Barcelona or Costa Brava which is better? Brava, Dorado! Compare Spanish resorts. Map of resorts in Spain

This summer, Spain as a tourist destination is clearly on the rise.

The main features of the resorts:

Both of these places have one indisputable advantage - proximity to Barcelona. And both are the most affordable vacation spots in the entire country. But there are a lot of differences that tip the scales in one direction or another. Briefly, each of the resorts can be described as follows:

The Costa Brava has rocky shores, many beautiful bays, natural forests of beautiful pines, larches, and more than enough greenery. But at the same time, almost along the entire coast, the descent into the sea is not very suitable for many: 2-3 meters and a cliff, great depth.

On the Costa Dorada there is less greenery, parks, more plains. But the beaches are wonderful, the descent into the water is always gentle, even, no stones, cliffs - ideal for swimming with children.

Costa Brava and Costa Dorada on the map of the Spanish kingdom are located on opposite sides of Barcelona, occupying a fairly vast territory and representing quite popular tourist areas.

Costa Brava is the coolest coast in this part of the country. Adherents of a sultry beach pastime can fully relax here only from June to October. Unbearable heat is uncharacteristic for this region even in the peak season. The maximum temperature is 26 degrees above zero. Most of the precipitation falls in October.

Costa Dorada is protected by highlands, and therefore is the warmest coast in Spain.

On three sides, the area is surrounded by the Pyrenees and the Catalan Range, which allows you to open the season in March and end in October. Precipitation is unusual for this region, but the temperature regime can reach its maximum at around +35 degrees.

Popular cities

The Costa Brava is known to most tourists thanks to Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar and Blanes. All of them are major tourist centers. But if Lloret de Mar is a gathering place for fashionable parties, then Tossa de Mar is a city for family tourism, since there are an order of magnitude fewer nightclubs and various entertainment venues.

Blanes is famous for its ancient history and a lot of architectural monuments. The most popular settlement of the Costa Dorada is Salou. Largely due to the largest amusement park for adults and children called Port Aventura. The city of Sitges is deservedly compared to St. Tropez. Rest here significantly hits the pocket, largely due to the close proximity of Barcelona. Cambrils is ideal for those who do not intend to leave the beach during their holidays. But Tarragona will delight lovers of excursions and sightseeing.

To decide which is better, the Costa Brava or the Costa Dorada, in terms of beach activities, you need to understand what you expect from each of them. For example, the Costa Brava is distinguished by a deep entrance to the sea, coarse sand and a coastline indented with bays and cliffs. Unlike this part of the coast, the Costa Dorada is ideal for those who come to relax with children, since the entrance to the sea is gentle, shallow, with fine sand and a flat coastline.

Most of the beaches of both resorts are municipal property, and therefore they do not charge an entrance fee. You will have to pay, however, for umbrellas, sunbeds, luggage storage. Most of the beaches are decorated with the "Blue Flag" - a sign of high purity

Attractions

Both resorts can boast of their excursion program, and therefore it is difficult to give preference to one of them in this matter. The Costa Brava is known to tourists for the Dali Museum, the Tossa de Mar castle, the Villa Vella fortress, the ruins of the San Juan castle, and the Santa Maria church. On the Costa Dorada, you should definitely visit prehistoric caves, climb Mount Montserrat, visit the Poblet Monastery, and Iberian settlements.

Entertainment

Where is the best place to relax on the Costa Brava?

Of course, close to all amusement parks and aqua zones. And there are a great many of them here - the Water World water park, the Aqualeon zoo, the Marineland water park. In addition, a significant number of excursion routes have been laid here, golf courses have been broken. For those who like to sit under umbrellas or in the shade of trees, there are numerous cafes and restaurants. Fans of scuba diving, windsurfing, rafting, cycling excursions can organize their leisure quite excitingly.

On the Costa Dorada, everyone goes, of course, for the sake of the Port Aventura park and noisy discos. There is also the Costa Caribe water park and numerous shopping and entertainment centers.

