Costa Dorada holidays

The Costa Dorada’s beaches are what originally put the region on the map, and they’re still the main draw for tourists today. The coastline here unravels for 50 miles, stretching from Ebro Delta in the south, past Cambrils, Salou and La Pineda, right the way up to Sitges and Barcelona in the north.

Salou’s huge sweep of golden sand is one of the most popular in the region. It’s clinched Blue Flag status thanks to its clear, shallow waters and, behind the sands, restaurants and cafés huddle along a palm-dotted promenade. Little ones will love the fairground that’s tucked at one end. Visit in the morning, as the queues get bigger as the day goes on.

You can catch a bus to Cap Salou from Salou or La Pineda – the journey only takes around 10 minutes. When you arrive, though, you’ll feel like you’re miles from anywhere. This small, sandy cove is tucked behind a headland and cradled by pine-cloaked cliffs. What’s more, because there aren’t any beach bars or cafés here, it’s completely devoid of the crowds you’ll find further along the coast.

Come to Salou on a Monday, and its main square, Plaza de Europa, fills up with stalls selling everything from feathered dream catchers to bottles of olive oil. You can hunt for similar bargains in the La Pineda Market on a Friday. Foodies, meanwhile, should schedule in some time in Cambrils. Market day is on a Wednesday, and you can get your hands on the likes of fresh fruit and just-plucked crabs.

The massive Parc Central shopping mall, on the edge of Tarragona, is full of stores selling clothes, toys and books. Reus is another good option for shopping. Make a beeline for El Tomb de Reus quarter, in the centre of town, and you’ll stumble upon funky clothes shops and cute coffee houses. You’ll spot some names you recognise, too, like Mango and Bershka.

Barcelona gives Paris and Milan a run for their money in the blow-the-budget stakes. For the glossiest stores, wander along the Plaça Catalunya or Avenue Diagonal – you’ll find top-end names like Chanel, Versace and Cartier. If you don’t fancy the journey up to Barcelona, Tarragona’s main street, La Rambla Nova, is packed with exclusive Spanish fashion boutiques.

In Cambrils, evenings begin in the cosy tapas bars on the seafront promenade, and end in the chiringuito bars around the marina. Tarragona has the same kind of philosophy when it comes to nights out. Romantic dinners by the yachts in the port are usually followed by live music and martinis in the bars that line the water’s edge.

Salou leads the way as far as happy hours and neon lights are concerned. Its main street is packed with British-style pubs, karaoke bars and fancy dress discos. La Pineda is lots of fun, too. A long strip of dance bars and late-night cafés runs parallel to the beach, and for hard-core clubbers there’s the world-renowned Pacha nightclub.

If you’re a fan of paella – a delicious blend of rice, seafood and saffron cooked up on a big, sizzling skillet – make sure you try fideua. Paella’s lesser-known cousin, it swaps out the rice for fideos, which is a short, spaghetti-like pasta.

Fuet is a long, thin Catalonian sausage made from pork meat. The sausage is cured and dried by hanging it on ropes or strings for more than two months. Taste-wise, it’s a bit like salami. You can also eat it on its own, or as part of a tapas board.

Crema catalana looks and tastes a lot like crème brulee. In fact, many locals claim the Catalan version is actually the original. Wherever it came from, this melt-in-the-mouth pudding is a must-try while you’re here. It’s sweet and creamy and comes with lashings of cinnamon.

These beefy, garlicky sausages are most commonly eaten in a dish known as ‘botifarra amb mongetes’, in which the meat is mashed up with sweet white beans. ‘Escudella i carn d'olla’ is another popular meal. In this one, the sausage is sliced and added to boiled vegetables.

The Costa Dorada’s sunny climate makes it ideal for wine production. And, its variety of different landscapes – from steep hillsides to flat coastal plains – mean it has five recognised wine-growing regions that each produce tipples with their own distinct flavour. Whether you’re a fan of a full-bodied red, a dry white wine or sparkling cava, it all goes from grape to glass here.