Cheap beach holiday on the Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada is 81 km of golden sand just south of Barcelona, with Salou and Cambrils for the beach, Roman Tarragona around the corner and PortAventura for the whole family. In summer Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven to Reus. 3 days from €280 per person.
✈️ Plan your trip to the Costa Dorada →When is the best time to go?
May to September is the beach season. June is ideal: 25 to 28 degrees, a sea of around 22 degrees and not yet the crowds and prices of July and August. July and August are the hottest and liveliest, with packed beach clubs and PortAventura open late. In May and September you get quiet beaches, lower hotel prices and pleasant evenings on the terrace.
The best places on the Costa Dorada
- Salou The lively heart of the coast with two long sandy beaches (Llevant and Ponent), a promenade with a musical fountain and 15 minutes from PortAventura.
- Cambrils Calmer and more stylish, a real fishing harbour and the gastronomic capital of the coast, with 9 km of beach next to Salou.
- La Pineda Flat family beaches with shallow water and the Aquopolis water park, great with small children.
- Tarragona The provincial capital with Roman World Heritage, a lively centre and the El Miracle city beach, 15 minutes by train from Salou.
- Reus The birthplace of Gaudí, with modernist architecture and cosy squares, 10 minutes inland by the airport.
Top 5 things to do on the Costa Dorada
- Roman amphitheatre of Tarragona A 2nd-century arena right by the sea, part of UNESCO Tarraco (€5, or a combined 5-site ticket €15, under 12 free).
- PortAventura World One of Europe's largest theme parks plus Ferrari Land, day ticket from about €54, 2 days 2 parks from €32 per day.
- Beaches of Salou and Cambrils Golden sand and shallow water, linked by the free Camí de Ronda coastal path with hidden coves.
- Gaudí Centre in Reus An interactive museum about the city's most famous son, with the modernism route past Casa Navàs and the Institut Pere Mata.
- World Heritage Tarraco The forum, the circus and the Pretori tower together form the richest Roman heritage in Spain.
Flights + transport from the Netherlands
In summer (roughly March to October) Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven to Reus (REU) in about 2 hours, with tickets often from €20 one way. Out of season fly to Barcelona (BCN, year-round direct from Eindhoven and Schiphol) and you are in Salou in about 1 hour 15. From Reus airport the Plana shuttle reaches Salou, Cambrils and Tarragona in 30 minutes (€6.95), a taxi costs about €30. For the beaches and villages beyond Salou a rental car is handy; compare prices through our partner.
What does a Costa Dorada holiday cost?
Hostels and guesthouses from €18, mid-range hotels €55 to 110, apartments around €80 per night. Eating out is cheap: menu del día €13, tapas €3, a fish dinner at the Cambrils harbour €25. For 3 days budget from €280 per person including the flight in season.
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Frequently asked questions about the Costa Dorada
When is the best time to visit the Costa Dorada?
May to September, with June the ideal month: 25 to 28 degrees, a swimmable sea and not yet the crowds and prices of July and August.
Which town is best to stay on the Costa Dorada?
Salou for buzz and beaches, Cambrils for calm and gastronomy, La Pineda for families with young children.
How do I get to the Costa Dorada from the Netherlands?
In summer Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven to Reus (REU) in about 2 hours; out of season via Barcelona, then about 1 hour 15 to Salou.
What does a Costa Dorada holiday cost?
From €280 per person for 3 days including the flight in season; hostels from €18 and mid-range hotels €55 to 110 per night.
🗺️ Where do you want to stay in the Costa Dorada?
Hotels, holiday homes and hostels in the Costa Dorada on the map. Click a pin for live prices and direct booking.
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