On the Costa Brava you will be greeted by the traditions of Mediterranean mixed cuisine. Here you will be offered meat, fish and vegetable dishes. But you need to come here for the sake of real paella, which is prepared here everywhere, in large quantities and according to a variety of recipes.

But in the restaurants of the Costa Dorada you can enjoy toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil. They also like to cook vegetables, pasta, mushrooms, seasoning it all with exquisite, typically Spanish sauces.

Of course, both resorts will delight fans of such a pastime with famous brands, large stores and relatively low prices. Costa Brava, in turn, is famous for small cozy family shops that have been operating here for many years and pass on the traditions of doing business from generation to generation. But this is a good guarantee of the quality of the products offered to you. It is preferable to pay in cash. Traveler's checks are not well respected here.

The center of trade on the Costa Dorada is Salou with its legendary street Carrer de Barcelona. However, it is designed exclusively for tourists. It is here that you will find many souvenirs and products that will remind you of Spain. But be prepared for not very low prices.

The answer to the question of where it is better to relax in the Costa Brava or the Costa Dorada is rather purely individual. Everyone must choose what he likes and can afford, since it is almost impossible to draw a line. Be sure of one thing: neither one nor the other coast will disappoint you.

I believe that someday my vacation will turn into something more authentic "for 3 days somewhere in Europe". In the meantime, only my colleagues and acquaintances go on vacation to Spain, I try to be useful to them and make reviews of the resort towns of Spain for the project. For starters - the simplest: Costa Brava and Costa Dorada. Although there are so many resorts that everything is not so simple :-)

Let's try to simplify the choice:

Costa Brava:

Deep sea, sometimes waves;
- coarse sand;
- rich excursion program;
- cheaper hotels;
- more quiet rest;
- an hour to Barcelona;
- travel to beautiful places on a rented car.

Costa Dorada:

Calm sea, gentle entrance;
- fine sand;
- a rich entertainment program;
- regular price for Spain;
- more parties;
- two hours to Barcelona;
- travel to beautiful places by public transport or a rented car.

And now about some popular or not very resorts in more detail.

Costa Brava: diving from the rocks, swimming among the rocks, driving along the coast with a breeze.

Popular and largest place Lloret de Mar located 75 kilometers from Barcelona. Lloret is similar in spirit to the budget option of Ibiza. Party all day long, drinking and dancing till you drop; in the afternoon - a giant aqua park with a frightening 80-meter slide. Lying on the beach in Lloret is much less pleasant than wandering around the numerous bars and pubs: the sand is quite coarse and looks like sandpaper in places, but the views from the rocks are quite postcard, and the prices are among the lowest in all of Spain.

Lloret de Mar, photo: Victor Radziun

20 kilometers from Lloret is a place for romantics Tossa de Mar, the favorite Spanish town of Marc Chagall, which became popular in the 50s after the filming of the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. In Tossa, you can endlessly walk along mountain paths, ride glass-bottomed boats, and return to the restaurant at the lighthouse again and again. Hotel prices are moderate. The beaches are wide and sandy. The only disadvantage of Tossa is its crowdedness, because of which couples in love do not spare money to rent a rowing boat and go in search of secluded small bays and quiet grottoes.

On the other side of Lloret is Blanes with ancient ruins - the remnants of the former luxury of the dynasty of the same name, sandy beaches up to 60 meters wide, a sea with hedgehogs and stars and a water park where dolphin shows are held every half an hour. Needless to say, instead of the sound of the surf in Blanes, children's laughter and sighs of mothers dreaming of going to the beautiful Marimurtra Botanical Garden? Blanes seems to be a real find for all families with children.

Blanes, photo: Pawel Bak

Another beach town on the Costa Brava Playa de Aro is good for its typically Spanish winding staircases carved into the rocks and descending to the beaches, typically Spanish restaurants with sea views and typical Spanish women dancing flamenco in small eateries with heady wine. At the prices of Playa de Aro, the same Blanes, but because of the remoteness from Barcelona, there are fewer people here, and because of the proximity to France, there is more shopping.

