When the Roman’s first visited Spain over two thousand year’s ago they built a town called Subur. Sitges now stands on that very same spot. We all know how the Roman centurions liked to party and that tradition continues to this very day. Welcome to Sitges, a party-town like no other.

Traveling to Sitges is easy, accommodations plentiful, the climate perfectly Mediterranean, the people relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by and full of regional variety.

Sitges is often called the St. Tropez of Spain and the Crown Jewel of the Mediterranean. In ways, I found the lay of the land similar to Puerto Vallarta and the village is very old and full of charm.


Last week we gave you an overview of this great gay village by sea, this week we’ll take a little closer look at a few of many, many, MANY stores and bars in this small village.

First…WHERE TO STAY?

We highly recommend  PARROTS HOTEL. In the heart of Sitges, just one block from the glittering Mediterranean Sea and the beach. A gay urban oasis!  The rooms are modern, confortable, clean with all the amenities you would expect. Room safe, flat screen TV, big beds and many rooms have balconies or terraces. Free wi-fi in the lobby. Plus a friendly, helpful staff!

The laid-back ambiance and gracious staff of the Parrots prove ideal to the casual traveller who´s looking for a place where anything goes. No worries, no attitude, just fun times.

The staff has extensive local knowledge and is willing to answer questions or source tourist information to ensure or source tourist information to ensure your stay is a memorable one – challenge them and be surprised!

A generous continental style buffet-breakfast is included in the price of your stay. This can be enjoyed in our spacious breakfast room, in the shade of the patio terrace, or under the blue morning skies on our large sun terrace.

The upper sun terrace is the place to be for those who have an aversion to sand, while the elegant lobby and bar becomes a cool retreat on balmy summer nights.

Parrots  also owns a gay sauna (located right inside the building) plus a restaurant, offering a delicious set menu and a full a la carte option, Parrots Restaurant also boasts an excellent wine list. The outside terrace is especially popular. Reservations are recommended.


And they have a great VIP Program. When you stay with them you get VIP access and exclusive discounts to all of their properties, including free entrance to  the on site Sauna, as well as some deals around town with participarting merchants.

 

If you would rather “get away” from the bustling village, just a stones throw up in the mountains is a modern Country villa guesthouse with 6 large private en-suite guestrooms! 

We highly recommend  CASA ROSA SITGES , it is situated  just 15 minutes by car from Sitges and it´s beautiful beaches,  in the beautiful & romantic hills of the wine region Penedés. And they offer a shuttle service down to Sitges or can help arrange for a rental car if you really want to explore the area. 

Your hosts Thomas and Bjorn, make you feel welcomed and right at home. It is a wonderful personal touch that often you do not get when staying at large hotels. It’s very relaxing here with lots of space, more laid back than staying right in the heart of the action, but just minutes away from the fun, so it easy to go back and fourth.

Casa Rosa is the ideal getaway for those who are looking for a relaxing holiday on the quiet hillside of Olivella.

Whether you want to enjoy nature, walking, mountainbiking, hot air ballooning, sun and relax by the pool or to discover the local culture just around the corner. You will find it all here!



SHOPPING!  I  found  AMAZING  deals  here!  And very cool European clothing by many designers that  you just can’t find in the US. And I love this village because everything is SO CLOSE.  Everything is within a 3-7 minute walk.




Some of my favorite shops  for men’s clothes included …

  Boyzone  – Bonaventura, 18         Very cool, fabulous cutting edge styles.  
  Dive    – Gaudenci, 12                   Mid market clothing.  Great collection of  casual styles.
  Dive Outlet   – Joan Tarrida, 3     Clearance store. Love a sale! 
  Ovlas   – Francesc, 22                  Mid market clothing. 
  Oscar  – Marques Montroig, 2     Awesome underwear and jean collections. 
                                                            D&G, Cavalli, Armani, Alexander McQueen and more.
  Replay  – Francesc, 36               Casual popular euro company.
   ZAK – Sant Francesc, 1           Very nice! Unique/boutique designs and beautifully tailored. And affordable.

There are also many home design and furnishing shops as well as  art shops.

 

This is  a  party town, especially in the summer!  Atlántida disco GBP held every Tuesday in the high season. A large open air disco right on the sea front. There is a free bus from in front of the Calipolis Hotel (Where the gay beach is), on the sea front. As you can see from the video, it gets packed and the talent is out of this world!  MATINEE Group is just one of the big names here you will see.

There are also 2 big parties geared more towards Lesbians (and their friends). Marypili, a bar right next door to Parrots Hotel, organizes Fiesta Lola in April  and the  Legends Party in August (on the 10th), which draws over 2000  people! There are events and parties all year in Sitges, but especially May through September. So you may want to look at the online guides we have listed or check in with Parrots, as you may want to plan your trip around one of the events. Lesbian events, Bear Parties, Carnaval, Fiesta Mayor and endless dance and beach parties, all with themes!

The first gay disco in Spain opened in Sitges 25 years ago. It is still going stronger than ever. Trailer’s foam parties on Sunday night are world renowned. (Angel Vidal, 36)Hands get frisky as the foam level rises. This is a big disco – and Organic is the other big disco. (Bonaire, 10). Both of these are a later night crowd.


There are dozens of smaller clubs and cafes to pick from – Marypili and El Horno, are just steps outside the door of Parrot’s. And Parrot’s has a Pub, a Terrace, and  a restaurant, as well as the hotel and sauna. Everything is close by, just minutes from each other, so it is very easy to jump from place to place.   While we were there we also enjoyed  B-Side, Man Bar, XXL, Le Male Bar  and Organic. Many of the stores and Cafes have gay pocket maps available. 


The village is full of cafes and restaurants!  People watching is a favorite sport here in the summer, visitors like to sit at the outdoor cafés hoping either to be seen or to see some one else!  There are SO MANY to choose from. It just depends what you are looking for.

Crepes at El Capricho, Italian at Vesuvio, International cuisine at Monroe’s – the list is endless. While shopping one evening we stopped into a tiny place called  Road Cafe, Parrelledes 13. And we had one of the best thin crust pizza’s  and HUGE  glasses of wine, it was very good.

The entire beachfront is dotted with outdoor cafes. Being the Italian lovers we are, we went to Ristorante Pizzeria Claudius and sat on the patio watching people, sipping on wine and snacking on Calamari.





Sitges is very international. Almost 35% of the ca. 26,000 inhabitants are from the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Scandinavia.  And tourists come from all over the world.

 

 Many tourists fall in love with it and decide to move here! The property prices  here are approaching those of the most expensive European cities, the main reason for this being the beautiful setting by the sea and the surrounding Parc Natural del Garraf. – However, if you are from the US, you won’t be sticker-shocked by the prices. It is not outrageous.


Sitges has to be one of the easiest gay destinations to visit. It is just 20 minutes train journey from Barcelona. And the resort is the perfect base for exploring the other parts of Cataluna. Universal Studios theme park is nearby at Port Aventura, and the ancient monastery of Montserrat  is in the mountains to the north.

 

SITGES….a gem in the Mediterranean!  We were told it is the prefect day or two trip getaway from Barcelona. I could come back here for a week! But be prepared to fall in love and perhaps spend the rest of your life in this quaint, unique little town!



Helpful links & Resources for Sitges:

PARROTS                    CASA ROSA guesthouse     Gay Beach Parties      Gay Sitges Videos

The Gay Paradise – Sitges        Gay Sitges Guide         Gay Sitges Online     Gay Life Sitges



BEST GAY CITIES   and  the  NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE