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Two places. Two very different moments.

There are two places you'll hear about again and again during Bear Week: Balmins Beach and the area around Passeig de la Ribera in central Sitges.

Balmins is where much of the daytime social scene happens. Later, people move back towards the centre, where the streets around the main Bear Week area become the focus of the evening.

Once you understand the relationship between those two places, decisions about where to stay, what to carry and how to organise your day become much easier.

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DURING THE DAY

Balmins

Understanding the relationship between the town center and the coast is vital for navigating your first Bear Week. While the main promenade is bustling with the village's energy, certain destinations require a bit more planning. Balmins isn't next to the centre.

It is a distinct, beautiful cove separated from the central Ribera by a scenic cliffside walk. If you are staying in the heart of the village, expect a walk that rewards you with one of the most iconic views of the Mediterranean, but don't assume it's right around the corner from your hotel lobby.

later on

Back to central Sitges

Later in the day, the centre takes over.

The Bear Village is on Passeig de la Ribera, and the streets around Carrer Bonaire and Carrer de Joan Tarrida become some of the busiest parts of Bear Week at night.

You'll also hear people talk about Judgement Square, the crossroads where four bars meet. Once Bear Week gets going, you won't need much explanation to understand why everyone knows where it is.

The streets can stay busy until around 3am, particularly during the busiest nights.

MY TAKE

"Learn the map before you arrive. This is probably the thing I most wish I'd understood before my first Bear Week.
Knowing where Balmins is, where the main evening area is and how far your accommodation is from both makes almost every other decision easier.
Bear Week made much more sense to me once I stopped thinking about it as one event in one place and started understanding how people move through Sitges during the day."

THINK AHEAD

Your accommodation is part of the equation

A place that looks perfectly located on a booking site might be great for the evening and less convenient for Balmins — or the other way around.

And being right in the middle of the nightlife isn't necessarily an advantage if you also want somewhere quiet to sleep.

I've put the accommodation side of that decision in a separate guide.

FIND YOUR RHYTHM

You don't need a schedule

Bear Week isn't something you need to organise hour by hour.
For many people, the rhythm naturally develops around the beach during the day, some time back at the accommodation to rest, and central Sitges later on.

You'll quickly find your own routine. The useful part is understanding the geography first so you're not constantly working out where everything is.