Trip ideas · PortAventura, Tarragona and Girona
PortAventura, Tarragona and Girona: a One-Week Road Trip by Fly-and-Drive
Best in October and December, also good in November
Fly to Barcelona, hire a car there: seven nights, 404 km, the longest day about 2 h 10 at the wheel. Driving costs €30–€70.
Halloween at PortAventura Park: 19 September – 15 November 2026. Watch for: Tarragona low-emission zone (ZBE): weekdays 07:00–19:00, camera-checked; a car with no DGT label is restricted, and a foreign plate gets up to 12 days a year.
Use this route in my plan Your checklist for Spain: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.
Day by day
Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.
Day 1
Barcelona → Tarragona 103 km · about 1 h 25 driving
PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land at Salou, and Roman Tarragona a short drive away. Source The place itself: Salou, next to PortAventura World.
Day 2
A day for Salou, next to PortAventura World No long drive
Day 3
A day for Salou, next to PortAventura World No long drive
Day 4
A day for Salou, next to PortAventura World No long drive
Day 5
Tarragona → Girona 194 km · about 2 h 10 driving, plus the way back from Salou, next to PortAventura World
Girona's old quarter and the Costa Brava, then back to Barcelona airport. Source
Photo: Manuel Torres Garcia / Unsplash Day 6
A day out from Girona No long drive
Day 7
A day out from Girona No long drive
Day 8
Girona → Barcelona 107 km · about 1 h 30 driving
Why go in October and December
- Halloween at PortAventura Park: 19 September – 15 November 2026. Source
- Christmas at PortAventura Park: 20 November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Source
- PortAventura Park open every day to 6 January, including 24, 25 and 31 December: 13 October 2026 – 6 January 2027. Source
- Ferrari Land: Fridays to Sundays only in November, every day from 18 December: November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Source
What to watch for
- Tarragona low-emission zone (ZBE): weekdays 07:00–19:00, camera-checked; a car with no DGT label is restricted, and a foreign plate gets up to 12 days a year (working days, all year). Source
- Barcelona low-emission zone (ZBE): weekdays 07:00–20:00 inside the ring roads; a Spanish hire car with a DGT label drives in freely (working days, all year). Source
- The AP-7 through Catalonia has had no toll since 1 September 2021 (since 2021). Source
What the week costs to drive
| Item | Cost | Worked out from |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for 404 km | €39–€63 | Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices |
| Driving the week | €30–€70 | Rounded to €10 |
Not included: hotels, food and parking; the hire car, and any one-way or cross-border fee. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.
The rules on this route
Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.
Next on the road
Sources
- Halloween at PortAventura Park
- PortAventura Park open every day to 6 January, including 24, 25 and 31 December
- Ferrari Land: Fridays to Sundays only in November, every day from 18 December
- Tarragona low-emission zone (ZBE): weekdays 07:00–19:00, camera-checked; a car with no DGT label is restricted, and a foreign plate gets up to 12 days a year
- Barcelona low-emission zone (ZBE): weekdays 07:00–20:00 inside the ring roads; a Spanish hire car with a DGT label drives in freely
- The AP-7 through Catalonia has had no toll since 1 September 2021
- PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land at Salou, and Roman Tarragona a short drive away.
- Girona's old quarter and the Costa Brava, then back to Barcelona airport.
Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.