A Day Trip From Barcelona to Sitges

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Advisor - Alyssa Chitwood
Curated By

Alyssa Chitwood

  • Beaches

  • Food & Wine

  • Slow Travel

  • Arts & Culture

  • Couples Travel

  • Spain

  • Beach Town

  • Relaxation

  • Sightseeing

Advisor - A Day Trip From Barcelona to Sitges
Curator’s statement

Sitges is a historic port town known for its fishing and commercial port, and heavily influenced by late 19th century artists and writers. This town offers serene beaches, 17 to be exact, beautiful seafront walks, palm trees and architecture that holds centuries of stories. You can wander around the cobblestone streets and shop local vendors selling everything from hand woven clothing to Iberian ham. If you prefer, kick back in the sand enjoying the Mediterranean breeze away from the fast-moving excitement found in Barcelona. This coastal town is much better explored at your own pace, getting to navigate each winding road.

If you’re going to Barcelona for any extended period of time, chances are you’ve considered a day trip to a nearby city. Montserrat is commonly brought up in these conversations and you’ll find an abundance of excursions, guided tours, wine tastings and more among this mountainous city. Those opting for a more coastal break away from the big city, however, will be delighted to find Sitges just 35 minutes south by train.

I personally went on a cold overcast day in February as we stayed in Barcelona for three weeks out of the season. While it was chilly and at times rainy, the coastal town was still beautiful and the waterfront view has since become my phone screen wallpaper.

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Where to stay in Sitges

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Things to do in Sitges

Madrigal a Sitges

Bring your walking shoes. Actually, no matter where you’re going in Europe, I would almost always recommend a good, comfortable, supportive pair of walking shoes — and if they’re stylish, great — but you’ll notice in Barcelona, Sitges and other Mediterranean cities, shoes are functional and not always fashionable.

From the train station, you can walk directly towards the beaches on Carrer de Rafael Llopart. Don’t rush, and be sure to wander down all of the side streets where you’ll discover boutiques, quaint apartments, romantic hotels and more.

When you reach the beach, you’ll soon discover you have no shortage of culturally immersive activities and restaurants to indulge any cravings. Sitges Old Town Center boasts historical landmarks including:

  • Mercat Vell de Sitges

  • Muralla de Sitges

  • El Baluard de Sitges

  • Cau Ferrat Museum & Museum de Maricel: These museums offer a combined ticket and connect with each other for a seamless experience. I recommend going first thing upon opening (11 am local time) for the best and least crowded experience. The Instagram famous picture spot in Museum de Maricel is hard to get some time in front of, even with very minimal crowds first thing in the morning. Your best bet to actually learn, experience and capture the museum will be as early as possible.

  • Church of Sant Bartomeu: When you wrap up inside the museum, just steps away, you’ll find the breathtaking waterfront Church of Sant Bartomeu. These iconic church steps boast a view of the Med that is likely to stop you in your tracks and even during the winter brings out local felines enjoying the salty air.

These landmarks are all adjacent to each other and can be enjoyed together for one part of the afternoon. It is a great place to start your trip to Sitges as you’ll beat the crowds and then be able to enjoy the more quaint parts of the city after sharing a nice meal.

  • Carrer d’en Bosc, Carrer de La Davallada, Carrer Mejor: In the heart of Old Town Center, these streets offer visitors boutique shops, local artisan galleries and even cultural landmarks. White-washed buildings, cobble-stone streets and narrow winding roads provide a deeper look into the charming beauty Sitges has to offer. The early mornings and siesta time are quieter here, and a great time to just wander around and take it all in.

  • Carrer de Les Parellades: Here, locals and tourists alike indulge in a few extra cocktails and socialize into the later hours of the day. Notable bars and restaurants, crowded streets, live music and more fill Carrer de Les Parellades day and night. Here you can find the perfect afternoon apertivo, do some people watching and even grab yourself a sweet treat at Tesoro de Pirates Sitges (candy store).

Places to eat & drink in Sitges

Pic-Nic Restaurant

Obviously a day trip isn’t enough to hit all of the wonderful bars and restaurants that Sitges has to offer, but of notable mention is Casa Roy, Pic-Nic, & Vivero Beach Club.

  • Pic-Nic: a true waterfront lunch and dinner spot, mid-range budget with both indoor formal dining and outdoor lounge-style dining and a Paella experience that fills the restaurant with a mouthwatering smell. The seafood croquettes were also some of the best we had, and we tried them almost everywhere we went.

  • Casa Roy: A beautiful drink spot along the main road to people-watch and enjoy an afternoon drink. Right across from the candy shop and a few boutique shops, this stop has tons of street-side tables. If you’re lucky, you’ll see one of the many dogs being walked through this central part of town by their owners.