Playa de Aro, photo: Freebird_71

Neighbor Playa da Aro - Sagaro- a place for rich romantic aesthetes. Extra-class hotels, paths carved into the rocks, restaurants with famous chefs, an abundance of pink oleanders and the melancholy shadows of olive trees on the sand of enviable beaches. True and the prices are right.

Sagaro, photo: Sebastia Giralt

In the farthest town of the Costa Brava - Roses- cars with surfboards on the roofs drive by. Due to the location on the edge of the bay in Roses, the thermal wind blows on schedule, and always in the right direction, so the chances of sitting on the shore doing nothing or being blown into the sea are reduced to zero. Friends and wives of surfers also favor Rosas - the prices do not bite, the beaches are excellent and there are several times fewer people than in the same Blanes and Tossa.

The promised excursions to the Costa Brava are next to the beaches. At ease Girona you need to chew a fried Girona dish (this part of the sentence must be repeated as a tongue twister) - bread with tomatoes; just walking along the streets, thinking how the Spaniards fit all their rubbish on such tiny balconies, whether cats walk along the fortress walls, from which you can see Girona at a glance, and whether it is in the blood of the Spaniards to build wonderful houses like on the Onyar River, to which they march in formation tourists. And don't forget to kiss the Girona lioness on the ass - it works like throwing a coin into the fountain, although not everyone will need to return to the city, which can be bypassed in one day.

A separate Catalan theme is Dali. In a tiny town Figueres, where Dali was born, died and built a museum named after himself, a real flood of tourists all year round. They can be understood - there is no such collection of works of a genius in any museum in the world.

Figueres, photo: rucamher

Later, this whole crowd moves to the town Pubol to walk around the castle of Gala, Dali's beloved, look at her fancy dresses, and listen to creepy stories of how Dali took the dead Gala to Madrid in a red Datsun, putting her on the seat as if alive.

Pubol, photo: Jaume Meneses

Dali's third place is his home in Porto Lligard, consisting of seven huts connected by labyrinths, which is also worth a visit, if you are not embarrassed by the abundance of fences that separate tourists from Dali's things, and the fact that he did not want to see visitors in his house and even built for this very museum in Figueres.

Costa Dorada

Everyone loves Costa Dorada, but especially Russian tour operators, so there are no language barriers in Dorada - the staff often speaks Russian.

Favorite city for tour operators Salou with beaches where you can wander for a long time in search of a free place. There are a lot of parties in Salou: discos, bars, processions, restaurants with live music - someone's eyes start to twitch from such activity, someone feels like the center of the world on a dream vacation. Salou is bustling with people mainly because of PortAventura, a giant amusement theme park, a dream for those who like to tickle their nerves with free fall, lightning acceleration, near supersonic speed and other extreme pleasures. As an option - to reduce to tickle the nerves of the little ones on special children's attractions, which, of course, are laughter and nothing more.

fir town La Pineda, on the other side of the cape, puts children's recreation at the forefront. Every young tomboy feels like a king: there is a perfect golden sand on the beach, the entrance to the water is very gentle, the depth does not begin soon, which is why the coastal waters are warm as fresh milk. Every restaurant has a children's menu, every hotel has paddling pools, huge playgrounds, animators in crazy costumes and a set of mini-kindergartens. Even in the local water park, the rides are entirely for children, and in line at the dolphinarium, he communicates in squeaky voices only: “Who is the ordinary? I also stand taller.”

La Pineda, photo: steve p2008

Further north there is a historic town Tarragona where, despite a couple of large factories, there are clean beaches. At one time, Tarragona was the Roman capital on Spanish territory, so numerous antiquities have been preserved here. Festivals rage in Tarragona all summer long, and in the fishing quarter of El Seraio, Tarragona's signature cassola de romesco is served, a casserole with walnut sauce, and arroz negris cooked in squid ink.

