How to Get from Barcelona to Port Aventura

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 with your private car or using 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 worth a visit. To get the most out of the experience, you need to organize your trip carefully. Here are the best options to get to the theme park.

Port Aventura is located about 100 kilometers south of Barcelona and although there are public transports that will take you there, an organized excursion is much more comfortable. 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 (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, organized tours usually include tickets for PortAventura and Ferrari Land. In other words, you will not have to wait in line and you will be able to enter each attraction without long waits. Buses usually leave Barcelona around 9:00 am and the return time is usually around 7:30 pm.

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

PortAventura is located near the A-7, the Mediterranean Highway. 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 rent 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 offices in Barcelona. You will find Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Firefly and other international and national companies.

Renting a car/city car is usually very cheap. Booking in advance you can find offers around 25 € per day. On the other hand, if you are traveling with your family or you need more space, I recommend you to opt for a medium/tourist car. In this case, the cheapest options are around 40 € per day.

• Duration: about 1 hour and a half
• Price: to get there quickly you will have to pay approximately 20 € each way (40 € in total).

The Salou - Port Aventura station is located a few meters from the amusement park. For this reason, the train is the most recommended option, especially if you are traveling to Barcelona with children or do not feel like walking too much. Keep in mind that a day at a theme park is fun as well as exhausting and it does not hurt to save some energy.

The R16 line of the Rodalies de Catalunya (Rodalies de Catalunya ) 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 board 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, you will only need to reach the Passeig de Gràcia station (at the intersection with Carrer d'Aragó) or Sants station (Plaça dels Països Catalans s/n).

The same Rodalies stations offer for sale a combined ticket that includes an entrance 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 daily trips starting at 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 the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

In my opinion it is not the most advisable option as the journey is very long.

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

Itis not the cheapest option but it is undoubtedly the most comfortable. Public vehicles in the Catalan capital offer a transfer from Barcelona to the amusement 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 in front of the entrance of Port Aventura. You can also order this transfer directly from the airport.

• Duration: between one hour and a half 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 make an excursion from Barcelona to get to know the area, you can opt for the following options:

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

Driving a little further south you will 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, practice kitesurfing and eat a good plate of rice.

Finally, so that you have all the information at hand, I leave you this comparative table with the best options to get to PortAventura from Barcelona. Now, you choose!