Sitges Travel Guide | Sitges to Barcelona
This Sitges travel guide is all you need to help you navigate the small coastal town of Spain. Sitting about 35km southwest of Spains capital city, it makes for a great day trip to the beach or an awesome weekend getaway. Keep reading if you want to know the ins and outs of Sitges, and how to get from Sitges to Barcelona via train.
We heard from many people that Sitges is the unofficial gay capital of Spain. This was quickly confirmed once we arrived. The small seaside city is glorious holiday destination for locals and tourists from around the world. There were men wearing matching and colour coordinated outfits with perfectly manicured facial hair, and there were women who could probably throw me the length of a rugby field. Needless to say I felt very plain, basic and boring walking around in my black denim shorts and Nike shoes.
But never-the-less, Sitges is famous for its annual carnival, beaches and nightlife, the town has some amazing architecture and the topless beaches are incredibly freeing.
Sitges isn’t a town you go to with the hopes of filling your day with excessive excitement, tours or history lessons. This Spanish beach town is the perfect opportunity to unwind, relax and regather your thoughts before jumping onto the next town, city or country. Experience the nudist beaches, explore the overly expensive boutique stores and wander through the beauty of the town that is Sitges.
Travelling from Sitges to Barcelona (and Return)
Getting to Sitges is pretty simple from Barcelona, there is a direct train line that travels to the small coastal town and takes around an hour each way.
Head to your nearest train station in Barcelona and check the notice board from trains to Sitges, I would usually suggest a website for you to look at but as I only went to Sitges on a day trip I didn’t do much forward planning. We sort of just went to the train station, picked a location and wham, ended up in one of the most beautiful seaside towns I have ever been to.
Things to do in Sitges
Visit a Nudist Beach
Yes you read that right, break down those comfort barriers and let your birthday suit free on the beach. There are 3 main nudist beach in Sitges that you can choose from. I’m not sure if we visited a nudist beach or if we just joined in on the Spanish culture of topless sunbathing… either way it felt great to be able to sit on a beach half dressed and not have guys gawking at every female they can lay their eyes on.
Check out the Boutique Shops
You won’t find an H&M or TK Max anywhere in Sitges, you’ll be lucky if you find a large chain store full stop. The streets in Sitges are lined with small or privately owned boutique clothing stores where the clothes are quality and the prices reflect it. Shopping in Sitges isn’t cheap, but there is always a price to pay for looking good!
Sitges Carnival: February – March
If you’re around the Sitges region between February and March then take the trip down to Sitges for the day to check out their annual carnival that has been celebrated for over a century. Floats, food, beer and partying that starts on a Thursday and runs through to the Sunday. More than 2,000 people fill the streets of Sitges with floats to celebrate their annual carnival.
Other Places in Spain You Might Like
If you’re travelling through Spain then your next closest neighbour is beautiful France. If you have the time and money I would highly consider travelling through southern France and visiting all the historical towns in the regions. Places like Les Baux and Nimes have an extensive history behind them dating back thousands of years, the same towns are still standing that you can visit, and you can even check out the Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, which is how the Romans transferred water from one end of the region to the other!
Check out my post here on my favourite small towns in Southern France!