Tarragona, photo: albertmanya

The most choosy lovers of good food do not miss the opportunity to visit Cambrils. Exactly at 16.30 seasoned fishermen return to the main port of the country, at 17.00 the fish market opens, and queues line up for restaurants, running either for Michelin stars or for breathtaking smells. By the way, the beaches in Cambrils are also beautiful, the prices for accommodation are similar to the entire Costa Dorada, and there are much fewer people, which makes the place ideal for lovers of a quiet holiday. From entertainment, besides good food, only golf and walks around the ancient city.

Cambrils, photo: hermanosguasch

The entire coast of the Costa Dorada is strewn with small towns, coves and beaches, where public transport runs, and some can be reached by a bicycle path that stretches almost along the entire coastal strip. Miami Playa- a place just 5 kilometers from Cambrils, but the atmosphere is completely different: unpretentious two-story houses and a beach where someone howls with boredom and someone enjoys loneliness with rapture. The closer to Barcelona, the more such places there are: Torredembarra, on the wide beaches of which you need to look for the nearest person through binoculars ennobled by palm trees Calafell, or their opposite - beloved by gays Sitges, a holiday city where peace and loneliness cannot be found even in the morning.

Perhaps the most popular question among tourists going on vacation to Catalonia for the first time is just choice between Costa Brava and Costa Dorada. Where to go - tourists think. Where is better? What is the difference between these, so similar in name, regions of Spain.

The most common answer to this question, which tourists often hear from travel agency managers, is that the Costa Brava is more of a youth resort, while the Costa Dorada is a great family vacation destination.

But in fact, not everything is so categorical. This division of resorts is very conditional. Both in the Costa Dorada and in the Costa Brava you can find excellent conditions for various types of recreation. It's all about the right choice of a particular resort, and often even a particular hotel.

Let's look at everything in more detail. According to several criteria for comparing the regions of the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada.

Transport accessibility

Both regions are equidistant from El Prat International Airport. At the same time, the Costa Dorada also has its own airport, which, in addition to domestic flights, accepts international charters serving the coast - this is Reus. And in the Costa Brava, the Girona airport performs the same function. So, according to this criterion, both coasts are absolutely equivalent.

At the same time, the cities of the Costa Brava are more conveniently located in relation to the main attractions of the region. Moreover, from here you can even go to Andorra or France for a couple of days - very close. Well, the "Dali triangle" (Figueres, Pubola and Port Lligate) is located here.

Costa Dorada is more suitable for a beach holiday. Going somewhere far away from here is not a very good idea. Maximum, a couple of trips to Barcelona, for example.

Climatic features and weather

The Costa Brava is located a little north of the Costa Dorada. As a result, the water here warms up longer and reaches a comfortable temperature later. And some resorts are located so that they are open to "all winds". And the coastline here is also different - most resorts are in rocky bays, and the depth begins almost immediately after entering the sea.

The Costa Dorada, unlike the Costa Brava, is warmer. The water here warms up earlier, and the beaches are sandy and shallow, just perfect for families with children.

Entertainment and attractions

As already mentioned, the Costa Brava is an excellent combination of beach and sightseeing holidays. There will be enough museums and sightseeing routes just for a vacation, and there will even be more left.

But in the Costa Brava, entertainment is more family-oriented. There are many water parks, amusement parks (one Port Aventura is worth something), etc.

Hotels, inns, villas

The Costa Brava by this criterion goes far ahead of the Costa Dorada. Being a conditional continuation of the French "Côte d'Azur", the region offers a huge selection of a wide variety of housing: from villas to hotels. Although, the price tag is higher here. But there are also a decent number of 5-star hotels, which are so few in the Costa Dorada. There are plenty to choose from.

But at the same time, Costa Dorada hotels are more modern, more familiar (especially for fans of Turkey and Egypt), more spacious rooms.

Summing up, all of the above, we can designate the Costa Brava, with its awake Lloret de Mar, romantic Tossa de Mar, family Blanes, not crowded Playa de Aro, shamelessly expensive Sagaro and windy Roses - a great option for an active beach holiday, successfully diluted with trips along surrounding cities, excursions to local attractions and parties all night long.

