Places to explore on Costa Dorada holidays
Costa Dorada is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations and it is no wonder, with the excellent weather and wide choice of beaches making it a fantastic place for a relaxing break. If you want to do some exploring during your Costa Dorada holiday, there is an abundance of nearby places that could be worth seeing; here are some of the finest that you may want to sample.
Reus
A hidden gem of the Costa Dorada region and home to some of the most finest culture on offer in the area. The Gaudi Centre is one of Costa Dorada’s most interesting cultural sites, and hosts some amazing architecture of the Institut Pere Mata.
If you are staying in Costa Dorada hotels you may want to consider taking the time to visit both the Church of San Pedro and Bofarull Palace, which are amongst some of the most impressive buildings to be found in Spain.
Reus is also a great place to visit for golf fans, with the Club De Golf Reus Aiguesverds among the most popular courses in the Costa Dorada area.
Lunch in Sitges
Sitges is one of the most charming places in the Costa Dorada region and lunch on the promenade is the perfect way to spend a day while staying in Costa Dorada hotels. There are plenty of trendy tapas bars and stylish restaurants to try out, while the whitewashed old town provides many stunning photo opportunities.
Sitges also has its own long sandy beach, so if you are tired after a day of exploring the town, you can relax on the shore with a cocktail in hand to recharge your batteries.
Explore Tarragona’s ruins
One of the most spectacular tourist attractions in the area and located just a few minutes away from the centre of La Pineda, Tarragona was once the capital of Roman Spain and dominated by a gigantic seafront amphitheatre; here gladiators used to fight wild animals to the death for the entertainment of the local people. The chariot-racing circuit and the forum are among the other highlights of Tarragona’s ruins.
Montserrat’s stunning views
No holiday in Costa Dorada is complete without a trip to nearby Montserrat to enjoy its views. Seen by many as the spiritual centre of the Catalonia region, there is no doubt that Montserrat is one of the most stunning places in Europe. You can reach Montserrat via a cable car ride and the journey is well worth it as the views stretch as far as the Balearic Islands when the weather is clear.
The Black Madonna can be found in Montserrat as is Spain’s oldest boys’ choir. Their voices can be heard loud and clear at midday almost every day.
Cambrils
The summer season sees a lot of festivals taking place in Cambrils, especially towards the end of June which is perhaps an ideal time to visit.
One of the finest events on the annual calendar is the San Pedro Festival, which is held in the name of St Peter and is a day full of music and dancing. Crowds line the main Cambrils plazas and parades wind their way through the streets, with soldiers holding mock battles and dancers wearing extremely colourful costumes among the many memorable parts of the festival.
Cambrils itself has been given the Family Holiday Destination seal of quality, an award handed out by the Catalan government and is certainly one of the most popular places to visit while staying in Costa Dorada.
Salou
Salou is one of the liveliest places in Costa Dorada and is especially popular with families throughout the busy summer tourist season.
The town is home to the popular PortAventura resort but there is a lot more to Salou than its huge theme park as it also home to some of the finest beaches in the Costa Dorada area. Salou is a great place for water sports fans and offers various activities available to try out in the area.
There are plenty of historic sights to enjoy such as the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, the Torre Vella defence tower and the Fountains of the Font lluminosa. Salou also hosts a number of popular festivals throughout the year, from January’s Cavalcade of the Three Kings to the Festa de la Segregació, which is held on 30th October every year.
