PropertinspainBuying in Spain from abroad

Note

Buying property on the Costa Dorada

By Daniel WhitcombeReviewed by Marta Calderón IbáñezPublished Updated Stage 3: Choose where and what

Quick answer

The Costa Dorada is the sandy coast of the province of Tarragona, with resort towns, long beaches and a theme park. The foreign share is near the Catalan average. Check community documents, flood risk in low areas, noise in resort towns and the strict tourist-let rules. Ask your notary to calculate the tax.

Applies toBuyers considering a flat or house on the Tarragona coast.

On this page: 12 sections
  1. The coast
  2. The market
  3. Taxes
  4. Communities
  5. Floods and low land
  6. Noise and seasons
  7. Coastal law
  8. Tourist lets
  9. Who it may suit
  10. What we could not verify
  11. Questions to ask on site in this place
  12. More on this topic
Checked 26 October 2026by Marta Calderón Ibáñez. Claims on this page are tied to the sources listed at the end.

§ 1The coast

The Costa Dorada is the coast of the province of Tarragona, south of Barcelona, with long sandy beaches, resort towns, a Roman port city and a large theme park. Its market is dominated by flats and townhouses in communities. This page belongs to the chapter on the section on Catalonia.

§ 2The market

The registry reports that foreigners made up 17.65% of home purchases in the province of Tarragona in the second quarter of 2026, close to 17.63% for Catalonia. We found no official average for the Costa Dorada, so we print none. Ask local agents for recent sales and compare by town and type.

§ 3Taxes

The housing resale transfer tax is the average of a scale of four brackets, from 10% to 13%, set by the regional decree-law we read. Ask your notary to calculate it for your price. The costs section explains.

§ 4Communities

Resort flats are in communities with shared pools and gardens. Ask for the statutes, accounts, minutes and reserve fund. The law requires a reserve fund of at least 10% of the last ordinary budget, and a three-fifths vote of all owners can approve, limit or ban tourist rental.

§ 5Floods and low land

Low coastal land and ravines can flood in heavy rain. Check the national flood viewer, the level of the ground floor and garage, and the drainage. The location checks section explains.

§ 6Noise and seasons

Resort towns can be loud in summer. Visit on a weekend night, and check the floor and the distance from bars. Many services shut in winter, so visit then too.

§ 7Coastal law

Homes near the shore are subject to the coastal law, which protects a zone of 100 metres inland from the shore. Ask your lawyer for the certificate.

§ 8Tourist lets

A decree-law requires a prior planning licence for tourist use in the 262 municipalities of its annex, with a licence that lasts five years and a cap of ten per hundred inhabitants. We did not read the municipal rules.

§ 9Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who want sandy beaches, resort services and a smaller price tag than Barcelona. Buying in Costa Brava covers the Costa Brava to the north and buying a house in Sitges covers Sitges.

§ 10What we could not verify

We found no official average for the coast and did not read the municipal rules.

§ 11Questions to ask on site in this place

Ask about the licence status, community works and any tourist-use restriction on the building. Ask the community administrator, if there is one, for the statutes, the last accounts and the minutes of the previous meetings. Visit in summer and in winter, because coastal towns and mountain villages change character with the season. Write down the answers and compare them with the documents your lawyer receives from the registry and the town hall.

§ 12More on this topic

Homes in Barcelona explains what to check when buying in Barcelona.

FAQRelated questions

What is the Costa Dorada?

It is the beach-lined shore of Tarragona province, south of Barcelona. Resort towns and a historic port city line the sand. Most homes are flats or townhouses within communities, plus a minority of detached villas.

Is it busy in summer?

Resort towns fill in the holiday months and quiet down afterwards. Visit in both seasons and on a weekend night to judge noise, parking and services before you commit.

Can I let a home to tourists?

Catalonia requires a prior planning licence in the listed municipalities and caps tourist dwellings per inhabitant. Many communities also limit lets. Read the rules and ask a local lawyer before you count on any income.

Sources

About this page

Written by

Daniel Whitcombe

Writer, buying and living in Spain

Daniel writes the chapters on how a purchase runs, who can buy, where to buy and how to check a location. He writes for readers who are new to the Spanish system and prefers plain explanations that name the official source. He is not a lawyer or adviser.

Reviewed by Marta Calderón Ibáñez, chief editor and source editor, 26 October 2026. Checked: Figures and rules checked against the official texts listed below

Found an error? Report it. Each report gets a dated reply, and confirmed corrections are logged on the updates page.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.