Salou

Understand

Used as a port by Greeks and Romans, Salou was the site of an important historic event in 1229 when the fleet of James I of Aragon departed from its port to conquer the Balearic islands, creating the Kingdom of Majorca. In 1286, Alfons III of Aragon also departed from this port to conquer Minorca, the last Muslim territory of the Balearic Islands. Today, the city of 27,000 people (2018) is considered the capital and most popular destination of the Costa Daurada. Salou was famous for its permanent fairground at the end of the promenade and is used as the base for the Catalunyan round of the World Rally Championship.

Getting there

By plane The nearest airport is 1 Reus Airport (REU IATA), which is mainly served by charter flights and Ryanair. Barcelona El Prat (BCN IATA) is the nearest major international airport, about 100 km away. Plana (+34 977 553 680) operates buses from the airport to Tarragona and onto Salou about five times a day.

By train The railway station in Salou city centre was closed in January 2020. There is a new line between Tarragona and Amposta that has a stop at 2 Port Aventura.

By car Salou is just south of the AP-7 (Autopista de la Mediterrània) and A-7 motorways. Take the exit for the C-14 to Salou. It is approximately 10 km from Tarragona and Reus and 112 km from Barcelona.

By bus The E6 bus, operated by Plana (+34 977 553 680), connects Salou with Tarragona's central bus station via Vila-seca with 12 trips per day M-F, 7 trips on Saturday and 4 trips on Sunday.

By taxi or private transfer From Barcelona, the journey typically takes approximately 90 minutes, during which you can relax and enjoy the breathtaking coastal scenery. It's worth noting that the cost of a taxi ride is usually around €180, so it's recommended to confirm the fare with the driver before starting your journey. If you prefer a more affordable option, private transfer services like Andy can be a great choice. Prices start at €130 when booking and payment are made online in advance, making it a hassle-free and budget-friendly way to travel to Salou.

Getting around

The public bus service (PLANA) [1] and taxis service the town. To get outside Salou, and to get to the nearby Port Aventura theme park, use the train station which is up the promenade or you can use taxis and bus services, all are relatively cheap.

See

1 Santa Maria Del Mar Church, C. de l'Església, 26, ☏ +34 977 380 173. M-Th 9:30-12:30, Sa 18:30-20:00, Su 9:30-13:00. The oldest church in Salou, it was built in 1766 by the fishermen's guild with a single nave and Baroque bell tower. It was enlarged in the mid-20th century along with the distinctive paintings and murals. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Torre Vella, Via Aurèlia, 0, ☏ +34 977 383 323. M-Sa 18:00-20:30. The tower was built in the 16th century to protect the population from attack by pirates. It now holds art exhibitions and events. The adjoining country house was built in the 18th century. Free. (updated Dec 2020) Theatre (Teatre Auditori de Salou). The theatre plays local events and famous acts such as Sergio Dalma. (updated Dec 2020)

Salou Promenade (Passeig Jaume I) The promenade is one of the most beautiful landmarks of Salou. Lined with palms, it runs along the coast adjacent to Llevant Beach, the biggest beach in the town. The beach is lined with many children's play areas and sculptures.

3 Cybernetic Fountains, Passeig de Jaume I & C. del Mar (western end of Passeig de Jaume I). A 1,000 jet fountain on the seaside walkway with light and music shows at night. The show usually operates from Easter through November after sunset. (updated Dec 2020) 4 Landmark Salou (Lletres Color Salou), Passeig de Jaume I & C. de Paris (near the anchor and Labyrinth Fountain). Public artwork with "Salou" spelt in bright colours. Perhaps a bit tacky but popular spot for photos with Llevant Beach and the Mediterranean in the background. (updated Dec 2020) 5 Jaume I Monument, Passeig de Jaume I, between C. de Madrid & C. de Girona. A monument that commemorates the departure of King Jaume I's fleet in Sept 1229 to conquer Majorca. (updated Dec 2020) 6 Font Lluminosa, Passeig de Jaume I & Avinguda del Principat d'Andorra (eastern end of Passeig de Jaume I). The original fountain on the promenade, built in 1973. It has 100 jets and, like the Cybernetic Fountains, is part of

Do

Beaches - The main beach is the Llevant Beach, although other beaches include Platja de Ponent, Platja dels Capellans, Platja Llarga and Cala Crancs. PortAventura Resort - Includes a theme park, aquatic park and four hotels. It has many rollercoasters, water rides , simulators and restaurants. You can access PortAventura via the train, bus[2] and taxi. Golf Course - Lumine Golf Club, Salou (formerly known as PortAventura golf). There are three courses, which are north, south and central. North and central were designed by Greg Norman and the green project designed the south course. The facilities consist of two clubhouses, beach club, restaurants, pro shop, rental services and a golf school. Watersports - Banana boats, pedaloes, windsurfing, boat trips can be arranged on the main beach (Llevant Beach). Arcades - They are open across the whole town of Salou with pool tables, basketball and slot machines. Karting Salou - Attraction includes go-karting, bungee rocket and an arcade. Bosc Aventura - Attraction includes zip lines, a climbing wall and paintball. Tourist train. 2½-hour trip through Salou and surroundings. Very crowded. €4. (updated Oct 2016)

Buy

There are plenty of small souvenir shops in Salou, especially in the streets along the beach and in Barcelona street. You can find some upmarket boutiques further up the promenade, near the station and marina, this is accompanied by a few upmarket restaurants. There is more upmarket shopping in the old town which has a market every Monday. A shopping centre is in Vila-Seca across the road from PortAventura called Port Halley. Barcelona and Tarragona can be reached by using the many transport services for more extensive shopping. Most shops and businesses take advantage of the lively night-time atmosphere and are open until quite late. Indeed, you can expect to see streets thronged with tourists shopping for souvenirs and gifts along with more practical items at 22:00 in the evening, even in April.

Eat

In Salou you can find a high variety of international restaurants, including many Mediterranean restaurants serving Paella as their main dish, although the standard of cuisine is of the "non-gourmet" type and therefore very casual. For more upmarket and quality cuisine, walk up the promenade towards the Marina where many good restaurants surround the area or close to the Spanish mansions along the seafront where there is an upmarket restaurant called Villa Alexander. For local cuisine there is a lovely restaurant called las Brasas. The area also serves those wanting fast food such as McDonald's, Telepizza, Burger King, Pans&Company, and Subway. The neighbouring town of Cambrils is famous