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Sitges Day Trip 2024 - A Complete Guide
Sitges jewel of the mediterranean 40 minutes from Barcelona - history, museums, beaches, restaurants & shopping plus events calendar for beach town
About Sitges Day Trip 2024
Sitges is a quaint coastal town 30 kilometers south of Barcelona that is easily accessible by car or train and is a popular day-trip option for a beach town near Barcelona, known as the Jewel on the Mediterranean.
Sitges has and open-minded and chilled vibe, offering a diverse range of activities that appeal to art and culture enthusiasts, shoppers, foodies, beach lovers, party animals, and individuals from the LGBT communities.
When visiting Barcelona, Sitges should be on your list of day trips along with Montserrat Monastery & mountain or Sitges could be considered as an ideal holiday destination due to it's proximity to Barcelona.
Why Visit Sitges?
- Festivals: in a beach town south of barcelona every month there is a different festival.
- Postcard views: of whitewashed Mediterranean houses, and over 4 kilometres of long sandy beaches, including a clothing optional beach.
- Culture: Sitges is a favorite of artists, poets and painters. The headland in the middle of town has the prominent Church of Saint Bartholomew Iglesia de San Bartolomé y Santa Tecla around which sit multiple museums such as Cau Ferrat, Maricel Mucseum, Maricel Palace, Stampfili Foundation as well as art galleries in the town centre.
- LGBT Friendly: hosting the annual Gay pride Sitges festival at the beginning of June.
- Sitges Boulevard along the seafront is a broad boulevard full of bars and restaurants, opening till late in the evening.
- Medieval Walls: Historic centre of Sitges has remains of the medieval city wall which can be viewed from the terrace of Bar La Guineu de Sitges.
- Artisan and Boutique shopping: in the narrow carrer Mayor street that provide great photo opportunities.
- Hiking in Garraf Natural Park: The GR-92 coastal path runs the whole length of the Mediterranean coastline passes via the Garraf park. I have included a section of this trail from Garraf to Sitges.
Sitges History
Sitges is a medieval walled costal town. Today little remains of the old city walls and the castle has completely gone. However, there is still a small section of the old wall and moat plus plenty of whitewashed fishermans houses from c1700 or earlier in the medieval quarter.
Sitges is situated between the sea and the mountains of the Garraf Natural Park. The Mediterranean Sea coastline of Garraf with the mountain backdrop create a natural setting for this town.
The origins of Sitges are that of a fishing village and wine trading port. The town has been much favoured by artists, the bohemian crowd and more recently has developed a large LBGT community. Since the 1800s Sitges has been more known as a tourist resort with much more than just beaches.
4 Things to do and see in Sitges Day Trip 2024
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Sitges Maricel Palace - Palau de Maricel
Spectacular palace built (1913-1918) for American millionaire industrialist Charles Deering by Miquel Utrillo to serve as a home & to display his art collection
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Sitges Cau Ferrat house and Maricel Art Gallery
Former home of artist Santiago Rusiñol now a museum that exhibits his art and collections. Art, furniture and sculptures by important Spanish modernist artists
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Sitges Stämpfli foundation Contemporary art gallery
Contemporary art gallery located in former fish market in Sitges. Opened in 2011 and founded by paintor Peter Stämpfli and wife Anna Maria Stämpfli
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Map of Sitges Day Trip 2024
Attractions
Events in Sitges Day Trip 2024
- late February/early march: The Sitges Carnival is one of the oldest in Catalonia. A wild and merry atmosphere, with two main events: the street parades on Sunday and Tuesday. Sitges carnival 2024 runs from Thursday 8th of February till Wednesday 14th of February.
- Mid March: The Barcelona to Sitges International Vintage Car Rally is an enormous social spectacle which has been held since 1959 and brings together classic cars and motorcycles from before 1924, the majority of which belong to private collections. The drivers and their passengers, in period dress, arrive in Sitges from Barcelona via the Garraf coastline. More than 15 motorcycles and 60 cars, all of them vintage, took part in the last rally.
