How to Get from Barcelona to Port Aventura

The Port Aventura amusement park is located in Salou, the capital of the Costa Dorada. It is a very famous destination, as it has an endless number of attractions, both recreational and natural. Thanks to its tourist vocation and its proximity to Barcelona, you can get here by car or public transport.

There are dozens of things to see and do in Barcelona and although Port Aventura is not within the perimeter of the city, it is well worth a visit. To get the most out of the experience, you need to organise your trip carefully. Here are the best options for getting to the theme park.

Port Aventura is located about 100 kilometres south of Barcelona and although there is public transport to get you there, an organised excursion is much more convenient. The first advantage is the price: by paying a fixed fee you are guaranteed both transport and access to the theme park.

The second advantage is the starting point. You won't have to go to Sants station, as these excursions usually have a meeting point in a central location such as Arc de Triomf (just a stone's throw from the famous Parc de la Ciutadella) or around Plaça Catalunya. In some cases, the bus or minibus will pick you up directly at the door of your hotel or rental house.

Thirdly, organised tours usually include tickets for PortAventura and Ferrari Land. In other words, you won't have to queue and you'll be able to enter each attraction without long waits. Buses usually leave Barcelona at around 9:00 am and the return time is usually around 7:30 pm.

• Duration: organised tours usually last about 10 hours.
• Price: about 95 €.

PortAventura is located close to the A-7, the Mediterranean motorway. You will have to drive for an hour and a half and then take exit 35. Once off the highway, just follow the signs. Don't worry, the amusement park is very large and well signposted.

If you don't have your own car, you can hire one at El Prat airport, Sants station or other agencies in the city. Being a renowned tourist destination, the main companies have one or more branches in Barcelona. You will find Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Firefly and other international and national companies.

Renting a car/city car is usually very cheap. If you book in advance, you can find offers of around €25 per day. However, if you are travelling with your family or need more space, I recommend opting for a mid-size car/touring car. In this case, the cheapest options are around €40 per day.

• Duration: about 1.5 hours
• Price: to get there quickly you will have to pay approximately €20 each way (€40 in total).

Salou - Port Aventura station is just a few metres from the amusement park. For this reason, the train is the most recommended option, especially if you are travelling to Barcelona with children or don't feel like walking too far. Bear in mind that a day at a theme park is both fun and exhausting, and it doesn't hurt to save some energy.

The R16 line of the Rodalies de Catalunya (local trains) connects the Catalan capital with the town of Salou. If you are staying in Barceloneta, in the Gothic Quarter or around the Parc de la Ciutadella, you can get on the train at Estació de França (Avinguda del Marquès de l'Argentera s/n).

On the other hand, if your hotel or rented house is in the Eixample, all you need to do is get to Passeig de Gràcia station (at the intersection with Carrer d'Aragó) or Sants station (Plaça dels Països Catalans s/n).

The same Rodalies stations sell a combined ticket that includes admission to Port Aventura.

• Duration: just over 1 hour
• Price: from 48 € for an adult

Connections between the Catalan capital and Salou are guaranteed by Empresa Plana. There are more than ten journeys a day from 7:00 (weekdays) or 8:00 (weekends). In Barcelona, the first stop is at number 36 Passeig de Gràcia.

Before leaving the Catalan capital, the buses also stop at Plaça de la Reina Maria Cristina (Les Corts), Plaça Espanya and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

In my opinion, this is not the most advisable option as the journey takes a long time.

• Duration: between an hour and a half and 2 hours.
• Price: approximately €6

This is not the cheapest option but it is undoubtedly the most comfortable. Public vehicles in the Catalan capital offer a transfer from Barcelona to the theme park. You can book a traditional car, an 8-seater minivan or a luxury vehicle.

The vehicle will pick you up in front of your hotel, bed & breakfast or rental house and take you to the entrance of Port Aventura. You can also request this transfer directly from the airport.

• Duration: between 1.5 and 2 hours.
• Price: between 100 € and 200 €.

The theme park is located on the Costa Dorada, a stretch of coastline with endless attractions. If you want to take a trip from Barcelona to explore the area, you can choose from the following options:

• Tarragona, the ancient Roman city of Tarraco. It is well worth a visit to see the splendidly preserved ancient ruins - the walls, the amphitheatre, the circus and the aqueduct - and the fishermen's quarter of the Serrallo.
• Cambrils, a very famous seaside resort. In addition to the beaches, it is known for the Parc Samà, a romantic garden with lots of charm.
• Reus, the birthplace of Gaudí. Its streets are dotted with Modernist masterpieces such as Casa Navàs and the Institut Pere Mata.

Driving a little further south you enter the Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre, a nature reserve that is home to short-eared owls, grey herons, flamingos and other animals. In this area on the border with the Valencian Community you can go hiking or kayaking, go kitesurfing and eat a good plate of rice.

Finally, so that you have all the information at hand, here is a comparison table with the best options for getting to PortAventura from Barcelona. Now it's your choice!