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Salou: where to stay and how to get there from Ireland

Salou on the Costa Dorada: summer flights to Reus from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Belfast, PortAventura World, best months and where to stay.

Updated Saturday 17 October 2026

Why go

Salou is a family beach resort on the Costa Dorada, about 10 km from Tarragona and 112 km south of Barcelona. It has a long town beach, a landscaped promenade and a string of smaller coves around the headland.

Most families come for PortAventura World, on the edge of town. It has two theme parks, PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land, plus the Caribe Aquatic Park and six themed hotels. Ferrari Land’s Red Force is billed as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Europe.

Getting there from Ireland

The closest airport is Reus (REU), about 12 km away. Direct flights run in the summer season only:

  • Dublin: Ryanair, about 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Cork: Ryanair, about 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Shannon: Ryanair, about 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Belfast International: Jet2.com, TUI and easyJet, about 2 hours 30 minutes

A private transfer from Reus takes about 25 minutes. The Plana bus is cheaper and takes about 35 minutes to the first Salou stops.

Outside the Reus season, fly to Barcelona (BCN). Dublin has year-round flights with Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Vueling, and Cork has year-round Ryanair flights. From Barcelona, regional trains on line R17 run to Salou PortAventura station. Allow over an hour.

When to go

Air temperatures are monthly averages for Salou from Wikipedia’s climate table. Sea temperatures come from seatemperature.org.

  • Spring (April and May): highs of 19°C to 23°C. The sea is still cold, at 15°C to 18°C.
  • Summer (June to August): highs of 26°C to 29°C. The sea warms from 22°C to about 25°C in August. Peak season for families.
  • Autumn (September and October): highs of 26°C falling to 23°C. The sea holds at 22°C to 24°C. PortAventura runs its Halloween season from mid September to mid November.
  • Winter (December to February): highs of 14°C to 15°C. Cooler than the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca, so this is a theme park trip rather than a beach one. PortAventura Park holds a Christmas season from late November to 6 January.

Where to stay

  • Salou centre: Llevant beach and the Passeig Jaume I promenade, with shops and restaurants close by.
  • Cap Salou: the headland on the east side of town, with rocky coves and smaller beaches, quieter than the centre.
  • La Pineda: a beach resort just north east of Salou, with sandy beaches and the Aquopolis water park.
  • Cambrils: a harbour town just to the west, a calmer base for couples.

Good for

  • Families with theme park fans of any age
  • Teenagers who want big roller coasters
  • Short flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon
  • Combining a beach week with a day in Barcelona

Late deal tip

Book park tickets separately and only after you have the flights. Plana buses link Salou, La Pineda and Cambrils with PortAventura, so you don’t need a resort hotel to visit. If Reus has no direct flight on your dates, price a Barcelona flight plus the train, as it can open up far more dates.

Sources

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