Self-Guided Day Trip: Hike from Vilanova i la Geltrú to Sitges, Barcelona

Travelers keen on getting out of the city and into nature with a hike, optional beach time, and a short cultural stroll through a medieval coastal town will appreciate this self-guided itinerary. In just a 40-minute train ride from Barcelona-Sants, you'll arrive in coastal Vilanova i la Geltrú. Here, you'll pick up a segment of Catalonia's long-distance GR 92 coastal trail to follow it into Sitges, another seaside town with a charming historic (and tiny) core. 

The route is about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) and should take less than two hours without stopping if you're in good health (this doesn't include the time it takes to get to and from the respective train stations). That said, give yourself at least four hours to enjoy the walk, views, history, culture, and food, and add more time if the weather is fair and you plan to lie out on or swim at one of the protected beaches.

*Note: Upon booking, you'll receive access to the detailed map and step-by-step instructions.

To embark on your hike from Vilanova i la Geltrú to Sitges, begin at the ruins of an 1801 tidal mill set on a short path that leads sunseekers to the sandy beach before you. Crossing the sand, you'll head toward a rocky outcrop before climbing a set of camouflaged steps and picking up a section of an extensive network of long-distance footpaths that follow the Catalonian coast.

The easy-to-discern trail leads you east along limestone cliffs snaking along the shore, offering glimpses of the Mediterranean and at least seven opportunities to explore protected beaches and pebbly coves. After about 2.4 miles (3.8 km), the trail becomes more level with the sea, where you'll be able to check out a small nature preserve—a pitstop for wetland birds migrating between Western Europe and Africa.

The second portion of today's route turns into a paved seaside esplanade, bringing you into Sitges' historic center. The closer you get to the old town, the livelier the walk becomes buzzing chiringuitos, one of which claims to be Spain's first-ever beach bar, public beaches, restaurants, and monuments, like one dedicated to the founder of a famous Cuban spirit. You're now in Sitges historic quarter, where if there's interest, you can check out a 17th-century church, an iconic landmark, and pop into a couple of museums, both former homes built in the late 19th to early 20th centuries to wealthy men who left their artistic mark on the town.

Next is the very short stroll through the medieval center, packed with captivating stone architecture dating to the 14th and 15th centuries. You'll have time to order Spanish fare (tapas) at a restaurant that overlooks the original medieval city wall, followed by walking a street that's arguably the most charming in its historic character. The day ends with an easy walk north to what's considered Sitges' town center by today's standards, with a pause to check out a Gaudí-influenced modernista building and to enjoy a quiet moment in a tucked-away modest garden.