Salou Holidays: Beaches, PortAventura and Getting There
Província de Tarragona · Catalonia · Spain · 26,775 residents · on the coast
PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park
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Llevant Beach
Platja de LlenguadetsSalou is a coastal town of around 26,800 people on the Costa Daurada in the Província de Tarragona, sitting just 6 metres above the Mediterranean. Its appeal is easy to read. Llevant Beach lies half a mile from the centre, a string of smaller beaches and coves runs along the shore, and PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park and Hard Rock Entertainment World are both within about a mile. Two Roman-era villa sites, Vil·la de la Burguera and Vil·la de Barenys, add a quieter layer. Reus airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly seven minutes away by car. Summers are hot and dry, while autumn brings the year's heaviest rain.
Why go
- Reus airport is about 5 miles away, a seven-minute drive, with direct flights from the UK.
- PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park and Hard Rock Entertainment World sit within about a mile of town.
- Llevant Beach is half a mile from the centre, with a dozen named beaches and coves nearby.
Top sights in Salou
Beaches, Theme Parks and Roman Villas
The headline draw is PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, a water park within the PortAventura World Resort about a mile from the centre. Hard Rock Entertainment World, another theme park, is around three-quarters of a mile away. Between them they explain why Salou leans so strongly towards family holidays.
The shoreline gives you plenty of choice. Llevant Beach is the closest at about a third of a mile, with Platja dels Capellans (0.7 miles), Platja de Llenguadets (0.9 miles), Platja Llarga and Platja de Ponent (both about 1.1 miles) further along. Smaller coves include Caleta de les Ferreries (0.6 miles) and Caleta de les Roques Punxoses (1.2 miles), while Cap de Sant Pere lies about 1.7 miles out.
For something older, the archaeological sites of Vil·la de la Burguera (half a mile) and Vil·la de Barenys (1.1 miles) make a change from sand and slides. Tours and tickets for Salou and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page.
1theme parkPortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park
1 mile from the centre · Photo
a Spanish water park located in the PortAventura World Resort
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Hard Rock Entertainment World
theme park · 1 mile from the centre
platja de Ponent
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Salou
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Salou can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Salou
Choosing Your Base in Salou
If walking to the sea matters most, the streets close to Llevant Beach put you about a third of a mile from the water and near the town centre. Families focused on the theme parks may prefer to stay towards PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park and Hard Rock Entertainment World, both roughly a mile out.
Those after a calmer stretch of coast can look towards the coves and the beaches further along, such as Platja Llarga and Cap de Sant Pere, or at neighbouring La Pineda, about 2 miles away. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare areas side by side.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Salou and the villages around it is a hire car from Reus (REU), about 7 min away.
Best time to visit Salou
When to Visit Salou
- 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 are the most pleasant months. Highs climb from 23°C in May to 27°C in June and 30°C in July, with around six or seven rain days a month.
August is the hottest month, reaching 31°C with lows of 23°C, and also one of the driest with just four rain days. The weather turns in autumn: September brings 87mm of rain, and October is the wettest month by far, with 145mm over about 12 days. Winters are mild rather than warm, with January highs around 15°C.
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, Transfers and the Drive
Reus (REU) is the obvious choice: it has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies just 5 miles from Salou, around a seven-minute drive. Barcelona (BCN), also with direct UK flights, is about 51 miles away, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes by car. Girona (GRO), again served directly from the UK, is about 101 miles away, or around 2 hours 25 minutes on the road.
Driving from Calais takes about 16 hours. The nearest ferry port is Barcelona, around 58 miles away, with sailings to the Balearics (Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Ciutadella and Ibiza), Italy and Morocco, which is handy for onward trips.
By air
- Reus (REU)5 miles, about 7 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Barcelona (BCN)51 miles, about 1 h 12 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Girona (GRO)101 miles, about 2 h 24 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 (58 miles).
Salou is good for
Around Salou
Day Trips Along the Coast
La Pineda is only about 2 miles away and Cambrils around 4 miles along the coast, both easy short outings. Tarragona, the provincial capital with over 140,000 residents, is about 6 miles away, as is Reus, a city of more than 100,000.
Further afield, Mont-roig del Camp lies about 9 miles away and Torredembarra around 14 miles up the coast. Inland, Valls is about 16 miles away, and tiny Porrera, home to roughly 500 people, is about 17 miles from Salou.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips Before You Go
With Reus airport only seven minutes away, transfers are about as short as they get, so an early arrival can still mean an afternoon on Llevant Beach.
Plan around the autumn rain. October averages 145mm and September 87mm, so beach-focused holidays are safer earlier in the year. In August, with highs of 31°C at sea level, schedule theme park days with shade and water in mind.
Salou is a modest town of about 26,800 people, so for larger city sights, Tarragona and Reus are each only around 6 miles away.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Salou?
Reus (REU) is the nearest, about 5 miles from Salou and roughly a seven-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Barcelona (BCN), around 51 miles away, is the main alternative, also with direct UK flights.
How far is Salou from Barcelona airport?
Barcelona airport is about 51 miles from Salou, a drive of around 1 hour 10 minutes. It has direct flights from the UK, so it is a useful option if flights into Reus do not suit your dates.
How far is PortAventura from Salou?
PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, the water park within the PortAventura World Resort, is about a mile from Salou. Hard Rock Entertainment World is even closer, at roughly three-quarters of a mile, making both easy for families staying in town.
What is the best month to visit Salou?
May, June and July offer the best conditions, with highs between 23°C and 30°C and relatively few rain days. August is hotter at 31°C, while October is the wettest month, averaging 145mm of rain over about 12 days.
Is Salou good for a family holiday?
Yes. Two theme parks lie within about a mile, PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park and Hard Rock Entertainment World, and Llevant Beach is just a third of a mile from the centre, with several other family-friendly beaches and coves nearby.
Can you visit Tarragona from Salou?
Easily. Tarragona is about 6 miles from Salou, making it a straightforward half-day or day trip. Reus is a similar distance away, and Cambrils and La Pineda are even closer along the coast.