Terminal Drop-Off Charge

From 1 November 2021, a £5 charge will apply for vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated drop-off zones, located directly outside the terminals. Discounts and exemptions will apply. Free drop-off will be available at the Long Stay car parks.

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Changes to entering the UK using EU ID cards

From 1 October 2021, most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals will need to use a valid passport to travel to the UK. ID cards will no longer be accepted as a valid travel document to enter the UK, though some exemptions will apply. 

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    • Costa Dorada

    Costa Dorada travel guide

    View Spain travel guide

    Overview

    The hue of the fine sand on the wide, wonderful beaches of Spain's Costa Dorada (Golden Coast) has given this popular holiday region its name. The 20 or so towns and villages along this 120-mile (200km) stretch of Mediterranean coastline, south of Barcelona, have become built up with hundreds of hotels, camp sites, and apartment blocks, catering mainly for family vacationers.

    Entertainment consists largely of enjoying the shallow and gentle sea, ideal for the bucket and spade brigade, and there are some large, thrilling theme and waterparks at the local resorts to keep everybody amused.

    Enhancing the area's natural and historic attractions is its sunny, temperate climate. Visitors who enjoy soaking up some local culture and history along with the sun, will find the Costa Dorada has plenty to offer, particularly the main regional city of Tarragona, which was an important army base in Roman times and today boasts historical ruins and a variety of museums.

    Excursions inland among the vineyards, olive groves, and almond plantations take in the quaint medieval city of Montblanc, with its fine Gothic church. At Poblet there are some interesting ruins of former monasteries dating back to the 12th century. The Costa Dorada receives millions of visitors every year and has earned its reputation as a holiday paradise.

    Tarragona

    The Costa Dorada's main city, Tarragona, was originally built on a rocky bluff and can trace its roots back to 218 BC, when it was founded by the ancient Romans as a military base. Impressive vestiges of its ancient past still remain in the form of ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, aqueduct, forum, and other buildings situated on the Paseo Arqueologico (Archaeological Promenade), which leads to some panoramic viewpoints. A wide boulevard called the Rambla Nova represents the modern main street outside the old city walls. A popular outing for visitors is to explore the old harbour, known as El Serrallo, and watch the fishing boats arrive and auction their catch.

    Tarragona Tarragona Provincial Government of Tarragona Tourism Board
    Montblanc

    The fortified medieval centre of Montblanc is gloriously well preserved. The historic old quarter is best explored on foot and notable sights include the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, the Sant Miguel Church, the Sant Marcal Church, the Royal Palace, and the Castla Palace, all dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The picturesque village celebrates its medieval heritage every year in April with a two-week festival filled with parades and fireworks, which commemorates the legend of Saint George killing the dragon. Montblanc is inland from the port city of Tarragona and very close to the UNESCO-listed Poblet Monastery, which is one of the most famous attractions in the Costa Dorada. The kings of Aragon and Catalonia were buried here.

    Montblanc Montblanc Till F. Teenck

    Phrase Book

    English Pronounciation
    Reus Airport
    Location: Situated in Costa Dorada, between Constantí and Reus, approximately 6 miles (9km) from the city of Tarragona in Catalonia.
    Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).
    Transfer Between Terminals: The Reus Airport has an arrivals and a departures terminal. The terminals are situated within walking distance of each other.
    Getting to the city: Barcelona is 46 miles (75km) to the north and can be reached by public and private transport. There are public buses opposite the arrivals terminal and public transport travels into Reus centre, Barcelona and various locations on the coast of the Costa Dorada, as well as to Tarragona.
    Car Rental:
    Airport Taxis: There are taxis and mini-van taxis available outside the arrivals terminal, the official Reus Airport taxis are white with a blue stripe on the door. Airport taxis operate 24 hours a day. The journey to Reus takes about 10 minutes.
    Facilities:
    Parking There is parking next to the airport.
    Website: www.aena.es

    Apart from the obvious appeal of the turquoise Mediterranean sea and stretches of golden sand, the Costa Dorada boasts a number of interesting cultural and historical sightseeing attractions for holidaymakers. Salou is a very popular resort, as are its neighbouring resorts of La Pineda and Cambrils, and Sitges is another great favourite on the Costa Dorada. All of these lovely beach destinations are conveniently close to Barcelona and the ancient Roman stronghold of Tarragona. If the myriad attractions of these coastal cities are not sufficient for day trippers, excursions should be taken a little way inland to the fortified medieval village of Montblanc, and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Poblet Monastery. Another historic monastery nearby is the Royal Monastery of Santes Creus, which is also definitely worth a visit for culture vultures. For less culture and more physical thrills, holidaymakers can spend the day at PortAventura Theme Park, a massive, and massively popular, amusement park, very near La Pineda.

    There are good local bus services connecting the main towns and resorts along the Costa Dorada, and a reliable train service connecting Salou, Tarragona, Sitges and Barcelona. Car rental is a good option for those who want to explore the interior.

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    No direct flights from Heathrow to this Destination