Sitges (pronounced SEE-ches). Where do I begin? How about my first international family vacation back in 2022. My wife Meghan and our two kids, Adelaide and Marshall, explored Lisbon, Portugal. It is a magical place. Ever since that experience, interacting with friendly people, enjoying delicious food, and exploring the city, its districts, and day trips to places like Sintra, we have been searching for such an experience that matches that good feeling. That’s where Sitges comes in.
Approximately a 30-minute drive from the airport in Barcelona, Spain, Sitges is a beach town that’s more than just any beach town. From our interactions with people, wandering its beautiful streets, or exploring Spain’s delicious food scene, this wonderful town presented us with an experience we’ve been looking for – and had us talking during our trip about how many boxes it checks on so many things.
Sitges, Spain: Checking Those Boxes
Let me just say – to be absolutely clear – it checks ALL of the boxes. But let’s talk about the amazing community you encounter when you stay in Sitges. Everyone we encountered made us feel welcomed. Whether we were trying to speak Spanish (even though not very well) at the grocery store, sitting down at a restaurant, or walking through a local home goods store, we were greeted with such friendliness that never made us question our time in Spain.
For instance, I walked into town to pick up dinner for everyone (as they were wiped out from a day at the pool). I had everyone’s order on my phone and when I walked into the restaurant, one of the staff members offered to take my takeout food order. Though, I came to discover the menu was different.
Realizing some of the food items were different, I stood there trying to discover similar items, and the woman helping me did not rush me one bit. She stood there with me for about five minutes, offering suggestions (that I took), and let me order a drink while I waited for the food.
I felt such gratitude for her, that restaurant, and further amplifying this feeling me and my family had been experiencing since our first day: Love. This lovely person did not rush me or make me feel like a burden at all. And to my point, this is how we felt during our entire stay in Sitges. A place where people are accepting and happy and where more often than not, we watched and listened to many people smiling and laughing as we walked in and around the city. It made me wish I was so openly joyful, instead of the usual “resting grump face” I describe myself with. The town’s jubilance became my own – our own.
Let’s Talk About Sitges’ Food Game
We want to go back and eat more delicious food. Spain is known for patatas bravas, so I made it my mission to try one at almost every single place we went. Cubed potatoes, with a similar texture of a French fry, covered in one or two sauces, an aioli-style and a red tomato-based sauce. One place in particular had one sauce that looked like a mixture of the two, but was spicy and landed as my favorite; however, they also had pintxos (PEEN-chos) that include small bites (similar to tapas) on top of yummy bread.
Meghan and I went to this outstanding spot for a lunch date before bringing food home for everyone else. From sauteed veggies and olive oil, barbecue wings, sausage, cheeses, and a wide variety of other toppings, this one location amplified our love of Spanish food we’d already grown to adore during our nearly two-week stay. Grilled white fish. Fried eggplant chips. Padrón peppers. Paella (we tried in Sitges and during our day-trip to Barcelona). Jamón. Pan con tomate (bread with tomato). Gazpacho. Croquetas. Chocolate croissants. And that’s just off the top of my head!
Let’s not forget that coffee is also fantastic in Sitges. Plus, don’t ask for sangria. Ask for “tinto de Verano,” red wine mixed with lemon soda. One thing I was also super curious about going into our trip was how vermouth is a staple, and having almost zero experience with it beyond someone making a Manhattan or friends ordering a martini. Spanish vermut is something worth trying, with each one being different in the amount of spices, reminiscent of something you might find during the winter season, only served chilled over ice with an olive.
Although I never tried vermut blanco, I enjoyed vermut negro at several different locations. There were plenty of food and drink options that we did not get to explore, but that only highlights the variety available to us during our trip. Meghan and a couple of friends did not miss the opportunity to book a tour of local vineyards, which provided an in-depth look about their histories, processes, and, of course, tastings.
Sitges, Beaches, and the World Cup
The beaches and the walk along the way into the city are beautiful. Yes, there was a nude beach. Yes, tops are optional on the other beaches. There are restaurants on the beaches, and immediately across the walking boulevard of some, and plenty of other shops, including a pharmacy we needed to visit when Marshall fell around the pool and wrecked his knee something fierce. The pharmacist noticed us looking around, came to us speaking English and asked how he could help. We told him about our son and he immediately found us the necessary bandages behind the counter.
From adapting to the beaches, injuries, or another language, everyone appeared to us like that pharmacist – with friendliness and helpfulness. It’s easy to recommend Sitges, while being equally difficult to say just how much I miss being there. The people were lovely and happy and every day felt like a breath of fresh air, and I can’t help but feel like I’m trying to keep a bit of that air kept in my lungs. Much like on the beaches, when we saw so many kids playing soccer with smiles beaming from ear to ear.
If you didn’t know, Spain just won the 2026 World Cup. Being in Spain during part of the greatest sporting event in the world was just another layer of icing to an already delicious cake. Fireworks celebrating victories, restaurants and bars crowded with fans, and neighbors stopping by our Airbnb to let us know when the game would be on TV, so we wouldn’t miss it. Plus, coming back to let us know that if we didn’t stay up to watch at 2 A.M., we could watch the replay later that same morning at 11 a.m.
Final Thoughts on Sitges
Sitges felt like home. A feeling I thought was almost impossible to feel after our Lisbon trip four years ago. I can also express a moment of sadness that came over me a few days before we left, knowing we were going to be leaving soon. Yet, I did my best to push that thought away from my mind to take in fully the great community I felt a part of to make sure I didn’t dwell on what was ahead.
That’s what every day felt like; taking Sitges in by walking through its shaded streets, exploring its different shops, tasting delicious foods, and simply loving being in a place where we all felt so accepted during our stay. This beautiful town is a place where going back isn’t a question, but only knowing when and for how long.
Sitges, Spain: You have our hearts – and I’ll return one day to recapture part of my soul left behind.
