Costa Dorada Holidays

Costa Dorada means ‘Golden Coast’ in Spanish, which is pretty fitting for a coastline that turns out 81 kilometres of caramel-hued sands along Catalonia. Running south from Barcelona, they’re warmed by 300 days of sunshine a year, and laced with every type of resort going.

Salou is a big hit with families, thanks to its Blue Flag beach and seafront fairground. Then you’ve got the quieter resorts of Cambrils and La Pineda. The former’s a traditional fishing port with a nine-kilometre stretch of white sand. It’s a great choice for foodies, as it has two Michelin Star restaurants. The latter, meanwhile, headlines a waterpark and three sweeping beaches.

One of the Costa Dorada’s key attractions is PortAventura. Just outside Salou, Spain’s biggest theme park lines up sky-high rollercoasters, water rides and themed ‘worlds’. This part of Spain also puts you within easy reach of Barcelona, where Gaudi’s wacky architecture tops the bill. Then there’s Tarragona, with its impressive Roman ruins. And, in Reus, the streets are scattered with head-turning sculptures and architecture.

The countryside here's ripe for exploring. It’s home to must-sees like the Monastery of Montserrat, which is tucked high in the mountains, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Poblet Monastery. Wildlife fans should make a beeline for the birdwatchers’ paradise of Ebre Delta – one of Europe’s best wetland reserves.