Costa Dorada in August is much more than sun, sea and sand. The coast offers visitors a wide range of leisure and cultural activities, natural and historical sites in an ideal environment of relaxation and tranquillity for family holidays.
In this article, Kidpassage will tell you everything you need to know so that nothing spoils your summer vacation in Spain.
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Holidays on the Costa Dorada in August: pros and cons
Costa Dorada is a popular place among foreign tourists and locals who often gather with the whole family to spend sunny days on the beach. In addition to being a favourite place for swimming, there are other reasons why this part of Catalonia is so visited and loved by tourists.
Spain is generally considered to be a more accessible country compared to the Nordic countries. It is one of the many reasons it is in high demand among European students and tourists on a budget. The lowest prices are observed in L'Ampolla and Cunit, where they ask for an overnight stay from €50 per room.
Visitors with high demands will find beautiful beaches on the Costa Dorada and luxurious apartments and hotels with private pools, SPA and trendy restaurants.
Popular cities for family travel are Salou, Cambrils, and Calafell; in summer, the number of visitors here is several times higher than the number of residents.
The Gold Coast is famous for its entertainment and nightlife. Local markets with fresh seafood, fruits, olive oil, jamon and cheeses amaze with summer variety. Food in restaurants is always fresh and tasty; you can find places with a reasonable balance between quality and price. And a bonus to your holiday in the Costa Dorada — the best beaches in Catalonia for free!
The main advantages of the resort in August include the following:
- the warmest and calmest sea possible;
- favourable time for active recreation on the water;
- a large number of working amusement parks and attractions, both on the coast and in neighbouring Barcelona;
- discounts during the summer sales, which reach their maximum;
- a variety of cultural programmes to keep you entertained 24 hours a day.
The disadvantages of the resort confirms its great popularity among tourists:
- high rental prices;
- a large number of holidaymakers, the holiday season for locals;
- the need to carefully choose the time for excursions.
Reviews of holidays in Costa Dorada in August are formed in a motley picture of feelings: someone queues and crowds of people prevent full-fledged rest, and someone does not pay any attention to it because the main thing — it is a saturation of tourist life, warm sea, nature and parks.
Weather in Costa Dorada in August
Costa Dorada weather in August gives tourists hot days and warm nights; summer thunderstorms often occur. In September, it gets cooler and the amount of precipitation increases.
The weather at the beginning of August in the coastal resorts is characterised by high temperatures, which force you to leave the beach and areas exposed to the sun during the midday hours. The second week of the month is usually the hottest. Temperatures on the Costa Dorada in mid-August rise to +37°C; at night, it can get as cold as +20°C. The fast-moving rains are torrential.
At the end of August, the weather on the Costa Dorada tends to be cloudier, but temperatures do not drop significantly. Warm southerly and south-easterly winds prevail, blowing up to 5 metres per second.
Air and sea water temperature
In almost half a century of observations, the average daily temperature on the Costa Dorada in August was +31 °C, and the minimum was +20 °C. On any given day in August, the thermometer rises above +25 °C.
The Mediterranean climate in this region is characterised by mildness and hot summers. Each resort has its microclimate depending on its geographical location.
Air temperature in Costa Dorada in August
Daytime temperatures in August on the coast reach an average of +29...30 °C, and nighttime temperatures are +22...23 °C. The hottest daytime temperatures are in Peñíscola and at night in Sitges and Tarragona.
Sea temperature in Costa Dorada in August
The Mediterranean Sea off the Costa Dorada warms up to an average of +25.5...26.5 °C. In most towns, the average water temperature exceeds +26 °C.
Precipitation
The amount of precipitation in August slightly exceeds the indicators of July. On average, they fall 18.4-61.3 mm during 1-3 days, with a maximum of 6 days. The resort town of Reus has been the rainiest in recent years.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
The Costa Dorada in August is characterised by cloudy days, absolutely sunny for almost 28 days in the month. The sun is completely hidden behind clouds for no more than two days. The average number of hours of sunshine per day exceeds 12 hours.
Active holidays
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The most popular place for family entertainment on the Costa Daurada is PortAventura. It is often compared to Disneyland Paris. The amusement park has many rides, regular shows, parades and themed hotel accommodations.
It is the perfect place to provide an unforgettable experience for the family's youngest members. In early August, wait times for rides can increase to 1-2 hours instead of 10 minutes in July.
Also worth mentioning are Ferrari Land, Aquopolis and Aqualeon water parks, Salou Karting Centre, Bosque Aventura and Jumpland rope parks. The coastal resorts have numerous sports facilities, football and golf courses, billiard and gyms.
If you love water sports, head to the beaches certified by Sport Tourism Catalonia for these activities (such as Punta de Aliga). Scuba diving, sailing and surfing are very popular among locals and tourists. Wakeboarding, which combines water skiing, surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding, has become the most popular in recent years.
