Sitges Carnival: practical guide for visitors

Sitges Carnival is the most famous in Catalonia and one of the best-known in Europe. What makes it special isn't just its size — it's the combination of local comparsas with a century-old tradition, a world-class LGBTQ+ scene and a town that throws itself into February with the same enthusiasm as August. If you're ever going to see one carnival in your life, this is a strong candidate.

When it is

Sitges Carnival takes place in February, following the traditional liturgical calendar: the days before Ash Wednesday. It lasts approximately one week, with events spread from the preceding weekend through to Shrove Tuesday.

The key days are:

• Carnival Sunday — Gran Rua (main parade), the most crowded
• Shrove Tuesday — Rua de l'Extermini (closing parade, more intimate and local)
• Tuesday night into Wednesday — L'Enterro de la Sardina, symbolic close of Carnival

For exact dates of the next Carnival: Sitges Carnival.

The parades: what to see

La Gran Rua del Diumenge (Sunday parade)

The Sunday parade is the biggest and most watched. Local comparsas, floats and groups from across Catalonia and Spain participate. The route runs along the Passeig de la Ribera and the main streets of the centre.

Where to stand: the Passeig de la Ribera offers the best visibility and most space. Arrive at least an hour early to get a front-row spot. The streets of the centre are more crowded but have better atmosphere.

La Rua de l'Extermini (Tuesday parade)

Tuesday night's closing parade. More intimate, more local, less touristy. Many consider it the most authentic. Costumes and comparsas are more elaborate than Sunday because participants have had the whole week to prepare.

L'Enterro de la Sardina

On Ash Wednesday, Carnival ends with the symbolic burial of a sardine — a tradition marking the close of festivities. More intimate and melancholic, highly photographic.

The comparsas

The comparsas are the soul of Sitges Carnival. Local groups spending months preparing choreography, costumes and music. Some have been participating for decades and have their own rehearsal spaces in the town.

Unlike some carnivals with bigger production values, Sitges stands out for local participation: residents, families, shops and bars directly involved.

The LGBTQ+ scene

Sitges Carnival is one of the most important events on the European LGBTQ+ calendar. During that week, the already cosmopolitan Sitges fills with visitors from across Europe and the bar and club scene reaches its peak of the year.

LGBTQ+ parades have their own dedicated slot in the programme, with specific groups, drag performances and shows that are a central part of Carnival — not an add-on.

If the gay Carnival scene is the goal, the Carrer del Pecat area is the epicentre — bar parties start before the parades and end well after.

What to wear

Sitges Carnival has an unwritten rule: the more dressed up, the better. It's not mandatory, but the experience is radically different as a participant versus a spectator.

• Elaborate costume: if you're going to the evening parades, worth the effort. Locals take their outfits very seriously.
• Basic costume: hat, mask, wig — enough to join the atmosphere.
• No costume: perfectly fine, especially for the Sunday Gran Rua.

Warm layers: February in Sitges is not summer. Temperatures can be between 8–15°C during the day, colder at night. Layers you can remove as the atmosphere heats up.

Accommodation: book very early

Carnival fills Sitges (and part of Vilanova i la Geltrú) weeks in advance:

• Book 3–4 months ahead for reasonable central options
• Hotels on Carrer del Pecat and the old town: the most sought-after
• Vilanova i la Geltrú (10 min by train): alternative if Sitges is full

If you can't find accommodation in Sitges, Barcelona is always an option — the R2 Sud runs until past midnight and Renfe usually adds extra night trains during Carnival.

See accommodation in Sitges.

Getting there

From Barcelona, the R2 Sud reaches Sitges in 40 minutes from Sants. During Carnival, trains are packed — especially Sunday and Tuesday. Leave with time to spare.

Renfe usually adds night trains on Carnival weekends. Always check return train times at rodalies.gencat.cat.

Full transport guide: how to get to Sitges and Barcelona to Sitges.

The rest of the year

Sitges without Carnival is still a complete destination: the best beaches, gastronomy, nightlife and every spring, the Tapa a Tapa route.