A surprise overnight stay in Barcelona gave me the time to finally explore outside of the city limits, and a day trip from Barcelona to Sitges was the perfect way to make the most of my surprise freedom.
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The train rushed away from Barcelona, through the outskirts of the city and the surrounding countryside, before swooping along the coastline and the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The swathes of tourists that descend on the city throughout the warmer months can leave me feeling rather overwhelmed, and that particular summer I’d begun seeking out the harder-to-reach spots for a bit of peace and quiet.
When I hopped off the train about 40 minutes later, I was downright delighted to be greeted with nothing but the sound of cicadas. This day trip from Barcelona to Sitges was, in more ways than one, a breath of fresh air.
A very brief introduction to Sitges
Sitges is a seaside town which lies about 21 miles south along the Spanish coast from Barcelona- making it one of the best places to visit on a day trip from the Catalán capital. Nowadays Sitges is basically a gay icon in the form of a town, also known as the Gay Capital of Europe. (Brighton is great and everything, but Sitges really pips the post in terms of sunshine, let’s face it.) There’s plenty of nightlife to be found here too, in fact this was even the location of the very first Pacha nightclub.
That’s right pals, Pacha started in Sitges, not Ibiza. You can’t really get more iconic than that, can you?
I personally was visiting to see Sitges’ old town, which I’d say is iconic in its own right. The town is a beautiful mishmash of medieval and modernist: whitewashed houses line cobblestone streets, palaces stand grandly in golden sunlight, and colourful decorative tiles adorn balconies encased in wrought iron.
Once upon a time, Sitges was more fishing village than fantastical gay icon, but during the 19th century it became the Place to Be for Catalunyan creatives. Painters, playwrights and poets flocked to the town and left their stamp on both the look and feel of the town. During Franco’s dictatorship, Sitges remained staunchly anti-fascist and became a liberal enclave during a highly oppressive, violent period of Spain’s history.
The Birthplace of Franco is a Pretty Little City
The architecture of Sitges is also heavily influenced by its links with Cuba, dating back to the days that Cuba was still a Spanish territory. Youngsters emigrated from Sitges to Cuba, normally to work in trade or commerce, and when they returned they brought with them a Caribbean flair for decorating, a love of palm trees and a taste for rum. (In fact, Bacardi may have been founded in Cuba, but it was founded by a man from Sitges. Good old Facundo Bacardí.)
What’s the best way to travel from Barcelona to Sitges?
Undoubtedly, the best way to travel from Barcelona to Sitges is by train. It’s the fastest and most easiest mode of transport, whether you’re on a day tip to Sitges like me, or you’re staying in the town for a few days.
To travel from Barcelona to Sitges by train, take the R2 Sud train from Passeig de Gracia station or Barcelona Sants station, in the direction of St. Vincenç de Calders. (I’ve linked both to their locations on Google Maps for ya.)
Tickets from Barcelona to Sitges are €5.50 each way (2026), and you can buy tickets from the machines or a booth at the station. The train between Barcelona and Sitges runs roughly every 20 minutes.
Check train timetables for the R2 Sud.
If you’d prefer an organised day trip from Barcelona to Sitges, it’s also a great way to enjoy several locations in one day. This one takes you to Tarragona- the ancient Roman capital of Spain- as well as on a guided walk through Sitges.
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Wandering the old town
It took about 15 minutes for me to walk to the old town from Sitges train station, through a grid of sleepy, sun-drenched streets. The only noise was my own footsteps and the occasional greeting of a dog, barked from a balcony or behind the gates of a courtyard. A light breeze whispered that the sea was close. It was a gloriously peaceful contrast to Barcelona’s heaving streets.
Finally, I surfaced onto the sandy crescent of San Sebastian beach, with the first swimmers of the day setting up their deckchairs in front of the gentle lapping of waves. A promenade lined with restaurants and bars overlooked the peaceful scene, and at the far end the old town, a wall wrapped around the pastel buildings of Sitges old town.
It was absolutely perfect. I’ll tell you that for free.
The most surprising thing of all, was how quiet it was. I wandered up and down the cobbled lanes of the old town, marvelling at the colourful tiles and hazy golden glow that lay over everything, but also feeling pleasantly confused at how there didn’t seem to be many people about at all. That possibly had something to do with the classic Spanish siesta, but if it was then I’m all about being out and about while everyone else is napping.
I tucked into lunch at one of the restaurants on the beachfront promenade and was soon joined at various other tables by various other solo gals. That tends to happen when you’re travelling alone- I appreciate the secret sisterhood vibe of dining alone but still with a safety in numbers approach.
The one mistake I made on my day trip from Barcelona to Sitges, which couldn’t really be helped, was in visiting on a Monday.
By all accounts, pals, some of the best things to do in Sitges are to visit its museums, and the two that I was really interested in were the Museo del Cau Ferrat and the Museo Maricel. Barcelona is full of stunning modernist architecture, and so I was really curious about what Sitges had to offer. In all honesty I wanted to visit these two museums as much because of the beautiful building as for the wonderful collections of art that they hold within their walls. Lo and behold, they’re both closed on Mondays.
I’ll just have to go back then, won’t I?
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