La Pineda Holidays: Beaches, Climate and Getting There
Província de Tarragona · Catalonia · Spain · 17,305 residents · on the coast
La Pineda is a coastal town of around 17,300 people on the Tarragona shoreline of Catalonia, sitting barely a metre above the sea. Its own beach, Playa La Pineda, lies about 300 metres from the centre. Within a mile and a half you will find a string of coves around Salou, the Far de Salou lighthouse and the archaeological site of La punta de la Cella. Reus Airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly a seven-minute drive away, so the transfer is about as short as it gets. Summers are hot and fairly dry, and Salou, Tarragona and Cambrils are all within 6 miles.
Why go
- Reus Airport is just 5 miles away, about seven minutes by car, with direct UK flights.
- Playa La Pineda lies around 300 metres from town, with a dozen more beaches within 2 miles.
- May to July brings highs of 23 to 30°C, with only six or seven rainy days a month.
Top sights in La Pineda
Beaches, coves and a lighthouse
The headline sight is the Far de Salou, a lighthouse about 1.5 miles from La Pineda, and the obvious focus for a coastal walk. Closer to home, Playa La Pineda is the town's own beach, roughly 0.2 miles from the centre, while the archaeological site of La punta de la Cella sits about 0.9 miles away for a dose of culture between swims.
Beyond that, the coastline is a run of beaches and small coves: Platja Cala Crancs and Cala Vinya (both about 1.6 miles), Cala Font and Caleta dels Marbres (about 1.5 miles), Platja dels Enlliscalls and Cala de Penya Tallada (about 1.4 miles), Platja de la Canonja (about 1.2 miles) and Platja del Racó (about 0.7 miles). Families have plenty of choice, and couples can pick the quieter coves.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, with more than 40 activities currently listed.
1lighthouse
2beach
3beach
4beach
5beach
6beach
7archaeological site_-_1.jpg/500px-Cala_de_Penya_Tallada_(Salou)_-_1.jpg)
8beach
Caleta dels Marbres
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Platja de la Canonja
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Platja del Racó
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in La Pineda
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around La Pineda can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in La Pineda
Choosing your base in La Pineda
La Pineda is a flat seaside town, so the main decision is how close to the sand you want to be. Staying near Playa La Pineda puts the beach a short stroll away, which suits families with small children. With a population of around 17,300, the town itself is modest in size.
If you want more going on in the evenings, Salou is only about 2 miles along the coast, and the city of Tarragona is around 4 miles away. Many travellers stay in La Pineda for the beach and dip into those larger neighbours when they want a change. Live hotel prices for La Pineda are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach La Pineda and the villages around it is a hire car from Reus (REU), about 7 min away.
Best time to visit La Pineda
When to visit La Pineda
- 15°CJan18 mm
- 16°CFeb35 mm
- 19°CMar34 mm
- 21°CApr29 mm
- 23°CMay37 mm
- 27°CJun41 mm
- 30°CJul41 mm
- 31°CAug36 mm
- 27°CSept87 mm
- 24°COct145 mm
- 20°CNov80 mm
- 17°CDec15 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
May, June and July offer the most pleasant balance. May reaches around 23°C, June 27°C and July 30°C, with six or seven rainy days a month. August is the hottest month, with highs of 31°C and nights around 23°C, and it is also one of the driest, with just four rainy days.
Autumn is the wet season. September brings 87 mm of rain over nine days, and October is the wettest month by a distance, with 145 mm across twelve days, although it still reaches 24°C. November eases to 80 mm. Winter is mild and dry: January highs sit around 15°C with lows of 6°C, and December sees only 15 mm of rain.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | 18 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 7°C | 35 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 10°C | 34 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 12°C | 29 mm | 11 h |
| May | 23°C | 14°C | 37 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 27°C | 19°C | 41 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 22°C | 41 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 23°C | 36 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 19°C | 87 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 16°C | 145 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 20°C | 11°C | 80 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 17°C | 7°C | 15 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 Airport is the obvious choice: it has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 5 miles from La Pineda, roughly a seven-minute drive. Barcelona Airport also has direct UK flights and is about 49 miles away, around 1 hour 10 minutes by car. Girona, again with direct UK services, is about 100 miles away, a drive of around 2 hours 20 minutes.
If you prefer to drive, the journey from Calais takes around 16 hours. The nearest ferry port is Barcelona, about 56 miles away, with sailings to Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza, as well as routes to Italy and Morocco, handy if you want to add an island leg to your trip.
By air
- Reus (REU)5 miles, about 7 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)49 miles, about 1 h 10 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Girona (GRO)100 miles, about 2 h 22 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 15 h 53 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Barcelona (56 miles).
La Pineda is good for
Around La Pineda
Day trips along the Costa
Salou is the closest neighbour, just 2 miles away, and Tarragona, the provincial city with around 141,500 residents, is about 4 miles off. Cambrils lies roughly 6 miles down the coast and Reus about 7 miles inland.
Further afield, Mont-roig del Camp is around 11 miles away, Torredembarra about 12 miles along the coast and Valls roughly 15 miles inland. For something much smaller, the village of Porrera, home to around 500 people, is about 19 miles away.
.jpg/500px-085_Vinseum%2C_Museu_de_les_Cultures_del_Vi%2C_pl._Jaume_I%2C_1-7_(Vilafranca_del_Pened%C3%A8s).jpg)
Tips from Robin
Practical tips for your stay
With Reus Airport only seven minutes away, you can be on the beach within an hour or so of landing, which makes La Pineda well suited to short breaks as well as a full fortnight.
If you are planning an autumn trip, bear in mind that September and October bring the heaviest rain of the year, with October averaging twelve wet days. Pack a light waterproof and keep some indoor plans in reserve.
The town sits right at sea level and is flat, so walking or cycling between the beaches and towards Salou is easy going, though July and August highs of 30 to 31°C make early mornings and evenings the best time to be out.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to La Pineda?
Reus Airport is the nearest, about 5 miles away and roughly a seven-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona Airport, about 49 miles away, and Girona, about 100 miles away, also offer direct UK flights.
How far is La Pineda from Salou?
Salou is about 2 miles from La Pineda, making it an easy hop for a change of scene. Several of the coves on the way, such as Platja dels Enlliscalls and Cala de Penya Tallada, sit around 1.4 miles from La Pineda.
What is the best month to visit La Pineda?
May, June and July offer the most pleasant conditions, with highs from 23°C to 30°C and six or seven rainy days a month. August is hotter at 31°C, while October is the wettest month, with 145 mm of rain.
Is La Pineda good for a family beach holiday?
Yes, it is beach-focused. Playa La Pineda is only about 300 metres from the town, and there are around ten more beaches and coves within 2 miles. Tarragona and Salou are close by for days away from the sand.
Can you drive to La Pineda from the UK?
Yes. The drive from Calais takes around 16 hours, so most people split it over two days. Once there, Salou, Tarragona, Cambrils and Reus are all within 7 miles.
How warm is La Pineda in winter?
Winters are mild. January highs are around 15°C with lows of 6°C, and December reaches about 17°C. Both months are dry, with only four rainy days on average, which suits walking and sightseeing rather than swimming.