The Costa Dorada is one of the most popular coasts in Catalonia. The name translates to “The Golden Coast” and it’s known for its beaches of fine golden sands, pristine waters and breathtaking natural landscapes. Although it’s not as well known as the Costa del Sol or the Costa Brava, this dazzling coastline has plenty to offer anyone looking for a memorable beach holiday.
Whether you’re travelling with the whole family, in a couple or with a group of friends, there’s a Costa Dorada beach to suit all needs. With so many beautiful stretches of coastline, it can be difficult to decide on the beach destination for you.
From north to south, we’ll guide you through the best beaches on the Costa Dorada, from its more central, popular beaches to its secret, hidden bays and isolated nudist coves. We’ve condensed all the essential information, helping you to make an easy decision for your next beach holiday in Spain.
1. Cunit Beach, Tarragona
Cunit beach is 2km of golden sand, broken up into seven half-moon-shaped breakwaters. The waters inside the half moons are quiet and shallow, making it an especially safe and unique beach for young children.
Each of the seven mini beaches has at least one beach side restaurant and other facilities including sun lounger and umbrella rental, toilets, water sport rental, football posts and pedalo rental.
Cunit is a quiet coastal town located about 50km from the historic city of Tarragona, it’s on the most northerly part of the Costa Dorada, where it joins the Costa de Barcelona. The distance of this town from Tarragona means that there are not so many tourists and the area still remains very natural and untouched, surrounded by beautiful mountains. It’s the perfect combination of nature and beach and would make a great outdoor activity holiday destination for both young and active families.
2. Calafell Beach, Tarragona
Another beautiful beach located in the province of Tarragona is Calafell Beach, which belongs to the historical town of Calafell. The town is located 1,5km inland and is the perfect destination for anyone looking to combine a sightseeing holiday with a beach holiday, as the surrounding Roman towns are really worth exploring.
Calafell Beach is five kilometres of soft, golden sand stretching from the Segur Yacht Club down to L’Estany Beach. This beach is great for families as the waters are warm, calm and clean, there are children’s playgrounds, sun loungers for rent and a great range of water sport options. For visitors with reduced mobility, there are also adapted walkways and car parks close by.
3. Coma-Ruga Beach, Tarragona
Coma-Ruga is one of the three Blue Flag beaches belonging to the town of El Vendrell. Coma-Ruga beach has had it’s Blue Flag since 1988 and is 2km in length and 120 metres in width of soft, golden sands and calm waters.
Facilities include sun lounger rental, umbrella rental, toilets, showers and water sports rental. This is the most centrally located of the three beaches, right next to the Masia Blanca Marina and thus, it’s also the most popular beach in the area and can get very crowded - aim to get here as early as possible.
4. Cala de Canyadell Cove, Tarragona
This quiet, semi-urban cove is 60 metres long and 35 metres wide, it has golden sands and calm waters. This cove is cleaned regularly but has no facilities and thus, is very quiet and uncrowded. It doesn't have a lifeguard and is surrounded by a small forest giving it a secluded feeling of privacy.
The only way to access this beach is by foot, making it unsuitable for anyone with reduced mobility or the very young or elderly. This beach is perfect for couples or groups of friends looking for a private, relaxing beach destination, as it is famous for its tranquillity and natural beauty.
5. Altafulla Beach, Tarragona
Altafulla is a medieval town located in the Tarragona province, just 10 minutes from Tarragona city centre and one hour from Barcelona.
This beach has fine, golden sand and has also been certified with the Blue Flag award. The beach is around 1,100 metres long and 20 metres wide and runs from Cap Gros to La Roca del Gaia. There’s access for people with reduced mobility and a lifeguard service making it perfect for a Tarragona holiday with young children.
Being situated so close to the city, makes this beach's location ideal for family holidays because the city of Tarragona itself is a great place to go with children, as there's plenty to do and see. The fantastic climate on the Costa Dorada means that families can enjoy the beach, the nature and the activities on offer in Altafulla almost all year round.
