Barcelona to Sitges Day Trip: The Itinerary I Wish I Did

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Sitges is one of my favorite day trips from Barcelona, but if I did it again, I’d plan my day a little differently.

When I visited, I took the train to Sitges, explored the town, and then walked the beautiful coastal trail from Sitges to Vilanova i la Geltrú. I loved the hike, but afterward I realized it would make much more sense to do the whole trip in reverse.

I’d take the train from Barcelona to Vilanova in the morning, walk the coastal trail to Sitges, and then spend the rest of the day exploring the Old Town or relaxing by the beach.

So that’s exactly what this guide is: the Barcelona to Sitges day trip itinerary I wish I’d followed.

Table of Contents

My Sitges Day Trip Itinerary

1. Take the Train to Vilanova i la Geltrú

Instead of getting off the train in Sitges, stay on until Vilanova i la Geltrú. I know that sounds a little strange for a Sitges day trip, but there’s a good reason for it.

When I did this trip, I walked the coastal trail in the opposite direction, from Sitges to Vilanova. I loved the walk, but once I reached Vilanova, I realized I would have much rather finished the hike in Sitges, where I could have spent the rest of the afternoon exploring.

So if I did this day trip again, I’d start in Vilanova and walk back toward Sitges.

2. Walk the Coastal Trail From Vilanova to Sitges

View of the coast on the Sitges to Vilanova walk

Barcelona beach walk, View of the hike from Sitges to Vilanova

The coastal hike was easily one of my favorite parts of the day. The route is around 7 km, and I spent about three hours walking it at a relaxed pace with plenty of stops to take photos.

The trail follows the coast between Vilanova and Sitges, with beautiful sea views and a few small beaches along the way. If you’re doing the hike when it’s warm, bring your swimsuit so you can stop for a swim.

I’d also bring plenty of water, especially in warmer weather. This isn’t a walk I’d rush through, the views and little stops along the way are what made it so enjoyable for me.

Scenic Coastal Walk from Sitges to Vilanova i la Geltrú near Barcelona

Watch this video on YouTube

3. Have Lunch in Sitges

Two shakes and two starters on a table, outside the restaurant you can see the ocean. Cinnamon is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sitges — The kale chips as a starter were amazing!

After walking for a few hours, lunch would definitely be my first priority once I reached Sitges.

When I visited, I ate at Cinnamon, a vegan restaurant right by the waterfront serving Indian food, and really enjoyed it. It was one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever been to (as someone who doesn’t like spicy food)

This is also where I’d slow the day down a little. You’ve already done the most active part, so there’s no need to rush through lunch just to tick off as many Sitges attractions as possible.

4. Explore Sitges Old Town

Entrance to Palau Maricel, visiting this palace is one of the best things to do in Sitges Spain — Entrance to Palau Maricel

A statue of two artists and a canvas in front of the church in Sitges, you can see this on a day trip from Barcelona to Sitges by train — Entrance to Palau Maricel

After lunch, spend some time wandering through Sitges rather than trying to follow a strict sightseeing checklist.

I loved simply walking around the narrow streets and eventually making my way toward the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. The church is probably the most recognizable landmark in Sitges, and its location overlooking the sea makes this one really pretty.

From there, you can continue wandering through the Old Town and along the waterfront. Sitges is small enough that I think exploring without too much of a plan is part of the fun.

5. Relax at the Beach or Visit a Museum

What I’d do next really depends on the weather and what kind of day trip you want.

If it’s warm, I’d choose the beach. When I visited Sitges in fall, the beach was incredibly quiet, which I loved. After a 7 km hike and a few hours of exploring, spending some time by the sea is also a pretty nice way to recover.

If the weather isn’t great, or you’re more interested in culture, you could visit one of the museums instead. Palau de Maricel, Museu de Maricel, and Cau Ferrat are great options if you’re looking for things to do in Sitges.

I wouldn’t try to squeeze the beach and several museums into one afternoon. Pick whichever sounds more enjoyable to you and leave yourself enough time to actually enjoy it.

6. Stay for Sunset

Sunset at the beach in Sitges, seen on a day trip from Barcelona to Sitges by train — Enjoy the sunset in Sitges before heading back to Barcelona

If you’re not in a hurry to get back to Barcelona, I’d stay in Sitges for sunset.

I loved seeing the beach and coastline later in the day, and it’s a relaxing way to finish the trip after starting the morning with the coastal hike. You can find somewhere along the waterfront to sit or stop at one of the bars or restaurants for a drink.

After sunset, walk back to Sitges train station and catch the train to Barcelona. Just make sure you’ve checked the evening train times beforehand so you know when you need to head back.

How to Get From Barcelona to Sitges by Train

Trains run regularly between Barcelona and Sitges, and the journey takes around 45 minutes. Depending on where you’re staying, you can catch the train from one of several stations in Barcelona, including Barcelona Sants and Passeig de Gràcia.

You can buy your ticket at the station before you travel, and I’d recommend checking the current timetable before heading out, especially if you’re planning to stay in Sitges until sunset.

For the itinerary I recommend below, don’t get off in Sitges on the way there. Stay on the train until Vilanova i la Geltrú instead. From there, you can walk the coastal trail to Sitges and take the train from Sitges back to Barcelona at the end of the day.

Bold SITGES letters in front of a park — I love city letters

What If You Don’t Want to Do the Coastal Walk?

You definitely don’t have to do the coastal hike to make a day trip to Sitges worthwhile. If you’d rather have a more relaxed day, simply take the train directly from Barcelona to Sitges instead.

You’ll have more time to wander through the Old Town, visit a museum, relax at the beach, or stop somewhere for a long lunch without worrying about fitting everything in after a 7 km walk.

Personally, I loved the coastal hike and would absolutely include it again, but it does make for a much more active day. If what you really want is an easy escape from Barcelona with some sightseeing and plenty of time by the sea, I’d skip the hike and spend the whole day in Sitges.

Want to Explore Beyond Sitges?

Sitges is one of my favorite places to escape Barcelona for a day, especially if you combine it with the coastal hike from Vilanova. But it’s definitely not the only place worth visiting nearby.

Barcelona makes a great base for exploring more of Catalonia, and you don’t necessarily need to rent a car to do it. I’ve taken several day trips by train, from coastal towns to some of my favorite places I visited in Spain.

So, if you have another free day in your itinerary, check out my guide to the best day trips from Barcelona by train to decide where to go next.

Tina Riegelnegg

Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.