How to get to PortAventura, and why it isn't a single address
PortAventura is a resort of three parks: PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park. Six hotels sit between them. The resort sits on the coast between Salou and Vila-seca, and most people come for two or three days. Work out in advance where exactly you're heading and when to set off - that's what decides how much time is left for the park itself.
Three parks, six hotels: where exactly you are going
PortAventura Park is the main one: six themed areas, each with its own rides. Ferrari Land stands across the road and runs on its own timetable: in September it opens after lunch, while the main park opens at half past ten. Caribe Aquatic Park runs from May to September.
The hotels on the resort grounds are Hotel PortAventura, Caribe, Gold River, El Paso, Colorado Creek and Mansión de Lucy. Each has its own entrance, and they're spread across the resort: a kilometre and a half between the two furthest apart.
That matters for a transfer: "take us to PortAventura" is not an address. Your driver needs the hotel name, or a request to drop you at the main entrance. Otherwise you'll end up at the gates and walk the rest with your suitcases.
Staying in Salou? The park is two to three kilometres away and a local bus runs there.
Which airport is closer
| From | Distance | Time | Transfer per car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reus Airport | 12 km | ~20 min | from €55 |
| Barcelona Airport | 101 km | ~1 hr 16 min | from €197 |
Reus is much closer, but few flights land there: it's a charter airport, and in summer most arrivals come from the UK, Ireland and Belgium. If you can find a ticket to Reus, take it. If you can't, Barcelona is the fallback, and the drive takes ~1 hr 16 min.
More on choosing an airport for the whole Costa Daurada: Reus or Barcelona.
The train from Barcelona: it exists, but not from the airport
The park has its own station, Salou-PortAventura, a ten-minute walk from the main entrance. Line R17 runs from Sants and Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona, a few trains a day, about an hour and a half.
That train leaves from the city, not the airport. From the airport you first take the R2 to Sants, then change. All in, two and a half hours with suitcases. From the station it's a ten-minute walk to the main entrance, and Gold River or Colorado Creek are further still.
For two people travelling light, the train works fine. With children and luggage after a flight, it doesn't.
When to head back
In summer the park stays open until 23:30, and until midnight over Halloween. At closing time thousands of people leave the gates at once, and the taxis on the rank are gone within ten minutes.
Book the return transfer ahead of time. Your driver waits at the exit, so you don't join the taxi queue at all.
If you fly out of Barcelona in the morning, allow three hours: ~1 hr 16 min on the road, plus a margin for AP-7 traffic and check-in.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is closer to PortAventura?
Reus: 12 km, ~20 min. From Barcelona Airport it is 101 km, and the drive takes ~1 hr 16 min.
Is there a direct train from Barcelona Airport to PortAventura?
No. From the airport the R2 runs to Sants station, and from there line R17 goes to Salou-PortAventura. With the change, about two and a half hours. From the station it's a ten-minute walk to the park entrance.
Will you take us to a hotel inside the resort, or only to the gates?
To the hotel. Give us the name when you book: Hotel PortAventura, Caribe, Gold River, El Paso, Colorado Creek or Mansión de Lucy.
What time does the park close?
It depends on the season: in September until 18:00-19:00 on weekdays, 20:00 on Saturday and 19:00 on Sunday, and midnight over Halloween. Check the park calendar before you travel: opening hours change from date to date, and you'll find the exact times for each day on the park website. Ferrari Land opens later, in the afternoon.
How do you get away after closing?
Book a return transfer for closing time. Taxis at the gates go quickly once the evening show ends, and the next train might be an hour away.
Can you stay in Salou and travel in to the park?
Yes, the park is two to three kilometres from the centre of Salou, and a local bus runs there. Check with your hotel too - some run their own bus to the park. In that case book the airport transfer to Salou rather than to the park.
What if my flight is delayed?
Your driver goes by the actual landing time. The first hour of waiting at the airport is free.
Will the suitcases and a pushchair fit?
Yes. A Comfort carries three passengers with two suitcases and a folded pushchair, and a Van takes up to seven people with their luggage. A child seat is free and mandatory for children 135 cm and under - ask for it when you book.