Sitges District Guide A Detailed Guide to Sitges Districts and Areas
Page Content
This page covers each area of Sitges - the beach, the old town, the party street, the shopping area, the port and Sitges centre. You will find out what is in each area and who it will appeal to.
If you are only going to Sitges for a day trip, you may wish to choose which areas of the town most appeal to you. However, it is worth remembering that's Sitges is a reasonably small town that is easy to walk around, so if you just want to get a general overview to the sights and sounds of the area, simply getting walking and you are sure to be delighted by what you find.
Private Transfers to / from Sitges
Private Transfer from Barcelona Airport to / from Sitges
Sitges Town Centre
As a small town, it is hard to be specific about Sitges' town centre - the whole of the town could be considered to be its centre. However, an obvious starting point is Plaça Cap de la Vila. Although this square does not house an abundance of terraces and meeting points, it acts as the main junction between some of Sitges' most popular streets. These streets include:
- Calle Parellades: A street that leads from the small Plaça España square to Plaça Cap de la Vila. It is lined with tourist attractions including souvenir shops and bars and cafes with outdoor seating areas for watching the world go by. It also leads to the area known for being packed with clubs and bars (see below for more details)
- Calle Jesús: Another street that is popular with tourists - lined with cafés, bars and the odd surf shop. The street heads slightly uphill, away from the plaza.
- Calle Sant Francesc: This is a must-see street for shoppers - it is lined with many clothes shops (see below for more details), as well as nice cafes and bakeries.
- Calle Major: This is arguably the prettiest of all of the streets coming off of Plaça Cap de la Vila. It is lined with small and intimate restaurants and heads into the historical part of town - ending at Plaça de la Ajuntament. Be sure to take your time on this street and have a look at the small streets that run from it - you will encounter picturesque images of narrow stairways framed with flowers.
If you love cakes and pastries, you will be delighted by the Boulangerie Francaise on Calle Major, 30. They offer an wide array of breads, brioches, cakes and other treats.
Look out for the ceramic street signs in this part of town. They are hand painted and decorated with elaborate floral pictures. They really add to the charm of the area.
Old Town
In reality, the whole of Sitges' city centre (see above for exactly where this is) could be described as the 'Old Town'. It is made up of narrow and winding streets. As you walk through you will be amazed by the number of impressive old buildings - many of which have been designed in the elaborate Modernist style. Many date back to before the civil war - a time that is often seen as Sitges' glory days. Artists such as the famous Catalan, Santiago Rusiñol, lived in the area and made the area attractive for affluent people and artistic types.
However, there is one area of town that could be said to stand out as the oldest and most picturesque. This is the area surrounding the church - the Església of Sitges. This area sits to the left of Sitges' long stretch of beach, overlooking the town. It can be reached easily from the promenade, as you will be able to see the church that sits on high throughout much of Sitges.
Behind Sitges' church you will find a treasure trove of beautiful buildings, pretty squares and places of cultural interest. These include the following:
- Mercat Vell (Plaça Ajuntament): The town's old marketplace dating from 1889 - 1890. It is now a cultural venue and exhibition centre.
- Ajuntament (Plaça Ajuntament): Built in 1889, it is Gothic in style. Ajuntament means town hall.
- Biblioteca Santiago Rusiñol (Plaça Ajuntament): This is still Sitges' public library. It was built in 1915 and was originally an old family home.
- Monument al Doctor Robert (Plaça Ajuntament): This is a statute of an old Mayor of Barcelona. It was built in 1906.
- Palau Maricel (Calle Fonollar): A beautiful white building, built in 1919 to house a millionaire's art collection. A stately home.
- Monument Santiago Rusiñol (Calle Davallada): This is a bronze sculpture, created in 1977. It is in honour of Sitges' beloved artist.
- Edifici Miramar (Calle Davallada, 12): A cultural centre and a place for meetings and exhibitions.
- Cap de Crist (Cap de Crist): A stone sculpture of the head of Christ. Made in 1969.
Even if you have no intention of entering any of the buildings in the old town it is still worth heading to the area to take a look. The whitewashed streets are beautiful to walk around - cool in the summer heat and with a decidedly Mediterranean feel. Also, if you head to the area's two Plazas - Plaça del Baluard and Plaça Miquel Utrillo Morilus, you can take in some views of Sitges and its coastline.
