Sitges
The Spanish French Riviera

I’d love to tell you about one of my favorite places on the Mediterranean coast: Sitges — often called the Spanish version of the French Riviera. It’s a beautiful seaside town just 30 minutes south of Barcelona airport, and getting there is incredibly easy by car or train.

What makes Sitges really special to me is its unique location. The town is surrounded by the stunning Garraf Natural Park, which creates its own microclimate. Thanks to this, the weather here is usually fantastic all year round. Even when it’s cloudy or rainy in Barcelona, Sitges can still be sunny and warm — one of the many reasons I think it’s such an amazing place.

Sitges is also known worldwide for being incredibly welcoming and inclusive. It’s often considered one of the most gay-friendly destinations in the world, and you can really feel that open and relaxed atmosphere everywhere you go.

Here are a few things worth knowing about Sitges:

• Distance: 35 km southwest of Barcelona
• Catalan, Spanish, and English are widely spoken
• Weather: Nov–Apr: 8–12 °C & May–Oct: 13–24 °C
• Average humidity: around 59%
• Population: About 32,690 residents (2025)
• International community: Around 36% of residents come from the UK, Scandinavia, France, and the Netherlands

The town lives and breathes tourism and cultural events, which gives it a vibrant energy throughout the year.

There are around 4,500 accommodation options — many of them four-star hotels — and they’re all very welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors.

You’ll find more than 20 gay or gay-friendly restaurants, and most of the beaches are open and inclusive.

There are two main beaches especially popular with the gay community, plus two nude beaches where many visitors are gay.

What I also really appreciate is the diversity of people who live here permanently. Many international residents and same-sex families have made Sitges their home, and the area offers excellent international schools, making it a great place to live as well as visit.

For me, Sitges is all about beautiful scenery, great weather, and an open, welcoming atmosphere — a place where everyone can feel comfortable and enjoy life by the sea.