Daily Life in Sitges

The weekly market is a local institution, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Cap de la Vila square. You'll find fresh produce, local cheeses, olives, and household goods. It's a social event as much as a shopping trip, and it's worth going early for the best selection.

For everyday groceries, Sitges has several supermarkets. Mercadona, Lidl, Caprabo, and Bon Preu all have branches in or near the town centre. Mercadona is the most popular for its range and prices, while Lidl is good for budget buys. Caprabo and Bon Preu offer more local and organic options. For a wider choice, the larger town of Vilanova i la Geltrú, about 5 km away, has additional hypermarkets.

Specialist shops are scattered through the old town and along the main streets. You'll find bakeries, butchers, fishmongers, and greengrocers, many of which close for a midday break (typically 2–5 pm) and on Sunday afternoons. For international foods, there are a few shops catering to the expat community, but for a full range, you may need to head to Barcelona.

Sitges has branches of the main Spanish banks, including CaixaBank, Banco Santander, and BBVA, mostly along Carrer Major and the surrounding streets. Opening hours are typically Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, with some branches open on Saturday mornings. You'll need your NIE (foreigner's identification number) and passport to open an account, and it's worth asking about non-resident accounts if you're not yet a resident.

Post offices (Correos) are located in the town centre, with the main office on Carrer de les Parellades. Services include mail, parcels, and registered post. For sending parcels, you can also use private courier services like SEUR or MRW, which have drop-off points in town.

Fibre optic broadband is widely available in Sitges, with most homes able to get high-speed internet. The main providers are Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and MásMóvil, all offering fibre packages. Coverage is generally good, but it's worth checking the specific address, as some older buildings may have slower connections.

Mobile coverage is also strong, with 4G and 5G available in most areas. You can buy SIM cards from the same providers, and many expats use prepaid plans or contracts. For calls to the UK, consider using VoIP services like WhatsApp or Skype, as international rates can be high.

Sitges is a pedestrian-friendly town, and most daily errands can be done on foot. The old town's narrow streets are often closed to traffic, and parking is scarce and expensive. If you have a car, you'll likely need a permit for resident parking, which you can apply for at the town hall.

For longer journeys, the RENFE R2 Sud train line connects Sitges to Barcelona Sants in about 35 minutes, with trains running frequently throughout the day. The station is a short walk from the town centre. Barcelona El Prat airport is about 25 km away, and you can reach it by train (with a change) or by the Garraf bus, which runs directly to the airport.

Local buses (Sitges Bus) cover the town and nearby areas, but services are limited, especially in the evenings and on Sundays. Taxis are available, and ride-hailing apps like Uber are not officially available in Sitges, though you can book a taxi through local companies.

Sitges has a comprehensive waste collection system, with separate bins for organic waste, packaging, glass, paper, and general waste. Collection days vary by area, so it's best to check the town hall's website or the local waste management company's schedule. There are also recycling points (deixalleries) where you can take bulky items, electronics, and hazardous waste.

In the old town, bins are often underground or in designated collection points, and you may need to take your rubbish to a specific spot. It's important to follow the local rules, as fines can be issued for not separating waste correctly.

Sitges is a town of two seasons. In summer, the population swells with tourists and second-home owners, and the streets, beaches, and restaurants are busy. Events like the Festa Major in August and the Sitges Film Festival in October bring extra energy. In winter, the town is quieter, and many businesses close for a break, especially in January. The local community comes into its own, and you'll find a more relaxed pace.

For residents, this means planning ahead for summer crowds and winter closures. Some services, like certain restaurants and shops, may have reduced hours in the off-season. But the year-round community is active, with markets, cultural events, and social clubs that keep the town alive.

Sitges offers a high quality of daily life for those who value a walkable, coastal town with good transport links to Barcelona. The trade-offs are the summer crowds, the difficulty of parking, and the need to plan for winter closures. It suits people who want a lively, sociable environment and are happy to adapt to the seasonal rhythm. For those seeking a quieter, more rural life, other parts of the Costa Dorada might be a better fit.

• Living in Sitges: costs of living and things to do — idealista/news (Idealista)
• What’s it like living in Sitges? - Mapping Spain (Mapping Spain)
• Living in Sitges: A Beach Town Bliss On Spain’s Home Coast - Live and Invest Overseas (Live and Invest Overseas)
• An Essential Guide to Sitges, Spain: The Fire Island of Costa Dorada | Condé Nast Traveler (Condé Nast Traveler)
• Living in Sitges Spain | Expats | MumAbroad (MumAbroad)
• VisitSitges, tourism and news of Sitges (Sitges Tourism)
• Sitges Life Travel Guide | Sitges Apartments Hotels Beaches Gay Nightlife Restaurants Weather Map of Sitges Spain (Local Life)
• Tourism in Sitges. What to see. Tourist information | spain.info (Turespaña (Spain's official tourism portal))