  • Vivero Beach Club: Slightly East of Old Town and closer to the Melia property and Sitges Port, you’ll find this beach club that truly screams Mediterranean escape. From paella, to tapas, and a view that is truly unbeatable, this popular and tourist heavy restaurant will be worth the wait. Make a reservation ahead of time, especially in peak season, and go right when it opens to lock in a table or lounge area with the best view.

Two other ways to enjoy the beach and the view are Chiringuto Iguana, for a toes in the sand true beach-front experience that is casual and ideal for travelers of all ages — and Restaurant Sky Bar. This rooftop bar is slightly more formal but equally as inviting and boasts a view close to that of Vivero Beach Club, away from the port and overlooking the crystal clear waters.

High-end restaurants perfect for date night

While a day trip to Sitges should start in the morning, if you can find yourself on a beach lounger or enjoying the shops all afternoon, staying for dinner is an absolute must. There are too many to name, but perfect date-night spots exist in all corners of Old Town. Keep in mind that the city closes for that siesta period, and that means you have to wait for dinner, sometimes until 7–9 pm when things reopen.

  • La Cocina: Carrer de Sant Bonaventura, 19, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

  • El Cable: Carrer Barcelona, 1, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

  • Restaurant La Incidencia Del Factor Vi: Carrer Bonaire, 25, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

  • Fragata: Passeig de la Ribera, 1, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

Need to know

  • Getting there:

Getting to Sitges from Barcelona couldn’t be easier. One train, no transfers, that drops you off at a perfectly central location to spend a day exploring the town.

I recommend taking a departing train from Barcelona Sants [Pl. dels Països Catalans, 1, 7, Sants-Montjuïc, 08014, Barcelona, Spain] and purchasing the one-way ticket to Sitges. You can pre-purchase the ticket online via reliable ticketing platforms including Omio, Rome2Rio, & TrainLine. Once you arrive at the station, you’ll follow signs for the R train.

The train ride will have a few stops as you make your way south on a total 35 minute long journey to Sitges. You’ll pass through nearby towns where agriculture is prominent and miles of vegetation and crops are growing along the land.

You’ll arrive at Sitges Train Station [Plaça Eduard Maristany, 1, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain] and immediately be met with the smells of fresh tapas, and the laughter of tourists and locals alike sharing a drink on the patio.

For your return trip, trains run every 30 minutes until 10:30 pm. Dinner will be served around 7 pm or later, but if you plan you’ll have no trouble getting a return trip back to your accommodations in Barcelona.

  • For the End: Venturing Outside Old Town Center

Though you may not find it necessary to, about a 45 minute walk away on the far southwest side of the city, you’ll find Melia Sitges, a Fora Preferred, historically revamped, 5-star property worth the trek.

Nearby to the Melia, the stunning Patja Terremar and Jardins de Terremar offer enough serene landscape to enjoy for a weekend, but are also worth the walk to explore for an afternoon. If you absolutely need to or have someone with a mobility concern, you can try and get an Uber on the main road, but it may be a bit of a wait. At Platja Terremar, you can find water sport and adventure rentals to enjoy on a hot day and can easily access the heart of Old Town on a walk down Passeig Maritim.

Need to know:

** Lyft does not operate in many European cities, so if you’re planning on relying on ride-share in Barcelona, Sitges or any other nearby town — make sure you have Uber, or cash on hand for a taxi [which is what I’d recommend]. **

** Almost all restaurants in Sitges close for a Siesta period. This is extremely important to note ahead of time because they will close around 3 pm and not reopen until 7 pm, sometimes even 8–9. The afternoon / Siesta is another great time to tour museums and do some walking, as there may be less crowds.

A little insider info:

  • Estrella & Alhambra = two prominent beers on tap, primarily the best offerings you’ll find for a beer-on-tap, a light lager-style beer. They are pretty interchangeable oftentimes restaurants will have one or the other.

  • Aperol Spritz has become commercialized & tourist-centric, and restaurants & bars know that. White wine will be almost ⅓ of the price, as will beer.

  • The people in Sitges dress up, especially in peak season / summer time. Wearing sneakers to stay comfortable with a nice dress, skirt or more formal outfit is ideal and appropriate for this trip.

The narrow, winding streets are meant for walking. I truly encourage you to prepare for a heavy day on foot and get lost among the streets — you’ll miss parts of town if you rely on main roads and vehicles for transportation.

Advisor - Alyssa Chitwood

Travel Advisor

Alyssa Chitwood

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