A vacation in the Costa Dorada is an option for those who are annoyed by the language barrier (in most hotels there are Russian-speaking staff). For those who like to spend time on modern attractions, with or without family. And in the evening - have fun in one of the local clubs. For those who enjoy the flavor of Spanish cities and are ready to appreciate the full dynamics of the festivals that take place in Tarragona in a continuous series. For real gourmets who will not miss the opportunity to enjoy the cuisine of Cambrils fish restaurants. And even for those who are looking for a nice relaxing atmosphere - we are talking about Sitges, which is especially popular as a gay tourism destination.

Costa Brava

(Spanish for "wild rocky coast" or "coast of the brave") - the northwestern part of the coast of Catalonia in the province of Girona near the border with France. This is one of the most picturesque corners of the Mediterranean coast, combining magnificent beach resorts with areas for outdoor activities and tourism. The sandy beaches of the region stretch for 214 km from the border with France. Impenetrable cliffs and emerald spurs of the Pyrenees, overgrown with pines, pines and firs, among which picturesque bays, bays with beaches of white sand and pebbles near azure sea waves open up to the eye - nature rewarded these places so generously that the lands of the Costa Brava were chosen by people from from the most ancient civilizations - the Iberians, the ancient Greeks and the Romans.

How to get there: In Catalonia, to which the Costa Brava belongs, there are three airports of international importance: in Reus, Girona and Barcelona. Most often, Barcelona is chosen for a trip to the coast. From there, you can get to the coast by bus, train (the railway line goes 65 km to Blanes, then only by bus or car), you can also get a taxi or rent a car.

Climate: The Costa Brava is the coolest coast in Spain, characterized by its special softness throughout the year. The average temperature in summer is +25-28 °C, in winter it drops to +10 °C. The beach season lasts from June to October.

Beaches: As for a beach holiday, you don’t have to worry about environmental friendliness and service: the beaches themselves and coastal waters are under the strict control of local authorities: most of them are marked with blue flags of the European Union, an award for cleanliness and environmental friendliness. The beaches of Lloret de Mar and Fanals have the Q mark of the ICTE institute, which is given solely for the high level of professionalism in the organization of the tourism sector. The beaches of Rosas and Calonge are holders of the EMAS environmental label.

Entertainment: The Costa Brava coast consists of many small resort towns. Among them stand out Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes. Lloret de Mar is the tourist capital of the Costa Brava. There are two beaches within the city - Lloret itself and Fenals Beach a little to the south, as well as the famous Water World water park. The famous water park "Marineland" and the mini-zoo "Aqualeon" will delight children. A lot of bars, discos, nightclubs guarantee a noisy and cheerful holiday for party-goers from different countries. Connoisseurs of antiquity in the cultural center of Verdaquier can see the relics of the Iberian region, dating back to 250 BC. e. And outdoor enthusiasts can go karting or horseback riding, play tennis, bowling, golf, go diving and snorkeling.

9 things to do on the Costa Brava

Rent a car and take a ride along the coast with a breeze.
If you want to get to France or look for a day in Andorra.
For the sake of excellent kite surfing, get to Roses Bay.
Every evening enjoy seafood dishes in numerous restaurants lined along the coast.
In Blanes, take a special train to the Botanical Garden.
Do not forget to visit the beautiful Barcelona.
Dance the night away in one of the clubs in Lloret de Mar.
Do not be lazy and visit Montserrat mountain.
Experience the thrill of diving in Tossa de Mar.

Costa Dorada

The "Gold Coast" of the Spanish Mediterranean south of Barcelona. It is called “golden” for the color of the coast: the fine sand of incredibly beautiful and clean beaches glistens in the sea waves like placers of gold. Every year, the resorts of the Costa Dorada in Catalonia attract more and more tourists: the sea here is warm and shallow, there are more sunny days than in other resort centers in Spain, many kilometers of beaches are well equipped and well maintained, and many comfortable hotels, various shops, souvenir shops, parks entertainment, cafes, restaurants, discos and nightclubs will not let vacationers of different ages get bored. On the Costa Dorada it is good to relax with children.

