Hola! Welcome to Sitges, one of the most liberal and open-minded cities in Europe. Scenic beaches, quaint old town streets, stylish restaurants and bars, all-night-long parties, lively festivals, historic monuments, museums… No matter if you’re a party-seeker or just looking for a picturesque getaway – this city will satisfy each traveler’s interests and needs! Keep reading and discover things to do in Sitges you’ll love.
Interesting fact. Until the late 19th century Sitges was just a sleepy fishing village. Everything changed when famous Catalan artists decided to make it their home. Later wealthy families from Barcelona and some celebrities decided to build their summer residences there. The tourist boom started in the 1960s.
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Sitges, Spain FAQ
Sitges is a small Spanish coastal town located in Catalonia in the Province of Barcelona. It lies between the Garraf Massif and the Mediterranean Sea, about 40km from Barcelona, and 60km from Tarragona.
Sitges is best known for its LGBT-friendly atmosphere and being one of the top-rated destinations for gay couples. The town is also commonly known as the Saint-Tropez of Spain thanks to many luxury villas, high property prices similar to those of the most expensive European cities, glitzy nightlife, and beautiful sandy beaches.
Without a doubt! No matter if you’re looking for parties, chilled holidays, or weekend getaway – among all things to do in Sitges you’ll find something perfect for yourself. It’s also a great spot for a day trip, as well as it might serve as a good starting point for discovering Catalonia.
Oh yes, this is beyond doubt. There are many bars and clubs where parties last until the early morning hours. If you love parties – you’ll love Sitges. However, it is worth noting that nightlife is dominated by a male-gay scene.
Our travel video from Sitges
Things to do in Sitges, Spain
Sitges Old Town
Sitges old town is full of picturesque streets and lanes filled with gorgeous buildings, architectural gems, small shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It’s not particularly large which makes it perfect to explore on foot and immerse in the town’s chilled vibe. The area is full of tourists and locals for most of the day, so if you want to discover it in peace we recommend early morning hours. But no matter when you do it, visiting the old town is definitely one the best things to do in Sitges.
Don’t miss streets like Carrer de les Parellades, Carrer Jesús, Calle de Fonollar, Carrer Primer de Maig (fondly known as a Sin Street) with Plaça de la Indústria, Carrer de Joan Tarrida, Plaça de l’Ajuntament, and Carrer d’en Tacó.
In Sitges old town, you’ll also find places of interest like Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla Church, Maricel Museum, Cau Ferrat Museum, Old Market, and remains of Sitges wall.
Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla
Parish church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic landmarks in Sitges, which you’ll spot on many postcards. It’s a Baroque-style church dating back to the 17th century. It sits on a small hill and features a terrace, which thanks to spectacular views is a popular spot for watching sunsets. You can reach the church by a stairway from the seaside, or from Plaça de l’Ajuntament located behind it.
Photo tip. Church is visible from many places in Sitges, but for the best photos head to the rocks on Platja de l’Estanyol.
Beaches in Sitges
One of the best things to do in Sitges is to hit one of its superb beaches. The town boasts 19km of coastline along which you can find 17 beaches, among which many were awarded Blue Flag. Some beaches are right on the town center doorstep and some are located further and are more secluded. Some are busy, while some are quiet and private. All are LGBTQ+ friendly. Oh, and some are even nudist beaches!
Some of the most popular beaches in Sitges include:
- Platja de la Fragata, Platja de la Ribera, Platja de Sitges & Platja de l’Estanyol – long and sandy beaches along Sitges Promenade, featuring spectacular front views over the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla.
- Platja de Sant Sebastia – rather small and sandy beach located behind Sitges old town, lined with restaurants and bars.
- Platja dels Balmins – small nudist/clothing-optional beach close to the Sitges Port with nice views over the old town
Sitges Promenade
If you’re looking for a place for a relaxing walk seasoned with great views, be sure to direct your steps to Passeig Maritim, the main promenade in Sitges. It stretches for about 3km from the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla up to Platja Terramar. The promenade is lined with trees, cafes, and restaurants, and many benches on which you can sit and watch people going on with their lives. It’s also ideal for cycling, running, or skateboarding.
Along it, at the beginning of Platja de l’Estanyol, you’ll also find a pink Triangle Monument Against Homophobia. It was erected in 2006 to end the tension between the LGBT community and groups of homophobic citizens.
Maricel Palace
Maricel Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Sitges. It was built between 1913 and 1918 by Miquel Utrillo for American art collector Charles Deering as his seaside residence and a place to store his collections. Nowadays it’s an eclectic art museum showcasing vast artworks from the 10th to 20th centuries. But what makes visiting Maricel Palace one of the top things to do in Sitges are the breathtaking sea views framed by its elegant arches – a picture-perfect spot that captures the town’s coastal charm.