Sitges Beach
Sitges has not one, not two, but seventeen beaches. Two of these sit behind Sitges' church, but the majority sit in front of it and run across the whole of the front of the town. Broadly speaking, you are likely to feel comfortable on all of the various beaches. However, there are some that cater more for specific groups - families, gays and nudists. For a detailed guide on the different beaches and which will be most suited to you, see our Sitges Beaches Guide - A Detailed Guide to the Beaches of Sitges.
Even if you do not plan on going to the beach, the beachfront itself is beautiful to take a stroll down. Sitges promenade is renowned for its tiles and palm trees. The front is also lined with bars and restaurants offering terraces with views of the ocean. The beaches themselves are representative of a town that prides itself on its beach culture. They are well maintained and offer amenities such as showers and small places to buy drinks and snacks. For an overview of what the beaches and their surrounding areas have to offer, see our Sitges Beach page.
In the town you will find the beaches easy to find. The streets slope naturally down towards the waterfront. So if you simply keep heading downwards you are bound to come out somewhere along the beachfront.
Where to Go Shopping
Many of Sitges' streets offer an abundance of shopping opportunities. As a tourist town, and one that is popular with a well-heeled set, the streets are jam-packed with shops selling gifts, homeware, boutique-style clothing and art. If you take a wander around the streets in the centre, off Plaça Cap de la Vila (see above under 'Sitges Town Centre') you will come across shops that will suit boys and girls, old and young.
The street that is lined with most shops that you are likely to recognise is Calle Sant Francesc, off Plaça Cap de Vila. This street boasts clothing shops including Benetton, Adolfo Dominguez, Reply and Coso.
A lot will depend on what it is that you wish to buy, as to which streets you should head to. A number of the art galleries are small art shops. For more information on these, see our A Detailed Guide to Sitges Art Galleries.
Despite the fact that Sitges is a tourist area, it is important to remember that you are still in Spain. Most of the shops, especially the smaller ones, will close for a siesta period. This could be any length of time between 14:00 and 17:00. However, as it is a beach town, in the summer months, many of the shops extend their opening hours. If you see a shop that is closed that you like the look of, simply check the opening times in the shop window and return at a later stage.
Where to go out in the centre- the party area
Sitges has many streets offering bars and clubs. However, there is one street in particular that is renowned for drawing crowds of revellers who spill out into the street throughout the summer. A street leading from Calle Parellades called Calle Montroig is where a large percentage of the night time action takes place. Locals call the street "Carrer del Pecat" or "The Street of Sin". However, do not let this put you off - it is not a sinister place, simply a street lined with bars and clubs where loud music is played until the early hours of the morning.
The streets surrounding Plaça Industria, at the base of Calle Montroig are all filled with bars restaurants and clubs. Many of these bars are gay bars. Some of the clubs do not even allow females to enter. However, overall, it is an area that is open and welcoming to all ages, genders and sexualities. If you come to the area as a group of straight friends or a heterosexual couple, you will have no real problem feeling at home.
If you are in town and are in search for the gay bars in particular, head to Parrots Bar on Plaça Industria. Here they will provide you with a map of the city called Gay Life. It pinpoints the gay bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels in Sitges.
Sitges Port
Sitges' main port is called Port d'Aiguadolç. It is located beyond Sitges church - just past the last of the Sitges beaches. It is an affluent part of town, boasting large five star hotel buildings. It is a picturesque area, where yachts of varying sizes bob in the water, with masts like pinchos on a plate. Along the front of the Port you will find the Passeig del Port d'Aiguadolç. This strip is lined with palm trees and is nice to walk along and take a look at the boats. You will find some good terraces and seafood restaurants to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Sitges is a small area with a lot packed into it. It is a relaxing town where there are options for everybody. For example, if you are not interested in experiencing the hectic nightlife part of town, that should not put you off coming to Sitges. Each area is relatively self-contained, so if you prefer long candlelit dinners to all-night clubbing, you never even have to see the street where the action takes place. However, whilst in Sitges, ensure that you take the opportunity to move from the beach and have a walk around the town itself. Sitges is much more than just a beach town. Despite its popularity amongst tourists it has managed to maintain its history and identity and is a town full of hidden gems.