Sitges isn’t for everyone.
It seems that everywhere you look people love Sitges. We didn’t love it as much. But that’s maybe because Sitges isn’t for everyone.
Who is it for? I’ll tell you. I’ll also tell you what Sitges is known for. Finally, I’ll cover why some people might not love Sitges as much as others…
You might love Sitges if…
You’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I read somewhere that Sitges is the “gay capital of Europe”. I don’t know if that’s true but one thing that’s for sure is that the community is very well represented here. You’ll see lots of gay bars in the center and it gets crazy at night. Note: While “very gay”, Sitges honestly feels comfortable whatever your persuasions. Sitges is open and liberal, which is a great thing. The bars actually give the town a vibrant atmosphere which you won’t find in most places.
You’re looking for a lively beach destination close to Barcelona. When we lived in the Malaga region we’d often go to Torremolinos for the night before a flight. Why? We wanted a place close to the airport where we could relax/have a good time the night before a flight.
Sitges offers the same thing for those in the Barcelona area. It’s 40 minutes by train from the city of Barcelona (about the same from the airport) but is only about 25 minutes away from the airport by taxi. So if looking to unwind before a flight, Sitges is a good place to spend the night.
As a base for a family vacation. It’s safe, it’s pretty, there are some great beaches and lots of restaurants. For people who won’t be very active because they have kids with them, Sitges has everything you need in a condensed space.
What to Do in Sitges
A few things that Sitges is known for:
A long seaside promenade known as the Passeig Marítim stretches for 3 km. Along the way are lots of beaches, statues and monuments and some pretty scenery including villas on the outskirts of the town.
Beaches. In all, Sitges has 17 beaches which are clean, wide and full of golden-coloured sand.
Walk the Old Town. Sitges Old Town isn’t big but it’s pretty. Highlights include 1) “La Punta” (the viewpoint where the Sant Bartomeu I Santa Tecla church stands), 2) Carrer Fonollar (steps from the above “la Punta”. Here you walk next to the impressive Cau Ferrat Museum), 3) Placa de l’Ajuntament square (home of Sitges city hall). But really, the whole of the Old Town is pretty and you’ll come across many interesting buildings along the way.
Restaurants, cafés, bars. This is a resort town and there are tons of choices. This post (by a regular to Sitges) highlights some recommendations. But even if it’s to have a slice of pizza or a coffee or beer somewhere, Sitges is the kind of place to just lounge around and people-watch.
Cycling. If you’re a cyclist, Sitges is a great place. You can bike along the coast to Vilanova i la Geltrú or go inland to vineyards or to Parc del Garraf.
You might NOT love Sitges if…
You don’t like crowds. We were in Sitges over a weekend in March and there were tons of tourists in town. Even on the promenade there were a lot of people (although it thinned out as you got further from the center of town). Most visitors seemed to be day trippers coming in from Barcelona.
Tip: go to nearby Vilanova i la Geltrú if you want to get away from the tourists and see a local town. And it has its own promenade and beaches which you could argue are even nicer than those in Sitges.
It’s expensive. We spent 2 months travelling around Spain in the spring and only Madrid was more expensive that Sitges. Everything is expensive, especially accommodation. A few years ago Marie-Noëlle wrote about what it was like living in Sitges for this blog. Getting in touch with her this year, she mentioned that she had moved because it just got too expensive…AND too crowded.
Noise. Sitges is a party place and as we were to find out, the old town gets very loud at night. If you like to party you’ll probably like that. It’s always lively. But if you’re a couple like us who doesn’t party or if you’re a family, I’d really recommend you stay somewhere outside the old town.
Sitges is small. We arrived in Sitges and walked around the town. After 2 hours we found ourselves retracing our steps. Really, there’s not that much to see.
So should you visit Sitges?
In the end, Sitges is a seaside resort town. And seaside resort towns are good places to party and/or relax. So it really depends on what you want out of a trip to Sitges. For sure I would recommend a day trip just to have a look at the town. It’s pretty and we really enjoyed sitting on a terrasse and having a drink and watching the world go by. But to spend 3 days as we did? We quickly got tired of the crowds, noise, and found the town overly touristy. And there’s not that much to see.
Note: some day trips if looking for places to visit from Sitges: Barcelona is 40 minutes away by train. In the opposite direction, Tarragona (one of Spain’s most historic cities) is 50 to 60 minutes away. Vilanova i la Geltrú is about 15 minutes away and is also worth a visit.
Have you been to Sitges? What did you think of it?
Related: Girona: One of Spain’s most beautiful cities
Related: Tossa de Mar: When a place calls to you
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