The Costa Dorada: Barcelona’s Best-Kept Secret
Sometimes you don’t need to go far to switch off. The Costa Dorada — the Golden Coast — stretches between Sitges and Tarragona, offering wide beaches, charming villages and exceptional Catalan cuisine, all less than an hour from Barcelona.
Cubelles is one of the most authentic towns on this stretch: no big hotel chains, no mass tourism, just a quiet pace of life. This is where you’ll find Hotel Mas Trader, a Catalan masía converted into a boutique hotel.
The Plan: 3 Days in Cubelles
Day 1 — Arrive and Unwind
Leave Barcelona after lunch. In 45 minutes you’re in Cubelles via the C-32 or AP-7. Check into your room at Hotel Mas Trader — the masía is a historic building, fully renovated with contemporary design.
Head down to one of the two pools and decompress. At sunset, grab a cocktail at the BugleBar and dinner at the Ocarina Gust restaurant: seasonal Catalan cuisine with local produce.
Day 2 — Beach, Village and Tapas
Breakfast is included at the hotel. Walk or drive 5 minutes to Cubelles beach. Swim, sunbathe, read. For lunch, head back to the hotel restaurant or explore the village’s local eateries.
In the afternoon, wander through Cubelles: medieval streets, the church, the weekly market if the timing is right. Or drive 20 minutes to Sitges, a chic coastal town with art galleries, terraces and a cosmopolitan vibe.
Evening: sunset by the pool, one last cocktail.
Day 3 — Tarragona or Barcelona
Two options for your final morning. Tarragona is 30 minutes south: a Roman amphitheatre overlooking the sea, a beautiful old town and quiet beaches. Barcelona is 45 minutes north: the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, La Boquería market, the waterfront.
Head home in the afternoon, tanned and rested.
Why Hotel Mas Trader
Hotel Mas Trader is the perfect base for a Costa Dorada weekend.
What’s included in the price: renovated double room with new bedding, air conditioning and free WiFi, breakfast every morning, access to both pools with sun loungers and towels. All from €70 per night for two guests.
The hotel also has a Catalan cuisine restaurant (Ocarina Gust), a cocktail and tapas bar (BugleBar), gardens, a games room and a gym. No need to take the car for dinner.
How to Get There
**From Barcelona:** 45 minutes via the C-32 or AP-7. Also by Rodalies R2 Sud train to Cubelles station.
**From France:** 2 hours from Perpignan, 2.5 hours from Montpellier, 3 hours from Toulouse via the AP-7 (toll-free on the Spanish side since 2021).
**From the UK:** Fly to Barcelona-El Prat, then 45 minutes by car or taxi.
**Address:** Hotel Mas Trader, Carrer Dàlia 26, 08880 Cubelles, Barcelona, Spain.
**Book:**hotelmastrader.com