Diving on the Costa Dorada is unique because divers consider less marine fauna than sunken ships of different eras and military equipment from the Second World War in about 250 units. An Italian merchant ship over 100 meters long rests in L'Amella de Mar. The best offer for snorkelling is swimming among the schools of giant tuna, which is practised only here.
In mid-August, the high season for boat trips ends: discounts on boat rental in the second half of the month reach 15–25%.
Tour holidays
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Walking tours along the city streets of the most visited resorts (Tarragona, Reus, Calafell and Cambrils) are not available in August: it is too hot, so tourists periodically wash in drinking water columns, try to freshen up near the city fountains, in which pigeons and parrots bathe carefree. In summer, you can walk until midnight, watching the Spaniards sitting carefree in a cafe in white clothes.
Resorts are full of monuments from the time of the Roman Empire. In Tarragona, the ruins of Tarraco have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is worth visiting the cathedral of the 12th century, the church of the Capuchin Monks and the Roman amphitheatre. The "human" tower of Castelleros, a long-standing Spanish tradition, has a bronze monument erected in Tarragona.
Reus is the birthplace of Antonio Gaudí, but there are no architectural masterpieces of his authorship in the city. However, other artisans have created several buildings you can admire along the Modernist Route. At the end of the route is the relatively recently rebuilt Gaudí Center. With the help of the most modern audiovisual technologies, you can touch the legacy of a genius and learn his secrets.
The Delta del Ebro biosphere reserve attracts beautiful natural places with more than 7 thousand hectares of wildlife, salt baths, beaches, swamps, lagoons, and rivers.
On a bicycle, you can try to get through the rice fields and places inhabited by flamingos. The Sierra de Montsant Natural Park offers spectacular views over 1,100 meters above sea level. It is a grape-growing area, so wine tourism trails lead here.
Trips along the monastic route should be carefully planned because the Spanish siesta is familiar to the monasteries. The opening hours of the facilities in August are roughly as follows: from 10:00–11:00 to 12:30–13:00 and from 15:00–16:00 to 18:00. The Royal Monastery of Santes Creus welcomes visitors in tour groups without interruption.
Wait until the evening and go with the kids to the singing fountain show in Salou; admire it from different points or in the heat of the moment; if there is no break, visit the cool halls of the following museums in Tarragona:
- Port Museum
- Casa de la Festa with figures of dolls and animals, the main characters of Spanish festivals.
- Casa Castellarnau Palace in the Old Town
Beach holidays
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Costa Dorada is an ideal place not only for adults but also for children. Parents will appreciate clean, soft sand beaches where their children can peacefully play. Refined grains of sand in the water of the warm Mediterranean Sea in sunny weather shine like gold so that it is impossible to look away. The sea's surface is warm; it can warm up unevenly up to 29 ° C, and occasionally, it is disturbed by waves of small or moderate strength.
The width of the famous beaches reaches hundreds of meters, and the length is many kilometres, so there is always a place here. Of course, perfect solitude in August is impossible to find. There are also small bays, bays and rocks on the coast.
More than 80 beaches of the Costa Dorada have been awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety.
Every morning during the season, public utilities level out irregularities with special equipment, collect garbage and clean water. Miami Playa stands out for its cleanliness, a beautiful and peaceful place with more than 12 km of clean beaches and opportunities for sports and nightlife.
Many beaches are well equipped for the recreation of all generations: toilets, changing cabins, fresh water showers, children's and sports grounds and much more, and coastal bars and restaurants will satisfy food needs. It is better to wait out the afternoon hours in air-conditioned rooms because the Spanish sun is very active in summer; you can get burned in minutes. At the end of August, it's still easy to burn out.
Holidays, events and festivals
Holidays on the Costa Dorada in August do not stop for a day. If you come to many cities, villages or even separate urban areas in August, you will get to the “fiesta mayor”, the days of holidays in honour of the patron saints. Participation in these events allows you to see Spanish traditions and culture in a concentrated form and taste traditional delicacies almost free of charge.
Vilanova I la Geltru and Playa de la Pineda (3 August) are festive at the beginning of the month, followed in the second week by Salou, Tarragona, Barcelona, etc. The greatest concentration of entertainment occurs on dates around 15 August, when The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated throughout the country. This day is declared as an official day off. August is also the time for summer music festivals, organ concerts in the region's churches, and the continuation of fishing traditions such as Habanera Nights, Squid Festivals, processions to the sea, etc.
