in Tarragona never stops. There is a constant flow of tourist and entertainment events throughout the year, so whichever month you visit, the chance of catching a cultural event is always good. However, we recommend planning your family trip to Tarragona during the major festivals and fiestas of the city, as this is when there are many unique events and activities for the little ones.
The centre of summer entertainment. Despite the buzz of activity in the city, Salou is often chosen as a holiday destination for children. This is because there are long stretches of shallow water where the kids are happy to splash around. Salou is famous for its enchanting beaches and parks, and the Parque infantil de Salou is considered one of the best for children. The resort is also renowned for its natural attractions. The city has undergone a complete transformation in recent years with improvements to the promenade, new playgrounds and attractions and the construction of many modern hotels and apartment complexes offering a high level of service.
A town of comfort and tranquillity. The beaches are comfortable, the sea shallow, and the activities for children are top-notch. There are fun shows for the kids in the evenings on Passeig de Pau Casals, the longest promenade in Catalonia. Although La Pineda is not certified as a family resort, it is most suitable for holidays with the little ones.
What was once an ancient fishing port is now a beautiful resort with a 10-kilometre stretch of uninterrupted beaches. There are nine sandy beaches: Ardiaca, Cap de Sant Pere, Horta Santa Maria, Prat d'en Fores/Regueral, Llosa, Riera, Esquirol, Vilafortuny and Cavet. They have all been awarded the European Blue Flag seal of quality and sustainability. The resort is tranquil, even during the high season. The gradual and gentle entrance to the sea makes Cambrils' beaches ideal for families with young children.
This is the closest resort to Barcelona on the Costa Dorada and, therefore, the most expensive. It is a youth recreation centre, so peace is not to be dreamed of here. Among the places to stay in Costa Dorada with children, you can also consider small towns, which are not well-known among tourists, but have a good infrastructure and transport connections with the major cities: San Carlos de la Rapita, Les Planes del Rey, El Poble Nou del Delta. There are also good hotels and apartments near Costa Dorada, in La Canoga, Altafulla and other towns.
The nearest airport is in Barcelona. Flight schedules are available on the El Prat airport website.
How to get to Costa Dorada from Barcelona airport:
Some airlines have charter flights to Reus Airport, 10km from Tarragona. From the airport, there are buses to the resorts.
There are direct buses to Tarragona from Barcelona Airport, with a journey time of 1 hour. There are also direct buses from the airport to Salou and Cambrils. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office. Timetables are available on the carrier's website: https://www.busplana.com. There are also bus services connecting the Costa Dorada with many European cities.
There are trains between all the resorts in the province of Tarragona. Trains from Barcelona depart from Sants train station and arrive at Tarragona train station. From the airport, there are R2 Nord trains to Sants station. Castelldefels can be reached by the R2 train, while Vilanova i la Geltra can be reached by the R2 Sud train. The timetable can be found on the website of the Spanish railway company RENFE: https://www.renfe.com/.
If you plan to travel around Spain with children, it makes sense to rent a car. You can do this at the airport or on the website of car rental companies.
Driving to the Costa Dorada from Barcelona is via C-32 and then AP-7. For more information on transport links to the Costa Dorada, visit the official Tarragona tourist website.
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