6. Platja de Tamarit Beach, Tarragona
Platja de Tamarit Beach is another of Tarragona’s golden Blue Flag beaches, the sand here is soft and fine and cleaned every day. It slopes gently down to the sea, making it the perfect places for families to bring young children to paddle, play and swim.
The beach is 1,750 metres long and 45 metres wide, it has a range of facilities including toilets, showers, sun lounger and umbrella rental, bars, restaurants and coffee shops, bike rental, boat rides and water sports, plus disabled access and floating wheelchairs.
This beach is located next to the Gaià River Delta Nature Reserve and is lined by poplar trees, willow trees and reeds. The nature reserve is home to many species of birds and is a great place to go walking as it has a number of good quality trials.
The wide range of facilities and high level of safety at this beach make it perfect for long beach days with the whole family. The beautiful views of Tamarit Castle and the tranquil forest setting make for a truly unforgettable beach holiday on the Costa Dorada.
7. Platja de la Mora Beach, Tarragona
Platja de la Mora beach is 520 metres long and 65 metres wide, it has medium grain sand which is not as soft as some of the other beaches in the Tarragona area. There are basic services including showers, toilets, first aid and a big car park.
The slope descending to the sea is quite steep so families with young children must bear this in mind and take precaution. Another thing for parents to bear in mind is that nudity is also permitted on this beach.
8. Cala de la Roca Plana Cove, Tarragona
Cala de la Roca Plana Cove is an isolated nudist beach located on the edge of the Bosque de la Marquesa Forest. It is 205 metres long and 26 metres wide, like all of the beaches in Tarragona it has fine, golden sand which is cleaned weekly.
The waters are clean and shallow and the beach doesn't get busy very often, so it’s a good choice for those looking for a quiet, relaxed beach day. This beach is very secluded and difficult to get to, there is no disabled access and would perhaps not be a first choice for families as there are no facilities.
9. Cala Fonda Cove aka Waikiki Beach, Tarragona
Commonly referred to as Waikiki Beach, the isolated Cala Fonda Beach is located just a few kilometres from Tarragona, a little further south than the Cala de la Roca Plana cove and is one of the most unspoiled and well preserved beaches in the area. This nudist beach is surrounded by the aromatic Bosque de la Marquesa Pine Forest and huge, yellow limestone cliffs.
The beach is 200 metres by 25 metres of fine, golden sand and boasts warm shallow waters. Like other secluded beaches, Cala Fonda does not have any services or facilities so if you are planning a day out here, it would be best to bring your own food, drinks and umbrellas. You can only access this beach by foot and there is no disabled access.
10. L’Arrabassada Beach, Tarragona
This semi-urban Tarragona beach is 550 metres long and 60 metres wide, the sand is clean and soft and the waters are calm and warm. The beach is cleaned on a daily basis and there are lifeguards, footbridges and disabled access making this beach accessible and safe for all.
The beach has a range of facilities including cafes, bars, restaurants, showers, toilets, lockers, umbrella and sun lounger rental, a large car park, water sport rental, a children’s play area and even a surf practising area. This beach is easily accessed by both car and on foot and it’s a very popular beach for all ages.
11. Playa del Milagro Beach, Tarragona
Playa del Milagro is another of Tarragona’s unmissable beaches and is one of the most popular and busy beaches in the area. The beach lies along the stretch of road which connects the town centre with the port, making it very accessible and convenient for holidaymakers staying in Tarragona's historic city centre. The beach is lined by a modern promenade, palm trees and numerous outdoor terraces.
Playa del Milagro is 500 metres long by 70 metres wide of fine golden sand, its waters are calm and warm and the seabed slopes gently, making it perfect for young or elderly swimmers. It also has a variety of services including a lifeguard, disabled access, showers, toilets, sun lounger rental, bars and restaurants, a car park and a children’s play area. The beach is also just a short walk from the port which has bars, restaurants, banks, car rental and more.
