Explore Costa Dorada
Golden beaches, family-friendly seaside towns and Tarragona's Roman heritage shape life by the sea.
About Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada, the "golden coast", runs south of Barcelona along the province of Tarragona. It is named after its long, golden sandy beaches, with shallow water that is ideal for children. It is one of Catalonia's most family-friendly coasts.
Tarragona is a Roman city with a UNESCO-listed amphitheatre and old town by the sea. Salou is a lively family resort next to the PortAventura theme park, with a new train station since 2025. High-speed trains stop at Camp de Tarragona, just inland, and Reus airport serves the coast, mainly in summer.
Prices are lower than on the Costa Brava or around Barcelona: Tarragona asks around €2,100/m² and Salou around €2,747/m².
What to know first
- Long, golden sandy beaches with shallow water
- Lower prices than the Costa Brava and Barcelona
- Roman Tarragona, a UNESCO World Heritage city
- Salou, a family resort next to PortAventura
- Strict holiday-rental rules, with many licences expected to end in 2028
Asking prices compared
Ranked on asking price per m². Municipalities and sub-municipal entries are listed apart, because a district cannot be ranked against the municipality that contains it.
| Place | Asking price / m² | Population | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole municipalities | |||
| Salou | €2,747/m² | 31,018 | Mid |
| Tarragona | €2,100/m² | 143,260 | Mid |
How the prices spread
Salou asks more than Tarragona, as a popular holiday resort with many second homes. Tarragona, a large city with a wide range of districts, is the cheaper of the two, and prices vary a lot within the city.
The table shows average asking prices, not sale prices. Within one town, prices can vary a lot from one area to the next.
Cities in Costa Dorada
Browse properties by city
Tarragona
Costa Dorada
€2,100/m² · Population 143.260
Salou
Costa Dorada
€2,747/m² · Population 31.018
The case for
- Long sandy beaches
Golden sand and shallow water, ideal for families.
- Lower prices
Clearly cheaper than Barcelona and the Costa Brava.
- History
Tarragona's Roman remains are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Trains
Salou and Tarragona have stations, and high-speed trains stop at Camp de Tarragona.
- Barcelona within reach
About an hour by train.
The case against
- Holiday lets are being cut back
Salou is expected to lose more than half its holiday-let licences in 2028.
- Busy in summer
Salou is very crowded in July and August.
- Few flights in winter
Reus airport mainly has summer flights.
- High purchase tax
Catalonia's transfer tax starts at 10%.
- Quiet out of season
Resort areas are much quieter in winter.
Questions buyers ask
- Where is the Costa Dorada?
- South of Barcelona, along the province of Tarragona.
- Is it cheaper than the Costa Brava?
- Yes, clearly. Tarragona and Salou ask less per square metre than the Costa Brava towns.
- Is there a train?
- Yes. Salou and Tarragona have stations, and Camp de Tarragona, just inland, has high-speed trains to Barcelona and Madrid.
- How do I get there?
- Reus airport is closest, mainly in summer. Barcelona airport is about an hour away.
- Can I let my home to tourists?
- Licences are capped, and many must be renewed by November 2028. In Salou, more than half are expected to end. Check before you buy.
- What taxes do I pay when buying?
- On a resale home, 10% transfer tax, with a higher rate on the most expensive homes. New-build homes pay VAT instead of transfer tax.
Where you might be better off elsewhere
If you want rocky coves and villages, the Costa Brava to the north is the alternative, at higher prices. If you want warmer winters and lower purchase taxes, the Costa del Azahar and Costa Blanca to the south are worth comparing. And if you want to let to holidaymakers, the Catalan rules are among the strictest in Spain.