Essential information for Costa Dorada

When to go

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, you can enjoy hot summers and mild winters in Costa Dorada. Average temperatures in August are 25°C but across the summer the temperature will often rise above 30°C. While winters aren’t too cold, averaging around 14°C, many water parks and tourist venues shut down, making it quieter, with less to do.

Health and safety

As with any holiday, you should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself and family on your trip.

If you’re visiting Costa Dorada specifically to take part in sports or water sports, including hiking, you should make sure your insurance covers this. See our holiday extras page for more information and for the latest health and safety information visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/health.

Passports and visas

British citizens don’t need a visa to enter the Spain but must have a valid passport. By law, you must carry your passport with you and may need to show it when paying by credit card. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements.

Getting around

Flights land at Reus airport and the majority of visitors only have a 20-minute transfer time to their resort, with the exception of Sitges, which is 40 minutes away. Most tour operators include transfers as part of a holiday package, so getting to your resort is easy. If you prefer to arrange your own travel, the airport taxi rank is located immediately outside the arrivals lounge. It costs approximately €30 to get to Salou by taxi from the airport.

Public buses are frequent in Costa Dorada around the towns and resorts, providing a cost-effective way of getting around. Cambrils, Salou and Sitges all have train stations, which present a great opportunity to travel around Spain. Major cities like Barcelona and Valencia are on the line or you can take the short trip to Tarragona. Taxis are a relatively cheap way of getting round your resort as short hops usually cost little more than a few Euros. There are taxi ranks throughout all of the main resorts and your hotel can help you book one in advance, to avoid the language barrier.

A hire car is a great way to see the area if you plan on moving around and taking in the main sites, as well as some of the more remote village sand beaches, there are many car hire companies to choose from, all offering a similar level of service and price. There is a good network of roads across Costa Dorada, linking the main towns and resorts as well as some scenic coastal routes that are more winding but still easily navigable.

Advice for travellers with children

In general, Costa Dorada is very family-friendly and most Spanish restaurants and bars welcome children. As the majority of resorts are only 15 to 20 minutes from the airport, there are lots of options for a holiday base with excitable children. Many families choose to stay in PortAventura to be right next to the PortAventura theme park. Alternatively, you might prefer to holiday in one of the nearby resorts, from lively Salou or peaceful Cap Salou.

Electricity

Connector type: Generally round two-pin plugs.
Voltage Info: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Emergency information

Call 112 for all emergencies and the operator will put you through to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service. The line is operated in five languages including English.

British Consulate

If you are a victim of crime or affected by a crisis overseas, or if something happens to a relative or partner contact the British Consulate.

Address: Avenida Diagonal, 477 -13º 08006, Barcelona
Email: spain.consulate@fco.gov.uk
Telephone (from within Spain): 902 109 356

Hospital

Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona Urgencies
Address: C/ Dr. Mallafre Guasch, 4, 43005 Tarragona, Spain
Telephone (from within Spain): 977 29 58 00