12. Cala Penya Tallada Cove, Salou
This adorable, secluded cove is 125 metres long and 10 metres wide and is surrounded by fragrant pine trees and lush vegetation. Thanks to its isolated location, this cove is one of the best beaches in Salou, as it's not very well known by tourists and it rarely gets busy or overcrowded.
You'll never have trouble finding a space for your towel but you'll also not be able to find any kind of facility here, instead you can focus on spending a day of your Salou holiday disconnected from the rest of the world and immersed in the sweet-smelling natural environment.
13. Playa Larga Beach, Salou
Salou is one of the most popular destinations on the Costa Dorada, its Playa Larga beach is located just outside the city centre and is surrounded by a fresh pine forest.
This semi-urban beach is 600 metres long by 35 metres wide and boasts fine golden sand, calm waters and basic facilities including toilets, umbrellas, showers and sun lounger rental.
There’s also jet ski and pedalo rental, so you have the opportunity to view this beautiful coastline and enjoy one of the fun family activities Salou has to offer.
14. Playa del Regueral, Cambrils
The next town along the Costa Dorada, to the south of Salou is the beautiful coastal town of Cambrils. Cambrils is a hugely popular family beach destination due to its many big, safe beaches and plentiful family activities.
Playa del Regueral is the main beach of Cambrils, it sits right next to the town centre and the beach promenade runs down the length of the beach. The beach is easily accessible due to it's central location and thus, it's very popular with families, locals and tourists alike making it a very busy beach.
With the wide range of interesting things to do and see in Cambrils, its main beach is no different. It's 1,2km stretch of sand is lined with bars, restaurants, showers, sun lounger rental and volleyball courts and there's also a good range of water sport activities to choose from, including banana boats and water skiing.
15. Playa de Vilafortuny Beach, Cambrils
Another of Cambrils' golden beaches is the Playa de Vilafortuny beach, which is connected to Playa del Regural. It's a 1,5km by 70m stretch of golden sand and has a range of facilities including showers, sun lounger rental and children's playgrounds, which make it ideal for a family holiday in Cambrils.
16. Cala de les Sirenes Cove, Miami Platja, Cambrils
The Cala de les Sirenes cove is part of the Miami Platja stretch of coastline and is 180 metres long. The sands are fine and the water is calm, although the slope going down to the sea is quite uneven, so care must be taken when entering the water especially with the young and elderly.
The beach is cleaned on a daily basis and there are a few basic services including showers, a restaurant and water sports rental. It’s one of eight small coves which are all classed as protected natural areas. The area surrounding the cove is rocky and filled with pines trees and shrubs.
17. El Torn Beach, Cambrils
Located in a protected natural area just a few minutes from the town of L’Hospital de L’Infant, this nudist beach offers the perfect combination of unspoilt beach and lush natural scenery. It’s quite isolated and so is very peaceful and perfect for relaxing without being surrounded by big crowds.
El Torn Beach is 1,400 metres long and around 70 metres wide, the sand is dark and the waters are quiet and warm. The beach is cleaned regularly and has some basic facilities including toilets and sun lounger rental. This beach is perfect for friends or couples looking for a place to relax in seclusion and tranquillity.
18. Riumar Beach, Cambrils
Riumar Beach is 150m wide and almost 4km long and extends along the eastern side of the Delta de L’ebre area. It is one of the few beaches on this coast that has sand dunes and boasts fine, soft golden sand and shallow water, making it both an entertaining and safe choice for a family holiday on the Costa Dorada. The beach is not very busy and due to it’s size it’s never crowded, the frequent windy days here create good waves making it a popular beach with surfers and windsurfers. It has plenty of facilities including a car park, showers, red cross station, beach bars and water sports rental.
It’s located in the Delta de L’ebre Nature Reserve which is home so many species of birds. The park has a number of walking paths and observation points, making this beach the ideal destination for wildlife and water sport enthusiasts.
With such a variety of beaches to choose from, the Costa Dorada is the ideal destination for your next beach holiday in Spain. Whether you're travelling with children, family or friends, you have all the information you need to make an easy decision on the best Costa Dorada beach destination for you!