Want to go to Port Aventura and Barcelona Football Match - Do I stay in Salou or Barcelona?

[jammie]

We are having a few days holiday in Costa Dorada and want to go to Port Aventura (we already have a pass for this)and possibly take our children to a football match at the Barcelona ground. Would we be better to stay in Salou or Barcelona, I am not sure how family orientated Barcelona is. Also is it okay to take children to football matches there? If not we would maybe do the tour of the football ground. Would welcome any advice.

Just a few questions.
What age are your kids?
Have they been to a few matches already?

Football has a very different set up in Spain with regards to security and stewarding.

If it is a non-descript match perhaps, but I would avoid the large high profile matches, equivalant to out derbys here like Man City V Man U or Rangers Celtic. Things like flares and smake bombs amounst the crowd are more commen and as you know they don't queue or wait in and orderly fashion.

Personaly I would stay in Barcelona, as I found Salou to be the typical tacky resort with lots of Brit pubs and T-shirt stalls.

Our kids loved all the Gaudi stuff, there is an Aquarium and a zoo. We found the open top buses got us to the popular places, but stops were busy at the big sights. Our trick was to walk the short distance to the stop before the ones at the top attractions. The marina areas are dullof big fancy boats and stalls.

Suppose it depends on what you are looking fof fo the kids, Barcelona would be stifeling in the middle of the summer, the beach might be cooler but just as busy, but barcelona has its beaches too.

that would be smoke bombs

We went to see Barcelona v Seville and it didn't kick off until 9pm which would be something to consider if your kids were small or you were staying in Salou.

Dh informs me though that kick off times vary and could be 5pm or 7pm. Check here for more info.

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated. My children are aged 4 and 9, older one has been to a couple of matches but not younger one, who I would be a little worried about! Was not sure if football was more family friendly over there! Seems like this is quite a lot to do in Barecelona for a few days, so am now going to start look at accommodation, hopefully will manage to find some deals somewhere!

stay in barcelona.

Salou is a s%*thole.

Agree with tiredemma,Salou is really tacky.We stayed up the coast in Cambrils,a lovely little harbour town with great restaurants,beaches ect.It is very cheap to get to Barcelona,but beware the last train back to the coast-when we took it we had to stand nearly all the way with a very tired 28 month old & 3 year old,with no air conditioning.DH is much travelled & said that it was the worst train journey of his life.I'm inclined to agree.

Doh,meant 18 month old,not 28 month old.