Maricel Palace is open to the public only on Sundays and only via guided tours (in English, Spanish, and Catalan). Entrance costs €12 for a normal ticket and €6 for a reduced one (August 2026). The price include entrance to Museu del Cau Ferrat. For more information, current prices, and reservations visit museusdesitges.cat website.
Cau Ferrat Museum
Cau Ferrat Museum once was a workshop and storage for an extensive collection of art pieces collected by Santiago Rusiñol, one of the leading figures of the Catalan Modernist movement. Two years after his death, in 1933, it became a public museum in order to preserve the heritage and celebrate Catalan artists.
Inside, you’ll find a collection of ancient and modern art, like paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, or glasswork. There are also pieces by famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Ramon Casas, or Ramon Pichot. Thanks to all of that, Cau Ferrat Museum is commonly called the ‘Temple of Modernisme’. If you’re an art lover, visiting will definitely be one of the coolest things to do in Sitges for you!
Entrance to Cau Ferrat Museum costs €12 for a normal ticket and €6 for a reduced one (August 2026). The price include entrance to Maricel Palace. The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit museusdesitges.cat website.
Viewpoints over Sitges
Another of the things to do in Sitges that you can’t miss is to take a good look at it from afar and above. The first place is located above Del Pebre Beach, only about 4km from the old town, and offers nice views over Sitges Port and some parts of the old town.
The second viewpoint, Mirador Llevantina, is located above a residential area and offers amazing views from above over the town and the coast. You choose to walk there from the Sitges center or go up by car. Its biggest disadvantage is the huge amount of garbage that definitely should have been taken care of a bit better.
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Nightlife in Sitges
The nightlife in Sitges is great and caters to almost all tastes. No matter if you prefer wild parties in nightclubs or tranquil evenings in restaurants, tapas bars, or rooftop lounges – in Sitges you’ll find something suitable for yourself.
For the most thriving and wild party scene head to the famous Sin Street (Carrer Primer de Maig). This street is home to many LGBTQ+ friendly cocktail bars and nightclubs that stay open until the early morning hours.
Sitges Carnival
Sitges Carnival is considered one of the best and wildest Carnivals in Europe. It’s also one of the oldest in Catalonia! It takes place every February for 7 days and presents an eccentric showcase of floats, costumes, and all-night parties. The festival starts every year on Fat Thursday, with the King of Carnival being welcomed alongside colorful flourishes and live music.
Sitges Pride
Sitges Pride is an annual event that takes place in June. It’s a 5-day long celebration of LGBTQ culture that attracts thousands of people from all around the world. Parades, an open-air stage, celebrity guests, international DJs, parties, and plenty more will be waiting for you there.
How to get to Sitges, Spain?
Sitges is located about 40km from Barcelona, 60km from Tarragona, and 140km from Girona. The most convenient way to get to town is by car, train or bus.
Where to park in Sitges?
If you’re traveling by car you can choose from many paid parking lots in town. We managed to leave our car in a free zone, located only about 5min on foot from the Sitges promenade and Platja de l’Estanyol.
To Sitges by train
From many places like Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, or Valencia you can easily get to Sitges by train. You can check out a map of available train connections on the acprail.com or rome2rio.com website.
To Sitges by bus
You can also easily reach Sitges by bus. For example, a trip from Barcelona will take about 55 minutes, and 1.5 hours from Tarragona. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Sitges
If you’re traveling by camper, campings like Camping Sitges, Camping El Garrofer or Vilanova Park might interest you. All are located in or near Sitges.
Sitges Spain Travel Guide – Summing up
Sitges is such a beautiful town with an amazing vibe, isn’t it? If you’re looking for a place with sandy beaches, charming streets, relaxed atmosphere, wild parties, and good food – it will be a great choice for you. There are so many amazing things to do in Sitges, perfect for every type of traveler! The town will also be a great day trip destination, for example from nearby Barcelona or Tarragona. Enjoy!
Our opinion about Sitges
For us, a visit to Sitges was a day trip from Salou where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in early June. In the early morning hours, town streets were very quiet. There were already some people sunbathing on the beach or exercising on the promenade. It all changed around 10/11AM, when everything opened, crowds appeared and the town transformed into a bustling place.
Did we like Sitges? Yes, very much! We liked strolling around its old town streets and promenade, sitting on the beaches, and enjoying the views. We also liked seeing how easy life was there for gay people, and how comfortable they felt. The only thing we regret is not buying tickets to the famous drag queen show earlier! But well… At least we have a reason to come back one day!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Sitges?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Sitges:
