DAY TRIP TOSITGES

A Little Escape from Barcelona

If you're looking to spend your Sunday, or any other day, a little differently and escape the city for a few hours, my recommendation will always be to head somewhere along the coast.

This time, we decided to visit Sitges for the day, a small coastal town around an hour away from Barcelona by train. This charming town has so much to offer: wide beaches, a typical Mediterranean atmosphere and traditional narrow streets that you can endlessly wander through.

With the weather still so good, even at the end of October, it seemed like a great day to go and see what Sitges has to offer. We didn't have anything planned, just a day of walking around, finding somewhere good to eat and enjoying the last rays of sunshine.

If you're planning a longer stay in Barcelona, you can also have a look at my 3 Days in Barcelona itinerary for more places worth exploring in the city.

Getting to Sitges from Barcelona by Train

One of the best things about Sitges is how easy it is to reach from Barcelona.

We took the R2 Sud train from Estació de França to Sitges, a journey that took us around 50 minutes, although the travel time depends on where you get on. You can also catch trains towards Sitges from Barcelona-Sants and Passeig de Gràcia, depending on the service.

Once you leave Sitges station, the town centre is only a short walk away. You don't need a car, and everything we wanted to explore was within walking distance.

Wandering Through the Old Town of Sitges

One of my favourite things about visiting smaller Spanish towns is simply walking around without a destination. Sitges has so many narrow streets, with those traditional apartments, small balconies and whitewashed buildings… I just love it. Everywhere I looked, I wanted to stop and take another picture.

The old town feels very different from Barcelona. It is much quieter, the sea is always close by, and everything seems to move at a slower pace. Of course, we visited Sitges at the end of October, so I can't guarantee this same calmness during the summer months.

We wandered through the centre, passing small shops, cafés and beautiful old buildings. A fun fact is that Sitges is actually one of Spain's most famous LGBTQ+ destinations, known for its welcoming atmosphere, vibrant gay scene and lively nightlife. However, as I mentioned earlier, I imagine this side of Sitges becomes much more noticeable during the peak summer season.

One of the things we unexpectedly came across was a group of castellers, people who take part in the Catalan tradition of building human towers. And wow, how impressive! With the music playing in the background and so many people supporting the structure from below, the whole performance actually made me a little nervous just watching it. You can also see these performances during La Mercè, Barcelona's annual festival in September. So if you're visiting Barcelona around that time, it's definitely something you shouldn't miss.

This tradition is deeply rooted in Catalan culture and not really something you come across on an ordinary day. That said, we were very lucky!

The Church Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

Once you head towards the beach, you'll come across a beautiful church overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It's called the Església de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, probably one of Sitges' most recognisable landmarks. It has a beautiful stone façade, with steps leading down towards the sea and the port just beside it. If you walk up the stairs towards the church, make sure to stop for a few photos and enjoy the views!

It is one of those spots that really shows the charm of Sitges, with the historic old town on one side and the Mediterranean sea on the other.

Spending an Afternoon at Sitges Beach

Of course, you can't visit Sitges without spending some time by the sea. We walked down towards the beachfront promenade, lined with palm trees and plenty of places to stop for a drink, before spending some time on the beach. Even though it was already October, we were still holding on to the hope of getting a little more tanned.

So, we played a few rounds of Qwixx (one of my strongest recommendations is to always bring a game when travelling!) and simply enjoyed the sunshine and fresh sea air.

A Casual Lunch in Sitges

After a few hours, it was time for lunch. We ended up at La Oca, a casual restaurant in the centre of Sitges. As we were spending the day exploring, we didn't necessarily want an elaborate lunch.

We walked past this restaurant that was full of locals, spotted the chicken on the grill and were immediately sold. Price-wise, it was great. We spent €30 for the two of us, ordering half a grilled chicken, an ensaladilla rusa and two Diet Cokes. Nothing too fancy, but just enough to fill our bellies.

The service was good, the food was super tasty and the atmosphere was lively. Nothing else I could ask for on such a relaxed day.

A Little Something Sweet Before Leaving

No day by the Mediterranean coast is complete without something sweet.

We came across Amati Gelato, a gelato shop in Sitges, and decided to stop for an ice cream. We went for the yoghurt and strawberry flavours, both very smooth, creamy and full of flavour. A perfect little treat to end our day in Sitges before heading back to the busy streets of Barcelona in the afternoon.