La Pineda, Costa Dorada - Attractions
Beaches - Accommodation - Day Trips - Nightlife - Car Hire
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La Pineda is located in the Spanish region of Catalonia on the Costa Dorada. It's one of a trio of popular tourist destinations which all merge into one another along this stretch of coastline. Salou is the undisputed tourist capital of the Costa Dorada, immediately to the south west of Pineda, and a little further south there's the fishing village of Cambrils. Pineda is by no means the liveliest of the three resorts and active teenagers would find the pace here a bit slow - but this is a perfect holiday spot for families with young children and couples seeking a relaxing sunshine break.
The resort is easily reached via two international airports - Reus is just 10 kilometres away and Barcelona is about an hour's drive north east. Pineda has long been popular with Spanish tourists but it's only been in the last 20 years that international visitors have started to flock here. You'll find holidaymakers of many different nationalities, particularly Russians and Brits.
The greatest attractions are without doubt the safe, sandy beaches, the Aquopolis water park right at heart of the resort and the Universal Studios Port Aventura theme park at nearby Vila-seca.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants catering for both Spanish and international tastes and in the summer months you'll find music bars and clubs staying open until the small hours. But if it's wild all-night partying you're after you'll be better off in Salou.
Many of the hotels and apartment complexes organise their own programme of entertainment with kids' clubs, cabaret shows, bingo, karaoke and quizzes.
Most of the action is centred around the beaches and modern, palm-fringed seafront promenade, the Passeig de Pau Casals which extends for 2.5 kilometres and is one of the longest in Catalonia. Its most prominent feature is the Pines de Mariscal, a pine tree sculpture with fronds created out of huge metal dishes.
Down at the promenade you'll find the Pineda Drink boulevard - a day and night time entertainment centre with bars, street cafes, ice cream parlours and shady terraces. Children's shows, folk festivals and street parties take place on a regular basis along the length of the Pau Casals during high season.
The resort's main hotels, apartments, shops, bars, restaurants and the Aquopolis water park are all within a stone's throw of this main promenade.
The water park has a dolphinarium and sea lion shows as well a host of water rides to delight the kids - there are "kamikaze" toboggan runs reaching speeds of up to 40 mph, white water rapids and the "Black Hole" ride (not for the faint hearted!). There are also safe play areas for smaller children, bumper boats, mini golf, a kiddies' zoo and many more attractions.
Port Aventura is a huge Disney-style theme park with thrill rides, shows, shops and a wealth of entertainment. It's best known for the death-defying Dragon Khan roller coaster which dominates the skyline for miles around with its eight loop-the-loops.
Spain Guide
