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Costa Dorada weather forecast and travel guide by Cheaperholidays.com.
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Costa Dorada holiday Guide and weather forecast.
 A holiday to the Costa Dorada the Catalan 'golden coast' of Tarragona Province, opens up the wonderful golden beaches of Spain’s Costa Dorada (Golden Coast) which has given this popular holiday destination its name.
The 20 or so towns and villages along this 120-mile (200km) stretch of Mediterranean coastline, south of Barcelona, have become built up with hundreds of hotels, camp sites and apartment blocks, catering mainly for family holidays.
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Entertainment on the Costa Dorada consists largely of enjoying the "shallow, transparent, gentle sea," ideal for the ‘bucket and spade’ brigade, and the large, thrilling theme and waterparks at the local resorts.
 Visitors who enjoy soaking up some local culture and history find the Costa Dorada has plenty to show, particularly the main regional city of Tarragona, which was an important army base in Roman times and today boasts historical ruins and a variety of museums.
 Excursions inland, among vineyards, olive groves and almond plantations, take in the quaint medieval city of Montblanc with its fine Gothic church, and there are some interesting monastery ruins dating back to the 12th century at Poblet. Adding to the area’s natural and historic attractions is the sunny, temperate climate.
Getting Around There are good local bus services within the main towns and resorts and a reliable train service connecting Salou, Tarragona, Sitges and Barcelona. Car rental is a good option for those who want to explore the interior. Drivers must hold a full driving license and be over 21. Attractions Port Aventura: This massive theme park, based on Busch Gardens in Florida, attracts holidaymakers from far afield to its five worlds (Far West, Mediterránia, Mexico, China and Polynesia).
Choose from the following holiday resorts in the Costa Dorada:
Salou
This beautiful town first became a place to see and be seen at the beginning of the 20th century, when rich visitors came from Barcelona to build their stunning Modernist (Art Nouveau) villas on the pretty palm-fringed promenade. Salou's beaches are regularly awarded the European Environmental Education Foundation's Blue Flag for quality, cleanliness and good facilities. Another big draw is the palm-lined promenade leading to the bustling harbour and highly popular funfair with old-fashioned rides.
Sitges
One of the most cosmopolitan of mainland Spain's coastal resorts, the broad-minded appeal of Sitges has traditionally attracted a bohemian crowd headed at one time by the one and only Salvador Dali. As well as museums, galleries and stunning architecture, you'll also find a glorious serious of golden sandy beaches that are well-equipped to cater for all the beach worshippers and culture vultures that come to this super resort.
The Costa Dorada’s main city, Tarragona, has almost doubled in size during the last few decades, its residential districts continually expanding around the medieval core. Tarragona, originally built on a rocky bluff, can trace its roots back to 218 BC, when it was founded by the ancient Romans as a legionnaires military base.
Vestiges of its past still remain in the form of ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, aqueduct, forum and other buildings sited on the Paseo Arqueologico (Archaeological Avenue), which leads to some panoramic viewpoints. A wide boulevard called the Rambla Nova represents the modern main street outside the old city walls.
A popular outing for visitors is to explore the old harbour, known as El Serrallo, to watch the fishing boats arrive and auction their catch. The city also sports some excellent beaches on its doorstep, including Playa Llarga, regarded as one of the biggest and best on the Catalonian coast. Among the many museums is an archaeological museum devoted to Roman antiquities; the Diocesan Museum displaying Gothic paintings, sculptures and tapestries; and a house museum detailing the life and career of renowned cellist, Pablo Casals.
Eating out: Local Catalan specialities include butifarra Catalan sausages with white beans. A selection of restaurants and bars will cater for all. The quieter resort of Cambrils offers a large selection of seafood as is situated around a small harbour.
Night on the town: Salou has the widest selection of bars, discos, and flamenco bars. But other resorts have a small selection of cafe's bars and restaurants offering a quieter more reserved nightlife.
Shopping: The Salou's street markets have good deals on leather, lace as well as local arts and crafts.
Day trips: The newly opened Port Aventura amusement park at Salou; Barcelona has everything from hundreds of shops to a beautiful Cathedral. The Monastery of Santa Maria at Poblet has been restored to its original glory and is well worth a visit. Or the Aqua Park at La Pineda is only a short bus ride away.
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