Bear in Sitges
by Rodrigo Parra
EN · ES · PT
Things to Do in and Around Sitges
It's easy to spend Bear Week moving between Balmins during the day and the social side of Sitges later on. And honestly, there's nothing wrong with that.
But Sitges itself deserves some of your time. If you feel like taking a few hours — or even a full day — away from your Bear Week routine, here's where I'd start.
BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE...
Don't assume you need to leave Sitges to find something worth doing. It's a beautiful town, and taking some time to actually walk around it is one of the easiest ways to break the beach-and-Bear-Week routine.
A DAY AWAY FROM BEAR WEEK
MORNING
Walk Sitges
Start with Passeig de la Ribera and give yourself time to wander through the historic centre. The old streets, pastel façades and small shops and cafés are part of what makes Sitges so enjoyable to explore on foot.
Walk up towards Església de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. The area around the church is one of my favourite places to stop and look back at the town and the sea.
As you walk, you'll also come across public sculptures including El Greco, the Monument a Facundo Bacardí, the Monument a Lluís Companys, Sitges contra l'homofòbia and La Sirena, by Pere Jou.
MY TAKE
"Don't leave La Sirena hanging. Give her a high-five for good luck."
- Rodrigo Parra
AFTERNOON
Museums when it gets hot
When the afternoon gets hotter, it's a good time to move indoors.
Museu del Cau Ferrat and Museu de Maricel are both worth considering if you want to add some art and history to your day. Palau de Maricel is another option nearby.
You don't need to turn the afternoon into a museum marathon. Pick what interests you and leave yourself time to enjoy Sitges outside too.
LATE AFTERNOON
See Sitges from the sea
One of my favourite ways to see Sitges from a completely different perspective is from the water.
Boat trips leave from the Port d'Aiguadolç area, and I'd choose the late afternoon if possible.
Seeing the coast from the sea as the day moves towards sunset is a very different experience from looking at it from the beach.
Vilanova i la Geltrú is a nearby option if you want to explore another coastal town without making a major trip out of it.
One place that may make the visit particularly interesting is the Museu del Ferrocarril de Catalunya, especially if trains and transport history are your thing.
Montserrat
WANT TO GO FURTHER?
If you want a complete change of scenery, there are several places you can explore beyond Sitges. I wouldn't give all of them equal priority, though.
Tarragona
If you already know Barcelona and want to use a day to go somewhere different, Tarragona would be my choice.
What makes it interesting here is the contrast. Vilanova i la Geltrú and Castelldefels are both worth knowing, but they share more of the coastal character you're already experiencing in Sitges. Tarragona gives you something different: a city with a strong historical identity and remarkable Roman heritage.
The Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Circus, the historic centre, the Cathedral and the Balcó del Mediterrani give you plenty to explore without trying to turn the day into a checklist.
If you'd rather swap the coast for mountains, Montserrat is the alternative I'd consider.
The landscape alone makes the experience completely different from Sitges, and the monastery gives you another reason to go.
I'd only choose it if the transport makes sense for your day. This isn't a trip I'd squeeze into a few spare hours.
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Vilanova i la Geltrú
Castelldefels
Castelldefels is another option between Sitges and Barcelona, with a long beach, a castle and the Canal Olímpic de Catalunya.
I'd think of it as an alternative for someone looking for another coastal day or interested in outdoor and sporting activities rather than as a must-do excursion from Sitges.
WHAT ABOUT
BARCELONA?
OPTION 2 — La Rambla & Montjuïc
f you want a day that combines central Barcelona with some of the city's best views, start at Plaça de Catalunya and make your way down La Rambla towards the sea. Stop at Mercat de la Boqueria along the way, then continue to the Monument to Christopher Columbus and Port Vell. From Port Vell, continue towards Barceloneta and the Torre de Sant Sebastià. From there, take the Transbordador Aeri del Port across the harbour to Miramar, on Montjuïc. The cable-car ride makes getting there part of the experience, with great views over the port and the city.
Once you're on Montjuïc, don't try to see everything. Choose what interests you most. There's the Castell de Montjuïc; the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC); the Fundació Joan Miró; Poble Espanyol; and the Anella Olímpica, the legacy of the 1992 Olympic Games .
From Montjuïc, make your way down towards Plaça d'Espanya. The monumental axis takes you past the Palau Nacional and Font Màgica, along Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina and through the two Venetian Towers.
At Plaça d'Espanya itself, look for the monumental fountain designed by Josep Maria Jujol and the former bullring that is now Arenas de Barcelona, a shopping and leisure complex.
"Barcelona is the city I've visited more than any other in the world. I love being there, and recommending things to do in Barcelona comes very easily to me.
But here's the important question: do you actually need to use one of your Bear Week days for it?
If you're already spending a few days in Barcelona before or after Bear Week, I wouldn't sacrifice a day in Sitges just to go back.
If this is your only chance to see Barcelona, though, absolutely consider it."
One day in Barcelona? Choose a Barcelona.
Don't try to see all of it.
OPTION 1 — Gaudí & the icons
If I had one day and wanted to experience the Barcelona that feels most distinctive to me, I'd focus on Gaudí.
Start with the Sagrada Família. This is one place I wouldn't try to squeeze into the day — give yourself enough time to actually experience it, inside and out.
From there, head towards Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona's most iconic avenues. Two of Gaudí's most famous buildings are here: Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, and Casa Batlló. Even if you don't visit both interiors, seeing them gives you a sense of how radically different Gaudí's Barcelona can look from one building to the next.
Passeig de Gràcia also gives you a chance to experience another side of the city between visits, with its grand architecture, shops and cafés. You don't need to spend the entire day moving from ticket to ticket.
If you want to make the day completely about Gaudí, continue to Park Güell. The park combines architecture, landscape and some of the most recognisable views of Barcelona, but it's away from the other stops and deserves enough time to enjoy properly.
If Park Güell feels like too much for one day, don't force it. Sagrada Família and Passeig de Gràcia already make a very strong Gaudí route — and leave you some time to actually enjoy Barcelona rather than simply collecting attractions.
OPTION 3 — Old Barcelona, Born & Barceloneta
If you like exploring a city on foot, start with the Barri Gòtic, the historic heart of Barcelona. Wander through its narrow streets and make your way past the Cathedral, Carrer del Bisbe and its famous Pont del Bisbe, Plaça del Rei and the lively Plaça Reial.
From there, continue into El Born, one of Barcelona's most atmospheric neighbourhoods, filled with narrow streets, restaurants, cafés and ice-cream shops. You can also visit El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria before continuing towards Parc de la Ciutadella.
Ciutadella gives you a completely different setting, with gardens, monumental architecture and plenty of space to slow down for a while. Barcelona Zoo is also located inside the park if that's something you'd like to include.
Finish the day in Barceloneta. Walk through the old neighbourhood and its narrow streets before heading towards the waterfront and Barceloneta Beach, one of the city's best-known and busiest beaches. The seafront is also lined with places to eat, making it an easy area to stop before ending your day by the Mediterranean.
It's a very different Barcelona from the Gaudí route or La Rambla and Montjuïc — less about moving between major monuments and more about walking through neighbourhoods and watching the city change as you make your way towards the sea.
COL.OURS PHOTO SESSIONS
COL.OURS is a photography project by Cleiton Silva that began in Brazil and is now coming to Sitges.
The concept combines portrait photography and colour while celebrating bodies that don't necessarily fit the conventional beauty standards we see so often.
Cleiton is now based in Paris and is bringing COLL.OURS to Bear Week for a limited series of photo sessions in Sitges.
Around 1 hour · €50
You'll receive a selection of the main photographs from your session, professionally treated by Cleiton.
The complete treatment usually takes around one week. If you'd like to share something while you're still in Sitges, Cleiton can prioritize a few images for earlier delivery and send the rest once they're ready.
Sessions will take place in a photography studio in Sitges. The exact location is still being arranged.
LOOKING FOR THE BEAR WEEK PROGRAMME?
The official schedule is managed by the organisers. While I provide tips and personal recommendations, you should check their official site for the most up-to-date daily party info and specific event locations.