Things To Do in La Pineda

Okay, this isn’t Ibiza, but Pacha La Pineda has all the bling of its Balearic sibling. The 3 bars, 43,000-watt sound system and international deck spinners like DJ Tiesto make this a serious night out. And because it’s Pacha, you never have to wait too long for the next foam party or laser show. For a timeout from the action, a terrace surrounded by gardens awaits.

La Pineda bursts into colour during the Fiesta de San Juan, with music, fireworks and dancing. The party gets started with Guy Fawkes-style bonfires on the beach. Later on, everyone refuels with an al fresco dinner accompanied by plenty of cava, traditional flatbreads called ‘cocas’, and an outdoor orchestra. The star attraction is the contemporary circus, with acrobats and contortionists – great to watch, but don’t try this at home.

This super-friendly Irish bar does a selection of ice-cold beers and delicious sangria – as well as Guinness, naturally. You can join in with the regular quizzes, which see locals as well as tourists battling it out. The vibe can get really buzzy later into the evening when owners Bridget and John turn up the music.

You’ll find La Pineda’s Friday market behind Aquapolis, 5 minutes’ walk from the beach. If a price is clearly marked, the goods aren’t open to haggling – otherwise feel free to get the best price you can on shoes, handbags, watches and sunglasses. The stallholders usually start packing up at 1.30pm, so it’s best to get there earlier in the morning.

You’ve got a nice pace here, with the main street Pau Casals lined with bars and pubs offering karaoke and live music. When it comes to dancing, La Pineda boasts one of the Costa Dorada’s hottest night spots in the shape of Pacha, which pulls in world-leading DJs. If you want more clubbing, hop in a taxi to Salou.

Follow your nose along the promenade and you’ll come to Spanish tavernas, seafood restaurants and gastropubs. Catalan cuisine is well represented here in dishes like escudella – a hearty meat and vegetable stew, and botifarra amb mongetes – grilled sausage with white beans. For afters, the catanies – almonds covered in white chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa – go down a treat with rich Spanish coffee.

Giant theme park PortAventura is just a stone’s throw from La Pineda, and regular buses will get you there. Highlights include the freefall drop on the Hurakan Corridor and the Furios Baco rollercoaster. To avoid queuing it’s best to get an express pass or visit after 2pm, when things are a little quieter.

PortAventura is a theme-and-water-park combo of Disney-esque proportions. Kids can hang out with the Sesame Street gang, while you take a 100-metre freefall drop on the Hurakan Condor or hit 135 kilometres an hour on the Furios Baco rollercoaster. With an express pass you can queue-jump politely – or get there after 2pm when things quieten down.

Gastropubs, fast food joints, seafood restaurants and Spanish tavernas sit cheek-by-jowl along Passeig de Pau Casals, La Pineda’s 2.4 kilometre-long promenade. It’s a great place to try traditional Catalonian dishes like grilled rabbit or pa amb tomaquet – bread rubbed with salt, oil and tomatoes. And of course you can’t leave without tucking in to at least one seafood paella.

Ask for a table by the window and you’ll get a sea view with your fish supper. One of a cluster of restaurants along the prom, this place is a cut above for its great service and crowd-pleasing paella. Another favourite is the fideuà – paella made with noodles.

Come nightfall, the pace in La Pineda ramps up a notch. The main party strip is along the promenade, where you’ll find late-night music bars and a handful of clubs playing everything from salsa to R‘n’B. The undisputed queen of clubs in these parts is Pacha, just a couple of hundred metres from the prom in Plaça Canço Catalana.

This is one very relaxed market. Haggling may be optional, but you’ll still be able to pick up some prize bargains on watches, belts, sunglasses, picnic supplies, souvenirs, emergency snorkels and more at La Pineda’s Friday market. To get there, head down the side street between the Aquopolis waterpark and the Estival Park Holiday Complex. Some sellers start to pack up at about 1.30pm, so make sure you arrive early to have your pick of the stalls.

At just under 2.5 kilometres, La Pineda Beach is the longest in the resort. It’s also the liveliest, though much less crowded than similar spots on the Med – you’ll never be shaken from your afternoon snooze by the drone of a jet-ski. If you like a bit of shade with your sand, a 20-minute stroll south along the shore will bring you to pine-fringed El Raco beach. Over to the north, Els Prats beach is the most peaceful place of all to plonk a towel.

La Pineda’s stretch of coastline is divided into 3 beaches, all flanked by the Passeig de Pau Casals, a palm-fringed seafront promenade. For sunbathers who want a bit of natural shade, El Raco is lined with pine trees and is the prettiest of the trio. For a quieter experience, Els Prats can be found at the north end of the town.