Weather forecast Salou

Salou (including rainfall and temperature averages)

The town of Salou, 92 km down the Costa Dorada from Barcelona, is today one of the top resorts in Catalonia, attracting Catalans and foreigners alike with its warm Mediterranean climate and wealth of activities. It wasn’t always so peaceful: first established as a port by the Greeks, in 1229 it was the departure point for James I of Aragon’s fleet when he set out to conquer the Balearic Islands and in 1286 his descendant Alfons III of Aragon set out from here to attack Minorca, the last bastion of Islam in the islands. After these illustrious moments, it went steadily downhill until it became known as a nest of pirates. In 1530 the Archbishop of Tarragona had a new defence tower erected, which helped to quell the problem, but it was not until the opening of the railway station in 1865 that Salou was really re-established as an attractive place to live. The tourism boom of the 1950s brought first local and later international tourists, and the town has never looked back.

The modern part of the town is not beautiful – a wide swathe of apartment blocks and hotels, it has been built to be functional. The seafront makes up for it though, with magnificent sun drenched beaches interspersed with rocky coves, all pristinely clean. Salou beaches have thirty-four blue flags, the top EU designation. Passeig Jaume I, the promenade, is one of the most beautiful in the region, running right along the coast adjacent to Llevant Beach. The old town is also very pretty, with gorgeous landscaped gardens and squares, elaborate fountains that are lit up at night and the foreboding Torre Vella dominating over it all. For a more authentic feel, head to Cambrils, a fishing village 7 km to the south.

One of the major attractions is the PortAventura resort on the outskirts of town. With three theme parks, a golf course and a plethora of gourmet restaurants, this is an easy place to while away a few days in gentle luxury. Thrill seekers will love Furius Bacu, the fastest rollercoaster in Europe. At Llevant Beach, there is a wide range of water sports including banana boating, water skiing and jet skiing. The aqua park at Pineda has a great selection of rides and slides, or kids of all ages can go go-karting at the custom-made track. There’s an excellent selection of souvenir stores and fashion boutiques, although serious shoppers will want to make the journey to Las Ramblas in Barcelona, just an hour away by train. History lovers will enjoy a trip to the medieval town of Tarragona, built on a rocky bluff 10 km away.

As you might expect in a place where tourism is the main industry, there’s a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. Die-hard Brits will enjoy fish and chips or steak sarnies at one of the many pubs, while more adventurous eaters will have trouble choosing what kinds of seafood to try. Most restaurants have a tank – you point at the crab, lobster or prawns you want to eat and they are killed and prepared especially for you. If that sounds a bit too much, try one of the many tapas bars. Artichokes baked in the over, salt cod with mayonnaise, spicy butifarra sausages and fried peppers are among the best things to eat. Nightlife here is a bit quiet but 007 Bond, Charlie Chaplin’s and Double Scotch are all good places to end an evening.