- 23rd April: is Saint George's Day (Sant Jordi). This is the traditional Catalan day for couples and the tradition is that women give men a book and men give women a rose so Passeig de la Ribera is full of book stalls and florists.
- June: is Gay pride Sitges. This international festival which, in 2019, held its tenth annual edition, has become one of the most important in the Mediterranean. Open to everyone and set among the town and its beaches, this occasion offers concerts, parades and parties by the sea. Gay Pride Sitges 2024 is from June 5th to June 9th. Renfe put on additional trains to return to Barcelona late in the evening.
- June: is Corpus Christi. where the streets are lined with carpets of flowers on Corpus Christi Sunday. The town's main streets wake up covered in carpets of flowers made by the local neighbours after working tirelessly through the night. In the afternoon, the flower carpets serve as a guide for the religious procession led by giant figurines. Corpus Cristi 2024 in Sitges is celebrated From the 30th of May to the 9th of June with the flowers in the streets on the 2nd of June 2023.
- Fiesta major de Sitges. This is a big street party in the town, held in celebration of the town's patron saint, Sant Bartomeu (Saint Bartholomew).
Fiesta major de Sitges 2024 is celebrated 23rd to 24th of August 2024 with the fireworks display on 23rd of August - Beginning of October: is the Sitges international film festival. and takes place in the Melia Sitges hotel. This is like a mini Cannes film festival and it focuses on fantasy films.
Sitges film festival 2023 takes place from Thursday 3rd October to Sunday 13th October 2023. - End November-mid december: is Sitges Christmas Market. Selling arts and crafts goods and Sitges Christmas market selling traditional Catalan Christmas goods and decorations. At La Fragata beach and at the foot of the Sant Bartomeu (Saint Bartholomew) Church.
Tickets for Attractions in Sitges Day Trip 2024
When visiting Sitges or Staying in Sitges, there are several note worthy tours that you can take to visit local wineries.
This tour is perfect for wine enthusiasts and those who want to learn more about the region's wine-making traditions and culture. At each winery, a professional sommelier will guide you through a wine-tasting session, explaining the history, terroir, and winemaking techniques of each wine. You will also have the chance to see the vineyards and cellars up close and learn about the production process. We start our wine tasting tour in Sitges, Barcelona by picking you up at your accommodation or a designated place in Sitges at 3.30 am Vega De Ribes and Villadelops are two wineries located in the Penedès wine region of Catalonia, Spain. Both wineries are known for their production of high-quality wines.
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Start at Sitges, where you will immerse yourself in the local flavours at a charming winery nestled in the vibrant town centre. Experience a curated wine tasting of three select local wines, each thoughtfully paired with regional specialties and discover the rich wine-making traditions of Catalonia. Take a stroll through the historic streets of Sitges Admiring the beautifully preserved architecture of the town's fishing village heritage. Explore the promenade, quaint shops, and inviting cafes. Continue your day with a short walk to Port d'Aiguadolç, where a sailboat takes you on a coastal cruise to enjoy the unparalleled views of Sitges from the water. The Mediterranean’s blue water provides a serene backdrop for viewing the town’s scenic beaches and historic buildings.
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Discover Sitges on a sailing trip, the best way to appreciate the history of this town, its historical legacy, and close links with the vineyards and the Malvasia of Sitges. After the sailing excursion, go on your way to the urban winery Celler de l'Hospital and take a guided tour of the historical centre of Sitges. Discover the history and architecture of a town open to the sea and the direct relationship between the town, its history, and the Malvasia of Sitges. After a short walking tour, arrive at the Celler de l'Hospital winery and the CIM (Malvasia Interpretation Center) where you will visit the winery and one of the few urban vineyards in Spain. Discover the underwater cellars of Malvasia with a tasting of their Malvasia of Sitges wines.
