PORT AVENTURA THEME PARK
There is something magical about theme parks that makes you feel as if you´re in another universe where fun, laughter and excitement are the only emotions allowed and where you can scream your head off and not be looked at like you´ve lost your mind!
As one of the biggest theme parks in Europe, Port Aventura is located just over an hour outside of Barcelona close to Tarragonna and annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Divided into different sections that represent different parts of the world (Mediterranean, Wild West, Polynesia, Mexico and China), each section is carefully designed with a lot of attention to detail to make you feel as if you´re actually being transported to those countries. There is also a “Sesame Street”-themed part for the small ones, with its own rides and performances. At certain times of the day there are also shows that range from tropical bird acrobatics, to a typical cowboy Wild West spectacle and the “Temple of Fire” in the Mexican part of the park.
Speaking of transport, driving to Port Aventura is quite easy, however it makes more sense to take the train from Barcelona (Renfe line R16) since the combination ticket (€45) for the return train ride and entrance to the park costs the same as the entrance itself and you don´t have to worry about driving back after a long and exhausting day at the park. The train station is called Port Aventura and is located a few minutes’ walk from the entrance to the park itself. The park closes at 19h00 until the end of May and will stay open longer during the summer months, with concerts and fireworks displays in the evenings.
As with any other park, the restaurants and food stalls serve overpriced items, although they do offer a very wide variety for all tastes including Italian, Mexican, Chinese and of course hot dogs and hamburgers. Many people prefer to take their own snacks or sandwich with them which can be kept in one of the many lockers throughout the park.
TIP: If possible, try to visit the park during the working week in the next few weeks before the school holidays and tourist season start! Otherwise you might find yourself waiting at least one hour in line for every ride. There is a helpful calendar that indicated the estimated waiting times for the whole year to help you plan your trip.
If you are visiting the park as part of your holidays with your kids, you may want to consider staying overnight at one of the hotels at the park, where you will also have 2 days access to the park and all its amenities. This usually also works out cheaper and allows you to take your time and fully enjoy the entire park and all of the rides.