Salou is the Costa Daurada's biggest beach resort, a purpose-built holiday town on the Catalan coast about 100 km south of Barcelona. It draws a largely British and Northern European crowd with its nine sandy beaches, warm shallow water, and PortAventura World — one of Europe's largest theme park complexes — just outside town.
It is not a place for those seeking authentic Catalan culture — Salou is unabashedly a mass-tourism destination, with seafront hotels, English-language pubs, and neon-lit nightlife strips. But if you want reliable sunshine, clean beaches, and easy entertainment for families or groups of friends, it does its job well. The Llevant Beach promenade is pleasant for an evening stroll, and the Illuminated Fountain puts on a light-and-music show at its end. The Camí de Ronda coastal path connects the rocky southern coves for those who want some exercise.
For a change of pace, Tarragona is only 10 km north, with its Roman amphitheatre and well-preserved old quarter. Barcelona is reachable in under three hours by train, and the mountain monastery of Montserrat makes an excellent day trip.