Cambrils Holidays: Beaches, Roman Villa and Getting There
Província de Tarragona · Catalonia · Spain · 32,422 residents · on the coast
Cambrils is a coastal town of around 32,000 people in the Província de Tarragona, Catalonia, sitting only 13 metres above the sea. For British travellers its great advantage is access: Reus airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 8 miles and about 11 minutes away by road. Within a short walk or drive of the centre you will find a string of family-friendly beaches, from Platja de la Riera to L'Esquirol, alongside the remains of the Vil·la romana de la Llosa, two castles and a flower-mill museum. Summers are warm and fairly dry, with highs of 30°C to 31°C in July and August, and Salou and Tarragona are both close enough for an easy afternoon out.
Why go
- Reus airport has direct UK flights and sits only about 11 minutes' drive from Cambrils.
- Around a dozen beaches, including Platja de la Riera and L'Esquirol, all within 2.5 miles.
- The Vil·la romana de la Llosa, a Roman archaeological site, lies just over half a mile away.
Top sights in Cambrils
Beaches, castles and a Roman villa
The most notable sight is the Castell de Vilafortuny, a castle about 1.9 miles from the centre, followed by L'Esquirol beach at roughly 1.4 miles. Closer in, the Vil·la romana de la Llosa is an archaeological site around 0.6 miles away, and the Museu Agrícola de Cambrils, an agricultural museum, is about 0.4 miles from the centre. The Castell dels Arcs, a listed cultural property, is around 0.3 miles away, and the Molí de les Tres Eres, a museum set in a flower mill, is barely a quarter of a mile off.
Beach-goers are spoilt for choice. Platja de la Riera (0.5 miles), Prat d'En Fores i Regueral and Platja de l'Horta de Santa Maria (both about 0.6 miles) are nearest, with La Llosa (0.8 miles), El Cavet (1 mile), Platja de l'Ardiaca (1.7 miles), Vilafortuny (2 miles) and Platja de Riudecanyes, over the line in Mont-roig del Camp (2.4 miles), further along. All are well suited to families.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the current selection of activities.
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Tours & tickets in Cambrils
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Cambrils can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Cambrils
Choosing your base in Cambrils
The town's sights cluster tightly: the Molí de les Tres Eres, the agricultural museum, the Castell dels Arcs and the nearest beaches all sit within about half a mile of the centre, so staying central puts most of Cambrils on foot. If a beach on the doorstep matters more, the shoreline stretching out towards La Llosa, El Cavet and Vilafortuny spreads accommodation along the coast, with the Castell de Vilafortuny at that end.
With a population of around 32,000, Cambrils is a proper working town rather than a purpose-built resort, and livelier Salou is only about 4 miles away for those who want more going on. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across the town.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Cambrils and the villages around it is a hire car from Reus (REU), about 11 min away.
Best time to visit Cambrils
When to go to Cambrils
- 14°CJan21 mm
- 16°CFeb36 mm
- 18°CMar37 mm
- 21°CApr24 mm
- 23°CMay35 mm
- 27°CJun40 mm
- 30°CJul40 mm
- 31°CAug29 mm
- 26°CSept65 mm
- 23°COct135 mm
- 19°CNov84 mm
- 16°CDec20 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
May to August is the most pleasant stretch. May brings highs around 23°C, June about 27°C, and July and August peak at 30°C and 31°C, with night-time lows of 21°C to 22°C. August is both the hottest month and one of the driest, with about four rain days.
Autumn is when the rain arrives. September turns noticeably wetter with around ten rain days, and October is the wettest month by far, with about 135mm across eleven days; November is still damp. Winter is mild and fairly dry, with January highs around 14°C and lows near 6°C, which suits walking and sightseeing more than the beach.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 6°C | 21 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 6°C | 36 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 18°C | 9°C | 37 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 11°C | 24 mm | 11 h |
| May | 23°C | 14°C | 35 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 18°C | 40 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 21°C | 40 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 22°C | 29 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 26°C | 18°C | 65 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 23°C | 16°C | 135 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 19°C | 11°C | 84 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 16°C | 7°C | 20 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, ferries and the drive
Reus (REU) is the obvious airport: it has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 8 miles from Cambrils, roughly an 11-minute drive. Barcelona (BCN), also with direct UK flights, is about 55 miles away, or around 1 hour 20 minutes by car. Girona (GRO), another airport with direct UK services, is about 105 miles away, roughly two and a half hours' drive.
The nearest ferry port is Barcelona, about 62 miles away, with sailings to the Balearics (Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza), Italy (Civitavecchia, Genoa and Porto Torres) and Morocco (Tangier Med and Nador). Driving all the way from Calais takes around 16 hours at the wheel, so most people split it over two days.
By air
- Reus (REU)8 miles, about 11 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)55 miles, about 1 h 18 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Girona (GRO)105 miles, about 2 h 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 54 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (62 miles).
Cambrils is good for
Around Cambrils
Easy day trips from Cambrils
Salou is the nearest neighbour at about 4 miles, with Mont-roig del Camp, La Pineda and the city of Reus all around 6 miles away. Tarragona, the provincial capital and the largest place nearby with over 140,000 residents, is roughly 11 miles along the coast.
Head inland and the scale changes completely. Falset and the tiny village of Porrera, home to around 500 people, are each about 14 miles away, and Cornudella de Montsant lies roughly 16 miles from Cambrils, making a quiet contrast to the coast.
Tips from Robin
Practical tips before you go
If you want reliable beach weather, avoid booking in October: it is the wettest month by a wide margin, and September and November can be showery too. May and June give warmth without the full heat of high summer.
Cambrils sits barely above sea level and its main sights lie within a short distance of each other, so walking or cycling between the centre and the nearer beaches is easy. With Reus airport so close, a late arrival is far less of a chore than at most Spanish resorts, and car hire is optional unless you plan inland trips to Falset or Cornudella de Montsant.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Cambrils?
Reus (REU) is the nearest, about 8 miles away and roughly an 11-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona, around 55 miles away, and Girona, about 105 miles away, are alternatives that also have direct UK flights.
How far is Barcelona airport from Cambrils?
Barcelona airport is about 55 miles from Cambrils, which works out at around 1 hour 20 minutes by car. It offers direct flights from the United Kingdom, so it is a useful fallback if Reus flights do not suit your dates.
Is Cambrils good for a family holiday?
Yes. Family appeal is the town's strongest theme, with a dozen or so family-friendly beaches within about 2.5 miles, including Platja de la Riera, La Llosa and L'Esquirol, plus the Molí de les Tres Eres flower-mill museum and the Museu Agrícola de Cambrils close to the centre.
What is the weather like in Cambrils in October?
October is the wettest month in Cambrils, with around 135mm of rain over about eleven days. Temperatures stay fairly mild, with highs near 23°C and lows around 16°C, but it is not the most dependable month for a beach holiday.
How far is Salou from Cambrils?
Salou is about 4 miles from Cambrils, making it the closest neighbouring town. La Pineda and Reus are roughly 6 miles away, and Tarragona around 11 miles, so all make straightforward half-day or day trips.
Can you drive to Cambrils from the UK?
Yes. From Calais the drive takes roughly 16 hours, so it is best split over two days. Once in Spain, the ferry port at Barcelona is about 62 miles away if you want to continue to the Balearic Islands.