Costa Dorada: Local Travel Info

Internal flights and major international airports

The nearest international airport is 15 minutes drive away known as Reus airport which handles regular international chartered flights and 35 domestic flights a week. International tourists can also arrive at Aeroport de Barcelona, (also known as El Prat), which is around a 60 minute drive northeast along the coast; this also has domestic charter flights running daily.

Getting to and from the airport

There are various ways to get to and from Barcelona and Reus Airports.

Barcelona Airport:
There are frequent direct buses from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona. The bus departs at the bus stop between Terminal A and B. Bus fares costs around €13 for a single journey. A Taxi rank is available from the terminals at El Prat airport, and can be easily ordered from your hotel. A taxi from Barcelona to Tarragona will cost around €125. Many hotels run a shuttle service where you are taken to and from the airport.

Reues Airport:
There is a direct bus from Reus airport to Tarragona. The buses are managed by Hispano Igualdina, and depart from the arrivals terminal and terminate at Tarragona bus station. Taxis are available from the taxi rank, located at the front of the terminal building.

The National road N-420 takes you directly to Tarragona by car.

Travel Costs

Taxis have varying rates, and depend on whether you travel at bank holidays, the time of day you take a taxi, as well as whether you have luggage, and the basic fare is around €2.00 a kilometre. However, it is advisable to book licensed Taxis in advance or check their accreditation before getting in the car. If the driver refuses to use a meter, make sure you agree a price before you commence your journey, as taxis will target tourists and will sometimes overcharge holidaymakers. The bus system is reliable and economical and ranges from €1.15 to around €8.00 depending on the journey, but is one of the best ways to travel in the Costa Dorada, Autocars Plana is the bus company that runs a huge range of routes in this coastal region. Renting cars is also a popular choice for many holidaymakers, and means that you can reach isolated areas and have a lot of freedom in the Costa Dorada. Renting a car costs around €32, so is a great choice for a couple or family wishing to tour this area of Spain. However, be vigilant when renting the car and check for damage and restrictions on mileage, and any hidden extra costs before driving off.

Renting cars

One of the best ways to see the coastal region of Costa Dorada is by renting a car. There are a range of car rental companies in the area with each offering variety of options. Renting an economical car for ten days costs around €32 to €40 a day, depending on the chosen company and class of vehicle, be vigilant about limits on mileage, the terms and conditions, and the condition of the car before driving off.

If you're thinking of hiring a car in the Costa Dorada, view our Car Hire Section in the main tab above. We search the net to find the best car hire rates for the Costa Dorada available. We also provide links to last minute Costa Dorada Car rental offers. We advise you book your hire car in advance so you can pick it up and drop it off directly at the airport.

Drivers licenses requirements?

To rent a car anywhere in Spain including the Costa Dorada, drivers must be at least 21 years of age, and have held a licence for one year. Drivers under the age of 25 may be subject to a young driver surcharge. An International Drivers Licence is highly recommended for non-EU residents.

Rules

In Costa Dorada, visitors must drive on the right at all times, and the wearing of seatbelts is obligatory. The use of child seats is compulsory for children up to the age of 3, and children under the age of 12 must not sit in the front seat.
Speed limits should be strictly adhered to which are a maximum of 31 mph (50 km/h) for a city, 55 mph (90 km/h) for open roads, and 74 mph (120 km/h) for motorway driving.

Buses in Costa Dorada

At Tarragona Station there are buses available. Line 2 goes to Plaza Imperial; from there, autobuses going to the near cities can be connected. In fact, there is a wide variety of bus lines connecting Tarragona with the rest of the Costa Dorada. In addition to the Tarragona stop there are also Terminals in Reus Tortosa and Valls While there are many bus companies in the region, Autocars Plana is the most popular company and covers the majority of the Costa Dorada, and is a reliable service. Bus fares start from around €1.15, but this depends on the distance you wish to travel. Longer bus trips can be booked in advance: a bus fare from Tarragona to Barcelona costs €8.95. Buses are an economical and advisable way to travel, as many are modern with air conditioning. It is worth comparing the prices of different bus companies for long distance travel, to get the best prices and options for your journey.

Costa Dorada by taxi

In the Costa Dorada, taxis charge two different charges depending on the time of day, the day of the week, and whether it is a public holiday. Tariff T-2 is charged between 08:00 and 20:00, with the minimum fare starting at €2.00 with the price per kilometre costing €0.86. Any waiting time is charged at €18.60 per hour. Tariff T-1 is applicable between 20:00 and 08:00 and all day on Saturdays and public holidays. The minimum fare is the same as T-2, but the cost per kilometre is €1.10. Any waiting time is charged at a higher hourly rate of €18.80. €1 is charged per suitcase.

Cycling in the Costa Dorada

Costa Dorada is a great place to hire a bike, the coastal region is flat, sunny with miles of glorious beaches, so you can have a leisurely cycle along the coast in pure bliss. For a more stretching ride, tackle the mountain ranges in the area too. Bikes are available from the cities in Costa Dorada, such as Barcelona and Tarragona, and cost €8 for 2 hours €16 for up to 6 hours, and €24 Euros for a whole day, a week’s rental is around €80. It is easy to rent a bike and there is an array of options, from varying types of bikes, you can also book a bike for 2 hours or a whole week, so cycling in this sun drenched Mediterranean land is a flexible and enjoyable option for many holidaymakers.

Hitchhiking in the Costa Dorada

It is generally not advised to hitchhike in the Costa Dorada, as this can be a risky activity; in terms of crime and leaving oneself very vulnerable, some criminals prey on foreign visitors who hitchhike, so it is better to find other ways to travel around Spain and the Costa Dorada region.