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Discover the charming coastal town of Sitges and the famous vineyard region of Penedès on a guided minivan tour from Barcelona. Met at 9am in Barcelona where you are driven to Sitges to explore the town before going to an authentic winery for a delightful wine tasting experience with a delicious selection of tapas. Taste premium wines in the peaceful Catalonian vineyards while learning about sustainable and ecological wine and cava production. For an unforgettable memory, consider booking an optional photo shoot with a professional photographer to capture the highlights of your unique adventure.
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Getting to Sitges Day Trip 2024
- By Train: The Rodalies R2 train from Barcelona-Estació de França, Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia and Barcelona-Sants takes only 35 minutes to get to Sitges and runs a daily frequent service of two to three trains every hour. Trains run every 45 to 60 minutes from 06:00h till around 22:00h. See the Train map in the documents section.
Note:Trains on the R2 train line will terminate at Vilanova I la Geltrú or Sant Vicenç de Calders with the Sant Vicenç de Calders trains making less intermediate stops between Barcelona and Sitges.
Train Tip: These are double deck trains so sit on the top deck on the left side with respect to the direction of travel to get good views of the beaches, rocky coastline and small villages on the way to Sitges. - By Bus: Use the e16 Plana bus service. This is an express bus service from Barcelona direct to Sitges. Busses run approximately 15 minutes during peek hours and every 30 minutes during the rest of the day from Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona.
- By Car: Take the C31 motorway leaving Barcelona and follow it onto the C32. Take the exit 30 or 31 sign posted to Sitges. Parking Retiro - Carrer d'Angel Vidal 17, Sitges or Continental parking or Nou Mercar Parking.
Where to Eat Sitges Day Trip 2024
The gastronomy of Catalonia is rich and varied. In the mountainous regioins typical food is grilled meats, stews and grilled vegetables. In the coastal towns and villages it is the typical Mediterranean diet of fish and seafood with fresh vegetables, olives and olive oil rice and pasta. Paella will be served in almost every restaurant.
My recommended places to look for restaurants are behind Sant Sebastià beach or along passeig de la Ribera which is the palm tree lined boulevard on the beach front from the church going south.
In the centre of town I can recommend the El Merci Sitges Sitges restaurant or any of the restaurants in the small passages in this area.
Note: Breakfast is from 08:00 to 10:30 ish, Lunch is from 13:30 to 15:30 ish, Dinner is from 19:30 to 22:00 ish.
Sitges is an absolute hive of great restaurants and to make this list small, I have only included places where I have eaten.
Documents for Sitges Day Trip 2024
Click on any one of the 3 PDFs to view in full screen and download.
Weather for Sitges
What to take with you for Sitges Day Trip 2024
Access to Sitges Renfe station is step free with an elevator interchange between platforms.
Where to stay overnight in the Sitges Day Trip 2024 - A Complete Guide
- Aiguadolç/Sitges Port: is a Marina about 1.5km (20 min walk) from the centre of sitges.
- Golf & Luxuary Hotels: At the southern end of Sitges is the Club de Golf Terramar and luxuary Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa or ME Sitges Terramar Hotel which has a beach called Platja de les Anquines protected within breakwater.
How much does Sitges Day Trip 2024 Day Trip Cost?
Description
Adult
Adult Discounts
Child
Child Discounts
Return Train fare from Barcelona
€ 9.20
€ 9.20
Sitges Combined Ticket: Cau Ferrat Museum + Maricel Museum + Maricel Palace + Stämpfli Art Gallery
€ 17.00
Students under 25, Over 65's, Carnet Jove & Carnet Blau card
€ 12.00
Free access for under-16s. large or single-parent families:
€ 26.20
Adult Total
€ 21.20
Child Total
Things to do near Sitges Day Trip 2024
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Costa Dorada GR-92 Garraf To Sitges hiking trail
Easy 15km walk from Garraf port to Sitges via an open mineral mine, farmhouses and small hamlets, a cement factory and costal viewpoint with chapel
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Catalonia Railway Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú
Steam & Diesel electric train museum in steam sheds of Vilanova i la Geltrú train depot. Beach or water sports in the afternoon after museum visit
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