How to get there: The transformation of the Costa Dorada into a major tourist center of Spain was facilitated by its geographical position: from anywhere in Western Europe you can get here in one or two days. It is most convenient to fly through Barcelona, from where you can get to the resorts of the Costa Dorada by train, bus or taxi, as well as by rented car.

Climate: Thanks to the mountains, the Costa Dorada is warmer than most of the surrounding resorts: from the north and west it is well protected from winds and cyclones, first by the Pyrenees and then by the Catalan Mountains. Accordingly, it is good to relax with children on the Costa Dorada: there are more sunny days at the beginning and end of the season, and the coastal waters are shallow and warm up faster. The average air temperature in June-September is 25-28 °С, water - 21-23 °С.

Beaches: Salou- the tourist capital of the Costa Dorada, 100 km south of Barcelona. The wide beaches of this largest local resort stretch from Cape La Pineda in the north to the resort town of Cambrils in the south. Along the eight-kilometer beaches stretch the most beautiful walking alleys-embankments with numerous bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. And the light and music fountain, to which Mirimar and Jaime avenues converge, is rightfully called the most beautiful on the coast. Sitges- an ancient Catalan city and a popular seaside resort on the Costa Dorada. The old quarters, arches and narrow streets of the historical center of the city are amazingly beautiful and attract tourists not only with their architecture, museums, but also with cozy restaurants, bars, cafes, souvenir shops and art workshops. Cambrils- once an old Spanish fishing port, and now one of the popular coastal resorts with a 10-kilometer line of beaches, colonial and renaissance architecture, as well as the Museum of Emeralds, which are mined here, and handicrafts from them are a favorite souvenir of tourists from all over Europe . Tarragona- the capital of the province of the same name in South Catalonia with a long history. We can say with confidence that all the surrounding peoples of antiquity visited Tarragona: the Franks, the Iberians, the Celts, the merchants of Ancient Greece and Carthage, the Romans, the Visigoths, the Franks, the Arabs, leaving reminders of themselves in the local culture, architecture and customs of the locals.

Entertainment: The continental part of the Costa Dorada is attractive primarily for its monuments - witnesses of the centuries-old history of the coast: these are prehistoric caves, and Iberian settlements, and medieval buildings. Among the most striking sights stands out the Roman architectural ensemble of Tarraco (now Tarragona), the former capital of the Roman Empire on the Iberian Peninsula. In 2000, he received the status of "Protection of Humanity" by UNESCO. The monastery of Poblet has the same status, not far from which the buildings of the monastic order of Cister Santes Creus are located. Connoisseurs of history and church architecture should go on a full-day excursion to Mount Montserrat, where the monastery of the same name is located at an altitude of 725 m above sea level. At 13:00 in the temple you can hear the church choir of the Escolania boys singing the hymn of the Virgin of Montserrat, and in the basilica you can see and touch the miraculous Virgin, the patroness of Catalonia. The tour also includes a visit to the monastery's museum, which houses works by famous artists, and a free tasting of liquors produced by the monks themselves. A funicular lifts tourists up the mountain to the monastery, and they go back by bus. A contrast between centuries of history and Roman heritage is the city of Reus, which is part of the European Art Nouveau Network. And in the town of Figueres is the Dali Museum and the castle of his beloved Gala. The natural attractions of the Costa Dorada are collected in a unique natural reserve in the Ebro Delta, where the flora and fauna of the coast is fully represented.

9 things to do in the Costa Dorada

Squeal in fear on the crazy rides in Port Aventura.
Visit the museum of the legendary Bacardi rum in Sitges and learn how to make the right cocktails.
On a pleasure boat, go on a mini-journey around the surroundings.
Buy a couple of emeralds in the Cambrils Museum, dedicated to this luxurious stone.
For the benefit of the body, visit the thermal springs of the neighboring resort of Montbrio del Camp.
See the living pyramids that people like to build in Tarragona during the holidays.
Swim and sunbathe on the golden beaches of the coast.
Go on an excursion to the ancient city of Vila Seca near the resort of La Pineda.
Visit the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres.

