Getting Around, Salou Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Salou, Catalonia, Spain)
Arranging transport to Salou is easy, as the town is within driving distance of
Barcelona, as well as being within a ten-minute commute of the regional airport at nearby Reus.
The town enjoys excellent bus and train transportation links. For exploring the countryside and coastline surrounding Salou, the best way to travel around is by hire car, although trains head to Reus, La Pineda and a few other major Catalonian towns. Chartering a boat from the marina is also an option for those wishing to travel to coastal villages.
Reus Airport (REU) / Arriving by Air
Address: Autovia del Noroeste A-2 / T-11, Reus, Catalonia, Spain, ES
Tel: +34 0902 404 704
Reus Airport serves the Costa Daurada region and lies about 18 km / 11 miles north of Salou town centre. It stays busy despite its small size, handling more than a million resort-bound passengers each year. The airport also operates as an alternative hub for discount airlines serving Barcelona. Ryanair and Thomson Airways are the busiest airlines with regularly scheduled flights, with a few more charter airlines filling in the gaps. Shuttle buses travel between the airport and Salou on a regular basis.
Car Rental
Hire cars are available from Reus Airport, or they can also be arranged in town through a local agency via your hotel's front desk. The AP-7 is an important coastal motorway that connects Barcelona to
Valencia and passes through Salou along the way. There is always plenty to do and see in the backcountry, including spending a day at a remote beach that's only accessible by private car.
Buses and Coaches
Plana is the main bus company operating in Salou. Non-stop service is provided, running from roughly 08:00 to 20:00 every day. There is typically a departure at least every two hours - potentially more often during the summer. Plana's Costa Daurada line connects Reus Airport to Salou, stopping by the market towns of La Pineda and Faro along the way.
Trains
A wealth of trains run inter-city routes all over Spain. Train transport runs between Barcelona and Salou about as frequently as buses, taking roughly as much time, although it is fair to say that passengers do enjoy a smoother journey and a greater level of comfort, as well as scenic countryside views. A touristy 'road train' runs off-track around the town centre and is a fun way to sightsee.
Taxis
Local taxis are relatively expensive, although rates are competitive if you are sharing or travelling with a large group. Taxis queue outside the Reus Airport arrivals area, and they can also be hailed freely all across Salou. A taxi is especially convenient if you have accidentally stayed in an outlying village past the operational hours of buses and trains.
Boats and Ferries
The town doesn't receive any major ferry traffic, but it does have a busy marina with charter boats on hand. Barcelona is the nearest ferry hub, with routes operating to the Balearic Islands, Valencia and even
Sardinia (
Italy). Salou is particularly close to the Balearic island of
Mallorca and does send plenty of charter craft in that direction.
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