Costa Dorada holidays - travel guide - activities & sights

Prepare to embark on a trip through the five exciting lands of the PortAventura theme park where you'll find fun-packed attractions and stunning spectacles. Experience wild water adventures in Caribe Aquatic Park. PortAventura is one of Europe's largest theme parks, with thrilling rides, such as the rollercoaster ride of 'Dragon Khan' which will take your breath away, there's also the fun wizzing 'tea cups' for kids to enjoy. Enjoy the thrill and fun of meandering through these five exciting lands, and make sure you take time out to sample the tasty cuisine of each land. There are various food eateries and outlets for you to stop off at. It's FUN for the whole family!

As you'd expect with a glittering coastline like Costa Dorada's, water plays an important part in anybody's holiday so there is just about every watersport you can think of (and probably a few you haven't). Most activity and fun revolves around the games on the beach, and the main beaches along the coast will provide you with sailing, windsurfing, parasailing, bananas, boats and pedalos.

One of the best ways to appreciate area is to jump on a bike and explore the area at leisure. Walking is another good way to get out and about for exploring the local area - the promenade is always busy with local activities including street artists, and if you feel like go-karting, La Pineda is the place to head for.

Earning its name from the 200 kilometres of golden beaches which line its shores, Salou's beaches nestle inside a sweeping bay where soft sands shelve gently into shallow waters creating a safe and sunny playground for families and children. The sands at Cambrils stretch for nine kilometres and during the summer months, you'll be lucky to try out the variety of fun-packed watersports on offer. La Pineda backed by a wooden-decked promenade offers a long sandy beach, and there are dozens of small and rocky isolated coves which dot the main coastal road to the resort itself. Meanwhile in Stiges there's long swathes of award-winning golden sands to which are perfect for sunbathing and swimming.

This hip and happening city, Barcelona is the largest city and capital of Cataluna, and has a reputation that makes other cities positively envious. Each year visitors flock here, and the city's popularity continues sore. Barcelona is a city with a unique identity and all that's avant-garde. A visit here will leave you with holiday memories - bustling tree-lined boulevards and stylish chic streets, the city is cosmopolitan city and trendy. Stop off at a pavement cafe or indulge in one of the trendy bars, you will also love a stroll through the city's trendy main thoroughfare. The design and fascinating architecture which scatters the city is radical and unique. Check-out the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's key focal point - here you can gaze up at its turrets and spires. This world famous unique architectural church-in-progress was built by Antonio Gaudi - it's like something out of a Salvador Dali painting. There are loads of architectural oddities all awaiting to be discovered in Parc Guell - another Gaudi special, including what can somewhat be described as toy town gingerbread houses. Another more up-to-date focal point is the modern Nou Camp stadium - home of Barcelona FC. Aside the new designs, and architecture, why not experience a slice of the past and stroll around the old Gothic quarter - it's one of Europe's best-surviving examples of a Medieval town, here you'll find a variety of antique shops, underground tapas bars and buzzing nightspots. The city does not stop as the sun kicks in either, so check out the buzzing nightlife which will easily keep you enthralled until the early hours. Visitors don't tend to head to Barcelona for beaches, but Barcelona has no less than four sandy beaches to head for if you feel like a spot of sunbathing, only ten minutes from the city centre.

This beautiful town was once an important Roman city and is crammed with well-preserved Roman ruins to admire. Elegant and typically Spanish, the town is perfect for leisurely strolling and its main street, the Rambla Nova, is lined with excellent restaurants and cafés, perfect for watching the world go by over a plate of tapas. Roman remains and interesting antique shops pepper the walled old quarter, and there's a stunning, well-conserved Roman amphitheatre overlooking the beach, together with a 12th century cathedral and archaeological museum. Make sure you sample the local white wine with your meal here as Tarragona is famous for it!