Think Greece with pretty white washed buildings and bright bold blues and drift away to Cinque Terre and mix in its colorfully splashed seaside buildings and throw in some stunning coastal beaches and you have Sitges, Spain.
I visited Sitges a week or so back with my main reason being to visit my uncle who’s been vacationing in the area for several years, but had I known the beauty I was about to discover I’d wish I’d have visited sooner.
Sitges was full of characater, friendly faces and unique shops. Just a short train ride (40 minutes) out of Barcelona, it’s easy to get too and much more laid back than the busy city. But much like the rest of Spain, the locals LOVE to party, drink and stay out until the crack of dawn, needless to say, there’s a mix of it all.
I arrived around 8 o’clock on Friday night and my uncle picked me up directly from the train station and escorted me to his home which sits on a hill just out of the center of Sitges. Here, it was peaceful and reserved but within moments we were popping a bottle of Spanish Cava and celebrating my visit. For dinner, we ate at a beachside restaurant with a fun atmosphere and some of the most amazzzzing salad options I’ve ever seen.. I was debating between 5! I ended up settling for a summer berry salad accompanied by feta and candied walnuts. So. So. Good. Oh and want to know something crazy weird? Our waiter was from… Minneapolis, Minnesota! It’s such a small world.
Saturday I woke up bright and early to get a go on the day. I enjoyed a breakfast on the balcony with fresh black coffee (oh how I’ve missed that!) and afterwards set out for a walking tour with my uncle. He showed me some of the best streets in Sitges as well as some of the historic sites. We wandered into an art gallery which had some interesting displays that I enjoyed as well. The rest of the day was spent exploring little shops and wandering about the streets just taking in all Sitges had to offer. For dinner, I met up with my uncle and together we went to a tucked away restaurant called “Nems”. You wouldn’t expect a restaurant so far off the beaten path to be such a hot spot but the second I tasted the “tapas” I understood. The food was phenomenal! I’ve never really experienced a “tapas” restaurant prior to my visit to Sitges, but as of joenrnis something I would recommend to all, especially if you find yourself in Sitges… Nems is a much. But make sure you make a reservation weeks in advance! And for an extra pointer… the Bravas and Nems are amazing.
My train back to Montpellier left late in the afternoon on Sunday which allowed plenty of time. I woke up early and went running along the promenade and was able to capture some shots of the streets before they became filled with locals and tourists. While doing some gift shopping, I stopped into a little T-Shirt shop ran by a husband and wife who came to Sitges from Britain and had the best conversation. They were super friendly and I ended up finding gifts for multiple people on my list!
Before I set off to Montpellier, I made sure to swing by the supermarket and pick up two bottles of Cava… it’s the best version of champagne I’ve ever had and for $3 a bottle you can’t complain.
If you find yourself in Barcelona or in its surroundings, consider a day trip to Sitges and discover the beauty for yourself! Oh and Bacardi lovers…. Sitges is its home!
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