Spain as a tourist destination is experiencing a rebirth. A few years ago, after the introduction of the euro, the tourist wave suddenly receded - the difference in prices seemed too shocking. But then it became obvious that rest in the dollar zone for a circle is not cheaper, and Europe, although it switched to a new currency, has not lost its modest bourgeois charm. Spain continues to be one of the most easily accessible, inexpensive and friendly countries in the European community.

There are many Russian tourists in Spain on almost all coasts from north to south. However, the most popular resorts are still the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, which seem to be neighbors (about 200 kilometers apart), but strikingly different from each other.

Costa Brava(in translation - Rocky Coast) is somewhat similar to our mountainous Crimea. Mountains covered with pine trees come close to the sea, in small bays with narrow sandy beaches there are towns or individual hotels. It's easy to feel away from the world here: there are no factories, mines, or steamships here, the roads resemble country roads, and the motorway is noisy away from the coast. From it, like appendixes, narrow paths go to resort villages. Lie down on the beach in a secluded bay during the day, and in the evening go to some town, for example, to the tourist center of the Costa Brava - Lloret de Mar, a city that lives under the motto "There is no time to sleep!". How charming and simple everything is here! Can I eat crumbly colorful paella, get drunk in a small bar with the French or British, dance in a disco. By the way, there are a lot of discos and small bars in the town: young people from all over Europe rest on the Costa Brava. She is attracted by freedom, some wildness of rest and of course low prices. They are really 20-25 percent lower here than in the neighboring Dorada. But there are no luxury hotels either: the coast is built up with old two-three-star hotels. Their territories are small, the rooms too, and you won’t surprise anyone here with a rooftop pool and a continental breakfast. What other mini-clubs, tennis courts, jacuzzi and other innovations?

The farther south, the more noticeably the character of the coast changes. The mountains recede into the depths of the mainland, and a wide, flat valley opens up to the eye - Costa Dorada, Gold Coast, if you speak Russian. This is a populated region with a developed industry, a strong transport network and fairly large cities such as Salou, Cambrils and La Pineda, literally crawling one on top of the other. But the coast is still given to tourists. Here, in a row, there are large modern hotels, mostly high-quality three-four-star hotels, with a full range of fashionable services: there are various sports, and children's clubs, and tennis courts, and always good buffet food. Hotels tend to have nice pools and are large and clean, though not as green as the Costa Brava. True, the prices here are almost a quarter higher than in the neighboring resort. Yes, and tourists on the Costa Dorada are different - families with kids, middle-aged couples. They are attracted by the opportunity to visit small lively towns, excellent shopping in neighboring Tarragona and Reus and of course the entertainment infrastructure.

Every parent considers it their duty to take their child to the famous amusement park. Port Aventura. This wonderful Spanish Disneyland is divided into five zones, symbolizing the Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico and the Wild West, each of which has many attractions that amaze the imagination of inventors and all kinds of colorful shows. The best Spanish water park also works on the Costa Dorada, Aquapolis, where you can not only ride all kinds of water slides, but even swim in the pool with fur seals!

And of course, the Costa Dorada is attractive for its sightseeing opportunities. The history of the most beautiful Tarragona goes back centuries, and it is safe to say that everyone has visited Tarragona - the Franks, Iberians, Celts, merchants of Ancient Greece and Carthage, Romans, Visigoths, Franks, Arabs. Christians replaced Muslims here, and they all left a piece of their culture in the city. Not far from Tarragona, an hour's drive away, is the town of Tortosa with impressive old fortifications, famous for its medieval cathedral and outdoor sculpture museum.

As you can see, these two Coasts - Brava and Dorada - only have a common language. So choose your place in Spain, but hurry up - the beach season on the coast is already open!