Visiting Salou from Barcelona takes just one hour. Salou is next to the Portaventura Theme Park which is a good option to visit if you are with a family.
A popular summer beach resort on the Costa Daurada area, 112 KM south of Barcelona and 10 KM from Tarragona and Reus Airport. The resort has some great beaches, lively nightlife and many large resort types of hotels typical of the Spanish Costas. The world-famous theme park Portaventura theme park is just a few milometers away from the resort.
Portaventura theme park is around 10 minutes by car or taxi from Salou. The theme park has now grown in to one of Spain’s largest tourist attractions and a main reason for visitors staying in Salou. Portaventura does have its hotels within the theme park, these also include entry to Portaventura. I recommend that you stay at the resort of Salou and travel to Portaventura theme park. This is because Salou is a lively resort with many bars, restaurants, and nightlife. If you stay within the resort of Salou, you can easily get back to your hotel after enjoying the fantastic nightlife.
Visiting Salou from Barcelona can be visited the same day by train or can be combined as a combo city / beach holiday with Barcelona. The historic city of Tarragona with the UNESCO World Heritage Roman remains is only a short trip from the resort. Since the building of the Portaventura theme park, Salou has become a great holiday destination for families.
Is It Worth Visiting Salou From Barcelona?
My opinion is Salou is not worth visiting from Barcelona on a day trip. I feel, if you have the time to leave Barcelona and explore other areas, there are better places to visit. Salou is mainly a resort town, hotels, beaches, and nightlife. If you enjoy this sort of holiday, you could stay in Salou and then visit Barcelona for a day. If you have time, you could always stay a few nights in both places as part of a city and resort combo break. Salou comes to life in the high season months of June, July and August and can be very busy. During the winter months most hotels will be closed and the town will be very quiet.
If you are attracted to visiting Salou for the beach, please keep in mind Barcelona has several beaches within the city. Beaches such as Barceloneta Beach and Bogatell Beach offer many activities that are found in resorts like Salou. The nearest beach to the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is Barceloneta beach. There are numerous more beaches moving along the coast towards The Forum and Diagonal Mar shopping center.
How To Get To Salou From Barcelona
Travel time from Barcelona to Salou is around one and a half hours by the fastest train. There are about 10 trains a day each way. Another option is high speed train from Barcelona Sants to Tarragona, then Tarragona to Salou by bus or taxi. If you hire a car you will be able to drive from Salou to Portaventura Resort. Also with having a car you will be able to explore Tarragona and other nearby towns. Barcelona to Salou by car will take about 1 hour 10 minutes. You can hire a car in Barcelona from their offices inside Barcelona Sants train station.
You can also catch the bus Barcelona Nord bus station near the Arc de Triomf. The journey time by bus from Barcelona to Salou is about 2 hours. However, these times can vary, so it is best to check which bus options would be the quickest to Salou.