Every year, from 13 to 19 August, the patron saint of the Magi is honoured in Tarragona, who opened the water sources on Mount Brufagagna with his staff. On this occasion, the townspeople organize a Water Festival, pouring water on passers-by from special water carts. Traditionally for Spain, during the festival, solemn processions, processions of “dwarfs” and “giants”, “living pyramids” are erected, traditional songs and dances with sticks (“bastoneros”) are performed, etc. In mid-August, on Cos de -Bow, in the historic centre, a costume procession dating back to 1825 begins under a cannon shot.
Salou holds the Golden Nights (Nits Daurades) summer festival in the first half of the month, which coincides with the peak tourist season and Tourism Week (Tourism Night falls on August 14). Cultural events, popular music, Aragonese folklore, and entertainment await tourists.
On King Jaime I Boulevard, you can meet fairy-tale characters, become a spectator of Castellers construction, the human towers, have fun with the music of DJs at a foam party and plunge into the whirlpool of resort life. The festival ends on August 15 with a magnificent procession with the image of St. Mary, where local fishermen participate, and festive fireworks.
Cost of vacation
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Prices on the Costa Dorada in August remain among the highest of the year, but compared to the previous month, the price increase does not apply to all recreation areas. So, you can save on buying tours, and flying is quite profitable compared to prices for the whole year. The cost of living in Tarragona is generally lower than in Barcelona. In the latter, prices for rental housing are twice as high, food in restaurants is 16% more expensive, and the consumer basket is 25% more expensive.
Package Tours
Despite the warmest sea and hot summer days, the cost of tours begins to decline at the end of summer. Compared to July, at the end of the month, week-long Spanish holidays from tour operators are 25% cheaper. The average price of a package holiday in August is about 350 euros/person for seven nights in a standard double room.
Accommodation
In August, rental prices increase: at the beginning of summer, you can rent a room 10% cheaper than at the end, but summer is generally the most expensive season. Already in September, housing becomes cheaper by half. The average price of a room in August reaches 200 euros per night; therefore, to save money, either early booking or buying a tour from an agency is recommended.
Airfares
The average price of an air ticket in August is almost equal to a July ticket and is several per cent (5–6%) higher than a September one. The negative difference with its average annual cost is 5%, i.e. in August, the tourist will not overpay for the flight but save a little. The period of high prices lasts from December to April.
Food and Transport
Lunch in Costa Daurada canteens, cafeterias and other catering facilities starts at around €15. In a good restaurant, a set dinner consisting of an aperitif, four courses and dessert will be served for about 55 euros per person. Dinners traditionally remain the most expensive part of the meal during the day, so it is more profitable to order in hotels "board" or "half board" when lunch can be changed to dinner and vice versa.
The cost of boarding a taxi is approximately €2.5, with about €1 added to the fare for each kilometre travelled. Walking tours start at €15 for one, but the guide sets a minimum number of people in the group required. Entrance to famous museums costs between €8 and €21.
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Tips for travelling with children
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The Costa Dorada is a comfortable place for a family holiday. It is easy to get here from anywhere in Europe via Barcelona or Reus, the railway system works well, and buses are frequent. The average waiting time for public transport is 1 minute. Prices are moderate. Another option for travelling, which gives you more freedom to travel between cities, is to rent a car. However, consider that there are a lot of traffic jams on weekends.
There are many options for accommodation, from camping, hostels, and guesthouses to apartments and luxury hotels with high-quality service. Hotel owners think about the comfort of family travellers, offering special child-friendly services.
New hotels are no longer built on the first line; now, they should be at least 250-400 metres from the sea. Catering in Spain is varied; you can find well-known brands of establishments that serve familiar food.
La Pineda is the place to stay for those who want to be close to the PortAventura amusement park.
Buying tickets for two days is better, and coming to the park by 17:00 or 18:00 when the queues are reduced considerably. It is not superfluous to study the website and the park map beforehand to plan the route and mark those attractions unsuitable for children in terms of height. Take a mackintosh or spare clothes if you are going to ride on water slides. If you get wet, use the drying booth.
Go to the monitors to see the photographic record of the ride and quickly buy photos if you find them amusing. Otherwise, the information will be updated, and the photos erased. Get your seats for the show in advance, and be sure to wait for the final spectacle. At the region's water parks, rent inflatable laps for rappelling to save time waiting in queues. For a fee, you can bypass the queue at the park entrance.
Remember to wear swimming costumes, hats, and use sun protection on your trip. Keep your belongings, money, bags and equipment safe. During the high season, thieves and scammers come to the coast and operate on beaches, in hotel lobbies, near cars, etc.
Information points in shops can provide information about tourist special offers, discounts and sales. In August, discounts reach 70% and more, but the range is less complete than in July.
August on the Costa Dorada is a hot month filled with events and emotions. If you're not tied to the children's school holidays, travel in early September when the weather is milder, and prices are lower. Check out other helpful Kidpassage resources to plan your itinerary and choose the best time and place to travel with children.
